Football Previews

Tommy Murphy Cup SF Final Louth v Leitrim, Croke Park, 2.0 (Extra-time if necessary), Live RTÉ 2 - It was a little unusual to hear the Leitrim and Louth managements admitting this week that their teams hadn't trained specifically hard, and that winning wasn't really all that mattered. That's not to say that now they're there, these two teams won't be hotly contesting tomorrow's Tommy Murphy Cup final.

It's fitting these two teams get to run out in a packed Croke Park tomorrow - assuming at least some of the Dublin supporters show up a little early. Neither of them were ever going to win the All-Ireland or even get to the semi-final stage, and yet here they are playing for some silverware on the last weekend of August. How many other counties can make a similar claim?

It's also just reward for two teams that probably put in just as much effort as the All-Ireland contenders over the winter months, and sometimes even more given the distances the panel members sometimes need to travel. And, as Leitrim manager Dessie Dolan pointed out this week, they're just as entitled as Dublin or Mayo to be there.

As for the game itself, Louth must start as marginal favourites given their greater experience in Croke Park in recent years - and the fact they pushed Tyrone to a replay back in the qualifiers. They're not quite at full strength since their semi-final win over Antrim, with utility player Aaron Hoey (knee) and forward Mark Stanfield (ankle) missing through injury.

Leitrim, who make their first appearance in Croke Park in 11 years, are without forwards Johnny Goldrick and Declan Maxwell, although full back John McKeon and midfielder Gary McCloskey have been passed fit. Leitrim beat Tipperary and Carlow to get this far, and while a big day in Croke Park is a nice consolation prize, Louth looked poised to take the silverware.

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKoen, M McGuinness; B McWeeney, F Holohan, S Foley; G McCloskey, C Carroll; C Regan, M Foley, B Prior; J Glancy, D Brennan, C Duignan.

LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J O'Brien; P McGinnity, M Fanning, R Finnegan; M Farrelly, P Keenan; B White, M Brennan, R Carroll; D Clarke, S Lennon, JP Rooney.

All-Ireland MFC semi-final

Meath v Roscommon, Croke Park, 12.30

Tomorrow' semi-final is quite novel, with Roscommon chasing their first final since 1951, when they beat Armagh, while Meath look to make their first final since 2002, when they lost to Derry. They last won the title in 1992.

Meath needed extra-time to get past Antrim in their quarter-final oJuly 29th, although they are a team loaded with potential. Shane O'Rourke - son of Colm O'Rourke - is the engine of the team and can play at either midfield or centre forward, where he started against Antrim, and scored 0-5. They have an impressive free-taker too in Brian Sheridan and centre back and captain Paddy Brady is their inspirational defender.

Roscommon had it far easier against Tipperary in the end in their quarter-final, emerging as nine-point winners.

A well-struck penalty from Conor Devanney early in the second half sent them on their way, and the Connacht champions never looked back - with Donal Shine also proving his worth as a reliable free-taker.

It promises to be close then. Meath may have the greater spread of talent - and O'Rourke's talents alone could turn the game - but Roscommon's hunger will play a big role as well. They've had an extra week to prepare after the GAA rejigged the semi-final dates because of the Laois-Mayo replay, and that should only heighten the desire of both teams tomorrow.

Saturday

Women's football

All-Ireland quarter-final replay

Galway v Meath, Breffni Park, Cavan, 1.30,

Live TG4 - Galway blew a 10-point lead last week to let underdogs Meath fight back to give them the fright of their lives. Galway were expecting to breeze past Meath but in the end needed a last-minute point to bring the game to a replay. Meath will have grown in confidence and their season has definitely turned but Galway have been warned and the element of surprise is gone this weekend. Galway should progress.

GALWAY: U Carroll, M O'Connell, E Flaherty, M Glynn, C Cormican, A Daly, AM McDonagh, P Gleeson, A Coohill, E Concannon, G Joyce, N Duggan, G Conneally, N Fahey, L Joyce.

MEATH: I Munnelly, S Dooley, J Burke, S McCormack, J Rispin, L McKeever, E Lynch, L Keenan, F Mahon, M Sheridan, J Sheils, G Nulty, K O'Brien, G Bennett, C McAuley.

All-Ireland quarter-finals

Armagh v Waterford, Breffni Park, Cavan, 3.15, Live TG4 - Armagh's dream debut season in the senior championship continues as they take on Munster finalists Waterford. The latter were hammered by a rampant Cork in the Munster final and will have to plan without Donna Frost.

Armagh possess far too much talent in the likes of Mags McAlinden, Shauna O'Hagan and Caroline O'Hanlon to be stopped and it will take a remarkable performance by Waterford to prevent the Ulster side reaching the last four.

ARMAGH: D Hagan, C Marley, F Quinn, A Murphy, R ... O'Mahony, B O'Donnell. S McCleary, A O'Donnell, C O'Hanlon, M Tennyson, S Dunican, S O'Hagan, M O'Donnell, P McAvoy, A Matthews.

WATERFORD: M Hayes, L Whelan, R Hallahan, E Cooney, L Ryan, M Troy, M McGrath, M O'Donnell, C O'Keeffe, L Wall, M Ryan, M Wall, S Ryan, A Murphy, N Briggs.

Laois v Monaghan, Breffni Park, Cavan, 5.0, Live TG4 - Monaghan will be buoyed by the availability of forwards Therese McNally and veteran Niamh Kindlon and, with the likes of Aisling Tierney and Hazel Kingham returning to the panel, they will be in with a serious chance against the Leinster champions.

Laois destroyed Meath in the Leinster final but have not been given the respect they deserve for their provincial win and they will see this as a huge opportunity to make the last four. This game should be extremely tight and the feeling here is that Monaghan may just squeeze past Laois.

LAOIS: B Deegan, G Weston, L Muckian, N Kirwin, A Quigley, A Casey, P Fogarty, K O'Reilly, M O'Grady, M Kirwin, L Brennan, E Fitzpatrick, T Lawlor, M Kirwin, G O'Connor.

MONAGHAN: L Martin, J Courteny, M Grimes, C Reilly, S Courtney, I Kierans, F Courtney, A Casey, C Brady, T McNally, N Kindlon, C Graham, C McConnell, N Lynch, G McNally.