Sunday Leinster SFC First Round Laois v Longford Portlaoise, 2.0 (Extra time in event of draw) (Live RTÉ 2):TWO COUNTIES with good league campaigns behind them meet in the inaugural match of this season's Leinster championship. Under Justin McNulty Laois have recovered the sense of direction that seemed to have been lost in the post-'03 era.
Playing lively, co-ordinated football they achieved promotion after a dip in the middle of the campaign in albeit a competitive division. Injuries haven’t been kind with Pádraig Clancy missing and problems surrounding Donie Kingston and Pádraig McMahon, both of whom played well off the bench in the Division Two final.
MJ Tierney’s ability with the placed ball should be a deterrent to fouling and the work rate and aerial capacity of Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley will test Longford’s less experienced pairing.
That said, Longford have great quality in attack with the Bardens on either wing and Brian Kavanagh on the edge of the square. Challenge results have been positive for Glenn Ryan’s team with wins against Meath and Cavan featuring good performances from their key players.
In the last episode: Laois won the last meeting in 2008 in the qualifiers, a match played in Longford. The previous year was the last time the counties met in Leinster. After a good first half, Longford should have led by more than a point. Then in the final quarter they had an apparently good goal by Pádraig Berry disallowed before Laois finished well to run out 0-14 to 0-9 winners.
You bet: Laois are 4-11, Longford 3-1 and 15-2 the draw.
On your marks: John O'Loughlin is the fulcrum of Laois's attack and already has plenty of experience, which poses a major challenge for Longford debutant Kevin Diffley, the under-21 centrefielder brought in to replace the injured Diarmuid Masterson.
Gaining ground: Laois don't often have home advantage during the summer – this is their second match here since 2006 – and haven't actually won a championship match in O'Moore Park since defeating then All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the qualifiers five years ago. Both sides lost their most recent outings at the venue: Longford losing to Wicklow in Leinster two years ago and Laois beaten by Down in the 2008 qualifiers. Longford's last win here was against Waterford in the 2004 qualifiers.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€25). Family tickets for the stand (adults €25 and children €5 – limited availability) and terrace (adults €15 and children €3). Terrace (€15). OAPs can get €10 rebate on stand tickets and €5 on terrace tickets. Students can get €5 rebate on terrace tickets.
Crystal gazing: Longford have momentum and will be competitive but Laois have also had a good season, operating at a higher level and can progress.
– SEÁN MORAN
Munster SFC First Round Kerry v Tipperary Killarney, 3.30
HERE WE go again. As if this rematch of last year's same fixture wasn't predictable enough, this time Kerry have home advantage – and that edges Tipperary's chances of winning from slim to closer to zero.
It's not that last year's game was completely one-sided, and indeed Kerry only really pulled away in the second half to win by 12 points, but Tipperary haven't exactly signalled much progress in the league, and if anything have gone back on last year.
Of course the optimists only have to point to Tipperary's win over Kerry in the Munster minor championship on Wednesday, but that, naturally, won't have any bearing on the outcome here. Instead Kerry will look to get their campaign off to a smooth and confident start.
Indeed much of the focus will on the new midfield pairing of Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan. 2009 player of the year Paul Galvin starts on the bench as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain, with the likes of Séamus Scanlon, Barry John Keane, Michael Quirke and Padraig Reidy also kept in reserve.
Kieran O'Leary is given the nod at corner forward alongside Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy, and should add some further speed and agility to an already versatile attack.
For Tipperary then much of the afternoon will be about damage limitation. Manager John Evans will always field a confident and well-drilled team, although he has included two newcomers in defenders Cathal Dillon and Lorcan Egan. Barry Grogan, who scored 1-3 a year ago, will once again lead their attack after recovering from a recent knock.
In the last episode: Only 4,965 showed up in Thurles this time last year to see Kerry lord things more or less throughout, and end up 2-18 to 2-6 winners on a day Bryan Sheehan scored 2-5.
You bet: Kerry aren't exactly un-backable favourites at 1/20, with Tipperary at 10/1, while the draw is 16/1.
On your marks: It's essential here that Tipperary don't allow Kerry to settle into the game early on, especially with the likes of Kieran Donaghy talking up a big championship, or else it could be a long, long afternoon.
Gaining ground: Fitzgerald Stadium doubles as a training ground for Kerry, and will make Tipperary's task seem as mountainous as the surrounding McGillycuddy Reeks.
Just the ticket: General admission to Sunday's game costs €20 (pay at the stiles) with the usual concessions, and under-16s are free.
Crystal gazing: Kerry as they please.
- IAN O'RIORDAN
Leinster SHC First Round Carlow v Westmeath Dr Cullen Park, 3.30pm
TWO TEAMS with differing form and confidence will battle for the right to play Galway on June 4th. Carlow enjoyed a solid league campaign, bar the heavy defeat to Clare on the last day, and with home advantage will start as favourites.
Westmeath in contrast ended the league without a win and the search to replace manager Kevin Martin, and with Galway native Brian Hanley now in charge, the only hope is that they've turned the corner.
