TODAY CONNACHT SHC FINAL

Roscommon v Galway, Hyde Park, 6.0

AFTER a couple of years of performing well within their own parameters, Roscommon seem to have gone off the boil somewhat A poor League, partly triggered by discouraging early results and compounded by manager Michael Kelly's illness, sends the home team into action tonight in less feisty form than previously and facing the possible loss of an influential player Colm Kelly.

Galway for their part are never entirely sure what to do with this fixture incorporate it into a training programme or break to prepare for it specifically but the naming of an unchanged team from that which landed the League last month after a late show against Tipperary, would indicate that they may be about to cut loose.

LEINSTER SFC SEMI FINAL

Meath v Laois, Croke Park, 3.45

THIS is the sixth meeting of this pair in seven years with Laois successful in only one match, 1992. Two years ago in Navan, the match was there for the taking but Laois fell away badly and succumbed to a barrage of points.

The current situation is interesting with Meath's re-building programme finally getting off the ground and Laois rolling off the back of a strong performance in the defeat of Kildare. Although Dublin were unimpressive in putting away Louth a week ago, it's likely that tomorrow's winners will slip comfortably into a final with reduced expectations.

In some ways, the emerging Meath pose even more of a challenge to Laois in that nothing will he taken for granted and a number of key selections will be playing for their future. The spine of Laois's attack will be an excellent test of their Meath markers. Hugh Emerson's forceful athleticism will answer questions about Enda McManus's mobility at centre back whereas Damien Delaney is a decent enough full forward to scrutinise Darren Fay's mounting credentials on the edge of the square.

Leo Turley's relationship with Meath lost some of its sparkle when Mick Lyons retired but his form against Kildare means that Mark O'Reilly will join the other examiners at the back. Midfield will be interesting as it's an area in which Meath hope to prosper and yet Tony Maher and PJ Dempsey were splendid against Kildare.

Given Carlow's non-show in the first round, Meath won't have learned that much about their new attacking configuration but stacking the half forward line with Geraghty, Dowd and Giles makes sense. Laois have been around long enough to have a strong chance but the feeling here is that Meath are livelier than they are getting credit for.

ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL

Cavan v Down, Clones, 3.30

ULSTER is shaping up nicely after Tyrone's fireworks last week. Down are more sluggish than they have been at comparable stages in the past having already won two championship matches but signs are that they are developing.

There has been more focus than usual on Down's physique and strength, because whereas it has in the past been used to unleash a fast moving attack, this year has seen less sparkle up front. Ross Carr's return is an important benefit to Down but James McCartan, Greg Blaney and Mickey Linden aren't moving with the menace of old.

Cavan, fit and wound up, may raise the graph of Down's opposition but there are reasons why that's as far as it should go. In the middle, Dermot McCabe is introduced to enhance the mobility of the team but the strength of Greg McCartan and Conor Deegan, and Stephen King's difficulties in lasting 70 minutes at full blast, give Down the likely advantage in the area. The youthfulness of Cavan's attack was exploited by Antrim during their second half comeback and Down's defence won't take any fewer prisoners.