Sunday

National Football League

Division One Final

Meath v Derry, Croke Park, 3.50

After the partial enthusiasm of last year's league final between Dublin and Cork, tomorrow's final promises to be a more laid-back affair with both managements more worried about injuries than the immediate outcome. Much has been made of Derry's

league jinx on Sean Boylan but it's worth bearing mind that the only championship match between the counties, in 1987, went decisively Meath's way even if the other knock-out meeting ended in a narrow win for Derry en route to the 1992 league title. Neither of the semi-finals threw up anything unexpected apart from both winners being from Division One B, on paper the weaker of the two sections. Meath's late resurrection was courtesy of awful defending by Kerry and that will hardly be laid on so generously by Derry. There has been a balance to Eamonn Coleman's side throughout the league campaign with a defence tight, midfield - with Anthony Tohill and Dermot Heaney (who coincidentally got the scores which won the final eight years ago) at last fulfilling their partnership potential - dominant and the attack even in the absence of Joe Brolly, productive. Meath have been regrouping after last year's All-Ireland.

Defence is still under-strength and midfield only saw the return of John McDermott in the semi-final. But up front remains the same with Trevor Giles calling a stream of irrepressible shots from deep and empowering Graham Geraghty and Ollie Murphy with a variety of excellent ball. Although the Murphy-Lockhart tiff commanded most of the publicity, Geraghty was the main attacking mover in the teams' draw in Celtic Park two months ago and that was without Giles. Derry need to be further down the road to championship condition as they take the field against Cavan tomorrow week. League success tends not to militate against winners - of the last 10 winners only Offaly and Dublin have lost in the first round of the championship, in both cases to Meath and Dublin only after four matches. Derry look to have a visible advantage in defence and midfield and should accumulate a fourth league title in nine years.

Division Two Final

Louth v Offaly, Croke Park, 2.00

As with the Division One final, this match is a repeat of an earlier meeting this season. Louth feel unlucky to have been caught on the hop by Offaly on the first day of the league last October. Louth steadied and established themselves as Offaly's closest rivals at the top of the table. A youthful team with a number of very experienced players throughout the side, theirs was the more eye-catching semi-final victory as Laois had a 100 per cent record in their division. Offaly did well to recover against Cavan with Vinny Claffey getting much credit for his role as substitute and is now restored to the team. Their last knock-out meeting was in the championship three years ago when lack of pace and stamina cost Louth. Since that meeting, Offaly have sampled a good deal of success and have in the process developed some good players with top-level experience. Louth are not yet in that position and that is the principle difference between the teams.