ROUND TWO: (Roscommon v Mayo, Hyde Park, 2.30)SUNDAYStrange to reflect on how far things have regressed for these counties since last year's Connacht final. Back then Mayo were National League winners optimistic about making an All-Ireland impact whereas Roscommon had just visited a crushing defeat on Galway and were on the verge of a first provincial final in 10 years.

This weekend, like ghosts on an old street, they meet with morale low and all the promise of last summer dissipated. Mayo have the consolation of having given Galway a far more searching examination than Roscommon managed but among the issues to be decided tomorrow is the extent to which that was Galway's rather than Mayo's doing.

Last month Roscommon lived with the All-Ireland champions until half-time when Galway went up the gears. Mayo led until a few minutes from the end of their semi-final until Galway decided to take some late chances. Although there was some cheer in the county at how competitive Mayo had been despite a gloomy consensus that they might be hammered, the downside for Pat Holmes' team was the complete lack of a cutting edge for most of the second half.

Not to score for 25 minutes was fatal even in such a low-scoring match. But it's easy to forget how Galway struggled for a score during most of the same period. Padhraic Joyce may have ultimately done the trick but for most of the match Tom Nallen vindicated his selection with a good display at full back and there were other encouragingly focused performances in defence.

The decision to go with an untested centrefield also paid off with David Tiernan delivering on the promise of his club displays despite misgivings about his size and aptitude for the highest level.

Roscommon have suffered terribly since getting whacked by Cavan in the league semi-final. Cavan have now packed their bags for the summer while Roscommon have lost heavily to Galway and must face the rest of the season without their suspended captain and prime mover, Francie Grehan. Their forwards have the potential to put up a reasonable score but their defence has been in tatters for months. Even before Grehan's suspension the boat was leaking and despite a patching job, still managed to take in 3-11 against Waterford.

Nonetheless even if Mayo's unchanged forwards manage only a modest score, their defence will concede even less and strongly motivated by last year's controversial Connacht final defeat by the same opposition, they should advance.

Leinster SFC Semi-final replay

SATURDAY

Kildare v Offaly, Nowlan Park, 6.15 (Network 2)

Inseparable again. Two years ago there was the drama of Padraig Kelly coming out of goal for a crack at a long-range free in injury-time. Last week it was Offaly overturning an eight-point interval deficit.

Although Padraig Nolan's side were the more relieved to have survived, they still look the better bet to advance. There was again the continuing suspicion of stagnation about Kildare despite the efficient way they harnessed the wind in the first half. With fitness concerns still bedevilling Karl O'Dwyer, Kildare's capacity to improve their attack is limited. Disimprovement is possible given that Offaly's full back John Kenny appeared to be coming to grips with Martin Lynch the longer the drawn match went on.

Offaly have reasonable hopes of improving on last week's display. The return of Vinny Claffey and James Grennan to action expands Nolan's options. Centrefield was the one black spot last week with Dermot Earley and Killian Brennan running the show for Kildare until Grennan replaced his brother Sean at half-time and Offaly got back on track. Kildare have proved resilient in the past and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they did get through but the tide is going out on this team and Offaly are well placed to take advantage.

All-Ireland SFC Round Two qualifiers

SATURDAY

Laois v Clare, Portlaoise, 7.0

A re-run of the encounter at the same stage last year. Neither side will be happy with their championship exits, Laois by a point to Offaly and Clare after a replay with Tipperary. Still Laois have enough cut in attack albeit that it underperformed in Leinster. Clare tightened up between the draw and replay last week and were competitive to the end despite being reduced to 13 men. But Laois should be operating at a higher level than that.

Leitrim v Tyrone, Carrick-on-Shannon, 7.0

Surprisingly competitive for half of the Connacht semi-final against Sligo, Leitrim fell away sharply. Tyrone found Wexford surprisingly competitive but muddled through. Art McRory and Eugene McKenna would presumably have preferred something a bit more taxing at this stage but that will have to wait until the next round.

Westmeath v Fermanagh, Mullingar, 7.0

Both sides will be disappointed with the nature of their championship exits. It was no surprise that Meath proved too strong for Westmeath but most would have anticipated a closer run outcome. Instead the Leinster champions won more easily than they had managed at any stage last year. Their highly regarded centrefield eclipsed, Westmeath never posed the sort of threat that so distinguished their progress in the 2001 championship.

Furthermore Antrim came within a good save of eliminating them from the qualifiers. There would have to be concern in Luke Dempsey's mind facing a useful enough Fermanagh side. But Dominic Corrigan's team in turn were below par when being comfortably dismissed by Armagh. To maintain the momentum of promising teams, both sides need to win.

Westmeath are further down the road but accordingly need to emulate last year's quarter-final finish. After the disasters that befell them in both championship and qualifier a year ago, Fermanagh need to take a serious scalp. Westmeath would do but the hunch here is that Rory O'Connell will perform better this evening and stifle the supply into Fermanagh's forwards reducing the chances for the Gallaghers, just as Armagh managed.

SUNDAY

Longford v Derry, Pearse Park, 2.45

Derry's inability to find the extra gear a week ago against Donegal proved costly. Normally Eamonn Coleman's team would be well favoured to emerge from a tight, difficult game like that. Two red cards hardly helped but the difference was that Donegal made more of their chances. Longford - who were managed by Coleman six years ago - are in fine humour after ending Peter McGrath's managerial career with Down. They have been playing well this season but tomorrow is too much of a step-up even allowing for the visitors' apparent lassitude.