Weekend football previews

The weekend's football matches previewed.

Today

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers - Round One

Louth v Tyrone, Navan, 3.30pm

Needless to say, both these teams are keen to ensure they don't repeat their more recent performances. Louth were held scoreless by Meath in the second half of their Leinster tie, having scored some majestic points in the first half. Manager Eamonn McEneaney was lost for words afterwards. Maybe it was a little stage-fright, or maybe Louth's league progress was overrated, but they'll clearly have something to prove here.

But so will Tyrone. They were held scoreless in the first half against Derry, and only managed 0-5 in the end. It was a truly crushing defeat and there's no way the All-Ireland winners will want that game hanging over them for long. With the likes of Stephen O'Neill, Enda McGinley, Ger Cavlan and Martin Penrose all back to full fitness, the champions have a far more daunting look to them this time, and there's nothing more worrying than playing a wounded Tyrone.

Monaghan v Wicklow, Clones, 3.30pm

The home side will start as favourites for this one, having already forced Armagh to a replay in Ulster. And they are a talented team, with the likes of Thomas Freeman and Paul Finley always capable of good scores.

Last year Monaghan went on an impressive qualifier run - beating London, Wexford and Louth - before being halted by eventual All-Ireland champions Tyrone.

Wicklow, in contrast, have been preparing for this game without manager Hugh Kenny, who resigned in the aftermath of the defeat to Carlow. What was left of the backroom team took over. Wicklow were poor that day, especially up front. If the likes of Tommy Gill can hit better form they will test Monaghan, but the mood cannot be good after Kenny jumped ship and it will be a real shock if Wicklow survive to see another day.

Antrim v Clare,

Casement Park, 4pm

Despite Clare's honest efforts to get this game played on the Sunday, Antrim declined. That leaves Clare without a few first-choice players because of work commitments - plus they had to fork out around €20,000 to arrange a charter flight from Shannon to Belfast.

Clare were competitive against Limerick, but, as we now know, Limerick aren't exactly formidable. Antrim looked a lot more impressive against Fermanagh and, with home advantage, they look a safe bet to progress.

Sligo v Down, Markievicz Park, 7pm

Donegal's battle with Down seemed to be one of the more exciting games of the summer so far, but in hindsight the quality of football on display was poor - especially from Down.

Tactically they were limited, they seemed to lack any leaders and, while losing by a point was a disappointment, they could hardly have many complaints. Still, manager Paddy O'Rourke remains upbeat and confident his team will come good. They'll definitely need to improve here.

Sligo proved stubborn against Galway. They are also qualifier specialists, having enjoyed a series of good runs in recent years. If Benny Coulter can be kept in check again they could start another run here.

Waterford v Longford, Walsh Park, 2pm

Manager Luke Dempsey has stressed the importance of building on Longford's excellent showing against Dublin a fortnight ago - and make true progress this summer. Clearly, his young team have both the potential and the desire to mix it with some of the better teams.

Dempsey makes two changes from the Dublin game: under-21 captain Shane Mulligan is introduced to the half-back line, while Jamesie Martin takes over from Kevin Mulligan (who has gone to the US) at full forward.

Waterford displayed plenty of fighting qualities of their own against Kerry but still lost by eight points, and Longford are better equipped to progress.

Tomorrow

Connacht SFC Semi-final

Roscommon v Galway,

Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

As usual with this particular rivalry, expect the unexpected.

Galway start as favourites, but nothing excites Roscommon more than the prospect of beating their neighbours, and so, for

the 50th championship meeting between the two, all predictions are handled with care.

It's five years now since Roscommon famously beat Galway on their home turf, but in the three meetings since, Galway have regained the edge - including the All-Ireland quarter-final later in 2001.

The general assumption is John Maughan must have briefly lost his mind when agreeing to take over Roscommon within weeks of leaving his native Mayo, but he's obviously put his heart into the job, and the word is this is the most thoroughly prepared Roscommon team in many years. It's also a younger Roscommon team in years, yet physically they will be every bit as capable as Galway, and Maughan's zero tolerance for indiscipline means Roscommon should be mentally right.

However, Roscommon are coming off Division Two football, and Galway easily represent their biggest challenge of the year. In other words, only now will Roscommon find out exactly where they are.

Captain Stephen Lohan is injured, although Karol Mannion returns to full forward, where he is joined by David Hoey and John Tiernan, but nobody really knows just how well this team will click on the day.

Galway have uncertainties of their own with both Joe Bergin and Paul Clancy ruled out with knee injuries. Damien Burke and Matthew Clancy come in for the injured Clancy and Michael Comer.

Galway have a forward line capable of testing the best defences in the country and, ultimately, that should see them through.

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, D Casey, P O'Connor; S Daly, J Nolan, R Dooner; S O'Neill, B Mullin; M Finneran, G Heneghan, D Hoey; J Tiernan, K Mannion, G Lohan.

GALWAY: A Keane; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Meehan; A Burke, D Blake, D Burke; N Coleman, P Geraghty; M Clancy, M Donnellan, D Savage; M Meehan, P Joyce, S Armstrong.

Ulster SFC Semi-final

Derry v Donegal, Clones, 2.15pm

It's now accepted that Derry didn't just outplay the All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, in their Ulster quarter-final, they also outsmarted them. When it was put to manager Paddy Crozier afterwards that Derry had been accused of playing "cute" - getting players ticked or booked, but nothing more - he simply replied that maybe they were "copying" Tyrone.

Anyhow, Donegal are clearly facing a very difficult challenge here. Derry haven't looked this settled in quite a while, and the team performance against Tyrone was hugely impressive - even if some of the football wasn't. Captain Johnny McBride is one of the driving forces at midfield, their defence has real strength in Kevin McCloy and Francis McEldowney - and forwards Enda Muldoon and Paddy and Eoin Bradley have obvious class.

The win over Tyrone will also have given them huge confidence, and they won't want Donegal getting in their way at the first shot of an Ulster title since 1998. As expected, Crozier has gone with same starting 15, and he will look for an equally determined start.

It's crucial, therefore, that Donegal get to grips with the game from the beginning. Their one-point win over Down a fortnight ago did show flashes of their potential, but there were long periods too when they lacked leadership and direction.

Manager Brian McIver has added some physical presence to his midfield by recalling Brendan Boyle, who replaced forward Colin Kelly in the Down game, and Boyle's strength should work well with Neil Gallagher.

Barry Monaghan switches to centre back again,while Michael Hegarty comes up to centre forward.

It's possible that Ciarán Bonner will act as a third midfielder, with Rory Kavanagh coming back into half-forward line, while Conall Dunne and Michael Doherty play a two-man full-forward line. Once again, the likes of Adrian Sweeney and Brian Roper are kept in reserve, so there are plenty of options on the bench if this line-up starts to go wrong.

What is certain is Donegal won't enjoy anything like the freedom they got against Down. Derry, as we saw against Tyrone, mean serious business in this year's championship - the business of winning.

DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy, F McEldowney; L Hinphey, P McFlynn, J O'Kane; J McBride, J Diver; M Lynch, B McGoldrick, F Doherty; E Muldoon, Paddy Bradley, E Bradley.

DONEGAL: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; E McGee, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Toye, M Hegarty, C Bonner; R Kavanagh, C Dunne, M Doherty.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers - Round One

Westmeath v London, Mullingar, 2pm

Just what Westmeath needed to bring a little sunshine into their summer. But then can they even be confident of beating London? Against Offaly, on May 14th, they were a pale shadow of the team that won the Leinster title two years ago - even allowing for the absence of Dessie Dolan through injury.

Still, London didn't create any sparks when losing 1-18 to 0-8 to Mayo, and while they have some good forwards such as Pat Quirke, Westmeath can at least get into round two. After that, though, they'd want to have Dolan back.

Carlow v Meath, Dr Cullen Park, 4pm

The name John Cooper was probably used in anger a few times after Meath fell to Wexford in the Leinster quarter-final. Cooper stopped possibly five certain goals for Meath in that game. There are those who feel Meath didn't deserve to win anyway, but still that result could easily have been different.

With the added incentive of former Meath player Liam Hayes (who stirred things up with Meath boss Eamonn Barry) managing Carlow, Meath will be fired up. Daithí Regan and Joe Sheridan still looked dangerous against Wexford and Graham Geraghty can turn a game in their favour.

While Simon Rea and Mark Carpenter remain dangerous forwards for Carlow, this promises to be a true championship contest - and Meath's enduring superiority should allow them to prevail.