Weekend GAA Previews

Today National Football League - Division Three: Fermanagh v Limerick, Lisnaskea- The sole refixture from Division Three gives Fermanagh the chance to top the table. They've enjoyed the perfect start, winning their three games, and another victory here would see them leapfrog Wexford at the top.

Limerick have won one, lost one and drawn one so far, but that one draw, with Wexford, suggests this one will be very close.

National Hurling League

Division Two B

Down v London, Newry, 2pm- Down have two wins and one draw from their four games, but still need one more victory here against winless London to be sure of making the play-offs.

Under-21 Football

Ulster Championship

Derry v Fermanagh, Celtic Park, 3.30pm -The revival of Derry's form at senior level should trickle down sufficiently to allow them to win here.

Donegal v Armagh, Ballybofey, 3.30pm- Armagh's underage structures continues to impress, but Donegal's home advantage could be enough to see them through.

Leinster Championship

Kildare v Dublin, Newbridge, 3pm- Dublin are awaiting a late fitness test on centre forward Paddy Andrews, but it's still a strong-looking line up.

St Vincent's' Diarmuid Connolly, who won an All-Ireland Club medal just last Monday, scoring the only goal of the game, will start at wing forward.

Dublin senior hurlers Tomás Brady and John McCaffrey are included in the half-back line, while Dublin senior panellist Philip McMahon will partner Kevin Nolan at midfield.

Kildare will be hoping the hometown advantage can help them raise the resistance.

Munster Championship

Kerry v Cork, Tralee- Cork have had the upper hand on Kerry in this grade for the past five years, and while there's little to suggest that will change here, Kerry's dander is up.

Tipperary v Waterford, Ardfinnan - Can't be much between these two in the battle to meet either Kerry or Cork in the final.

Connacht Championship

Sligo v Galway, Markievicz Park- A big test for Sligo against the well-known underage talents of Galway.

Mayo v Leitrim, Castlebar- Should prove a relatively easy win for Mayo, with Leitrim also conceding home advantage.

All-Ireland Colleges A Football Semi-finals - St Jarlath's, Tuam v St Brendan's, Killarney, Kilmallock; Athlone CC v St Pat's, Dungannon, Clontibret.

Tomorrow

National Football League

Division Two

Dublin v Monaghan, Parnell Park -A waterlogged Parnell Park caused the postponement of this game last Saturday, although Dublin manager Paul Caffrey still won't be finalising his team until after this afternoon's under-21 game.

While Alan Brogan, Barry Cahill and substitute goalkeeper John Leonard are all unavailable for selection, Caffrey has in the meantime called up St Vincent's goalkeeper Michael Savage.

It's an exciting game for obvious reasons, as both teams are atop Division Two with their unbeaten record of three wins from three games - although only Dublin have benefited from Cork's forfeiture of points.

Monaghan also have the superior scoring difference, including four goals, and that scoring threat from the likes of Tomás Freeman is sure to rattle the Dublin defence. It's a close call but if Monaghan have learnt anything from last year it will be the need to close out tight games.

National Hurling League:

Division One A

Kilkenny v Antrim, Nowlan Park- It's probably worth noting that Antrim somehow managed to beat Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup back in January, but that already seems a world away, and Antrim's main task here will be preventing the sort of annihilation Kilkenny now appear well capable of inflicting.

With their three wins on the pitch, plus the walkover against Cork, Kilkenny boast the maximum eight points, four clear of their closest challengers - which means that irrespective of the result here they will top the group, and therefore qualify directly for the semi-finals.

Antrim, in contrast, are almost equally assured of relegation, and even if they somehow manage to beat Kilkenny, would need both Dublin and Wexford to lose in order to escape the chop.

Highly unlikely, especially given Antrim's poor showing against Cork last week, and the only hope now is Kilkenny will go easy on them.

Waterford v Dublin, Walsh Park- Both teams have plenty to play for here, particularly Dublin, who could still make the play-offs if the manage to come away with the two points.

Naturally, that's asking a lot, especially as Waterford have home advantage, and will also be keen to improve on last weekend's heavy 11-point defeat to Kilkenny.

Had Dublin held their nerve against Cork, and killed off Wexford, they would be in with a greater chance, but they should at least survive relegation.

Manager Tommy Naughton introduces two newcomers in Kilmacud Crokes' James Burke and Ballyboden's Paul Ryan, both playing in the forward line, and that hardly suggests a must-win scenario.

Waterford have the tried and trusted firepower in the likes of Dan Shanahan, John Mullane and Eoin Kelly to secure the necessary win (although they only need a draw), and thus keep themselves in contention to defend their league title.

Cork v Wexford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh- Despite conceding the four points from their opening two games because of the players' strike, Cork still have every chance of making the qualifiers. Although Wexford intend appealing that scenario, it's difficult to see any reversal at this point.

In fact, Cork only need a draw in order to make the play-offs, and given Wexford's poor form of late - despite drawing with Dublin last Sunday - it's almost certain they will progress.

Ballinhassig's Fintan O'Leary will make his first start for Cork at right half forward, while Seán Óg Ó hAilpín comes in at full back for Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Anthony Nash is also named in goal. Wexford just about hold on to some air of unpredictability in that they are still capable of causing an upset, but this game just doesn't look like one of them, and come tomorrow evening they will almost certainly be looking forward, or down, at Division Two hurling.

Division One B

Tipperary v Laois, Cashel- While Laois are on the verge of relegation, Tipperary can still top the group, depending on how much they win by here, plus the result of Limerick-Galway. That at least gives an otherwise predictable game some purpose.

Still, Liam Sheedy is happy to reshuffle his team, selecting Gerry Kennedy in goal ahead of Brendan Cummins, while Lar Corbett and Pa Bourke rejoin Eoin Kelly in the full-forward line. It goes without saying that Sheedy will want nothing less than a comfortable victory.

Unless they can somehow manage to win here, Laois will be left hoping Offaly beat Clare to give them any chance of survival. However, Clare drew with Tipperary last Sunday and should therefore handle Offaly, and while no one wants reminding, Laois went down 6-26 to 0-8 to Galway last Sunday.

Manager Damien Fox has announced the same team, perhaps to allow them some redemption, yet that gives a strong hint of the most likely outcome here.

Limerick v Galway, Gaelic Grounds- Galway come to the Gaelic Grounds looking to extend their unbeaten record and thus secure the top spot on the Division One B table, and there's nothing Limerick would enjoy more than deny them that - and in the process themselves take the top spot.

It makes for a highly appetising clash, the only thing lacking being some of Limerick's main play makers. Goalkeeper Brian Murray, Mark Foley and Seán O'Connor are ruled out through injury. Andrew O'Shaughnessy is not available due to work commitments in the US.

Manager Richie Bennis has called on capable replacements, with Peter Lawlor now partnering Donal O'Grady at midfield, and Pat Tobin and Brian Begley replacing O'Shaughnessy and O'Connor in the full-forward line. Niall Moran has been cleared to line out at wing forward after having a one-month suspension overturned by Croke Park.

Galway's form, however, has very impressive, with Niall Healy hitting a hat-trick of goals last Sunday, and Ger Farragher a massive 2-11. Ger Loughnane has finally got his team on something of roll, and that should continue all the way to the league final.

Offaly v Clare, Tullamore- Not much to get excited about here, unfortunately, as Offaly are staring down the barrel of relegation. They need to win by 15 points to have any chance of avoiding that likelihood, and given last Sunday's result (they lost 5-19 to 1-17 to Limerick) that scenario looks unlikely.

Offaly managed to draw with Galway back in the opening round, but that was the only real encouragement manager Joe Dooley has enjoyed so far.

Clare, in contrast, have been improving as the league progresses, proven by last Sunday's draw with Tipperary. Manager Mike McNamara has uncovered some new talent, particularly new free-taker Mark Flaherty. He's also refusing to contemplate relegation, which is far enough given the current form of the bottom three.

Division Two A

Kerry v Mayo, Tralee- A win could see unbeaten Kerry top the group, and they look poised for another victory here.

Wicklow v Roscommon, Aughrim- This is the battle of the two bottom-placed teams with only Wicklow managing to win a game this season.

Westmeath v Kildare, Cusack Park- The result of this will decide who tops the group - and who must play a quarter-final. On current form, Westmeath must be fancied to win.

Division Two B

Armagh v Meath, Keady -Meath are still chasing one of the play-off spots and that should provide enough incentive to win.

Carlow v Derry, Dr Cullen Park - Carlow top this division as the only unbeaten side and won't want to surrender that now to second-placed Derry, who will ensure a tight contest.

Division Three

Sligo v Donegal, Markievicz Park- Donegal are unbeaten in three games and will almost certainly maintain that record against winless Sligo.

Longford v Louth, Pearse Park- Only the top two sides contest the Division Three final, and with Louth currently second to Donegal, they have the greater incentive to win.

Division Four

Cavan v Monaghan, Breffni Park- A win for Monaghan would see them through into the final, provided South Down lose.

Leitrim v South Down, Ballinamore- Winless Leitrim face the difficult task of denying South Down a place in the final.

All-Ireland Colleges A Hurling Quarter-final - Kilkenny CBS v Thurles CBS, Graigue Ballycallan -The chance for both teams to salvage their season after their defeats in the provincial finals, with Thurles looking the more capable of progressing.

(all matches 2.30pm unless stated)