SEAN MORAN reviews the weekend's matches
Today
(2.30pm unless stated)
NFL Division Four
Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park –First of a tricky run-in for the leaders and a match that Limerick have to get something out of and hope that Clare and Waterford's shoot-out does them a favour. Last chance saloon for the Munster finalists and they might just survive for another week.
Kilkenny v Waterford, Freshford –It's been a marginally more competitive year for Kilkenny, but still certain to be the second successive one without a point given the run-in. This fixture used to be a possibility for them. But, no longer, as the visitors have promotion ambitions.
Leitrim v Longford, Carrick-on- Shannon –Leitrim have recovered from a poor start and retain a mathematical (or metaphysical) chance of promotion, but it's been a disaster for Longford and there's little reason to be confident about this short trip.
London v Carlow, Ruislip –Carlow can round off a poor season with a win.
Connacht Under-21 FC Final
Sligo v Roscommon, Markievicz Park, 5pm –An unusual pairing, unseen since Roscommon last won the title in 1999. Sligo have yet to win and have a good chance this evening with home advantage. Their semi-final victory over a team including nine All-Ireland minor medallists has caused consternation in Galway, which overlooks how close they ran the same cohort as minors.
Roscommon played notably well to depose the champions of the past four years, Mayo, in their semi-final.
Ulster Under-21 FC Semi-finals
Derry v Donegal, Enniskillen, 12.15pm –Derry are now not alone favourites for Ulster, but for the All-Ireland with the established powers like Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo falling like skittles. They just justify the rating here.
Cavan v Monaghan, Enniskillen, 2pm –Chance of a rare opportunity at the level for both counties but Cavan's demolition of Down was more impressive than Monaghan's win over Antrim.
All-Ireland Colleges SH Final
Ardscoil Rís v St Kieran's College, Thurles –The first of the Limerick versus Kilkenny meetings this weekend, this afternoon's Croke Cup is a great day for Ardscoil who are in their first final and providing a first presence for the otherwise depressed county hurling community at this stage in 43 years.
The Limerick school emerged from an epic, three-match tussle with Thurles CBS to lift the Harty Cup whereas the famous Kilkenny school beat local rivals Kilkenny CBS, also defeated by Ardscoil in the All-Ireland semi-final, in the Leinster final.
Pádraig Walsh, brother of Tommy, has played a big role in the Leinster win, hitting the crucial goal, and his two well-taken points at the end of extra time edged Kieran’s ahead of Presentation Athenry in the semi-finals.
The Adare prodigy Declan Hannon lines out for the Limerick school, in which exiled county hurler Niall Moran is a teacher and coach, but the greater experience of St Kieran’s can swing it.
All-Ireland VS SH Final
Banagher College v Causeway Comprehensive, Thurles, 12.45pm –Good chance for Banagher to avenge last year's under-16 defeat by the Kerry school. Causeway however had a big win over Dromcollogher's Hazelwood College in Munster – a more emphatic win than this afternoon's opponents managed in the All-Ireland semi-final – and can add to their growing hurling reputation.
Tomorrow
(2.30pm unless stated)
NHL Division One
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Chaoimh –Their most meaningful league match in a while, this can either guarantee Cork's place in the final or rekindle Tipp's ambitions. Still, both Liam Sheedy and
Denis Walsh are more likely to be preoccupied with how to optimise their sides with the big championship opener now just eight weeks away.
Where will John Gardiner, switched from centrefield to wing tomorrow, eventually line out? Which, if either or if not both, of Aisake Ó hAilpín, preferred for this, and Michael Cussen will be first-choice? Will Paudie O’Sullivan or Luke O’Farrell, still not starting after impressive recent outings, nail down a starting place in the attack.
For Tipp, is Brendan Maher the solution at centrefield? Can Timmy Hammersley take the step up from Fitzgibbon to inter-county marksman? Is there a flicker of possibility in Paul Kelly as at least a part-time full forward?
We’ll hardly get the answers here, but the evidence will be taken seriously. Home win despite a diffident-looking half-forward line.
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium –Dublin's disappointing season hasn't featured any hammerings, but the question of relegation hangs in the air.
Anthony Daly would have hoped that Offaly could have been defeated, which would have tidied up the issue. Instead, the Dubs are eying nervously the final fixture against Limerick, which in all likelihood will be winner-take-all, a queasier prospect than many would have thought when the league started.
Galway had a great lift from winning in Kilkenny and a startling viewing of young Richie Cummins, whose insouciance in running at Kilkenny helped to create two goals. Could the future be he and Joe Canning – who lines out tomorrow – feeding off each other?
But the last thing Galway really need is another teenage messiah disillusioned by life’s hard toil at senior level. Still it’s some prospect. The way the counties have been going, this has to be a home win.
Limerick v Kilkenny, Gaelic Grounds –Brian Cody didn't seem too happy with last week's home defeat, but neither did he seem heartbroken. Bigger things on the horizon. The main question at championship time is whether he'll go, as he often does, on league form when it comes to picking the starting 15.
Then again there’s plenty of time before the choice has to made and no shortage of choice. Limerick nearly put the heart crossways in Offaly by hitting them with some opportunistic goals before falling narrowly short.
This won’t be as close.
Waterford v Offaly, Walsh Park –Neither side will be going anywhere this season. In Offaly's case this is a good thing; in Waterford's not too much of a bad thing given competitive displays against Cork and Tipp despite the absence of a full muster of heavy guns.
Joe Dooley’s side, even though they don’t need the points, will be keen to give a good performance after the chillingly close call against the best that Limerick can offer in current, straitened circumstances. Shane Dooley, although not as dramatic against Limerick, has had a good campaign at the highest level and the team will still be at the top table next year. Waterford will want to win after two draws and to maintain their theoretical chances of making the final.
NHL Division Two
Antrim v Down, Casement Park –It's not the best of times for Ulster hurling. Antrim have had mediocre results trying to develop young and inexperienced players but they should beat a Down side missing Paul Braniff.
Clare v Westmeath, Cusack Park Ennis, 12.45pm –The completely unexpected win over Antrim gives Westmeath a lifeline if they can beat Down in two weeks. Despite Ger O'Loughlin's frank admission that Clare are hurling poorly, they're in pole position and will win this.
Kildare v Carlow, Newbridge –Carlow's terrific season can continue with a win here, setting up a potential head-to-head with Laois for a place in the divisional final.
Laois v Wexford, Portlaoise –A crucial meeting between a Laois side that has been motoring well and Wexford.
Laois boss Niall Rigney takes a punt on Zane Keenan, just back after lengthy injury absence. Wexford have to rebound after the shock defeat by Carlow and winning this would be some form of recompense. Away win, just about.
NHL Division Three B
Louth v Fingal, Dundalk; Roscommon v Sligo, Athleague; Tyrone v Wicklow, Omagh.
Leinster Under-21 FC Final
Dublin v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 3pm –Westmeath come into this as the bright spot in the county's football fortunes, like their Roscommon and Tipperary peers, in a season of relegation for the seniors.
Their progress has been impressive against Laois, minor winners three years ago, and Meath, who won it a year later.
Dublin have battled past well above-average sides from Louth and Carlow, going to extra time in both rounds and winning controversially in the semi-final, but they have enough know-how from last year’s success to defend their title in what will be another tight affair.
