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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
GAA previews: Laois hurt provides necessary fuel for Joe McDonagh tilt
SATURDAY. Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals. Offaly v New York, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm (D. Murnane, Cork) Live GAA+. There should be some trepidation about what a New York team bring to the competition. In their inaugural entry, they were only four points poorer than Laois last year and while personnel has changed they will be fresh at the very least. Offaly should be sore with themselves that they didn't qualify for the quarter-finals from the group stages. Verdict: Offaly. Westmeath v Laois, TEG Cusack Park, 5pm (M. McNally, Monaghan). Laois's incredible finish against Offaly last weekend propels them into the last-12 game and their confidence contrasts with how Westmeath let slip a quarter-final berth against Limerick. If it comes down to the closing stages again, Laois will believe but Westmeath have the firepower to subdue them. Verdict: Westmeath. Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC quarter-finals. Kerry v Cavan, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 12pm (N. Quinn, Clare). A difference class of challenge for Kerry and one they may find shackling at times. Nevertheless, they will be expected to win. Verdict: Kerry. Tyrone v Cork, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 1.45pm (C. Ryan, Galway). The rising tide in Tyrone is lifting all boats and it could drown Cork here if they are not careful. A tight start required to give them a chance. Cork captain Cathal McCarthy successfully appealed the red card he received against Kerry two weeks ago, meaning the St Colum's man is free to play. Verdict: Tyrone. Roscommon v Louth, Kingspan Breffni, 7pm (P. Clarke, Cavan). Channel that Leinster final heartache and Louth can make the last four. Verdict: Louth. TG4 Football All-Ireland Ladies SFC, Round 1. Group 1. Galway v Tipperary, Tuam Stadium, 2pm (G. Chapman, Sligo). Galway finished first to Tipperary's third in Division 2 yet the points won difference was remarkable, Galway amassing 21 points to Tipperary's nine. Galway scored twice as much as their neighbours and only one result looks on the cards. Verdict: Galway. Group 2. Kerry v Mayo, Austin Stack Park, 2pm (J. Murphy, Carlow). Mayo have sure had their toils and heading to Tralee to commence their All-Ireland campaign looks an arduous one. Kerry have shown they can turn it on when they want it to but they can play within themselves to pick up the points here. Verdict: Kerry. Group 3. Meath v Armagh, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm (M. Farrelly, Cavan). Armagh will be disappointed to have given up their league crown but they have moved from entertainers to contenders and Meath know they must absorb plenty of punishment to take anything from this opener. Verdict: Armagh. Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship, Round 3. Group 1. Clare v Limerick, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm (B. Kearney, Kildare). Clare will go a long way to securing a knock-out spot with a win here and it's well within their compass. Limerick are a youthful side who are making in-roads but Clare have the advantage. Verdict: Clare. Wexford v Tipperary, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 4pm (G. Donegan, Dublin). Tipperary were humbled by the All-Ireland champions but they can pick up their first points against a Wexford side who have lost two games on the bounce. Verdict: Tipperary. Group 2. Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 2pm (D. O'Callaghan, Limerick). Getting the home loss to Waterford out of their systems quick is the order of the day for Kilkenny. Dublin can be stubborn but it should be a second win for The Cats. Verdict: Kilkenny. Waterford v Derry, Walsh Park, 4pm (C. McAllister, Cork). Derry are looking like a fish out of water and after a famous win over Kilkenny, The Déise will be determined to sustain that momentum. Verdict: Waterford. SUNDAY. Joe McDonagh Cup final. Kildare v Laois, Croke Park 1.45pm (M. Kennedy, Tipperary) Live RTÉ. It's still difficult to square how Kildare topped a table, beating Laois in Portlaoise by 11 points along the way, yet were defeated by relegated Kerry in their opening round. The Lilywhites have been superb since turning their run around with a second round win over Westmeath and that belief they have generated is a potent weapon as much as Laois will be fuelled by what was a chastening win that almost derailed their promotion challenge. What's most impressive about Kildare this year is their spread of scorers as much as David Qualter is expected to oblige with the placed balls. Having been in a number of Christy Ring deciders, Croke Park shouldn't be too daunting for them either but this is a Laois side that has been exposed to Liam MacCarthy Cup opposition this year. Although they were often on the losing side, that should count for something. They sure could do with some of the experienced men they have lost since last year's final but there is enough nous and hurt in their ranks to complete the job. Verdict: Laois. Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals. Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1pm (C. Lane, Cork). Another team kicking themselves that they didn't top their group, Wexford should be able to put behind them that loss to Fermanagh in Croke Park last weekend. Antrim are doughty but they might not be able to make this long trip worthwhile. Verdict: Wexford. Sligo v Carlow, Tubbercurry, 2pm (B. Cassidy, Derry). Goals were Sligo's undoing against Kildare in their battle for No1 position in Group 1 and here they face a revived Carlow side who will ask awkward questions of them. You would imagine Sligo will do enough to avoid a surprise defeat. Verdict: Sligo. Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC quarter-final. Offaly v Mayo, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 3pm (A. Coyne, Westmeath). Offaly showed so much bottle in Newbridge but they can't be complacent here. Verdict: Offaly. TG4 Football All-Ireland Ladies SFC, Round 1. Waterford v Dublin, Fraher Field, 1.30pm (B. Redmond, Wexford). There is plenty of life remaining in this Dublin team as they demonstrated in their Leinster final win over Meath. Waterford finished ahead of them in the league on score difference and home soil helps but Dublin to squeeze by. Verdict: Dublin.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Weekend GAA previews: Meath to get back to winning ways against Cork
SATURDAY. All-Ireland SFC, Round 1. Group 1. Donegal v Tyrone, MacCumhaill Park, 7pm (M. McNally, Monaghan) Live GAA+. Normally, Donegal and Tyrone would command the undivided attention of each other, but Tyrone could be forgiven for having one eye on Mayo in Omagh next weekend. They were the last team in championship to break through Fortress Ballybofey but never on Jim McGuinness's watch. McGuinness could also be forgiven for thinking ahead seeing as Cork beat them in Round 2 after Donegal's one-week turnaround last year. Shaun Patton's injury aside, Donegal should have enough in the tank to stave off a quickly-improving Tyrone. Verdict: Donegal. Group 2. Meath v Cork, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm (N. Mooney, Cavan). If there are victors here, they are likely to be through to the knock-out stages and the question is just how much did the Leinster final disappointment take out of Meath. Matthew Costello's goal aside, they were out of ideas for a large part of the second half. Cork had their own heartache against Kerry but have had plenty of time to park it. They have their first choice full-back line restored too but the absence of Brian Hurley can't go unnoticed and The Royals, for all their shyness in Croke Park last Sunday week, have plenty of attack options. Meath can get back to winning ways quicker. Verdict: Meath. Group 3. Louth v Monaghan, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 4.45pm (B. Cawley, Kildare) Live GAA+. As several of the Louth team have said, the Leinster final was their All-Ireland so naturally almost everything that follows is going to pale in comparison. Refocusing themselves for this game will be difficult as much as confidence should be flowing through Ger Brennan's camp. It's been more than suggested that Monaghan were the biggest victors in the draw but now they have to start proving it and backing up their solid first half to the season. Verdict: Monaghan. Group 4. Armagh v Derry, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm (S. Hurson, Tyrone). The time between losing that provincial preliminary round game and this trip to Armagh city has probably given Paddy Tally his most important stretch with his Derry side. He was chasing his tail in pre-season as a late appointee but this break will have helped no end and cleared up several injuries too. So it should be a more formidable Derry side that take on the Ulster runners-up but Armagh are old hat at recovering from such setbacks and on their own turf are even fiercer. Verdict: Armagh. Joe McDonagh Cup, Round 5. Carlow v Laois, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm (C. Flynn, Westmeath). A de facto semi-final, which should draw a good crowd to Carlow town. Both have shown great flashes throughout their campaigns but both were also humbled by Kildare, Laois the latest to feel their sting last weekend. Had Laois won in Portlaoise, they were in the final and for that aspiration to slip away now would knock them back considerably. Mark Kavanagh was in mean form with 3-12 against Westmeath last weekend and Carlow can rack up big scores. Calling this one is brutally difficult but Carlow may just shade it. Verdict: Carlow. Kildare v Down, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 2pm (B. Keon, Galway). Down won't be pushed over here seeing as they need a point to be sure of retaining their McDonagh status. A point is unlikely to enough for Kildare to qualify for the final but they have plenty of wind in their sails after three straight wins and can add a fourth but it should be tight. Verdict: Kildare. Kerry v Westmeath, Austin Stack Park, 2pm (N. Malone, Clare). A difficult season for both counties and Kerry also find themselves in relegation bother after letting a lead slip against Down last weekend. Westmeath are bound to fight with everything they got but each team simply haven't been scoring enough. Kerry to summon their best display of the season to stay up. Verdict: Kerry. Lory Meagher Cup semi-final. Monaghan v New York, TEG Cusack Park, 1pm (A. Tierney, Tipperary). A real threat of a mismatch here and there is some justification in Monaghan's complaints about New York's bye to this stage. A team featuring former Cork player Seán O'Leary-Hayes and ex-Galway star and New York vice-chairman Johnny Glynn won't be beaten. Verdict: New York. Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC quarter-finals. Clare v Dublin, FBD Semple Stadium, 2pm (C. Doyle, Tipperary). Verdict: Clare. Wexford v Limerick, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm (C. O'Donovan, Tipperary). Verdict: Limerick. Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship, Round 1. Group 1. Clare v Wexford, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm (C. McAllister, Cork). Only Antrim got the better of Clare in Division 1B this year and they can pick up another win over Wexford in Ennis. Verdict: Clare. Cork v Limerick, Páirc Uí Rinn, 4pm (J. Mullins, Clare). Cork sure wouldn't have minded a Munster final before commencing their All-Ireland pursuit but they shouldn't have too much trouble claiming the points. Verdict: Cork. Group 2. Derry v Kilkenny, Owenbeg, 2pm (B. Kearney, Kildare). Derry were beaten in this year's Division 2 final and while it's a long journey for Kilkenny they should start as they mean to go on. Verdict: Kilkenny. Galway v Dublin, Kenny Park, 4pm (L. Dempsey, Kilkenny). Dublin are licking their wounds from relegation never mind a Leinster semi-final loss to Kilkenny, and Galway will be expected to win if not with too much ease in Athenry. Verdict: Galway. SUNDAY Munster SHC, Round 5. Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm (J. Murphy, Limerick) Live RTÉ. It comes down to this for Cork but if anybody is thinking this is a safety net after last Sunday's fall, they have another thing coming. Waterford are sick and tired of all their hurling being played over just four months of the year and they will come with a bang to Leeside. Yes, Dessie Hutchinson is not playing as well as we know he can and there is an over-dependence on Jamie Barron and Stephen Bennett but there is an honesty about this Waterford side that is easy to admire. Their good defensive record will be stretched here though and if Conor Prunty seems well-matched for Brian Hayes, it's not certain that Waterford have somebody equipped to take on Alan Connolly if he is in the mood. The big question for Cork is in their half-back line where Rob Downey will be missed. Cormac O'Brien performed well when he came on against Limerick but the awareness of Mark Coleman and Ciarán Joyce has to be much better, especially when they will have Barron buzzing around them. Brian Roche and Tim O'Mahony can help out there too and this latest midfield partnership will be expected to break forward as well. Cork have their seasoned men Coleman, O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Patrick Horgan but it can't be understated the assuredness the return of Seamus Harnedy brings to the team. If Cork don't get it all their own way early on and anxiety from the crowd spills onto the pitch, he can bring that bit of serenity. Waterford know it's a tall order to claim a first-ever senior championship win in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. They need their x-factor men to deliver but even if their powers are on show, Cork's tidal power at home will overwhelm them. Verdict: Cork. Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm (T. Walsh, Waterford). The absence of live TV cameras but also the deep affection in Limerick for this team of theirs means over 33,000 will be in attendance here. That's not to forget the Clare following who will want to show their appreciation to a group of players who gave them so much joy last year. Inter-county futures won't be decided here but do the likes of John Conlon and Shane O'Donnell really want to finish their fine careers in a dead rubber? Clare will be back but for now Limerick won't mind rubbing some salt into the wounds while anticipating The Banner won't go without putting up a fight. It's a chance for a couple of Limerick players to stake a claim for a Munster final place too. On the basis of last Sunday, you wouldn't change a team about their team but form is temporary and John Kiely will want the rod sharpened for a potential second bout with Cork. Verdict: Limerick. Leinster SHC, Round 6. Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm (C. Lyons, Cork) Live RTÉ. A fascinating game in store and it's clear the amount of work Niall Ó Ceallacháin has done with his charges. Sure, he might have been double-jobbing with Na Fianna for several months but Dublin look a well-coached side. They were the same last year under current Galway manager Micheál Donoghue and there is every chance Dublin can reign again especially when Donnycarney makes them two inches taller. This being the third game in as many weekends, the resources of each group will be tested but Galway had it so easy against a distracted Antrim while Dublin are coming off a grueller against Kilkenny and maybe they don't just yet have that depth. That's not to say Galway are flooded with talent but they have old dogs for the hard road on the field and the bench. Since the loss to Kilkenny, Galway have been a different side. A point here will get them to Croke Park on Sunday fortnight. Verdict: Draw. Offaly v Antrim, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm (M. Kennedy, Tipperary) Live GAA+. Backed into the corner, it's at times like these that Davy Fitzgerald exhibits his best. Sambo McNaughton's comments during the week will have hardened his resolve to get one mighty effort from Antrim. They have a couple of forwards back including James McNaughton. A bit of the pep in Offaly's step has been lost in recent weeks and the commitment to the league and early part of the championship has taken a lot out of them. They too can pull out a big performance but if Antrim are able to harness a siege mentality, they can go the distance. Verdict: Antrim. Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm (S. Stack, Clare). A nothing game for either team and there will be pressure on Keith Rossiter in the coming weeks after the defeats in Dublin and Galway. Wexford will want to go out on a high but even if Kilkenny are slightly experimental, they should be too good for them. Verdict: Kilkenny.
