The championship roared to life last week and there are several mouthwatering clashes in store again this weekend, with Cork’s Munster showdown against Clare the pick of the bunch in hurling, while in football all eyes will be on resurgent Donegal as they face Tyrone in an Ulster semi-final.
There is plenty of action live across RTÉ, GAAGO and BBC.
On Saturday, the Leinster senior hurling championship encounter between Antrim and Wexford will be shown on GAAGO, with throw-in at 3pm. The Ulster senior football semi-final between Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh and Down will also be live on GAAGO later that day, with that Clones clash starting at 5.15.
Sunday will see two games live on RTÉ: Galway v Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC at 2pm and Limerick v Tipperary in the Munster SHC at 4pm.
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There will be three games on GAAGO on Sunday: Kildare v Louth in the Leinster SFC at 1.45; Cork v Clare in the Munster SHC at 2pm and Dublin v Offaly in the Leinster SFC at 4pm.
The Donegal v Tyrone match in the Ulster SFC will be broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland, with throw-in at 2pm.
Weekend fixtures
Saturday
Ulster SFC semi-final: Armagh v Down, Clones, 5.15 (GAAGO)
Armagh delivered a highly impressive display in dismantling Fermanagh at the quarter-final stages, while Down stuttered to victory over Antrim. Conor Laverty’s Mourne side had been swashbuckling during most of the league but they lost the Division Three final to Westmeath, and worryingly followed it up with that below par performance against Antrim. Over the past 26 years, Down have only managed one championship win over Armagh, with the Orchard County coming out on top on seven occasions. Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh have their sights firmly on attaining Ulster glory this year, and they have the firepower to advance beyond Down. Verdict: Armagh
Leinster SHC round 2: Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park, 3.0 (GAAGO)
Although Antrim had a salutary visit to Kilkenny, they will be happier at home for this. Wexford were far from happy to get their eye wiped in injury-time but Keith Rossiter was philosophical about the overall performance: “A good 70 minutes, bad last three minutes.” The problem for Antrim is that whereas a five-goal pounding isn’t unusual in Nowlan Park, their scoring came to a feeble 0-13. Lee Chin and Rory O’Connor were at least in good scoring form.
Verdict: Wexford
Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6.0
Carlow put in a very creditable display in their opening match with Galway. For a team that had been playing in Division 2A of the league, to go to Salthill on the first hot, dry day of the year and be within four points with three quarters of the match gone, was a solid achievement. Marty Kavanagh and Jon Nolan were to the forefront of the scoring but ultimately the ream couldn’t hold out Galway indefinitely. Dublin achieved a sensational result in Wexford with two injury-time goals that keeps their campaign alive and creates enough momentum for this.
Verdict: Dublin
Joe McDonagh Cup round 2 (3.0): Offaly v Westmeath, Glenisk O’Connor Park; Meath v Laois, Páirc Tailteann
Christy Ring Cup round 3 (1.0 unless stated): London v Wicklow, Ruislip; Kildare v Derry, Hawkfield; Sligo v Tyrone, Markievicz Park, 3.0
Nickey Rackard Cup round 3: Louth v Mayo, Dowdallshill, 1.0; Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 3.0
Lory Meagher Cup round 3: Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 1.0; Lancashire v Cavan, Glenavy, 2.0
Sunday
Munster SHC round 2: Cork v Clare, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.0 (GAAGO)
Strangely, Cork have played Clare at home in just one Munster championship match in history, which they duly won in the first round-robin, in 2018. A week ago, Clare defended well against Limerick up until the final quarter when the implosion happened. Cork recovered from Waterford’s strong start but were unable to complete the job, which has been a recurring incapacity. Their best chance is the liveliness of the younger forwards. Alan Connolly got a goal two years ago when Ed Sheeran obliged Cork to play in Thurles but they were outplayed that day and for much of last year and yet they have the valuable ability to cause Clare to make heavy weather of matches between the two. Even allowing for the big three-quarter mark lead, Clare weren’t at their best against Limerick. They’ll need to be now, getting Shane O’Donnell and Aidan McCarthy clicking with Tony Kelly as well as more vigilant defence than was to be seen a week ago. There was something uncharacteristic about that meltdown and maybe they can relocate their A game more easily than Cork.
Verdict: Clare
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4.0 (RTÉ)
Tipp make their entrance to this year’s championship against a Limerick side who got lucky last week in Ennis. Whereas they definitely improved in the final quarter, it wasn’t commensurate with the three-goal blast that killed Clare. The champions have been fitful in the round robin for the past year and last week was no exception. They should be a bit better this week even if just down to the return of Peter Casey to add the creative and finishing menace that was lacking six days ago. The visitors were quick off the blocks last season and nearly won this fixture but as usual, faded in the second half. Liam Cahill has gone for unalloyed youth to take up this challenge and they have the advantage of some quality forwards – Jake Morris and Mark Kehoe were excellent in the fixture last year – who will charge a higher price than Clare if Limerick are as ineffective as they were for three quarters of the match in Ennis. The champions obviously have better in them and that may be enough.
Verdict: Limerick
Leinster SHC round 2: Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium, 2.0 (RTÉ)
A sequence of freakish injuries leaves Kilkenny significantly handicapped for this latest chapter in the Leinster rivalry between the counties, losing All Stars Eoin Murphy and Eoin Cody as well as Adrian Mullen and Mikey Carey. Derek Lyng has been admirably phlegmatic about having to dig into his panel and in truth, why wouldn’t he? Kilkenny can afford to lose this and still make the provincial final although there would be unaccustomed jeopardy in the Dublin and Wexford fixtures. Oddly, this round-robin fixture has never been lost by Galway, who have three wins and one draw from the four years to date. Of course, what happens after that has been another story with just one actual provincial title won during that time. Galway didn’t look terribly predatory then last day against Carlow but got the job done. Henry Shefflin’s team need to go for this. Kilkenny have ailibis but they don’t.
Verdict: Galway
Leinster SFC semi-finals: Kildare v Louth, Croke Park, 1.45pm (GAAGO)
It has been a challenging year for Glenn Ryan and his Kildare team – losing all seven of their Division Two league games is a stark statistic. With midfielder Kevin Flynn suspended for this game, and concerns over the form of the team, Kildare are not arriving at Croke Park brimming with confidence. Louth, hoping to reach successive Leinster finals for the first time since 1957-58, beat Kildare 1-12 to 0-12 when the sides met in this year’s league. Louth finished the league with a scoring difference of 20, Kildare finished on -37. Louth scored four goals against Wexford last time out. Kildare have only managed to score that same number of goals across the entire season so far, league and championship combined. All the metrics point to a Louth victory here, but there are lessons in history – of the 33 previous championship clashes between the sides, Kildare have won 19 to Louth’s 12. There have been two draws. The consequence of defeat for Kildare is playing in the Tailteann Cup – this is the biggest game they have faced in many seasons. That has to count for something – and in Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Niall Kelly and Darragh Kirwan they have players capable of leading Kildare to a great escape. Verdict: Kildare
Dublin v Offaly, Croke Park, 4.0 (GAAGO)
Offaly finished sixth in Division Three and haven’t beaten Dublin in the championship since 1982. To have any chance of changing that fact, Offaly will need to score goals but you have to go all the way back to 1960 for the last time the Faithful managed to net more than one goal against the Dubs. The motivation for Dublin will be all internal, players fighting for a jersey – either to retain one for the Leinster final or snatch one by coming in off the bench and making a big impact. It adds up to a potentially difficult afternoon for Offaly at Croke Park. Verdict: Dublin
Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal v Tyrone, Celtic Park, 2.0 (BBC NI)
Donegal produced the biggest talking point of the championship so far with their 4-11 to 0-17 deconstruction of Derry’s game plan last Saturday. Tyrone had nine debutants in their 1-23 to 3-16 extra-time victory over Cavan last Sunday. A lot will depend on which team has managed their recovery best over the last week – and in a fairer system there would have been a two-week gap for both teams to prepare. Either way, the confidence and morale in the Donegal dressingroom after their win in Derry must be huge. Getting to return to the scene of such a feelgood victory will certainly not hurt their cause here either. Tyrone have been crippled by inconsistency all year, while Donegal have yet to lose a game (league or championship) under Jim McGuinness this term. Empowered by their statement win over Derry, Donegal will take the fight to Tyrone, looking to continue where they left off at Celtic Park last week. Verdict: Donegal
Joe McDonagh Cup round 2: Kerry v Down, Austin Stack Park, 1.0
Nickey Rackard Cup round 3: Armagh v Roscommon, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 2.0
Lory Meagher Cup round 3: Warwickshire v Fermanagh, Birmingham, 1.0
Women’s football
Saturday
Munster Senior Championship round 2 (2.0): Kerry v Cork, Brosna; Tipperary v Waterford, Bansha
Sunday
Leinster Senior Championship round 2 (2.0); Laois v Dublin, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise; Meath v Kildare; Pairc Tailteann, Navan.
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