Armagh v Leitrim
Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 5pm
A fly on the wall could do a better preview. It is so hard to know where a team's collective mindset is at before a round-two qualifier. But win here and Armagh will be rolling away and ready for anyone.
It looks like they will crack on, simply because Leitrim go to battle without captain Emlyn Mulligan who has not recovered from injury sustained in the defeat to London.
Darren Sweeney does return to their midfield and while Armagh are without their anchor Charlie Vernon enough balls into Jamie Clarke should yield the necessary amount of scores to see Paul Grimley's convalescing men win on the road.
Leitrim: C McCrann; F McMorrow, C Egan, S McWeeney; D Beck, G Reynolds, B Prior; D Sweeney, B Brennnan; P McGowan, J Glancy, P Brennan; A Croal, R Lowe, K Conlon.
Armagh: P McEvoy; P Mc Keown, B Donaghy, J Morgan; A Kernan, C McKeever, M Shields; J Lavery, S Harold; C Rafferty, K Dyas, E Rafferty; J Clarke, T Kernan, E McVerry.
Referee: F Kelly (Longford).
Longford v Wexford
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 7pm
This may sound insulting but both teams have the look of qualifier fodder. Glen Ryan appears to have got Longford back on course, after defeat to Wicklow, by overturning Limerick last weekend, whereas Wexford's mood is uncertain after falling off Meath. At least they know the qualifers well.
Last year it took a replay before Wexford could wriggle clear of Longford. On paper they look to have the better attack but Longford at home and with fresh momentum can plough on.
Longford: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; B O'Farrell, P McCormack, S Mulligan; J Keegan, M Brady; B McElvaney, P Barden (capt), P Foy; F McGee, S Mc Cormack, JJ Matthews.
Wexford: A Masterson; M Furlong, G Molloy, R Tierney; B Malone, D Murphy, A Flynn; D Waters, R Quinlivan; J Holmes, B Brosnan, A Doyle; C Lyng, R Barry, PJ Banville.
Referee: P O'Sullivan (Kerry).
Cavan v Fermanagh
Kingspan Breffni Park, 7pm
Down suffered from having to do away with a old rival for a second time as the qualifiers have been laced with irony (or is it cruelty?) this summer. Cavan should be able to progress but Peter Canavan's Fermanagh will have figured out so much of the errors that led to the 0-13 to 0-11 defeat on June 16th.
Cavan delayed naming their team as fullback Rory Dunne and wing back James McEnroe are struggling to overcome injuries.
Fermanagh to ruin their season then. Simply because they will be so hard to beat. Stubborness and bittness to prevail.
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
Kildare v Louth
Newbridge, 7pm
Kieran McGeeney, interestingly, has largely kept faith in the team he put out and was subsequently slaughtered by Dublin on June 30th. The only change sees Padraig O’Neill replace Seán Hurley in midfield.
Defeat here would be blow the McGeeney era in Kildare might not survive from.
But it's littered in danger. Aidan O'Rourke has worked with the Kildare players, knows their ways and has clearly settled in as Louth manager. The 10 point trouncing of Laois showed them to be a well coached side.
There has been some defensive restructuring as goalkeeper Neil Gallagher is suspended for getting a red card against Antrim, while Conor McGuinness and Brian Donnelly are dropped. Shane McCoy, John O’Brien and Ray Finnegan come in.
Kildare should, presuming they shore up the middle and fix their passing accuracy, power on.
Kildare: S Connolly; D Hyland, M Foley, H McGrillen; E Callaghan (capt), P Kelly, E Bolton; D Flynn, P O'Neill; P Cribbin, N Kelly, E O'Flaherty; J Doyle, D Flynn, P Brophy.
Louth: S McCoy; P Rath, D Finnegan, J Bingham; J O'Brien, D Crilly, R Finnegan; P Keenan, B White; C Byrne, C Rafferty, A Reid; D Maguire, S Lennon, C Judge.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
