Weekend Gaelic Football previews 27th & 28 March

[GAA_Punter]

Saturday 27 March

Allianz NFL Division 1

Derry v Cork, Celtic Park, 7.30pm
Referee: Marty Duffy

Time is running out for Derry if they are to get the points that will pull them away from the relegation zone and last week's defeat to relegation rivals Monaghan will have hit them hard.

That was their fourth defeat on the bounce and Damien Cassidy will be anxious for his team to get a win in one of their final two games not only to stave off relegation but also to halt the losing streak before the championship.

However, they could hardly have wished for a tougher game than against the in-form Rebels. Last week's win over Dublin showed that they are hungry for a league final place and was the perfect way to respond to the previous week's shock loss to Tyrone.

Cork have conceded five goals in their last two games and that is a problem that Conor Counihan will be anxious to address but it's hard to see them slipping up at Celtic Park.

Verdict: Cork

Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 7.30pm
Referee: Cormac Reilly

Pat Gilroy's Dubs had been enjoying a perfect league campaign up until last week's seven point defeat to Cork and suddenly the pressure is on if they are to clinch a place in the league final.

A win against a Galway team who are still looking over their shoulders at Derry and Tyrone below them would nicely set up Gilroy's team going into the final round of games.

Joe Bergin was in fine form for the Tribesmen in last week's vital win against Tyrone while Matthew Clancy scored 1-3 from play and Galway will need these kind of players to be at the top of their games if they are to get anything from their trip to the capital.

Verdict: Dublin

Tyrone v Kerry, Omagh, 7.30pm
Referee: Padraig Hughes

Although last week's defeat to Galway was a crushing blow for Tyrone, the one bright spot was the substitute appearance of the magnificent Sean Cavanagh and he is line to take his place in the Tyrone starting team for the first time since last year's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Kildare this weekend.

Cavanagh's return could hardly be better timed because his county badly need a win from somewhere but the fixture Gods haven't exactly smiled on Tyrone and getting anything from their final two games against Kerry and Dublin will be tough. The good news of Cavangh's return is also balanced out by the loss of Justin McMahon through a hamstring injury.

Jack O'Connor's Kerry team have lost three times already in this league season and the manager has gone on record this week as saying his team need more one win to their ensure their safety.

However, Tyrone's need is greater this weekend and that allied with the returning Cavanagh might be enough to tip this one in the Red Hands' favour – and drag the holders into an unlikely relegation scrap in the final round of games.

Verdict: Tyrone


Allianz NFL Division 2

Donegal v Meath, Ballybofey, 7.30pm
Referee: Martin Sludden

These two teams are locked in a four way battle alongside Kildare and Armagh for the last promotion spot behind Down and the winners in Ballybofey will feel that they have taken a giant leap towards Division 1 football next year.

John Joe Doherty's team were far from impressive in last week's one point victory over Tipperary and it was only Michael Murphy's accuracy that carried them through in front of a tiny crowd at Semple Stadium.

Meath were hardly much better when winning by the same margin against Laois and they head North still looking for their first win away from Páirc Tailteann in the league this year.    

Eamon O'Brien's side have found scores hard to come by and their promotion hopes are likely to be scupperred by a negative scoring difference even if do record that first away win.

Verdict: Donegal

Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise, 7.30pm
Referee: Patrick Fox

Referee Patrick Fox is man with the most unenviable job in GAA this weekend.

Games between these two local rivals are always feisty affairs but in the first meeting between the two since a 28 man brawl and seven red cards marred their January O'Byrne Cup clash, all eyes are sure to be on the Westmeath official.

Kildare will see this as an ideal opportunity to send their neighbours hurtling towards relegation but it's hard to know what sort of performance Kieran McGeeney's inconsistent team will turn in. They followed up impressive wins over Tipperary and Donegal with a woeful display in Crossmaglen against Armagh and only a virtuoso display by skipper Johhny Doyle saw them through against Westmeath last week.

Sean Dempsey's Laois team were perhaps unlucky to leave Páirc Tailteann with nothing last Saturday night and the likes of Billy Sheehan and Donie Kingston are sure to cause Kildare's creaky full back line problems in O'Moore Park.

Verdict: Kildare

Allianz NFL Division 3

Antrim v Louth, Casement Park, 7.30pm
Referee: Con Reynolds

The top two teams in Division 3 will both be looking to get their promotion challenges back on track after one point defeats last week.

Paddy Cunningham hit 1-6 for Antrim in this loss to Offaly but surely such a return wouldn't go unrewarded for a second week running.

That win for Offaly would have made Louth's failure to overcome Roscommon harder to take for Peter Fitzpatick as his team could have joined the Northerners at the top of the table with a win against the team propping up the table.

Fitzpatrick could be left disappointed again this week.

Verdict: Antrim

Cavan v Offaly, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7.30pm
Referee: Paul Kneel

With the top two teams in this tight division playing against each other at the same time as this game, a win here for Offaly would be the perfect way to prepare for a final day clash against Louth.

The Faithful County stunned Antrim last week to put an end to their 100% record and it has breathed new life into their promotion hopes.

Tommy Carr will know that a loss here will leave his team facing into a relegation shoot out against Fermanagh on the final day but he might have to settle for second best against a revitalised Offaly.

Verdict: Offaly

Allianz NFL Division 4

Carlow v Leitrim Dr. Cullen Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Derek O Mahoney

Carlow were extremely unfortunate not to be the first team to take something off Clare this season when they lost out to an injury time point despite the second half dismissals of Brendan Murphy and Willie Minchin.

Leitrim also had to contend with a red card last week when Gary Reynolds was sent for an early shower during their facile 15 point win over London but this week's assignment is sure to be a sterner test and it might be one that they fail.

Verdict: Carlow

Limerick v Kilkenny, Gaelic Grounds, 7.30pm
Referee: Jer Lynch

Kilkenny's search for anything positive to take from this year's league continues on Saturday night but they are unlikely to find it at the Gaelic Grounds against a Limerick team who still have an eye on promotion.

Verdict: Limerick

 
Sunday 28 March

Allianz NFL Division 1

Mayo v Monaghan, Castlebar, 2.30pm
Referee: Rory Hickey

A win here will leave John O'Mahony' Mayo team with one foot in the league final but they may have to plan without ace forward Alan Dillon who limped out of last week's two point win over reigning champions Kerry.

Conor Mortimer was in fine form during that win with four points from play but O'Mahony's mind will be pre-occupied with injuries this week and Ronan McGarrity, Aidan Kilcoyne and Barry Moran join Dillon as doubtful.

Mayo face a testing trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the final round of games so they will be especially keen to gather the two points here.

Monaghan managed a vital victory against Derry last week that could well be enough to preserve their Division 1 status next year but even the confidence gained from that is unlikely to save them in Castlebar.

Verdict: Mayo


Allianz NFL Division 2


Armagh v Tipperary, Crossmaglen, 2.30pm
Referee: Martin Higgins

Armagh were infuriatingly slow out of the blocks on Paddy O'Rourke's return to Down and that defeat has opened the door once again for the likes of Kildare, Donegal and Meath for promotion from Division 2.

The Orchard County looked a side full of scores in the previous week's victory over Kildare but only three players made it onto the scoreboard in that defeat to Down.

Tipperary were desperately unlucky to beat Donegal last week and afterwards, manager John Evans hit out at the refereeing decisions that he feels have cost his team in recent weeks.

There is no doubt that defeat has left his team clinging onto their Division 2 by their fingertips and unless they can get something from this trip to Crossmaglen they will be staring at relegation.

Verdict: Armagh

Westmeath v Down, Cusack Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Gearoid O Conamha

It's top against bottom at Cusack Park and surely there is only one winner here.

A win for James McCarten's team would seal a second successive promotion and it would be no more than they deserve after a highly impressive league season.

Last week's game against local rivals Armagh could have proved to be a tricky encounter but a first minute Benny McCoulter goal set them on their way and apart from a sticky patch at the end of the first half, they never looked back.

Not only would a win be enough to promote Down but it would also be enough to relegate Westmeath who surely threw away their last chance of survival last week when losing to Kildare despite leading by 2-1 to no score after 12 minutes. Expect Down to put the final nail in their coffin this weekend.

Verdict: Down

Allianz NFL Division 3

Fermanagh v Sligo, Brewster Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Ciaran Branagan

Fermanagh have won only one game so far this year and things are unlikely to get any better for them against a Sligo team who have won three of their previous four games.

A Sligo win would consign Fermanagh to the basement division next year if Cavan overcome Offaly on Saturday night.

Verdict: Sligo

Roscommon v Wexford, Dr. Hyde Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Michael Duffy

Eric Bradley's goal decided a closely fought encounter against Fermanagh last week in Wexford's favour and suddenly their thoughts can turn to promotion once more.

Roscommon looked dead and buried until last week's shock win over Louth and they will be looking for a similar win in front of their home supporters.

Verdict: Roscommon

Allianz NFL Division 4

Longford v Clare, Pearse Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Paul Finnegan

Clare needed an injury time point from Michael O'Shea last week against Carlow to preserve the only remaining 100% record in the league but they should be too strong for Longford in Pearse Park.

David Tubridy scored 1-11 in that win and another victory for Michael McDermott's men would keep them nicely on track for promotion.

Verdict: Clare

Waterford v Wicklow, Fraher Field, 2.30pm
Referee: Tom Lynch 

A very important game in the race to join Division 4 champions elect Clare in Division 3 next year.

Wicklow were perhaps surprisingly held to a draw by Limerick at home last week to end a run of four consecutive wins and maybe Waterford's fresher legs will make the difference here after they enjoyed a week off last weekend.

Verdict: Waterford.

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