GAA Preview 3rd & 4th April 2010

[GAA_Punter]

Saturday 3 April

Allianz NHL Division 2
Clare v Westmeath, Cusack Park, 12.45pm
Referee: Tommy Ryan

Clare supporters will be arriving expectantly into Cusack Park for the first part of a double header on Saturday and this should be the first of two wins that they have to celebrate.

Victory for Ger O'Loughlin's team would leave them within touching distance of top flight hurling but they take nothing for granted against a team who ended a run of four straight defeats by beating Antrim last week.

Kevin Martin's Westmeath would see anything they take from this game as a huge bonus and they will be more concerned about the relegation battle against Down in the last round of games.

Verdict: Clare

Allianz NFL Division 4
Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, Ennis 2.30pm
Referee: Padraig O Sullivan

After last week's three point win over Longford, Clare remain the only side with a 100% record still intact and if that is still the case after Saturday's game then they will be promoted to Division 3 with a game to spare.

The Banner County kept Longford scoreless for the opening 40 minutes last week but conceded seven unanswered scores in the final ten minutes of that game.

While Clare were enduring a nervous finish, Limerick had no such worries and they will have had harder workouts in some training sessions than in their 29 point win against Kilkenny.

Seanie Buckley scored 3-2 in that win but this game will be a different story and Limerick will know that anything less than a win in Cusack Park will surely put an end to their promotion hopes.

Verdict: Clare

Kilkenny v Waterford, Freshford, 2.30pm
Referee: Joe Curley

Kilkenny have been on the wrong end of some severe beatings already this campaign and there is surely another one waiting for them on Saturday.

Waterford turned in one of their best performances in years when beating promotion rivals Wicklow last week and that result puts them in a great position.

Liam Ó Lionain scored twice in a glorious three minute spell during that game for John Owens' men and they should have enough in their locker to win this at a canter.

A win for The Déise coupled with a Clare win over Limerick will be enough to at last promote Waterford from Division 4.

Verdict: Waterford.

Leitrim v Longford, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon 2.30pm
Referee: Robert O Donnell

Glen Ryan's Longford have had a terribly disappointing campaign so far with just one win in six games and only seven points in as many minutes in the closing stages against Clare saved them from being on the wrong end of a humiliating defeat last week.

Leitrim are the very definition of a mid table side having beaten the three teams that they have played who are below them in the league table while losing to the three that they have played above them.

Ryan would dearly love another win before the end of the league season but Mickey Moran's team will prove to be difficult opponents for them. Michael Foley scored seven points for Leitrim in last week's win against Carlow and James Glancy also impressed in attack.

Verdict: Leitrim

London v Carlow, Ruislip, 2.30pm
Referee: Gregory Walsh

Never mind a win, Luke Dempsey would be happy just to see his team finish this game with 15 men after having two players sent off in four of previous five games.

Given those disciplinary problems, it's not surprising that Kilkenny are the only team that Carlow have beaten since the opening round.

London have had their own problems this year and if Carlow can keep their full complement of players on the pitch they will expect to win this.

Verdict: Carlow

Cadbury Connacht U21FC final
Sligo v Roscommon, Markievicz Park, 5.30pm

A big crowd is expected in Markievicz Park for a very rare event on Saturday night. This will be only the third time in 47 years of the competition that neither Mayo nor Galway are in the under 21 decider.

It is Sligo's seventh final but they still await their first title having been most recently beaten by Mayo at the final stage last year. Roscommon have been triumphant on six occasions but still await their first win this century although they did win a minor All-Ireland title in 2006.

Roscommon had the honour of knocking holders Mayo out in the semi final when they won by the slenderest of margins. Senior players Paul Garvey, Donal Shine were both highly impressive in that win and they were backed up by solid performances from Neil Collins, Michael Higgins, Niall Daly, and James Mc Keague.

Sligo had to overturn a four point deficit against Galway in Tuam to force their semi final into extra time before they eventually came through, also by a single point margin. Top scorer David Maye was man of the match in that win with Ronan Mc Garrigle and Keelan Cawley both having fine games in defence.

This is a tough game to call with home advantage perhaps swinging the odds in Sligo's favour but it is a game that could go either way.

Verdict: Sligo

Rest on
http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2010/04/01/gaa-preview-3rd-4th-april-2010/