JOE’s Championship preview: Part 2 – Saturday’s qualifiers

Part 2 of this week's mammoth GAA preview takes a look at the nine games at stake in the football and hurling qualifiers - including that little local spat at Breffni Park.

By Shane Breslin and Ciaran Brennan

Saturday

The match: Louth v Meath

Where and when: Breffni Park, 7pm

The plot: Think back to Diego’s Hand of God and Thierry’s Hand of Frog. Not very often are victims of sporting injustice afforded the opportunity to soothe their pain in a short space of time, but that’s the opportunity presented to Louth this weekend.

When big Joe bundled over the line and ref Sludden said “yeah”, 53 years of Wee County hurt flooded to the surface. They may not have got the desired replay last summer but now, less than a year later, Louth have their chance to put the record straight.

Not in the Leinster championship mind. No, that particular accolade has passed these two teams by for this year. This is round one of the qualifiers, the “back door” route to a long hot summer. Peter Fitzpatrick’s team got themselves knocked out of the Leinster championship when Carlow trumped them last time out. The experts tell us Meath were awful against Kildare, although but for the karma of a disallowed late Graham Geraghty goal, they could easily have won. Go figure those experts, eh?

Verdict: Meath are 4/9 favourites but they’ve been far from convincing this year, so we’ll go with outsiders Louth to exorcise the demons.

The match: Cavan v Longford

Where and when: Breffni Park, 5pm

The plot: Both counties have started to make waves at underage level, winning their respective provincial titles this year. Longford have also enjoyed a decent 2011 so far, eclipsing Connacht champions Roscommon in the Division 4 final, but things have been much more difficult for Cavan, who capitulated at home to to Donegal in Ulster.

Verdict: Longford have the greater scope at the moment, and they should keep the flag flying.

The match: London v Fermanagh

Where and when: Ruislip, 1.30pm

The plot: Contrasting fortunes for these two so far, with London coming within a few seconds of shocking Mayo in Connacht and Fermanagh reeling from the player withdrawal crisis earlier in the year. There’s an argument to be made that these two are the weakest sides in the Championship, but that won’t matter to London if they get a rare Championship win on Saturday afternoon.

Verdict: Fermanagh got the better of the Exiles in the League but that one was in Brewster Park and we wouldn’t be surprised if London did the business in Ruislip.

The match: Antrim v Westmeath

Where and when: Casement Park, 2pm

The plot: Two sides who have had mixed fortunes so far this year, with Antrim falling through the Division 2 relegation trapdoor and Westmeath going in the opposite direction from Division 3. Both have suffered fairly ignominious reverses in their first Championship game, with Donegal far too strong for the Saffrons and Westmeath conceding 1-24 to Wexford.

Verdict: Home advantage gives Antrim a real chance but Westmeath look the more complete outfit.

The match: Clare v Down

Where and when: Cusack Park, Ennis, 3pm

The plot: On the road in Ennis is a real comedown for Down, nine months after their appearance on showpiece day at Croker. Clare were understandably outclassed by Cork in Munster but they’ll be looking at this as a real chance to make their mark. The fact that Down are without key forward Danny Hughes is a blow for the visitors, who will be bidding to bounce back after their disappointing Ulster exit at the hands of Armagh.

Verdict: Down should be too good.

The match: Wicklow v Sligo

Where and when: Aughrim, 5pm

The plot: Twelve months is a long time for Sligo, who lowered the colours of Mayo and Galway in Connacht last year and looked ready to take the next step to mid-sized players on a national scale. Fast-forward a year and their upward trend in the league came to an abrupt halt with relegation from Division 2, while defeat to Leitrim in Connacht marked a real low for Kevin Walsh’s men. Wicklow’s Leinster challenge never got going against Kildare but Micko and the boys will be looking at the qualifiers as their route to a few wins this summer, and Aughrim is always a real test for visiting teams. Sligo have some classy forwards, but their best, David Kelly, is an injury absentee.

Verdict: Wicklow to win by two or three.

The match: Laois v Tipperary

Where and when: Portlaoise, 7pm

The plot: Laois enjoyed a good league by winning promotion to Division 1 but the anticipated performance against Dublin failed to materialise and the game ended in contentious circumstances following the treatment of talented forward and JOE’s Twitter buddy, MJ Tierney. Tipp were never likely to challenge Kerry in Munster so they’ll have been planning for this one for some time.

Verdict: Laois have too much quality to let this one slip at home.

The match: Offaly v Monaghan

Where and when: Tullamore, 7pm

The plot: The fall-out in Offaly GAA tainted the hurlers greatly but the footballers didn’t escape and their performance against Wexford last time out was dismal. Monaghan pushed Tyrone all the way despite ending the game with 13 men.

Verdict: Eamon McEneaney’s men will be both disappointed and encouraged by their brief campaign in Ulster, and they should have too much in hand here.

The match: Cork v Offaly

Where and when: Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2.30pm

The plot: Cork got plenty of scoring practice against Laois last weekend, ratcheting up an incredible 10-20 against the Faithful’s midlands neighbours. Offaly are in turmoil following the Joe Dooley v County Board drama, so while this one will be a bit tougher for the Leesiders, it should still be straightforward enough.

Verdict: Cork. Handy.

The match: Antrim v Carlow

Where and when: Casement Park, 4pm

The plot: Antrim have a Championship win to their credit already this year, accounting for Laois before bowing out to Wexford, while Carlow will be sorely disappointed with the manner of their exit to Westmeath.

Verdict: Antrim generally pull out a decent performance at Casement and while they had just a point to spare against Carlow in the league, this one should be a bit more straightforward for the Saffrons.

For this week's provincial semi-finals preview, including Dublin-Kildare and the so-called Connacht Clasico, check this out.