1. Clare v Laois
Mick O’Dwyer provides the intriguing subplot to this game.
The Clare side he is currently in charge of goes up against Laois, the county that he steered to Leinster glory in 2003.
Laois were truly awful in their provincial opener against Louth in May but showed signs of recovery in the qualifiers last Friday night against Carlow.
Justin McNulty’s side will be backed to advance here but Clare on home soil makes it a more awkward task and they’ll need to stifle the threat of Banner captain Gary Brennan.
2. Derry v Down
Neither side will relish the chance of pitting themselves against each other so soon after their last meeting and given that there were more favorable opponents they could have faced.
They have both displayed promise this season, Derry in winning the league title and Down in running Donegal so close, but exiting the championship in early July will mark a solemn end to their 2013 endeavors.
The team’s Ulster championship meeting was universally acclaimed with 35 scores served up over the 70 minutes. Whether this game will be as open and entertaining is a moot point.
3. Longford v Wexford
These sides certainly cannot be accused of being unfamiliar with their capabilities. Between league and championship, they have clashed five times already in the last 15 months.
Longford won the two Division 3 league games between the sides last year – in the division and in the league final – by two points on both occasion. The teams then drew in last year’s Leinster quarter-final before Wexford won out by a point in the replay.
And then this year in Division 2 of the league, Wexford prevailed by a point. Safe to assume, the latest contest between them will be a tight affair.
Longford’s Sean McCormack and Graeme Molloy of Wexford
INPHO/Cathal Noonan
4. Leitrim v Armagh
These two sides come off the back of vastly different championship Sunday experiences yesterday. Leitrim endured a horror show in their opening period against London and despite a second-half fightback they could not overturn the Exiles.
Armagh enjoyed a pleasant afternoon as they strolled to success over Wicklow in their opening qualifier. It’s a novel pairing and Leitrim have home advantage but if Armagh harness the form from yesterday, they should prevail.
5. Cavan v Fermanagh
Another rematch between Ulster opponents here. Last month the neighboring counties clashed in a game played in the backdrop of the G8 summit and defined by Cavan’s attacking forces of Martin Dunne and Eugene Keating coming up trumps.
The mental outlook of the sides may have shifted now. Cavan were left reeling by an Ulster final place slipping out of their hands on Saturday whereas Fermanagh achieved a rare championship victory.
6. Roscommon v Tyrone
For the second successive year it is Roscommon welcoming Tyrone to Dr Hyde Park. The difference on this occasion is that Roscommon are not as buoyant as they were last year when they were coming off the back of claiming the scalp of Armagh.
Instead they were humbled by Mayo in their recent Connacht semi-final whereas Tyrone got their season back on track when crushing Offaly in Tullamore on Saturday. Hard to see Mickey Harte’s team not prevailing.
Action from last year’s Roscommon and Tyrone clash.
INPHO/Donall Farmer
7. Kildare v Louth
Three years ago during Louth’s run to the Leinster senior football final, they pieced together an excellent display against Kildare in their quarter-final when they racked up a total of 1-22 and won by six points.
That experience will be one Louth will hope to draw on as Aidan O’Rourke goes up against his former Armagh teammate Kieran McGeeney. How McGeeney attempts to rally his troops after yesterday’s humbling experience against Dublin in Croke Park will be fascinating.
8. Galway v Waterford
Galway continue their rehabilitation from the thrashing they suffered against Mayo in Connacht with another qualifier tie at home to Munster opposition. They did the needful against Tipperary on Saturday.
Alan Mulholland will hope that can help give confidence to a side that has looked fragile. The momentum picked up from that win should help them against a Waterford side who were defeated by 26 points by Kerry last time out.
