Cavan v Kildare, Kingspan Breffni Park, 3pm, Ref: Martin Duffy (Sligo)
Is he sidelined with a shoulder injury? Or has he recovered his fitness? Will he be parachuted in from the start to continue Kildare’s recent trend of making pre-match changes? Or will he be kept in reserve and propelled in during the match? There’s no escaping the headline act in this game tomorrow but amidst the questions over whether or not Seanie Johnston will make his Kildare debut, there is the realization that by the end of this game tomorrow afternoon, a line will be drawn under the affair. Lining out against his native county on their home patch surely marks the culmination of this controversy and the whole matter can be finally put to rest.
On a purely football sense tough, this should be a straightforward success for Kildare. If they are not distracted by the sideshows and focused on the job at hand. If they can rectify the structural issues that grew apparent in their full-back line and midfield against Meath. If they have recovered from the setback of that provincial semi-final exit. And if they show faith in Tomas O’Connor and leave him inside close to goal for the full 70 minutes.
Cavan have plenty exciting young talents like Gearoid McKiernan, Niall McDermott and Jack Brady. After some years of turmoil, their recent underage renaissance generates fresh hope for the future. But they have been at the back of the pack in recent years and plying their spring trade in Division 3. Kildare were crowned Division 2 champions this year and if they have serious championship ambitions, then this is an assignment they should easily pass.
Verdict: Kildare
CAVAN: J Reilly; K Clarke, P O’Reilly, D Tighe; M McKeever, D Reilly, F Flanagan; D Givney, T Corr; N Smith, G McKiernan, R Flanagan; N McDermott, E Keating, J Brady.KILDARE: S Connolly; A MacLochlainn, M Foley, P Kelly; E Bolton, M O’Flaherty, H McGrillen; D Flynn, R Kelly; E O’Flaherty, M Conway, A Smith; J Doyle, T O’Connor, J Kavanagh.
Westmeath v Kerry, Cusack Park, Mullingar, 3pm, Ref: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)
Much like it will be interesting to see how Kildare recover from a provincial semi-final exit, Kerry’s return to frontline action will also be closely monitored. The suggestion in the wake of their listless second-half display against Cork that they will be better off going the indirect route has some merit to it but a team with plenty of miles on the clock needs to be reinvigorated. The return of Bryan Sheehan is a boost and the positive reaction to his presence indicates just how important he has become to Kerry over the past two years. Colm Cooper’s positioning at full-forward is built around a plan to have him as the focal point of their attack and service him with possession more quickly. Exciting Legion attacker James O’Donoghue will add to their effort in the corner as well.
It’s been an odd campaign for Westmeath with a defeat to Louth in the Leinster championship followed by a victory over Louth in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Garrycastle duo John Gaffey and Doran Harte front their defensive unit, they will hope John Heslin can prosper at midfield with the Glennon brothers, Denis and David, the figureheads in attack. However the absences of Kieran Gavin and Dessie Dolan for different reasons reduces the capabilities of the team. While they have home advantage, Kerry will be bracing themselves for a claustrophobic challenge. Going away from home will benefit them and they have had enough time to rehabilitate to get the show back on the road.
Verdict: Kerry
WESTMEATH: D Quinn; M McCallon, J Gaffey, K Maguire; D Harte, M Ennis, D McDermott; J Heslin, P Bannon; K Martin, G Egan, C McCormack; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, P Sharry.KERRY: B Kealy; M O Se, A O’Mahony, K Young; T O Se, E Brosnan, B Maguire; A Maher, B Sheehan; P Galvin, Declan O’Sullivan, D Walsh; J O’Donoghue, C Cooper, K Donaghy.
Laois v Monaghan, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3pm, Ref: David Coldrick (Meath)
There are dejecting provincial semi-final defeats and then there is the manner of the loss Monaghan suffered against Down. An Ulster semi-final that was firmly within their grasp slipped away in the closing stages as Down pegged them back and then midfielder Dick Clerkin saw his late effort to draw the game drift agonizingly wide. The outcome of this game will be largely predicated on whether Monaghan have recovered from that wounding defeat. The vibes are positive though with manager Eamonn McEnaney stating during the week that the time the players spent with their clubs in the aftermath of the game helped enthuse them once more.
Travelling away from home is tricky and they floundered at a midlands venue last year, being soundly beaten by Offaly in Tullamore. But Laois will be aware that they need to greatly improve their form after a Leinster championship defeat to Longford and a qualifier win over Carlow that took a long time before being achieved. They have remodeled the spine of their team here with Billy Sheehan returning but MJ Tierney, the scoring hero the last day, cannot bag a starting berth. With Monaghan’s midfield pairing of Owen Lennon and Clerkin in fine form, captain Darren Hughes back in harness and a lethal inside trio of Paul Finlay, Conor McManus and Tommy Freeman, they can triumph here.
Verdict: Monaghan
LAOIS: E Culliton; C Healy, K Meaney, J Kavanagh, D Strong, J O’Loughlin, C Boyle; B Quigley, C Begley; D O’Connor, B Sheehan, G Walsh; R Munnelly, P Clancy, C Kelly.
MONAGHAN: M Keogh; D Wylie, V Corey, C Walshe; K O’Connell, D Mone, K Duffy; O Lennon, D Clerkin; P Dooney, D Hughes, J Turley; P Finlay, C McManus, T Freeman.
