Kerry v Mayo

St Brendan’s Park, Birr, 12.30pm

THE BOOKIES ARE predicting a comfortable Kerry victory but this one will be close.

It’s six weeks since Kerry, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year, shocked Cork in the Munster final.

Mayo lost the Connacht final to an impressive Galway side but they blitzed Westmeath last weekend, with Cora Staunton bagging 4-8 in a one-sided qualifier.

It’s difficult to find a line of form this summer and while it might be overly simplistic to suggest that if Kerry stop Staunton, they’ll win the game, that’s not too far from the truth.

Championship intensity in the legs could be vital and Mayo have the physicality and attacking armoury to upset Kerry.

The Kingdom won’t be lacking for hunger as they look to get back to an All-Ireland final and they beat Mayo by ten points at this stage two years ago.

Kerry: Edel Murphy (Laune Rangers); Cait Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds), Aislinn Desmond (Rathmore), Aoife Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds); Breda Lane (Listowel Emmets), Caroline Kelly (Southern Gaels), Denise Hallissey (Inbhear Sceine Gaels); Emma Sherwood (Firies), Bernie Breen (capt, Laune Rangers);  Sarah Houlihan (Laune Rangers), Deirdre Corridan (Southern Gaels); Sarah Jane Joy (Laune Rangers); Patrice Dennehy (Laune Rangers), Louise Galvin (Finuge / St Senan’s); Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh (Corca Dhuibhne).

Mayo: Yvonne Byrne (Hollymount); Marie Corbett (Carnacon), Noelle Tierney (Carnacon), Sarah Tierney (Hollymount); Caoilfhionn Connelly (Westport), Martha Carter (Carnacon), Kathryn Sullivan (Castlebar Mitchels); Claire Egan (Carnacon), Clodagh McManamon (Burrishoole); Aileen Gilroy (St Brigid’s), Cora Staunton (Carnacon), Fiona McHale (capt, Carnacon); Sarah Rowe (Kilmoremoy), Deirdre Doherty (Charlestown), Lisa Cafferky (Kilmovee Shamrocks).

Betting: Kerry 4/9 Draw 9/1 Mayo 2/1

Verdict: Kerry

Cork v Dublin

St Brendan’s Park, Birr, 2.15pm

CORK AND DUBLIN meet again in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-finals, following a titanic tussle in 2011.

Dublin were All-Ireland champions then but Cork came with a run of seven unanswered points to claim a 2-14 to 3-10 victory.

Dublin haven’t forgotten that defeat and the two sides return to the same venue, St Brendan’s Park in Birr, for an intriguing rematch this afternoon.

Dublin appear more settled after a difficult 2012 campaign and the vibes coming from their camp suggest that they are ready.

The worry from a Dublin perspective is that they haven’t had a game for six weeks but Cork have already lost to Kerry twice in the championship and the Rebelettes stuttered past Armagh last time out.

Extra-time could be needed to separate the big city rivals but the Sky Blues get a tentative nod to end Cork’s reign as champions.

Cork: Martina O’Brien (Clonakilty); Ann Marie Walsh (capt, Inch Rovers), Brid Stack (Liscarroll), Deirdre O’Reilly (Liscarroll); Briege Corkery (St Val’s), Rena Buckley (Donoughmore), Geraldine O’Flynn (Liscarroll); Juliet Murphy (Donoughmore), Angela Walsh (Inch Rovers); Nollaig Cleary (Gabriel Rangers), Ciara O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), Annie Walsh (Inch Rovers); Valerie Mulcahy (Rockbán), Doireann O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), Orla Finn (Kinsale).

Dublin: Cliodhna O’Connor (Naomh Mearnóg); Rachel Ruddy (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Siobhan McGrath (Thomas Davis), Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna); Martha Byrne (Cuala), Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Sinead Finnegan (Fingallians); Denise Masterson (Naomh Mearnóg), Amy McGuinness (Fingallians); Natalia Hyland (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Orlagh Egan (Na Fianna), Noelle Healy (St Brigid’s); Lyndsay Peat (Parnells), Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s), Lyndsay Davey (Skerries Harps).

Betting: Cork 1/2 Draw 9/1 Dublin 15/8

Verdict: Dublin

DJ Carey, John Mullane and Nicky English walk into a bar… for top hurling charity night