The Empires Strike Back

This weekend was more about quality than quantity, and there was plenty of quality on view. Let's take a quick spin through the main talking points from the weekend we've just witnessed.

Munster Senior Football Final
What sort of an amadán tips against Kerry in Killarney? Em. Ok. Next question. In all fairness, that first half display by the Kingdom was the best I've seen in quite a while. It must have seemed familiar to beleagured Mayo fans who dare to remember that 2006 All Ireland Final.The storm they unleashed in that final was similar to the one on show on Sunday and the forward movement they displayed was a fearsome sight for anyone intending to put a stop to them. Just like that 2006 final it was Declan O'Sullivan, alternating between #11 and #14, who set the tone and provided the driving inspiration behind the great start.

If O'Sullivan was the man of the match then for a long time Bryan Sheehan and Anthony Maher must have been close behind. I had serious doubts about that duo being able live with Cork around the middle of the field, but they were the dominant partnership for the vast majority of the game. Maher foraged with savage intensity, and Sheehan went through an amount of work that he simply hasn't produced before, while chipping in with a couple of lovely points which he certainly has produced before.

Cork's first half travails were emphasised by a somewhat baffling tendency to go with the short kick out. Now, while they weren't going that well in the middle of the field, they were winning ball there in high challenges. It was their use of that ball that was the primary concern in my opinion. Going with short kickouts suited Kerry, as their workrate was so high that Cork were never able to string a proper move together. Going 110 metres instead of 65 was never likely in those circumstances and time and again Cork got tied in knots or kicked the ball away.

Despite that first half tour de force, it will worry Kerry a little bit that Cork came back so strongly in the second half. It is true that you would expect that from a team like Cork, who have done the same thing in the past, but the suspicion remains that Cork's comeback was as much about Kerry fading from tiredness as much as Cork's resurgence. Kerry will point, with a lot of validity, to the fact that Tomás O'Sé and Paul Galvin will be two huge boosts for them, and would certainly bring a lot more of that intensity to the game, but I still harbour some possibly unworthy doubts about the staying power of some of the Kerry lads around the middle of field particularly.

They do, however, have the Kieran Donaghy option to come out and relieve any pressure out there and you don't lose threat by moving Declan O'Sullivan inside. O'Sullivan is at his most effective out at centre forward but he is well capable of doing damage inside there, and with the returning heroes, Kerry will feel they are where they wanted to be at the start of the year.

Cork won't be too troubled to go through the qualifiers, they did it last year after all, and if they avoid Kerry they would be clear favourites again. But, annoyingly for Conor Counihan and all Cork fans, that seed has been planted again. Can they beat Kerry in a game Kerry *cannot* lose? The losses of Ciarán Sheehan and Colm O'Neill will not help their cause, but they are still a good team despite Sunday. One thing is for sure though: they cannot afford to give the top teams a first half like that and expect to claw it back every time. You can only go to the well so often. They need to use the ball a lot better, and their distribution was poor on Sunday, as well as an overall lack of direction in their attack. A lot of that is probably due to the Kerry defence in fairness, but it's something Cork will have to improve upon.

Leinster Senior Hurling Final

Crisis? What crisis? A harsh lesson learned for Dublin on Sunday, just when we had thought they might be beyond those lessons. And, while a lot of the talk was about the Dublin disappointment, pride of place in any review of this final must go to the great Kilkenny performance.

It wasn't their best ever performance, to my mind the All Ireland demolition of Waterford remains the high water mark, but in the context of this match it was probably one of the most timely and important reminders that Kilkenny are still Kilkenny and we should give them the respect they deserve.

Dublin, as a team, were built to take on and beat Kilkenny but, as I said in the preview, this was a different scenario entirely. While Kilkenny were short several key cogs in the League Final it was the other way around on Sunday, with Dublin having to field without Ryan O'Dwyer, without Tomás Brady, without long term absentee Stephen Hiney and with a patently not ready Joey Boland. A team trying to make the breakthrough, like Dublin were, can ill afford to ship such losses.

That disadvantage was magnified when you consider that Kilkenny had Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh and Michael Fennelly back and, above all, a serious point to prove; an unusual occurence for this bunch.

From the outset it was obvious that this was different from that May bank holiday weekend as Tommy Walsh, especially, set the tone with some outstanding fetches in the early going. I suspect the Dublin half forwards must have been wondering what the wing back had in his boots as time and time again, as is his wont, he soared above much bigger men to claim possession. He is the living embodiment of 'timing is everything' in the way in which he wins the ball, and his use of it is rarely careless.

In fact, one of the key points of note in the game was the success, or lack of it, both teams had in imposing their style on the game. In marked contrast to the league final, and indeed to the game versus Galway, Dublin were unable to play their new short stick passing game. In those games, it was noticable that they rarely wasted possession, and seemed able to pick out the intelligent pass a lot of the time. On Sunday, whether through panic, uncertainty or sheer weight of black and amber pressure, that just did not happen. On the other hand Kilkenny clearly had a plan of putting the ball in front of Eoin Larkin, and while they overshot the runway on occasion, they did reap reward from it. They also were much more intelligent with their use of the ball, finding the open man and taking their score. Of course they also did damage where Kilkenny do damage always, in scoring goals and it was the goals that always had them comfortable in the game.

Dublin are not a beaten docket just yet, and it would be a mistake for them to think they are. Ryan O'Dwyer will be a boost to the half forward line and a fit Joey Boland will bolster the defence. They are good enough to be a major obstacle for all the remaining teams, even though you suspect Tipp and Kilkenny are that bit further down the road. A semi final appearance is within reach of these lads though and if they can get back to their style of play, and get Peadar Carton and Dotsy O'Callaghan on the ball a lot more, they have every chance. You need goals, as Kilkenny and Tipperary show regularly, so you need your inside forwards getting ammunition.

Kilkenny will march on now and await the outcome of the qualifier and quarter finals scrum, content in the knowledge that, while they are not perfect, their sights are recalibrated on Liam McCarthy again and it will take a good side, as usual, to stop them. Crisis? What Crisis?


Ulster Senior Hurling Final

A very creditable performance by Armagh notwithstanding, a much changed Antrim side were just too strong for the orchard county in the Ulster Senior Hurling Final, played in Casement Park on Sunday. Dinny Cahill had rung the changes for this game, with an eye on the tussle with Limerick in the Qualifiers next Saturday, and this had lent credence to the theory that Armagh could seriously put it up to the glensmen.

I don't think Antrim were ever seriously in trouble, but Armagh did enough to make sure the spectators in Casement Park witnessed a contest rather than a rout and at half time the sides were separated by 6 points which is not a major deficit in hurling, as we all know.

Indeed, as the game entered it's closing stages and with Antrim reduced to 14 men, there were Armagh people daring to dream the impossible dream as the lead was reduced to just 4 points. Unfortunately for those dreamers Antrim finished stronger, tacking on 1-2 to Armagh's 0-1, to run out 8 point victors.

It's good for Antrim to be able to give game time to fringe players, and still retain their vise like grip on the Ulster Championship, and they will be in a good frame of mind heading to Parnell Park to play Limerick next Saturday. They will be underdogs but they were underdogs last year when they beat Dublin as well, so they know what they are capable of.

Armagh deserve great credit for the strides that they have made, and the next step for them is to become a serious team in the Christy Ring Cup. Down are regarded as such and Armagh beat them in the Ulster semi final, so there's no reason why that is not a viable target.
Hurling Qualifiers

Saturday was Qualifier day in the All Ireland Hurling Championship, as the Phase II matches were decided in Limerick and Galway, and in both tussles it was the home side that ran out victors at the expense of Wexford and Clare respectively.

In Limerick, an unexpectedly large crowd, coupled with a poor crowd management strategy, meant that there was a 10 minute delay to the throw in but from the moment the ball was in play it was obvious that Limerick were the better team. Early on they failed to make their advantage pay, and indeed trailed Wexford in the opening stages but they soon rectified that and, inspired by Donal O'Grady, Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes, they pulled ahead by six points before a Wexford goal gave the Slaneysiders some hope before half time.

After the break Graham Mulcahy came into his own in the full forward line and an early goal from him, in an overall 1-4 from play, really killed the game. From then on Wexford kept going gamely enough but you suspected they expected to lose, and accepted their fate a little too readily. Limerick looked impressive at times, and with the aforementioned players driving them on, they looked as if they could cause problems for a lot of teams. Donal O'Grady seems to be modelling them on the great Cork side he managed in the early 2000s and they certainly look similar in what they are trying to do in terms of running support lines and an emphasis on retaining possession. They are not as good as that Cork team were at that style, yet at least, but it's obvious they buy into the strategy and what Donal is preaching. I would have a few concerns about their back line and while Seamus Hickey is great bursting out with the ball, he doesn't seem to be a natural full back, and that might cost dearly. Tom Condon was having a super game at corner back before going off with a nasty looking injury as he prevented a goal for Wexford and he would be a serious loss the next day out, despite his inexperience.

As I mentioned, Wexford looked a little too accepting of their destiny for my liking and it wasn't a surprise that Colm Bonnar finished his tenure after the match, as this side looked like a team that need some added impetus from somewhere. Colm's done a good job over in Wexford, getting them promoted and keeping their division 1 status but championship has been disappointing, so perhaps it is time for a new voice there.

In Galway, well, what can you say? I think it's indicative of the regard Galway are held that there probably was no more than a mild surprise at the extent of Saturday night's trouncing of Clare.And it's equally indicative of their inconsistency that had Clare beaten them the reaction would have been broadly similar.

Undoubtedly John McIntyre will have been a relieved man to see his team show real appetite, desire and a killer instinct in that first half in particular. Joe Canning and Damien Hayes ran riot, and the return of Kerins, Farragher and Tannian helped, as was expected. The defence looked a lot more solid, and the axis of Shane Kavanagh and Tony Og Regan is a good base from which to build at the back. However, can anyone honestly say that Galway will repeat this against Cork? I know I can't guarantee it, and I'm pretty sure John McIntyre and the Galway lads can't guarantee it, otherwise they'd have been more consistent already.

Every year there seems to be a big performance in Galway, but it only ever seems to be one. This year they will need at least two more to even reach a semi final so the odds are against, you would have to say.

However, as Saturday proved, they have the hurlers and they have the hurling. Clare gave Tipperary a right battle and were simply blown out of the water here. Now it would be a sad state of affairs were Clare not to give Tipp a right battle in a Munster Championship game, and they have hurled in Division 2 for 2 years now, but I don't think their true level is what Galway made them look on Saturday.

Sparrow O'Loughlin is considering his future, I believe, and I hope he stays because he has a nucleus coming through and they need guidance from someone like him. There is a bright future in Clare as long as they have a steady hand at the helm.

Galway, as mentioned, go on to meet Cork in a mouth watering repeat of that famous qualifer in Thurles in 2008 and this time the scene will be the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Looking forward to it already.



Hits and Misses

Again, more hits than misses this week, as it should be, so let's look at some of the good and bad of the past weekend.
Hits

Declan O'Sullivan. In my opinion, the Dromid Pearses' man is one of, if not the, best players in the game. He wins ball, uses it well, drives his team on and can score himself off either foot. On Sunday in Killarney, he gave a super cameo of what he is capable of, and Cork were not able to live with him.


Tommy and Henry. It's a mark of a player's standing in the game when you only have to use his first name and people know who you mean. Henry Shefflin is one of those players, and Tommy Walsh must be close to it as well. Simply imperious on Sunday, both of them, and the main reasons why Kilkenny turned over the League Final result so resoundingly.

Graham Mulcahy. Andrew O'Shaughnessy is a big loss to Limerick since he has left the scene due to unfortunate circumstances but, on Saturday night in Limerick, Mulcahy showed that he can step into those shoes. Surrounded by other good young forwards his star shone brightest of all, with a personal tally of 1-4 from play, and an overall display of speed and direct running which Wexford couldn't handle. One to watch.

Joe Canning. Alright, everyone knows Joe Canning, and everyone has known about him for years, but sometimes we forget how young the lad is, even now (not 23 until October), and the burden of expectation that is placed upon him. Saturday night proved that, with the supporting cast delivering the goods, the shackles can come off Canning and his goal was one of the early contenders for goal of the season. Considering his poor outing against Dublin, this was a real statement from Joe.
Misses

Kieran Donaghy v Noel O'Leary. Sometimes you want to just ask a fella 'What are you thinking?' and this incident on Sunday was one of those times. A harmless tussle for a ball that ended up with Noel O'Leary pulling and dragging out of Kieran Donaghy, and Donaghy 'pushing' out with his foot, which led to O'Leary writhing around on the ground. I thought Cormac Reilly was correct in his reading of it, and David Coldrick gave the deserved yellow cards, but Kieran Donaghy has got to be smarter than that. It could easily have been a straight red for striking with the boot and an All Ireland Quarter Final missed, at least. Noel O'Leary  shouldn't be proud of his part in the incident either and it's not the first time he has been involved in silly antics like this. I know they probably made up afterwards, and I'm sure there's no major hard feelings after this sort of thing, but it looks silly for anyone looking in and both of them are too good to be caught up in that nonsense.
Munster Council/Gaelic Grounds. Most people are aware of the great job the Munster Council, and Limerick CLG have done in refurbishing the Gaelic Grounds and it is a credit to them. Sometimes, though, they make it really hard to give them such credit, and their handling of the qualifier on Saturday evening was a case in point. Expecting a crowd of 8,000, which was probably not unreasonable, they got a crowd of closer to 15,000.

Even with a crowd of 8,000, once the decision was made to have both stands open, surely it makes sense to have turnstiles/gates open in each stand. However, in their infinite wisdom, on one of the best evenings of the year so far, patrons were forced to enter the Gaelic Grounds through the Mackey Stand and make their way across the pitch/terrace onto the new (Hogan) open air seating area. It wouldn't have taken a genius to figure out that on an evening like that most people, even in a crowd of 8k, would prefer the open stand so why not open the turnstiles on that side? As it was we were treated to a 10 minute delay at least and the sight of thousands of fans streaming across from the Mackey Stand side to the Hogan Stand Side.

Sometimes we make it hard on ourselves.

Good News

Good news from San Francisco as young Mark McGovern, mentioned here last week, is making progress in his recovery from a serious injury sustained while playing with the Ulster Club over there. Continued best wishes to him of course.

Other sports

Soccer
July is upon us, and thus the official opening of the European transfer window. It's also the time when most clubs report back for preseason training, with the exception of players playing with their countries. Already there are signs that there may be some crazy money floating around English football again, and Man City, Man United and Liverpool are to the fore early on.

It appears that Arsenal are in danger of losing some of their star players, just at a time when Arsene Wenger would want to be boosting their squad for a serious title push. Gael Clichy is not a star, per se, but he's gone to City, while Fabregas, Nasri and even van Persi have been making ominous noises. Not what gunners fans want to hear.

Also in soccer news, the South American equivalent of the European Championships, the Copa America, is underway in Argentina and thus far it's been a tournament low on goals. In group A, the hosts Argentina, Messi, Tevez, Di Maria and all, needed a late goal to earn a draw with Bolivia, while Colombia jumped to the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Group B has seen 2 0-0 stalemates as Brazil failed to get the better of Venezuela while Paraguay and Ecuador also played out a scoreless draw. Group C features World Cup semi finalists Uruguay, who began with a 1-1 draw with Peru, Luis Suarez of Liverpool getting the equaliser for Uruguay. In the other game a below strength Mexico (invited to this tournament despite actually being in the CONCACAF) lost 2-1 to Chile, despite having taken a lead.

The tournament concludes on July 24th, and can be seen live on ESPN.

US Sports
Stateside, the fireworks are spent and the 4th of July celebrations are already a memory as MLB heads towards it's midseason break, otherwise known as the All Star game. For those of you unfamiliar with the rythmns of baseball, allow me to give you a brief background.

Major League Baseball, or MLB, is divided into two leagues (roughly similar to our GAA provincial system). These leagues are the American League, and the National League. They are not geographical as both leagues span the entire country, and Canada in the case of the Blue Jays,  and indeed some cities have two teams, one in each league (see Chicago Cubs and White Sox, New York Yankees and Mets).

Each league is divided into 3 divisions, the East, Central and West, and these divisions do tend to be organised along geographical lines, as you'd expect, although from time to time anomalies spring up as teams move cities for financial reasons.

The teams each play a 162 game season, and at the end of all of that, 8 teams make the play offs. Those 8 are the Division Winners (3 NL + 3 AL) and 1 wildcard (best runner up) in each league. Each league then plays a semi final (Best of 5 games) and final  (Best of 7 games) in order to identify their 'champion'. The AL and NL champions then face off in a best of 7 series to decide the overall 'World Series' winner.

There are a couple of interesting footnotes to this. Obviously in a 7 game series, home advantage can be crucial (4 games at home, 3 away), especially since there is one huge difference between the leagues. In the NL, you play the game with 9 players, including a pitcher, and everyone must take their turn to bat. Late in a game, the manager sometimes must decide whether to leave his pitcher in to take a turn to bat at an important time, or make a substitution knowing that you'll have to throw on a substitute pitcher as well. In the American League, no such constraint exists because there are 10 players in a lineup. 9 players including the pitcher take the field when the other team is batting, but a role called the Designated Hitter (DH) exists, and this specialist (sometimes very fat) hitter takes the turn of the pitcher when it comes to his at bats. He does nothing else but hit, and the pitcher does nothing but pitch. Pitchers only leave AL games due to poor performance or tiredness, rarely for tactical reasons.

The reason home advantage can be so important is because the rules for each game in the World Series are the rules of the home team. So if an American League team is at home, a DH will be in operation. A National League team at home means the fat guys stay off the team.

MLB have a very interesting way of deciding which team is at home, at it is probably the only 'All Star' game where the result matters. In an attempt to revive interest in the mid summer classic, which is what their all star game is called, the MLB decided that the winners would decide home field advantage for the World Series. Thus all those national leaguers brought together as All Stars do battle with their American League counterparts, but with a real incentive for players on teams that are challenging for honours. It is an interesting approach, and while a lot of people have a problem with it, I think it's a good way of making sure the fans get something out of the game.

This years All Star game takes place in Phoenix, Arizona; the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and will be on Tuesday July 12th. You can see it live on ESPN America.

Speaking of All Stars, one of the all time great shortstops, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, is back in the Major Leagues after coming off an injury and Minor League rehabilitation. He is chasing the magical hitter's target of 3,000 safe hits for his career, and he currently stands on 2,994. The home run total is the glamourous record, but 3,000 hits is a testament to longevity and consistent production. In a sport that places huge emphasis on numbers, 3,000 hits is one of the most valued.

Jeter's career major league numbers are :
2,358 games played.
1,724 runs scored. (He crossed the plate himself)
2,994 hits. (Successful hits where neither he nor a teammate was 'out' because of his hit)
4,303 total bases. (Where advancing to each base - 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd, then 4th counts as 1)
477 Doubles. ( A hit where Jeter was able to run all the way into second base before he had to stop to be safe)
62 triples (As with doubles, except all the way to third base)
236 Home Runs.
1155 Runs Batted In (RBI). (Runs scored by teammates, or himself, as a result of Jeter batting)


Jeter may make the magical mark before the All Star Break, as the Yankees have 2 games against the Cleveland Indians, and 4 games against the Tampa Bay Rays before then, but it may be more likely that he'll do it after the break, when the Yankees play the Blue Jays and Rays again for 4 games each.

That's it for this Tuesday edition. Predictions and hopeless guesses for the weekend GAA on Friday as usual.

A Hurling Weekend, except in Killarney

Not *too* bad last week, going 10-4 on the predictions, but of course some of the ones I felt would be handy turned out to be heartstoppers. This weekend is primarily a hurling weekend, with Provincial deciders in Ulster and Leinster, and Phase II Qualifiers in Limerick and Galway. There is a dash of football thrown into the mix with the eagerly awaited Munster final down in Killarney. As always, any comments, feel free to add your tuppence worth.

* Odds correct (Paddy Power) as of Friday morning.

Ulster Senior Hurling Final

Sunday July 3rd
Antrim v Armagh. Casement Park 3.30pm. (Ref. Declan Magee)

People say the Ulster championship has been devalued since the structural changes in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, and there's no doubt that Antrim's inclusion into Leinster, and Ulster losing their automatic spot in the All Ireland series has been a big change for hurling lovers up north, but this final has a real sense of occasion and curiosity surrounding it. Antrim, in conjunction with their dual mandate, are parachuted into the Ulster Final every year, and are attempting to win their 10th title in a row. Their challengers in that period have been Down, and to a lesser extent Derry and New York, so this year sees a real change of scenery for them, as they face Armagh. The orchard county are appearing in their first final since 1946, and while football remains the dominant game in Armagh, by a long way, there are encouraging signs that the underage work with the small ball is gaining traction. This final appearance is a tangible reward for the hurling people in Armagh, and the fact that they overturned the form book in the semi final against Down (who had beaten them by 17 points in the Christy Ring Cup a short while ago) is a great acheivement. Antrim are overwhelming favourites, and rightly so. Slowly but surely the glensmen are getting used to facing a higher standard of opposition on a semi regular basis, and they have already played 4 games in the Leinster and All Ireland series. That said, they have another game to focus on next weekend, in Phase III of the qualifiers, and Dinny Cahill has thus decided to use the Ulster Final to try out a few other players on the fringe of the first 15. He makes 11 changes to the team that beat Carlow last weekend. Given that this is Armagh's last game of the year, come what may, and it's not Antrim's last game regardless of the result, I'd expect Armagh to wire into Antrim early on, and try and examine their appetite for a battle. I do think Antrim will weather that, and with the help of a couple of goals run out handy enough winners in the end, but promising times for Armagh.


Odds. Antrim 1/14; Armagh 7/1; Draw 16/1
Verdict. Antrim by 10.


Leinster Senior Hurling Final

Sunday July 3rd
Kilkenny v Dublin. Croke Park 4.00pm. (Ref. Barry Kelly)

Live on RTE
It's a sign of the changing times in hurling that Dublin's appearance in the Leinster Senior Hurling Final has barely raised a murmer around the hurling fraternity. Their newfound standing in the game is a testament to the work that has gone in at underage level in the capital for the past 10-15 years or more, while Anthony Daly's arrival has added extra impetus and direction to the Senior bandwagon, and they have certainly arrived as serious contenders in Leinster. Whether or not they can take that next step, and become serious contenders for an All Ireland, is the question, and Sunday will go a long way towards answering that particular teaser.

There's no doubt that their dismantling of Kilkenny in the National League Final was impressive, and indeed bore more than a passing resemblence to the destruction Kilkenny themselves wrought upon Waterford in an All Ireland final a few short years ago. The sight of Kilkenny hanging on for dear life as their opponents kick for the finish line and fire points over from all angles is a very rare sight indeed, but it is what we saw on that spring day in Croker.

However, this is different. This is July. This is Leinster Championship. This is a final. And this is the line in the sand that Dublin must cross. They've dealt with the challenges thrown up by Offaly and Galway in solid if unspectacular fashion, as befits a team of growing maturity, and now they face the team they surely knew would be standing in their way on this particular Sunday. Kilkenny will be better than the league final, of that I have little doubt. Henry Shefflin's return will boost the forwards, while Tommy Walsh will be a significant addition to a half backline that struggled with Conal Keaney and Ryan O'Dwyer in the league final. O'Dwyer's absence thanks to a silly red card versus Galway may be very significant in the context of this game.

This Dublin team was made to measure for a tilt against Kilkenny. They have the physicality to match and beat the Cats, and the hurling to make any physical advantage tell on the scoreboard. The one thing they don't have is experience of winning games in the Championship against the truly big teams, and this is something Kilkenny have over them. A win on Sunday would address that in spades, but I just have a sneaky suspicion that if the game is close coming into the last quarter, Kilkenny will have enough to see them home for their 7th title in a row, and their 12th since 1998.

Odds. Kilkenny 4/11; Dublin 5/2; Draw 10/1
Verdict. Kilkenny by 3


All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Phase II Qualifier

Saturday July 2nd.
Limerick v Wexford. Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 5.00pm. (Ref. Michael Wadding)

The first of the phase II qualifiers gets underway at 5 o'clock in the Ennis Road venue, as resurgent Limerick welcome Leinster visitors Wexford with a place in the Phase III round at stake. It's been a year of progress and redemption so far for Limerick, as they continue to put last year's misery behind them under the guidance of Donal O'Grady. Objective 1 was achieved in regaining their division 1 status, and while Objective 1a, an appearance in the Munster Final, was missed, it was missed by the narrowest of margins. Indeed that display against Waterford eased the worries of Limerick fans who feared a spring in Division 2 would render them incompetent when the rubber hit the road in the summer. It's in the history books now that Waterford prevailed with a last minute goal from John Mullane, but Limerick will take a lot from that performance, and are looking to put a run together in the qualifiers at this stage.

Wexford will also be pleased with their spring work, as two big performances against Cork and Tipperary saved them from the drop at Offaly's expense, however their championship outing against Kilkenny was far more disappointing than Limerick's exit. It seemed set up for Wexford to produce one of their traditional challenges to their old rivals, with home advantage, Kilkenny slightly vulnerable, and with a large crowd having already witnessed the Wexford footballers win well beforehand. It just never happened for them though, and Kilkenny strolled through the game really, apart from a goal just before half time. Wexford can hurl, but so can Limerick, and the battle around midfield may be vital. Donal O'Grady had a big game against Waterford, and if he can get ball into their new impressive forwards of Kevin Downes and Declan Hannon, then Limerick should have enough at home to see them through.

Odds.Limerick 4/9; Wexford 2/1; Draw 10/1
Verdict. Limerick by 4

Saturday July 2nd
Calway v Clare. Pearse Stadium, Salthill 7.00pm. (Ref. Diarmuid Kirwin)

Live on RTE

The second of Saturday's phase II qualifers sees the fascinating clash of neighbours Galway and Clare, as the banner make the short journey up the new motorway to Salthill. Clare will have been encouraged by their showing against Tipperary, particularly in the early going, and but for goals at opportune times in that game, Tipp were in big trouble. However, if Clare could not get up for Tipp in the Munster Championship, things would be dire indeed, and so that performance may not be a good indicator of their true level. There's no doubt that they do have some quality in their side, and their All Ireland Under 21 team provides a boost to the squad. Forwards like Conor McGrath and veteran Diarmuid McMahon can cause problems, and certainly the Galway defence did not look like a solid unit against Dublin.

What can you say about Galway? They've been promising great things and have a conveyer belt of talent for years, but they simply never seem to perform when it matters. We had been told for years and years that their lack of competition in Connacht was holding them back, and handing an unfair advantage to the Leinster and Munster counties in August and September. It has to be said, though, that since Galway have come into the Leinster fold, their performances haven't been much different and so the search for answers continues.

You would have thought that being criticised by their childhood heroes would have sparked some response from Galway, and it's worrying that despite having their mental strength, abilities and right to even wear the famous jersey questioned, they couldn't raise a gallop against Dublin. When men like Conor Hayes, Noel Lane and Brendan Lynskey call you out like that, you'd hope to respond more forcefully than what Galway managed in Tullamore.

However, there are changes in the Galway side, and I think it makes them a better team. Ger Farragher comes back in, and while I'm unconvinced about his positioning at centre forward as picked, he would have been a great addition in terms of the freetaking against Dublin. Joe Canning is a class act, but he had a bad day with the dead ball against Dublin, and it would have been a big bonus were Farragher there to take over. Iarla Tannian and Alan Kerins also return to the forward line, giving a bit more bite and liveliness there, while Shane Kavanagh resumes at full back. Portumna's Andy Smith comes into midfield, and the Galway side just looks more balanced and dangerous. I'm going to go down the road travelled by many fools, and tip Galway to come good.

Odds. Galway 2/5; Clare 12/5; Draw 11/1
Verdict. Galway by 6.

Munster Senior Football Final

Sunday July 3rd
Kerry v Cork. Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney 2.00pm. (Ref. David Coldrick)

Live on RTE

The latest edition of one of football's best and famous rivalries takes place in the beautiful surrounds of Fitzgerald Stadium, as hosts and Munster Champions Kerry entertain their nearest and dearest rivals, the All Ireland Champions Cork. This is a friendly rivalry, without doubt, as a stroll in downtown Killarney on Sunday morning will testify. The amount of couples declaring split loyalties, with one proudly wearing the Green and Gold, or the Blood and Bandages, as their partner sports the other colour is remarkable, even among neighbouring counties, and I think it's true to say that no other county in Ireland 'gets' Cork the way Kerry people do, and vice versa.

That said, it's also a fierce rivalry, and they hate losing to each other. Kerry are obviously the pre-eminent force historically in gaelic football, and Cork people were often relying on the hurling to be their port in a storm of Kerry slagging. However the tables are turned this year, at least in the sense that Cork are All Ireland Champions, and the best team in the country at the moment as well. Kerry people will point to the fact that Cork didn't beat Kerry in winning their All Ireland, and Kerry's munster win last year hangs over Cork, yet another little straw in the psychological barrier that this Cork team seems to have with Kerry. As a Kerry friend of mine says, 'Cork can beat Kerry anywhere except Killarney or Croke Park'. That narrows the options a bit obviously, but there is a grain of truth in it. Cork have not won in Killarney in 16 years, and their travails against the old enemy in Croke Park is infamous at this stage.

Kerry have the forwards to beat anybody. End of story. Declan O'Sullivan, for my money, is one of the best footballers in the country, if not the best, and is hugely important to Kerry in the way he hoovers up ball, drives forward and sets up scores or finishes themselves. Gooch is obviously a class act, while the effectiveness of Kieran Donaghy on the edge of the square is renowned at this stage. There are no bad Kerry forwards, and the replacements on the bench would probably get onto at least 26 other county teams. The thing about having great forwards, though, is that you have to give them the ball. There's a major question mark about Kerry in midfield and in the half back line, in my opinion, and so there's a real danger that Donaghy, O'Sullivan and even Gooch might get sucked back out the field trying to pick up ball there. If  that happens, Cork will be well on their way.

For it not to happen, a huge performance is needed from Bryan Sheehan and Anthony Maher, as well as the two half lines. Sheehan and Maher are fine ball playing footballers, but whether they are dynamic or forceful enough to compete with the strongest part of the Cork team is doubtful. That being the case, the loss of Paul Galvin and Tomás O'Sé will be felt even more, and a lot of pressure will bear down on Eoin Brosnan at centre back. Brosnan is a great footballer, but his strength is in moving forward. In games where Kerry are on top, he is another lethal weapon bearing down on the opposition half and full back lines, and he can score or set up scores with ease. Whether or not he can survive in a game where Kerry are under pressure is another matter, and may well be tested this Sunday. If Brosnan, O'Mahoney and Young are unable to stand strong, then a Kerry full back line that conceded 3 goals in the midst of a one sided victory over Limerick would be facing a really stern examination, one that they may not be ready for.

Cork are big, fast, strong, direct and most importantly, good. Powerful is probably the best all encompassing adjective. Winning Sam will obviously help their development, but for them to march on to the next level they will need to start beating Kerry in the really big games, ideally in Croke Park. This game is not an All Ireland series match, but a win in Killarney would be a real marker that this Cork team has had enough of Kerry, and is good enough and has gotten mentally strong enough to beat them anywhere.

Cork have leaders and big men, physically and reputationally, all over the field, and the likes of Graham Canty, Aidan Walsh, Alan O'Connor, John Miskella, Pierse O'Neill, Daniel Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor are real All Star calibre players.

It's very hard to go against Kerry in Killarney, and with Corks pyschology still unproven in these sort of games, you'd nearly be inclined to give Kerry the nod. If, however, you are trying to predict games, sometimes you have to ask yourself  "which team is better, with the intangibles removed?". In this case it's Cork.

Odds. Kerry 11/10; Cork 11/10; Draw 13/2
Verdict. Cork by 3.

Big Weekend Recap

Phew. That was pretty hectic. 8 football qualifiers, 4 provincial semi finals and 2 hurling qualifers to talk about, and talking points from nearly all of them.

Provincial Semi Finals
First up, in Connacht, Mayo got the better of their near and dear rivals, but the game itself was not one of those we'll be recalling in 20 years time. The key moment arrived with Mayo's goal from full forward Alan Freeman, and it was fairly comfortable for Mayo from then on. They will be delighted to see Ronan McGarritty come on and kick a point for them, even though the O'Shea brothers did very well in the midfield battle. It was a poor game overall, but the Mayo lads will be delighted to exorcise the ghost of Ruislip, and will be a dangerous opponent for the Rossies in the final, especially as Roscommon will be favourites in most peoples' minds.

Up in Clones, a dour enough struggle ensued as well, but the outcome has led to a novel scenario in Ulster. Donegal's deserved victory has set up a final clash with Derry, and thus for the first time since 1998 neither Tyrone nor Armagh will be the Ulster standard bearers. That has to be a good thing for a province that prides itself on the competitiveness of it's championship. Donegal are not pretty to look at, and the loss of Joe McMahon through a reckless, at best, 'challenge' was a key factor, but they showed resiliance and a cool head to close out the contest after Tyrone had firstly burst out of the blocks, and secondly had come back to draw the game in injury time. Two qualities not particularly on first name terms with Donegal in recent years.

Croker saw two very different contests. Wexford survived a rocky start to see off Carlow by 14 points, and continue their high scoring gallop towards the Leinster final. They have unearthed several heirs to the Mattie Forde mantel, and in Shane Roche and his 2-4 from play, they've found another one to add to the likes of Ciaran Lyng and Ben Brosnan. Carlow will be disappointed to lose in such a fashion after starting so well, but it's a well worn cliché that goals win games, and you cannot concede 4 in a semi final and expect to win. They've been given a tough, but doable, task in the qualifiers away to Antrim, but they cannot allow their backline to be as porous again. Wexford will trouble the Dubs defence if they get ball, but they cannot allow Dublin to get off to a flyer like Carlow did. Dublin have the ability to rack up 2 or 3 goals in that scenario, and Wexford would struggle to claw them back. However, it is good to see Wexford in the Leinster Final, and they have a puncher's chance because of their forwards.

The final provincial semi final saw a real championship struggle between Dublin and Kildare. From my vantage point, on the couch, it appeared as if Dublin were always just that little bit more comfortable than Kildare on the day, and ran out deserving winners. There was good intensity in the game, and while the quality was lacking at times, particularly in the shooting department, it was great to see a nice day and a fast paced game. It felt like real championship. Kildare will be disgusted at their failure to put Dublin away, especially since they had most of the momentum in the second half, but they are not the first side to fail to make numerical advantage count, and until the late goal, Dublin seemed  at ease defensively. A worry for Dublin will be their struggles around midfield again, and teams like Cork are equipped to really destroy the Dubs there. Not much point having the Brogans etc if the ball is down in your half all day. Eoghan O'Gara remains a conundrum. Undoubtedly a good ball winner, he seems to struggle with decision making, in terms of ball usage, and also in terms of needless fouling. His red card was decidely avoidable, and if he is to become a real foil for the rest of the forwards, he needs to learn to differentiate between trying hard and being reckless. Kildare won't be happy with the way the game ended, but on balance I think the correct team on the day won.

Football Qualifiers

London took advantage of the factors in their favour, including their own good form to be fair to them, and recorded their first championship victory in 34 years over a disjointed and decimated Fermanagh side. Despite the nominal advantages London had, you still have to go out and win Championship games, and the one thing they did was prove that the performance against Mayo was not a fluke. Waterford's fans might be relishing the shopping opportunities in Oxford Street, but the footballers will not be looking forward to another battle in Ruislip.

So close for Clare, yet so far away. The division 4 team twice reeled in the beaten All Ireland finalists, having stood them decent leads at the beginning of both halves, and but for a last minute, desperate, goal line clearance by CORNER FORWARD Conor Laverty, Down would have been traipsing away from Cusack Park with their tails between their legs. Down survived a similar scare against Offaly last year, and went on to the final, but this was even closer than that day in Tullamore, and Down will have to knuckle down if they are to make a good effort at a repeat trick. Midfield is a problem for the Mourne men, and Marty Clarke is probably not the answer there, but Leitrim at home in the next round gives them a chance at working at their failings.

Longford made their superiority count with a strong breeze in the second half against a young Cavan side which lost their discipline as the game went against them, but in honesty a one point lead at half time was never going to be enough for Cavan. Longford proved far too strong in the second half, and ran out easy victors as the home side were reduced to 13 men. A fine volleyed finish from Brian Kavanagh was the highlight of the game, but in truth it was over at that stage. Cavan are in the throes of rebuilding, again, and will need to take advantage of their Ulster Championship winning under 21s, while Longford will look forward to the visit of Tyrone to Pearse Park, and have matured into a solid, doughty Championship side over  the past few years. You earn your victories in Pearse Park, as Derry, Mayo and Dublin have all discovered in recent years.

In the second game in Kingspan Breffni Park, it was a virtuoso display from Meath's recalled corner forward Cian Ward. Long regarded as a dead ball expert, he proved his eye for a goal, or 4 goals to be precise, as he powered the Royals to victory over Louth in a game that never really lived up to the hype. It looked promising for Louth early on, albeit with a strong breeze advantage, but from the moment Ward cracked home his first goal, Meath looked likely winners. Louth did manage a reply before half time through the impressive Darren Clarke, but you sensed Louth needed to be 6 or 7 points ahead to hold on. As it was, Ward struck again before half time, and the die was cast. Shane O'Rourke was promising in Midfield for Meath as well, and himself and Brian Meade may be a partnership to work with for Banty. They have another big game in the next round at home to Galway, and may have a couple of their injured forwards back for that engagement. Meath could be a dangerous animal yet. Louth will be disappointed at this championship season, after the highs and lows of last year, I'm sure successive defeats to Leinster opponents was not on the agenda, but such are the vagaries of championship football. Peter Fitzpatrick may need to consider whether he can combine a professional life, a TD's life and a football manager's role, but that's a decision Peter should be allowed to make himself, he has earned that.

Laois proved too good for a disappointing Tipperary outfit in O'Moore park, and they will be encouraged by the form of Padraig Clancy, Ross Munnelly, MJ Tierney and Donie Kingston. Those are the names we need to be reading about if Laois are going to be a force in the back door, and on Saturday night they were too strong for the Premier. John Evans was happy to admit that his team were outplayed on the night, but did highlight the loss of several young players to America for the summer following the loss in Killarney. I understand John's point, but these days a young fella offered a handy job in America, with a chance to kick football at a level he is comfortable is always likely to have his head turned. Throw in good weather as well, and it's almost a no brainer for the young fella. Young lads think their county careers will go on for ever, so a summer in America is hardly going to kill their county hopes. Laois will be looking forward to welcoming Kildare to O'Moore Park in the next round, and unless Kieran McGeeney can get his troops geed up after the disappointment in Croke Park, his old comrade from Mullaghbawn and Armagh, Justin McNulty, will fancy his chances of dumping them out.

Dessie Dolan's absence from the starting lineup was a huge blow to Westmeath in their tilt with Antrim in Casement Park, and a difficult assignment was made that much more arduous immediately. Antrim then proceeded to turn in a very competent display, and Westmeath were simply unable to live with them, despite Dessie's introduction, and thus became the only Leinster county to lose to a county outside the province in round 1. Antrim will be content with this performance, in that it banishes a negative, sterile outing in Ballybofey, and will be confident about facing another Leinster side, Carlow, in Casement Park in 2 weeks time.

Yet again Aughrim lived up to it's reputation as a graveyard for the ambitions of travelling sides, as Sligo were the latest to feel the pain of defeat in this intimate, innocuous looking venue. But stadia don't win games, and it was Wicklow's performance which was the determining factor in sending Sligo spinning over the precipice, and possibly into a period of managerial change and rebuilding. Kevin Walsh has done well enough in Sligo, and they will be kicking themselves that 2010 did not see the Nestor Cup return to Sligo having disposed of both Galway and Mayo. However that defeat to Roscommon seems to have signalled a sea change in their fortunes, and they are now a Division 3 side, with no wins in their last 4 championship games, including defeats to Roscommon, Down, Leitrim and Wicklow. That is depressing reading for Sligo fans, and may be enough to cause unrest in the Yeats County. Such considerations are far from Wicklow's minds at this stage, as they extend Micko's stay, and will not be phased by a difficult assignment in Armagh in the next round. Underdogs without a doubt, they will nonetheless be encouraged by their own win, and Armagh's defeat to Derry. A special word for super sub Conor McGraynor, who lashed home a great goal to give Wicklow breathing space. Barely finished his leaving certificate, that is one way to celebrate!

Finally, great credit to Offaly footballers who arose from the ashes of the Wexford debacle, and no doubt stung by criticisms, valid and invalid, from within the county bounds, they preduced a great performance to blow away a stodgy Monaghan side. Offaly can play football when they are motivated to do so, and in Niall McNamee they have one of the most mercurial forwards in the game. Supported by the likes of Ken Casey, Niall Smyth and the irrepressible Ciaran McManus and Karol Slattory, Offaly should have enough to trouble most teams. The problem, as far as frustrated faithful fans are concerned, is that too often the total is less than the sum of the parts. However, there are signs that the derision which greeted a qualifer campaign is being consigned to the dustbin, where it belongs. Last years encouraging show in defeat versus Down, coupled with this great win over a Monaghan side that ran Tyrone close in Ulster, shows that at least nowadays you can reasonably expect the qualifiers to get serious attention from this Offaly side. Tullamore didn't show us anything we didn't know about Offaly, Niall Smyth's and Ritchie Dalton's impressive midfield display aside, and it is now up to the lads themselves to reproduce this level consistently. From Monaghan's perspective, too many men missing, too poor a performance, and crucially, too low an intensity to live with Offaly on the night. Back to the drawing board for them, and it's a trek we in Offaly know all too well.

Hurling Qualifiers

As expected Antrim had a little too much firepower and experience at this level for a game Carlow side, and while racking up 23 points is a good tally, and was enough for a comfortable 8 point winning margin, you sense that Antrim will have to be troubling the umpire with the green flag if they are to advance any further. Bigger guns than Carlow await in the next round.

Down by the Lee, it was another sickening moral victory for the Offaly hurlers, as they just failed to end Cork's summer on a scoreline of 2-17 to 2-16. Offaly really have only themselves to blame, as with Cork reduced to 14 men, the Faithful hit too many silly wides to really punish their opponents, and therefore Shane Dooley's late goal, which Donal Óg won't want to see again, only served to further emphasise what might have been. It is heartening to see Offaly produce performances against big teams like this, but Cork are not the major force in hurling, as they were in the mid 2000s, and sooner or later Offaly have to win a game like this, preferably sooner. Galway, Dublin, Waterford and Tipperary have all had reason to breath a sigh of relief after surviving a struggle with Offaly, but we need to start making them curse their luck, rather than thank their lucky stars. Cork are the latest to be relieved, but in stark terms, they march on to a Phase 3 qualifier, while Offaly will be watching on TV. Thin margins, but major consequences.

Hits and Misses

Thankfully a lot more hits than misses this week. I prefer to focus on the positive, especially as so much good happens every week. But there's always one!

Hits

Cian Ward. As mentioned above, the Meath corner forward gave a virtuoso display. He didn't feature in Meath's disappointing defeat to Kildare in the Leinster Championship, but was given his chance in a restructured Meath forward line for the clash versus Louth. His response? Oh, just 4-3, with two goals coming off each foot. That'll do Cian, Maith thú.

Offaly Footballers. See above. This was do or die in many peoples' minds. There was a negative perception about the footballers within the county, and from those looking in from outside. Some of it was not of their making, but some of it certainly was. An 8 point spanking of Monaghan goes a long way to answering some of those critics, but it needs to be the start of a pattern, not an exclamation point in an argument.

London Footballers. Great to see the dedicated ex pats in London finally reap some championship harvest after a long 34 year barren period. Alright Fermanagh were in a bit of a mess, and the ideal team at the ideal time, but they are still due respect as an inter county football team, and a representative of Ulster. To claim their scalp was a great day for manager Paul Coggins, his backroom team, the supporters, the county board and of course, most importantly, the players. A melting pot of different footballing approaches and outlooks, fuelled by economic circumstances at home, and brought together under the one banner to strike a blow for all county boards operating away from Ireland. Great stuff.

Conor Laverty. Down almost came a cropper in Ennis, and that they didn't is due in large part to the performance of Conor Laverty. Most corner forwards I know would be fairly happy with themselves to contribute 1-3 from play, but Laverty was switched on enough to track his marker, Laurence Healy, all the way back in the last minute of injury time, with Down leading by a point. Healy got a tough to a high ball, Down 'keeper Brendan McVeigh was beaten, and Clare were on the brink of a huge shock until Laverty intervened with a diving, last ditch, goalline clearance to preserve the win. Match winning contribution indeed.

Cormac Reilly. I can hear the cries of indignation from Kildare already, so let me clarify. I don't believe Reilly had a great game, and I think there were some soft frees awarded during the game. The replay of THE free at the end was a bit inconclusive I thought, as there may well have been more contact before the ball came in. However, I'm not awarding him a hit on the basis of his performance. What impressed me about him was his willingness to stand by his opinion, and to have the courage of his convictions in awarding the free. I was dismayed to hear a pundit I like, Kevin McStay, claim that you 'can't give a free in the last minute of a game like this'. In fairness to McStay, he retracted somewhat that evening, but nonetheless, I believe that if a referee spots a foul, and is happy to back himself, then he must give the free. It's a slippery slope to start using the closeness of a game as a barometer of whether an incident is a foul or not. In this case Reilly thought Brogan was foulled, and rightly or wrongly, was brave enough to make a call he knew would be unpopular. He'd have had no negative media feedback if he'd allowed play to continue, so I think it's a positive mark on his integrity that he did what he believed was right.


Miss

Mayo v Galway. OK, we're amateur players, conditions were abysmal, and it was a clash between two teams on a low ebb confidence wise. However, we play these games all our lives, we mostly play them in Ireland, where rain and wind is not unheard of, and they were still two inter county senior teams. I'll not labour the point, but suffice to say I have not seen such a poor display of handling, passing from the hand and foot, free taking, decision making and overall ineptitude in some fairly basic skills in a long time. I'm sure both teams are better than this, I know they are, and I'm sure they'll improve in their next outings, hopefully in more summer like conditions, but that was very poor fare for Galway and Mayo.


Best Wishes

On a more sombre note, and reminding us that no matter how intense we get about sport, it is just that, sport, I'd like to send my best wishes, for what they're worth, to two people.

Firstly Ger Loughnane, the great Clare hurler and leader of men as manager in their All Ireland successes in 1995 and 1997. Ger is facing a health battle at the moment, and I'm sure he'll bring the same single mindedness and determination he brought to bear with the Banner. Remember his famous half time interview as Clare trailed Offaly in 1995 'We *will* win this'? Ger, you will win this.

Also best wishes for a speedy recovery to young Mark McGovern, a club man of Belcoo in Fermanagh, who was injured in a clash during a game in San Francisco. Mark was playing with the Ulster club in San Francisco when the incident happened, and remains in hospital since.

Obviously thoughts and prayers are with the two lads, and I hope to hear better news from them shortly.


Other sports

It's a quiet season in other sports at the moment, particularly States side. It used to be true, and may be still, that there were only 2 days in the year without a major league sports game taking place. Those days are the day before and after the Baseball All Star game. As that game is approaching fast, it means that NHL, NFL and NBA are all on their off season.

The closest to resuming is the NFL, but the lockout continues. Last week's owners meeting was allegedly 'productive' but there seems to be no definitive news emanating from either camp. As such the travelling roadshow of negotiations is due to continue, this time Minnesota hosts the 5th round of negotiations. The NFL is bound to be conscious of two things. 1) The NCAA football season is around the corner, and will take some fan dollars if the dispute starts to impact on the season, and 2) We are getting close to impacting on the scheduled start of training camps. Given that Free Agency needs to be sorted out before the season starts as well, time is of the essence at this stage.

Speaking of MLB, as I was above, there are some interesting divisional races in progress as we near the break for the All Star Game. In the American League East, the usual suspects battle it out at the top, with the Yankees holding a half game lead over the Red Sox. The AL central sees the Detroit Tiger, behind the pitching of Justin Verlander, lead the Cleveland Indians by 1 game.  The Texas Rangers, beaten in the World Series last year, hold a game and a half lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.

In the National League, the East is being led by the Phillies, who have the best record in baseball at 49-30, and they hold a 4.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves. In the Central, the Milwaukee Brewers are 3 games ahead of the Saint Louis Cardinals, while over in the West, the World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants are 2 games clear of the rejuvenated and surprising Arizona Diamondbacks.

Obviously with a 162 game season, there's a lot of time to go before the playoff picture is anywhere near decided, but it's interesting to see so many familiar names at the top of the standings.

Big GAA Weekend Ahoy

Supplemental to the blog, I thought I'd post up my thoughts and predictions on the Senior Intercounty Championship games upcoming this weekend. I'm aware that predicting results is a mug's game, but sure we all think we know everything, and I'm sure I'll have excuses if when I'm proved wrong. Agree/Disagree or stunned by my ignorance? Leave a comment.

* Odds correct (Paddy Power) as of Friday morning.

Leinster Senior Football Semi Finals

Sunday June 26th
Carlow v Wexford. Croke Park 2pm. (Ref. Michael Collins)

Carlow were over the moon to beat Louth in the quarter final, and deservedly so. They've been in the doldrums for quite a while, with a large element of club versus county contributing to their malaise. This seems to have been sorted out this year at least, and they reaped their rewards with a deserved victory over last years beaten Leinster finalists. This promises to be a tougher assignment though. Wexford have had comprehensive and high scoring victories over fellow division 3 teams in Offaly and Westmeath, and seem to be making light of life after the great Mattie Forde. Ciaran Lyng and Ben Brosnan have been on fire, and while Brendan Murphy showed some form towards the end of the Louth game, it may be a bridge too far for himself, Daniel St. Leger and Thomas Walsh.

Odds. Carlow 13/2; Wexford 1/10; Draw 14/1
Verdict. Wexford by 6.

Dublin v Kildare. Croke Park 4pm. (Ref. David Coldrick)

Live on RTE2

This may well be the game of the weekend, on a weekend of several appetising fixtures. Dublin seem to be much more downbeat this year, which can only be a good thing, but more importantly they also seem to have the nucleus of a serious championship side, as opposed to a hype before achievement outfit. Kildare have been working on that model for a couple of years now, and in Kieran McGeeney and Pat Gilroy, you sense you have two managers who are more interested in what the scoreboard says rather than what the back page of the newspaper says. There are those (Sunday Game I'm looking at you) who constantly opine that Kildare have 'no natural forwards' apart from the great Johnny Doyle (pictured), but I beg to differ. Alan Smith and James Kavanagh are two lads I would love to see in an Offaly jersey, and Eamonn Callaghan is well able to knock over vital scores, as he showed against Meath. The knock I would have had against Dublin in the past is that they usually lined out a goalkeeper, two big midfielders, a corner forward of indeterminate quality, and 11 half backs slotted into the other positions. They now have quality themselves going forward, with natural forwards filling forward roles, and one of the games young stars, Bernard Brogan as the totem. Alan Brogan, the brother, is an accomplished playmaker who tends to drift out the field and leaves Brogan Óg and Diarmuid Connolly to do the damage inside. The inclusion of Eoghan O'Gara is a surprise to me, but his awkward style may create chances for the two more cultured forwards. A lot may hinge on how Kildare cope with continued key absences in midfield, which has led to Johnny Doyle admirably filling in there. I have a sense that Kildare might be slightly more interested in a Leinster title than Dublin at this stage.

Odds. Dublin 4/9; Kildare 9/4; Draw 8/1
Verdict. Kildare by 2.


Connacht Senior Football Semi Final

Sunday June 26th.
Mayo v Galway 2pm. McHale Park Castelbar (Ref. Rory Hickey)

Live on RTE2

One of the most eagerly awaited tussles almost every year sees the two heavyweights in Connacht head to McHale Park to renew rivalries. This time, it feels different. Galway are rocked with injuries to star forwards Sean Armstrong and Michael Meehan, and are coming off a poor league campaign, while Mayo almost suffered the indignity of falling at the Ruislip hurdle.
James Horan has reacted to that performance by naming 6 changes, with the O'Shea brothers forming a novel midfield partnership. Galway include several of the victorious Under 21s in the squad, but history has shown us that players like that need time to get their feet under the table. If Mayo can win the middle of the field, I think they have more to prove, and the London game might well be a blessing in disguise.

Odds. Mayo 4/5; Galway 11/8; Draw 7/1
Verdict. Mayo by 3

Ulster Senior Football Semi Final

Sunday June 26th
Tyrone v Donegal 3.30pm Clones. (Ref. Joe McQuillan)

Live on BBC

The Red Hands versus Jimmy McGuinness' Donegal promises to be an intriguing clash as well, as Clones welcomes both counties for the Ulster Semi Final, with the right to face Derry in the final at stake. Tyrone have been there, done that and bought many T-Shirts at this stage, and the suspicion may be that they are beginning, just beginning, to get a little stale. Mickey Harte is one of the best managers in the game, if not the very best, but it must be a challenge to keep things fresh every year when you are one of the top scalps in the game. Donegal, on the other hand, always seem to be 'coming'. Since they won their All Ireland in 1992, there's been at least 4 or 5 false dawns in Tir Chonnaill, and only time will tell if this is another of them. In Jimmy McGuinness they have one of the brightest, and most dedicated and prepared, young managers in the game, and in Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden they have two genuinely top class forwards. How Donegal cope with Tyrone's all action style will make or break them, and with the likes of Sean Cavanagh, Stephen O'Neill and the redoubtable Brian Dooher on duty, I tend to lean towards the old maxim. 'The auld dog for the hard road'. Don't be surprised if we have to do this one all again though.

Odds. Tyrone 8/13; Donegal 13/8; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Tyrone by 2

All Ireland Senior Football Qualifiers Round 1

And now onto the excitement and desperation stakes of the Qualifiers. The closest we have to the old style knockout championships, the All Ireland Qualifiers offer a chance at redemption for those teams who collapsed in the first round (See Offaly, Sligo, Westmeath), a chance a rebuilding a genuine challenge after a disappointing provincial defeat (see Down, Monaghan, Meath) or a chance to make a name for yourself by going on a run, and prepping for next year ( see Longford, Cavan, Antrim)

Saturday June 25th

London v Fermanagh. 1.30 pm Ruislip. (Ref. Derek Fahy)

A home draw at last for London in the Qualifiers; a narrow extra time defeat to one of the traditional heavyweights; a wounded, downtrodden opponent coming off a heavy defeat arriving in town. It's all set fair as far as London are concerned, but it may not be that straightforward. Fermanagh are certainly vulnerable, but they will have their pride, and fear of losing in Ruislip will be a strong motivating factor. London have never had as much expectation, and if they don't start well again, that may be a hinderence. I may be mad, but I think the Erne men will prevail.
Odds. London 2/1; Fermanagh 4/9; Draw 8/1
Verdict. Fermanagh by 4.

Antrim v Westmeath. 2pm. Casement Park. (Ref. Martin Sludden).

I'm not going to make any jokes or remarks about the ref, the best of luck to him. As for the game itself, it's certainly a case of 'must do better' for both teams. Antrim were tame and insipid against Donegal, but that's over a month ago now, and you would have to expect them to have a bit more fire in their bellies, and hopefully a more positive approach in Casement Park. They swapped league divisions with their opponents this spring, but Westmeath showed little of that form against Wexford in Wexford Park. A horrendous display there left them with a lot of questions, and if Dessie Dolan isn't fit, then they may not have the answers.

Odds. Antrim 5/6; Westmeath 6/5; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Antrim by 2

Clare v Down. 3pm. Cusack Park Ennis. (Ref. Padraig O'Sullivan).

Down were brought back to earth with a bump by a rampant Armagh team in Ulster, and the orchard's subsequent collapse to Derry must be even more cause for concern in the Mournes. John Clarkes unfortunate withdrawal from the panel is another less than ideal scenario, but if there was a draw to get Down going again, this may be it. They are racked with injury doubts, and Clare will be tricky as hell in Ennis, so Down will need to be focussed and prepared. Anything less may lead to a repeat of their very narrow escape in Tullamore last year. That said, they have the better footballers, and if they are right, then they should have too much for a Clare team that went down by 15 points to Cork in Munster.

Odds. Clare 7/1; Down 1/12; Draw 14/1
Verdict. Down by 7

Cavan v Longford. 5pm. Kingspan Breffni Park. (Ref. Michael Duffy).

It seems like a long time since Longford were unlucky losers against Laois in the Leinster championship, and they will be eager to try and get themselves back on track against a Cavan team that was decimated against Donegal. Cavan are at home, and have the promising Under 21s to call upon, but they learned in that defeat against Donegal that there's a steep learning curve when you get in with the big boys of Senior Championship football.

Longford are not Donegal, but they are a steady, decent side, with good forwards who can be dangerous when they click. I expect a much sterner Cavan performance, but I think Longford may just be able to march on.

Odds. Cavan 6/5; Longford 5/6; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Longford by 3

Wicklow v Sligo. 5pm. Aughrim. (Ref. Eddie Kinsella).

There are the signs that the Micko effect is on the wane in Wicklow. The performance against Kildare bore all the hallmarks of a team that had reached it's ceiling in the years previous, and is in grave danger of slipping into reverse again. Micko is a great man manager, and his record speaks for itself in Kildare, Laois and Kerry, but it is noticeable that the greatest effect from the Micko arrival tends to be in the initial years as he makes teams believe they are the best. Unfortunately, apart from the great Kerry team, reality tends to set in sooner or later, and it's hard to bounce back afterwards. His dedication, interest, and energy are a credit to him, and he's forgotten more about football than most of us will ever know, but I believe he may be running out of road in Wicklow. I wonder does he fancy a trip to Tullamore?

As for Sligo; the less said about the performance in Markievicz Park against Leitrim, the better. Sligo believe they threw away a Connacht title last year, so to bow out in such circumstances this year has left a bitter taste, and has put pressure for the first time on big Kevin Walsh. Leitrim's subsequent admonishment at the hands of a hungry Roscommon side showed Sligo in an even worse light, and it will take some comeback to salvage the season. That comeback may well start here, but Aughrim is a hard place to go to at the best of times, and better teams than Sligo have seen their ambitions perish here. The bookies make this an even game, and I can see why, but I think home advantage may swing it to the Garden county, and elongate Micko's sojourn.

Odds. Wicklow evens; Sligo evens; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Wicklow by 2

Laois v Tipperary. 7pm. O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. (Ref. Maurice Condon).

This is the start of the Championship, you suspect, as far as Tipperary are concerned. John Evans will not have expected to beat Kerry in Killarney, but an 11 point defeat probably wasn't on his agenda either.  You feel that Tipperary footballers are made for games like this though. Saturday evening qualifiers, against a good but not fearsome team, with a very real chance of an upset. Laois were never really troubling Dublin, and were lucky to see off Longford, and will need to see Donie Kingston really step up to lead this forward line, in my opinion. He has loads of size and talent, but he just seems to be not 'at it' with Laois. Billy Sheehan will have to be disciplined, and Ross Munnelly will have to be accurate. Laois have the better footballers, but Tipp are dangerous in these situations, and I think they may come through.

Odds. Laois 2/5; Tipperary 5/2; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Tipperary by 2

Louth v Meath. 7pm. Kingspan Breffni Park. (Ref. Maurice Deegan).

Live on RTE 2

Karma's a bitch. I'd say there was a fair few people up and down the country who were hoping, and half expecting to see this pairing pop up out of the drum. Louth were robbed in the Leinster Final last year, no doubt, but that has happened before and will happen again. They need to make sure they don't allow that to consume them, or they will be focussing on the wrong thing. Use it as a motivating factor, sure, but don't allow it to become THE motivating factor, or you are wasting energy on the wrong thing. Meath, for their part, need to look at this game as a chance to prove that last year was as much about their lack of performance as it was about Louth's brilliant, yet cursed, outing.

Louth let themselves down against Carlow, which will anger them and Peter Fitzpatrick, but unless they treat this game correctly, you may see frustration and anger boiling over and hamstringing them completely. Meath were not great against Kildare, but were ironically done down by an error by the referee with regard to Graham Geraghty's 'square ball' goal. I fancy Meath to have enough to ride out the emotional storm and come through in the end. Banty's reputation in Meath depends on it.

Odds. Louth 9/4; Meath 4/9; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Meath by 4.

Offaly v Monaghan. 7pm. O'Connor Park, Tullamore. (Ref. Syl Doyle).

Thanks again to the GAA in fixing our footballers and hurlers on the same day, in two different locations. At least they gave us a few hours to get up from Cork after the hurlers play, but I think Offaly fans, few as they are, will have to master bi-location sooner rather than later. By my count this is the 3rd time this has happened. Of course it's hard to feel sorry for the footballers given their abject performance against Wexford, and particularly the capitulation when the Wexford second goal went in. That was something unheard of from Offaly until relatively recently. We've had poor teams before, and had bad defeats many times, but we seldom threw in the towel. Down in 2009, Wexford in 2011 and various other debacles in Limerick, Louth, Wexford (again) amongst other places have seriously damaged Offaly's 'never give up' reputation.

That said, I do retain faith in the majority of these lads. They can play football, but the time for excuses is long gone. It's time to start delivering, and the arrival in Tullamore of Monaghan gives an opportunity to make a statement and begin to shove words back down people's throats and keyboards. Surely Michael Duignan, an Offaly hero, will have stoked the embers with his uncalled for dig at the footballers' dedication as he defended the hurlers. Monaghan are big, strong , awkward and have good footballers. Offaly are, theoretically at least, lighter, but with more natural footballers. Offaly need their leaders to step up, and they need to formulate a plan that doens't simply revolve around Niall McNamee. I think they will, but it may not be enough. Loyalty precludes me from listening to my head, so the heart wins out.

Odds. Offaly 9/4; Monaghan 4/9; Draw 15/2
Verdict. Offaly by 2

All Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifiers Phase I

The hurling qualifiers phase I is also down for decision this weekend, as Cork, Offaly, Antrim and Carlow face off to try and earn a berth with the winners of the Phase II teams, Limerick, Clare, Wexford and Galway in phase III.

Saturday June 25th
Cork v Offaly. 2.30pm. Pairc Ui Chaoimh. (Ref. Johnny Ryan).

Another stiff assignment for Offaly hurlers as the draw was unkind and sent them down to Cork to play a team coming off a 10 goal demolition of Laois. That the week has also seen ructions about their treatment at the hands of their own County Board (a feeling the Cork lads must empathise with), and a mauling at the hands of Dublin last night in the Under 21 semi final, just reinforces the point that Offaly hurling is at a real crossroads.

It's not as bleak a landscape as the aftermath of that horrendous 31 point humiliation in Croke Park against Kilkenny, where at one stage the Cats were drawing with the time of day, 6-28 to 5-31, but it still a serious situation. The feeling that Offaly were at last making progress was engendered following a promising 2008 campaign with a win over Limerick, and a narrow defeat to Waterford, coupled with a renewing of the traditional Offaly fighting spirit. That spirit still seems to be there, as witnessed in the fightback in 2011 against Dublin and 2010 against Galway, both with 14 men, but the harsh reality is that we are still waiting for our first really big win since 2008, and even that was a case of what's rare is wonderful since the glory days really ended in 2000. Our underage has not had results that would give grounds for great optimisim, and the bad defeats to Westmeath and Dublin at minor and under 21 respectively have shone the spotlight there more than ever.

So, Offaly need a win against a recognised 'big' team, and badly. The bad news is that it's unlikely to be this weekend. Cork are far from the finished article, and are probably operating at a level behind the likes of Kilkenny, Tipp and maybe even Dublin and Waterford, but they are operating at a level above Offaly. The fact that they are coming off a 10 goal performance against Laois will mean they might be over confident, but their younger players will take great heart from it at the same time. If Cork are not 100% focussed, the question is whether Offaly are good enough to take advantage. Offaly's injuries mitigate that likelihood, but Offaly are better than Laois.

Odds. Cork 1/12; Offaly 7/1; Draw 14/1
Verdict. Cork by 7

Antrim v Carlow. 4pm. Casement Park. (Ref. James McGrath).

It's been a busy, and relatively positive, year for Antrim so far, as they face their 4th game of the championship already against a Carlow side that faltered against Westmeath in Leinster. That Antrim were fairly comfortable in their joust with Westmeath in the Qualifer preliminary round probably gives a pretty accurate formline. That the game is in Belfast also lends weight to Antrim's case and they should have too much quality for the Carlow men. Carlow are making their own strides, but it is all relative, and in the world of hurling tiers, Carlow would still be further down the foodchain than Antrim. Dinny Cahill is still toiling away up there in the glens, and if the Antrim lads come through this, they will feel that they have a beatable team in the next round, even as underdogs.

Odds. Antrim 2/7; Carlow 3/1; Draw 11/1
Verdict. Antrim by 6

The Smell of Cut Grass, Summer means GAA

Trying to decide what to write for my first attempt, I was considering Rory McIlroy's famous redemption weekend at Congressional, the NFL lockout or even some of the transfer rumours circulating in the mad, mad, monied world of premiership soccer. In the end, it was pretty simple though. I'm a GAA man first and foremost, and it makes sense that my first clumsy attempt would be in the area of sports that is closest to my heart.

Any readers from Ireland will be fully aware of the place this great organisation occupies in the hearts and minds of a huge number of Irish people, home and abroad, and this is the time of the year when things really heat up.

Even though you wouldn't know it from the weather, we are approaching high summer and with it the white heat of serious championship action. A lot of the shadow boxing has been done, and a lot of counties are already in the Qualifiers last chance saloon, in hurling and football. Those that are progressing through their provincial series are well advanced at this stage, and are at semi final stages at least.

So, to kick us off, a few thoughts so far in my "Hits and Misses", in hurling and football.

Football Hits

Kerry's forwards. Alright, Limerick were depleted, and disspirited, but some of Kerry's forward play was lovely to look at. If Kerry can sort out Midfield, they'll be Cork's biggest challengers by a mile.

Eoin Bradley. The Derry Full Forward was immense against Armagh, and made you forget the brother. Out in front, kicking off both feet and able to take a goal chance as well. A perfect full forward performance. You always feel he's one frustration away from getting a red card though. Tyrone would be interesting in an Ulster Final, if they get there.

Carlow (Pictured). Not going to win an All Ireland, not going to win a Leinster, and probably not going to beat Wexford in the Leinster Semi Final, but it was great to see Carlow registering a win against Louth. People deride the provincial championships, but they still give the vast majority of counties a tangible target for the season. There's only a max of 6-8 counties that realistically think they can win Sam. There's a hell of a lot more that think they can win their province.

Leitrim. See Carlow. Their win against Sligo was brilliant for them, and a fitting tribute to Philly McGuinness. Unfortunately for them Roscommon sent Cinderella crashing out of the Connacht dance but they can still be awkward in the Qualifiers.

Wexford. Tricky trip to Tullamore in the first round? No problem. Westmeath at home in the next game? No problem. On to Carlow in the semi final, and Jason Ryan and his Wexford high scoring outfit seem to be building a bit of momentum.

Misses

Offaly. A home loss to Wexford is not a shock, but a 14 point defeat is unacceptable for Faithful fans. For a couple of years now the attitude of the Offaly lads has been questioned, and they need to show something big against Monaghan in the qualifiers.

Down. Beaten All Ireland finalists, but well beaten by Armagh in the revamped Athletic Grounds. Armagh's subsequent demolition by Derry doesn't auger well for the Mourne men. They'll be hoping to advance through the qualifier path again, but they'd have preferred a more direct route.

Mayo. OK, this is a bit harsh considering they won, but Mayo came within a whisker of bowing out of the Connacht championship in London. London led for most of the match, and only 2 late, late points from the Mayo men salvaged extra time. That they emerged comfortably enough in extra time is hardly a shock, that they needed it most certainly was. Big game against Galway this weekend.

Hurling Hits

Dublin. Relax hurling aristocrats, I'm not crowning Dublin All Ireland Champions, or favourites, but the progress they have made over the past 3 years has been steady and remarkable. The starkest illustration is the difference in approach between their Leinster Final showing against Kilkenny 2 years ago (Play defensive, keep the score down) and the obliteration of the same opponents (albeit a weaker edition) in the League Final this year. Pace, power, and no little skill have made Dublin a serious outfit, no mistake. The Leinster Final against Kilkenny (again) will be a much different kettle of fish, but they showed against Galway in the semi final that the Dubs are no pushover for anybody.

Limerick. OK, they lost in heartbreaking fashion against Waterford in the Munster Semi Final, but they showed enough in that game, and their promotion from Division 2, to suggest that last years annus horibilis is a distant memory. They should have too much for Wexford in the Qualifiers, and then who knows?

Misses

Laois. Ouch. The Brendan Fennelly era in Laois has not been stellar so far, and the reasons are myriad. However conceding 10 goals against Cork last weekend is obviously far from good enough at this level, and when you consider it was a bit into the second half before Cork got their 4th, contributing to 7-11 in the second half alone, it does hint at a towel being flung into the ring.

Galway. So disappointing against Dublin. When Galway joined the Leinster Championship the hurling world was convinced that this would finally give Galway the opportunity to hone their preparation like all the other main contenders. Unfortunately, they've not really done anything since to bear that out. This year, despite getting a right shoeing from Galway heros like Lynskey, Lane and Hayes they were unable to raise themselves out of a torpor that saw Dublin blow them away. Clare up next for the Tribesmen, and unless there's a big change, the consequences for panel and management, as John McIntyre himself acknowledges, will be dire.

Offaly County Board. Not the team itself as such, even though relegation from Division 1 and a first round exit, and a likely Qualifier exit to Cork is not exactly a template for a successful season. This Miss is rather about the ongoing friction in Offaly between the 'Hurling' people (whomever they may be) from the South of the County, and the 'Football' people from the north. (Very simplistic, but you get my drift). I think the nub of this issue is that the hurling people want their own board to look after and promote hurling. The Birr v Tullamore issue is only a symptom of this malaise, in my opinion. A seperate hurling board may make sense from one perspective, but in a county as small as Offaly, with a lot of dual clubs, I can only imagine the fixtures mess that would ensue. If we can't even organise training in Tullamore, what chance have we of running two county boards in harmony?


Other Bits'n Pieces.

The Boy done good. Congratulations to Holywood's finest, Rory McIlroy, on his win in the US Open. It took serious cajones to pick up where he left off after 63 holes of the Masters, in the very next Major. European Golf is on the crest of a wave at the moment, and the Irish and Northern Irish are well up there in the vanguard. Hopefully the likes of Harrington, McGinley and Offaly's own Shane Lowry can take their lead from McDowell and McIlroy's past 12 months.

Still locked out. In the ongoing battle between the millionaire players and the billionaire owners, the NFL is still locked out at the moment, and there's no sign of an imminent agreement. There are hopeful signs beginning to emerge though, and there was an owners meeting in Chicago on Tuesday to discuss a draft CBA proposal. The fact that this is an output from negotiations with players is a good sign, but I'd say there's more to go in this yet. More than a few commentators stateside are of the opinion that the league's lesser paid and short careered position players like linemen, special teams and kickers may force the NFL Players Association to take any sort of reasonable deal. They can't afford to sit out a season like Tom Brady, Payton Manning or Aaron Rogers can. We shall see.

Puckin' Hell. Congratulations to the Boston Bruins, breaking serve in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals to clinch a 4-3 series win over the Vancouver Canucks. Canada's wait for a title goes on, but Boston's famine of 39 years was finally put to an end. The denizens of Vancouver weren't enamoured with the result though, and I hope North American sports commentators remember the scenes of burning cars on the streets of BC the next time they feel tempted to make fun of soccer hooliganism.

The New Title Town. On a related note, the Bruins' victory in the Stanley Cup means that Boston/New England teams have been champions of the 4 major sports in North America in recent times. The Patriots last won the Superbowl in February 2005, The Red Sox claimed the World Series in 2007 and the Celtics won the NBA title in 2008. Titletown indeed.