A preview of the weekend's first round of the SFC qualifiers.
Limerick v MeathToday, Gaelic Grounds Throw-in - 7pm
MEATH CERTAINLY have options in attack. Graham Geraghty has been left in reserve as Brian Farrell and Cian Ward make up the full-forward line alongside current All Star, Stephen Bray. In the absence of Anthony Moyles and Kevin Reilly, Eoin Harrington gets an opportunity at centre back.
Limerick gave Cork a fright in the Munster semi-final, teenager Ian Ryan requires particular attention, but Meath's determination to atone for their fourth-quarter collapse against Wexford should provide bundles of motivation.
After finessing their way to an All-Ireland semi-final last year they must now produce some of the dogged attitude that typified their predecessors.
LIMERICK:S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J Donovan, J Galvin; S Kelly, J Ryan, S Buckley; G Collins, M Crowley, I Ryan.
MEATH:B Murphy; N McKeigue, D Fay, C McGill; S Kenny, E Harrington, C King; N Crawford, M Ward; A Nestor, B Meade, P Byrne; S Bray, B Farrell, C Ward.
Longford v LaoisToday, Pearse Park Throw-in - 7pm
THIS IS usually the point when Laois fool everyone with a mid-season revival before floundering once a more strenuous test comes barrelling towards them.
Liam Kearns gives 18-year-old Donie Kingston a championship debut at left-corner forward while Brendan Quigley returns to midfield alongside another promising teenager, John O'Loughlin. Darren Rooney is moved to fullback. All told, Laois should have enough firepower to progress past a game but limited Longford.
LONGFORD:TBC.
LAOIS:M Nolan; C Healy, D Rooney, C Ryan; P O'Leary, T Kelly, P McMahon; B Quigley, J O'Loughlin; R Munnelly, B Brennan, B McCormack; MJ Tierney, C Parkinson, D Kingston.
Kildare v CavanToday, Newbridge Throw-in - 7pm
SO FAR anyway, Kieran McGeeney has failed to transfer his inspirational on-field leadership qualities to the sideline.
This is an ideal draw for Kildare to relaunch their season but Cavan will surely look to put one over on former trainer Paul Grimley, who is now McGeeney's assistant.
Seven changes, including the exclusion of Anthony Rainbow, from the defeat to Wicklow on May 18th seems to indicate a new broom in Kildare. Cavan can sneak it providing Dermot McCabe shores up the midfield crisis.
KILDARE:E Murphy; A McLoughlin, D Hendy, M O'Flaherty; K O'Neill, M Foley, E Bolton; D Earley, K Brennan; E O'Callaghan, P O'Neill; J Kavanagh; J Doyle, K Donnelly, A Smith.
CAVAN:TBC.
Offaly v Down Today, Tullamore Throw-in - 7pm
OFFALY MANAGER Pat Roe has made ruthless alterations since defeat to Westmeath with mainstays like Alan McNamee and Thomas Deehan dropped.
Despite defeat to Armagh, Down are a team in the ascendancy and should bring too much quality for this midlands adventure to end in disaster. Martin Cole's return from suspension is an obvious benefit to a full back line exposed by Armagh.
OFFALY:P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Brady, P McConway; K Slattery, J Keane, N Grennan; C McManus, N Smith; N Darby, J Coughlan, J Kelly; P Kelleghan, J Reynolds, N McNamee.
DOWN:B McVeigh; L Howard, M Cole, D Rafferty; A Carr, K McKernan, P Murphy; D Gordan, J Colgan; A Rodgers, B Coulter, D Hughes; J Clarke, R Murtagh, J Fegan.
Donegal v RoscommonToday, Ballybofey Throw-in - 5pm
WHO WOULD trust Donegal anymore to deliver in the qualifiers? Nonetheless, defeat at home to Roscommon would be a major upset. Michael Hegarty has been dropped while Christy Toye and Barry Dunnion are out injured. Brendan Devenney is also held in reserve. Rory Kavanagh starts in midfield with All Star Kevin Cassidy at wingback. A convincing home victory is expected.
DONEGAL:P Durcan; E McGee, N McGee, K Lacey; F McGlynn, B Monaghan, K Cassidy (capt); N Gallagher, R Kavanagh; K Rafferty, D Walsh, S Griffin; C McFadden, R Bradley, M Murphy.
ROSCOMMON:G Claffey; P O'Connor, D Casey, S McDermott; D Keenan, G Cox, S Daly; M Finneran, K Mannion; M O'Carroll, D O'Gara, J Rogers; C Cregg, S Kilbride, G Heneghan.
Tipperary v WestmeathToday, Ardfinnan Throw-in - 3pm
IT DOESN'T matter that Westmeath's attack are overly reliant on Denis Glennon and Dessie Dolan nor will victory be denied if they rack up another double-figure wide count.
Despite defeat to Dublin, the Division Two champions remain an in-form team and appear built for the qualifier grind. Westmeath really do look capable of taking a big scalp over the coming weeks.
TIPPERARY:P Fitzgerald; N Curran, M Peters, C McDonald; P Codd, R Costigan, C Aylward; E Hanrahan, G Hannigan; D O'Brien, P Austin, H Coghlan; S Carey, B Coen, B Grogan.
WESTMEATH:G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; D O'Donoghue, P Bannon; S Quinn, J Smyth, D Harte; D Dolan, Denis Glennon, D Bannon.
Louth v TyroneToday, Drogheda Throw-in - 7pm
TYRONE showed glimpses of their deep well of talent against Down with Tommy McGuigan making the most profound statement but they eventually faltered in extra-time of the replay.
With most players requiring game time to regain full fitness (see Brian Dooher, Brian McGuigan, Owen Mulligan and Raymie Mulgrew) the qualifier route seems the best option for Mickey Harte's sixth season at the helm.
It's hard to see Louth even repeating the surprise draw of two seasons back. Easier to see Tyrone reaffirm their status as genuine All-Ireland contenders with a convincing victory.
LOUTH:S Reynolds; J Neary, M Fanning, J Carr; J O'Brien, D Finnegan, R Finnegan; P Keenan, R Carroll; A Reid, A Hoey, D Reid; C Judge, S Lennon, D Clarke.
TYRONE:J Devine; R McMenamin, Justin McMahon, PJ Quinn; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; R Mellon, E McGinley; B Dooher, B McGuigan, T McGuigan; M Penrose, S Cavanagh, C McCullagh.
