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Saturday
Ulster SFC Semifinal: Donegal v Armagh
Launch in: 13.15 h. Venue of events: Breffni Park. There is a tv: I live on Sky Sports Mix. Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
In a different year, we’d say Armagh is an upcoming team, they just secured promotion to Division One, they’ll be dangerous in the playoffs and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in the Super-8s. But the knockout is the knockout. There is no option for a noble defeat here for Kieran McGeeney’s side. Win or go bankrupt.
That can work in your favor. With McGeeney, they are practically the only ones among Ulster teams who do not attempt to play football that incorporates a higher level of risk-taking. They have forwards and they try to take advantage of their strengths. It leaves them a bit shy at the rear at times, compared to other Ulster teams. But they go places.
All that said, this is probably a year too early for them. Donegal has dispatched Tyrone, watched Kerry go home and at the end of the weekend he won’t have to worry about one or the other of Galway or Mayo. The list of contenders is fanning. They are too good not to be at it.
Verdict: Donegal
Sunday
Leinster SFC Semifinal: Meath – Kildare
Launch in: 13:00 h. Venue of events: Croke Park. On TV: Live on the RTÉ news channel. Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).
Meath v Kildare is almost too difficult to call. Photography: Inpho
Massive game for both sides, of course. But especially Meath. As a gymnast trying a floor routine with a high degree of difficulty, they deserve credit for many of their efforts this year. But this is the game where credit runs out: Anything less than a victory and a final Leinster appearance will ruin the year for them. Kildare hasn’t found any kind of definable rhythm so far with Jack O’Connor, but they’re obviously going to like this. We will go for Meath. Alone.
Verdict: Meath
Connacht SFC Final: Galway v May
Throw in: 1.30 p.m. Venue of events: Pearse Stadium. On TV: Live on RTÉ. Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
Galway, Roscommon, Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Kerry, Tipperary, Cork, Tyrone, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Cavan. A wish list for the day we get out of level 5? Not quite. Those 15 counties have played in a provincial final since the last May appearance in a decider, back in 2015.
Things have come full circle – that was the year Aidan O’Shea won an All Star as a forward. The league game between these two last month saw him return there to extravagant effect. One of the defining questions of this meeting is what Galway has devised to handle it. And, in turn, what Mayo does if it works.
Galway has had a month to prepare. It is not insignificant, they have already been given their asses once, so surely there is no possibility that they will come undercooked. The new faces in the May setup have had a dream show, but Galway was flying under Padraic Joyce in the spring. If you have them back in that kind of state, they should prevail here.
Verdict: Galway
Ulster SFC Semifinal: Cavan v Down
Launch in: 1.30 p.m. Venue of events: Sports fields. On TV: Live on BBC Northern Ireland. Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
This has always been the point where we were going to find out what they have Down in them. They have timed their career up to this point, putting up a scratch team against Louth and setting their pace against Fermanagh last week. They face a Cavan team playing their fifth game in five weekends, so presumably Paddy Tally’s team has an advantage only in terms of attrition. Should be enough
Verdict: Down
Leinster SFC Semifinal: Dublin v Laois
Dessie Farrell’s Dublin team should be too strong for Laois. Photography: Inpho
Launch in: 15.30 h. Venue of events: Croke Park. On TV: Live on the RTÉ news channel. Referee: Ciarán Branagan (Below).
Laois’s win over Longford was lost a bit in the fog last week. It was a little epic in itself, with Laois goalkeeper Niall Corbet the hero making two stops in the second half to keep his team on a stage where Longford seemed to be threatening to clear. Their reward will presumably be the usual tank from Dublin, but there’s not much they can do about it. Laois played his role in the 2020 Championship. That shouldn’t go unsaid.
Verdict: Dublin
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