Your complete guide to the weekend GAA action

GAA Preview - 26th April 2024

Dermot Crowe

Here is your complete guide to the weekend’s GAA action.

SATURDAY

Ulster SFC semi-finals

Down v Armagh, Clones, 5.15 – GAAGO

Down’s form has been fitful and they’re unlikely to spoil Armagh’s hopes of reaching another final.

Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, A McKay, P McGrane; J McElroy, Ciaran Mackin, A Forker; R O’Neill, B Crealey; S Campbell, R Grugan, O Conaty; C Turbitt, A Murnon, J Og Burns. Subs: E Rafferty, B McCambridge, T Kelly, G McCabe, C Mackin, D McMullan, J Duffy, R McQuillan, A Nugent, O O’Neill, S McPartlan.

Down: J O’Hare; P Fegan, R McEvoy, C Doherty; M Rooney, P Laverty, S Johnston; J Flynn, O Murdock; D Guinness, L Kerr, R Johnston; B O’Hagan, P Havern, D Magill. Subs: K Anderson, R Magill, F McElroy, J Guinness, O Savage, C McCrickard, S Annett, R Mason, G McKibben, E Brown, P McCarthy.

Verdict: Armagh.

Leinster SHC RD 2

Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park: 3.0 – GAAGO

Wexford let victory loosen from their grip against Dublin. They face a side beaten by 32 points on the same day.

Antrim: R Elliott; N O’Connor, R McGarry, P Burke; G Walsh, C Boyd, C Bohill; S Elliott, E Campbell; N Elliott, K Molloy, J McNaughton; C Cunning, N McKenna, C McCann. Subs: T Smith, P Duffy, R McCloskey, S Rooney, E Og McGarry, F McCurry, M Bradley, C McKeown, A O’Brien, R McMullan, J MaLaughlin.

Wexford: M Fanning; S Reck, C Foley, N Murphy; S Donohoe, D Reck, M O’Hanlon; C Hearne, K Foley; L Og McGovern, L Chin, C Dunbar; R Lawlor, S Casey, R O’Connor. Subs: A Duggan, E Ryan, C McDonald, M Dwyer, D Carley, C Byrne, C Devitt, J Doran, T Kinsella, Jack O’Connor, Joe O’Connor.

Verdict: Wexford.

Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6.0

Good performance from Carlow in Galway and this is one they’ll target, yet Dublin should have enough.

Carlow: B Tracey; P Doyle, D Wall, N Bolger; J Kavanagh, K McDonald, F Fitzpatrick; C Whelan, R Coady; J Nolan, C Nolan, M Kavanagh; C Kehoe, JM Nolan, P Boland. Subs: C Abbey, T Lawlor, J McCullagh, F O’Toole, C Lawlor, S Joyce, S Treacy, J Doyle, E Kealy, L Doyle, D Murphy.

Dublin: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, P Doyle; C Crummey, C Donohoe, E O’Donnell; M Grogan, C Burke; R Hayes, D Burke, B Hayes; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan, S Currie. Subs: E Gibbons, J Madden, D Gray, S Gallagher, E Moran, P Crummey, D Power, D Purcell, F Whitely, J Malone, C Currie.

Verdict: Dublin.

Joe McDonagh Cup RD2

Offaly v Westmeath, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 3.0

Verdict: Offaly.

Meath v Laois, Trim, 3.0

Verdict: Laois

Christy Ring Cup RD3

London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 1.0

Verdict: London

Kildare v Derry, Manguard Park, Hawkfield, 1.0

Verdict: Kildare.

Sligo v Tyrone, Markievicz Park, 3.0

Verdict: Sligo.

Nickey Rackard Cup RD3

Dowdallshill: Louth v Mayo, 1.0

Letterkenny: Donegal v Monaghan, 3.0

Lory Meagher Cup RD 3

Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1.0

Verdict: Longford

Lancashire v Cavan, Glenavy, 2.0

Verdict: Cavan.

Ulster MFC RD 4

Down v Donegal, Páirc Esler, 12.0

Tyrone v Monaghan, Ardboe, 12.0

Leinster MHC Tier 1

Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1.0

Dublin v Galway, Parnell Pk, 2.0

Leinster MHC Tier 2

Meath v Antrim, Drumree, 2.0

Laois v Carlow, O’Moore Pk, 2.0

Kildare v Kerry, Hawkfield, 3.0

Offaly v Westmeath, Faithful Fields, 5.30

Ladies Munster SFC RD 2

Kerry v Cork, Brosna, 2.0

Verdict: Kerry.

Tipperary v Waterford, Bansha, 2.0

Verdict: Waterford

Electric Ireland Camogie Minor A final

Tipperary v Waterford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 4.30

Camogie Minor A Shield final

Dublin v Wexford, Nowlan Pk, 2.30

SUNDAY

Leinster SFC semi-finals

Kildare v Louth, Croke Park, 1.45 – GAAGO

Can Kildare turn a dismal year? They’ve a chance but all the momentum is with Louth, chasing a rare consecutive final appearance.

Kildare: M Donnellan; R Burke, S Ryan, M O’Grady; J Sargent, E Doyle, P McDermott; A Masterson, A Beirne; P Woodgate, N Kelly, S Farrell; K Feely, D Kirwan, D Flynn. Subs: D Cordonnier, T Archbold, B Byrne, B Coffey, R Houlihan, B Kelly, L Killian, S McCormack, K O’Callaghan, H O’Neill, S O’Sullivan.

Louth: N McDonnell; D McKenny, D Campbell, P Lynch; C McKeever, A Williams, L Grey; T Durnin, C Murphy; T Jackson, C Keenan, C Grimes; R Burns, S Mulroy, C Downey. Subs: C Lynch, C O’Neill, P McStravick, L Jackson, D Corcoran, B Duffy, N Sharkey, W Campbell, J Hughes, C Early, P Mathews.

Verdict: Louth

Dublin v Offaly, Croke Park, 4.0 – GAAGO

Dublin, bolstered by Brian Fenton’s return after suspension, enter as overwhelming favourites, with Offaly aiming to keep their dignity.

Dublin: S Cluxton; S McMahon, M Fitzsimons, E Murchan; B Howard, J Small, C Murphy; B Fenton, T Lahiff; R McGarry, C Kilkenny, N Scully; P Mannion, C O’Callaghan, C Basquel. Subs: D O’Hanlon, S Bugler, T Clancy, C Costello, J McCarthy, K McGinnis, D Newcombe, P O Cofaigh Byrne, L O’Dell, K O’Gara, P Small.

Offaly: I Duffy; L Pearson, D Dempsey, J Furlong; C Egan, D Hogan, P Cunningham; E Carroll, J McEvoy; D Hyland, R McNamee, J Hayes; N Poland, K O’Neill, J Bryant. Subs: M Cunningham, D Finneran, J O’Brien, D McDaid, R Egan, C Flynn, K McDermott, D Molloy, N Dunne, C Farrell, C Donoghue.

Verdict: Dublin

Ulster SFC semi-final

Donegal v Tyrone, Celtic Park, 2.0 – BBC2

After the tactical tour de force against Derry, Donegal return to Celtic Park to face a Tyrone whose engine has been spluttering since the sweeping acceleration of 2021.

Tyrone: N Morgan; C Devlin, P Hampsey, M McKernan; S O’Donnell, M Donnelly, N Devlin; B Kennedy, A Donaghy; C Daly, K McGeary, J Oguz; D McCurry, D Canavan, R Canavan. Subs: L Quinn, A Clarke, B Cullen, C Cush, C Donnelly, C Kilpatrick, N McCarron, L McCarthy, C McShane, M O’Neill, T Quinn.

Donegal: S Patton; M Curran, B McCole, C Moore; R McHugh,C McGonagle, P Mogan; J McGee, M Langan; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, D O Baoill; P McBrearty, O Gallen, N O’Donnell. Subs: G Mulreany, K McGettigan, S McMenamin, O Doherty, D MacGiolla Bhride, J MacCealbhui, H McFadden, J Brennan, A Doherty, J Ross Molloy, C MacAonghasa

Verdict: Donegal.

Leinster SHC RD 2

Pearse Stadium: Galway v Kilkenny, 2.0 – RTÉ2

Pressure mounts on Henry Shefflin with Galway facing the winners of Leinster for the last four years, though notably weakened by injuries.

Galway: D Fahy; J Grealish, Daithi Burke, F Burke; S Linnane, P Mannion, C Fahy; R Glennon, David Burke; G Lee, T Monaghan, B Concannon; C Whelan, C Cooney, C Mannion.

Subs: E Murphy, D Morrissey, A Tuohey, G McInerney, T Killeen, John Cooney, D O’Shea, E Niland, Joseph Cooney, J Flynn, J Glynn.

Kilkenny: A Tallis; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, P Deegan, S Murphy; C Kenny, R Reid; M Keoghan, J Donnelly, T Phelan; B Ryan, TJ Reid, O Wall. Subs: D Mason, C Delaney, J Molloy, D Corcoran, K Doyle, C Fogarty, G Dunne, B Drennan, L Hogan, H Shine, L Blanchfield.

Verdict: Galway.

Munster SHC RD 2

Cork v Clare, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.0 – GAAGO

Potential make or break match for both counties, after losing starts and the doubt and anxiety that those will bring. Cork’s selection shows six changes.

Cork: P Collins; N O’Leary, E Downey, S O’Donoghue; T O’Mahony, C Joyce, R Downey; E Twomey, D Fitzgibbon; D Dalton, S Barrett, S Harnedy; B Hayes, A Connolly, P Horgan. Subs: B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O Connell, M Coleman, L Meade, S Kingston, R O Flynn, J O Connor, C Lehane, S Twomey.

Clare: E Quilligan; A Hogan, C Cleary, R Hayes; D Ryan, J Conlon, D McInerney; D Fitzgerald, D Lohan; C Malone, M Rodgers, P Duggan; A McCarthy, S O’Donnell, D Reidy. Subs: C Broderick, C Leen, P Flanagan, S Morey, C Galvin, P Donnellan, I Galvin, A Shanagher, S Meehan, R Mounsey, T Kelly.

Verdict: Clare

Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Ground, 4.0 – RTÉ2

Tipp are up against it facing a Limerick team expected to show improvement on last weekend’s win over Clare.

Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, B Nash; D Byrnes, D Hannon, K Hayes; W O’Donoghue, C O’Neill; G Hegarty, D Reidy, T Morrissey; A Gillane, S Flanagan, C Lynch. Subs: D McCarthy, C Boylan, P Casey, C Coughlan, A English, G Mulcahy, B Murphy, A O’Connor, F O’Connor, D O Dalaigh, M Quinlan.

Tipperary: B Hogan; J Ryan, R Maher, C Morgan; M Breen, B O’Mara, C Bowe; W Connors, E Connolly; A Tynan, G O’Connor, J Forde; J Morris, M Kehoe, S Hayes. Subs: R Shelly, R Byrne, P Cadell, S Kenneally, P Maher, D McCormack, J McGrath, N McGrath, A Ormond, S Ryan, D Stakelum.

Verdict: Limerick

Joe McDonagh Cup RD 2

Kerry v Down, Austin Stack Park, 1.0

Verdict: Down

Nickey Rackard Cup RD 3

Armagh v Roscommon, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 2.0

Verdict: Roscommon

Lory Meagher Cup RD 3

Warwickshire v Fermanagh, Birmingham, 1.0

Verdict: Fermanagh

Leinster U-20HC RD 2

Westmeath v Dublin, TEG Cusack Park, 12.30

Verdict: Dublin

Ladies Leinster SFC RD 2

Laois v Dublin, O’Moore Pk, 2.0

Verdict: Dublin

Meath v Kildare, Páirc Tailteann, 2.0

Verdict: Kildare.