Dublin's Drive for Five? GAA 2019

[Diable Rouge]

Tyrone cruising into round three as expected, but Laois and Derry still level in the closing stages.

[elguapo4]

Derry v Laois and Longford v Tyrone just started, first too close to call but I'll go for Laois, Tyrone may find it more difficult than most people will think but they should progress.

[elguapo4]

Kildare give Antrim the expected hiding by 11 points in the qualifiers.

[Diable Rouge]

Meath return to the Joe McDonagh after winning the Christy Ring decider against Down, 4-19 to 2-15.

[Diable Rouge]

There are times when GAA followers become increasingly cynical of the inter-county scene, but Leitrim hurlers have won their first-ever national title, defeating Lancashire 2-23 to 2-22 after extra time to lift the Lory Meagher Cup - the only counties yet to win any laurels since the inception of lower-tier tournaments are Cavan, Monaghan, and Wicklow, who might have been expected to fare better.

http://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1142419782001729536

[Diable Rouge]

The busiest weekend of the season, featuring no fewer than eleven football ties:

All-Ireland Qualifiers, Round Two:

Is expected to be dominated by the Division One teams, though Leitrim v Clare and Laois v Derry are both 50/50 calls:

Limerick v Westmeath
Leitrim v Clare
Offaly v Sligo
Down v Mayo
Monaghan v Armagh
Longford v Tyrone
Antrim v Kildare
Derry v Laois

Munster Football Final: Cork v Kerry

Like last year, attendance will be dented doubly by the Cork venue and the 7 p.m. Saturday throw-in time, along with the Rebels not recording a victory in this fixture since 2012. Cork are reportedly excelling in challenge matches (which has the same caveats as "flying in training"), but Kerry should prevail, being forewarned by the tricky prospect of meeting Mayo or Tyrone in the qualifiers.

Ulster Football Final: Cavan v Donegal

Cavan are the Uruguay of Gaelic football, with a trophy-laden history and a small population, but little success since 1970. Donegal have been battle-hardened competitors for much of this decade, and should have enough nous to unnerve the Breffni County.

Leinster Football Final: Dublin v Meath

The Dubs are targeting their 14th provincial crown in 15 seasons, the sole exception being Meath's asterisk-worthy robbery of Louth in 2010. Kildare were dismissed with contemptuous ease in the semi-final, but can the Royals at least keep the margin of defeat in single digits?

[elguapo4]

Very bad weekend for Galway, at least the footballers have a second chance but they'll have to improve a lot on their second half performance.

[Diable Rouge]

In hurling, it's a Tipp v Limerick Munster final, as the home side complete a 100% round-robin in Thurles, Clare also win against Cork in Ennis, but are eliminated on score difference.

[Diable Rouge]

Roscommon looked in dire trouble when trailing by ten points to five at half-time, but completely dominated the second 35 minutes to win by four.

[elguapo4]

Huge win for Dublin, know some Hurling only Dubs who were there tonight, delighted for them.

[Diable Rouge]

And so it ends, Galway out on points difference:

http://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1139979828931780609

[Diable Rouge]

With minutes remaining, the top four in Leinster would finish on 5 points, as Kilkenny and Wexford are level, and Galway trail Dublin.

[elguapo4]

And Offaly are gone, Kerry win by 2 points.

[elguapo4]

We were talking about Offaly last night and as one of my friends pointed out Offaly is one of the most economically destitute counties in Ireland, even more so than Leitrim, it's economy was totally dependent on the huge Bord na Mona turf fields and the power station. When they went tits up there was nothing else and migration from Offaly is at 1950s levels. That being said its a huge fall from grace for them. Well done Kerry if they pull it off.

[anton pulisov]

Kerry are currently beating Offaly in Hurling.

The world has gone mad.

[Diable Rouge]

A quiet GAA weekend, with only three fixture periods over the two days.

Football - Connacht Final: Galway v Roscommon

The first provincial decider of the season occurs for the fourth consecutive occasion, as the Tribesmen aim to return to the Super 8s. Former Kerry junior, Conor Cox, has been the star for the Rossies this season, and will be the focal point of their attack. That said, Galway will be expected to prevail, if only by a narrow margin.

Munster Hurling Championship - Final Round:

As the decisive round begins, Tipp lead on 6 points, followed by Cork and Limerick on 4 each, and Clare trailing on 2. With Tipp virtually guaranteed a final berth ahead of their tie against Limerick, and Cork expected to defeat Clare, points difference makes a Tipp v Limerick final the probable outcome if all three finish level.

Leinster Hurling Championship - Final Round:

Very hard to call this section, with Galway top on 5 points, Kilkenny and Wexford on 4, and Dublin currently having 3. The clash of the Cats and the Model County will be crucial, with Galway expected to defeat Dublin, but I tentatively tip Kilkenny to join them in the provincial showpiece.

In the Joe McDonagh, Laois have booked their final berth, and Westmeath should join them in the decider. Kerry have home advantage against Offaly, so may escape the drop.

[elguapo4]

Kildare pushed Dublin hard for large parts of the first half but then the Dubs upped the pressure in the second half and won easily. Not sure where this leaves Kildare,they've some decent players and Kevin Feely is one of the best midfielders in the country but they could just as easily lose in the next round, depends on the draw I suppose.

[Diable Rouge]

Only one member of the last Mayo squad to win the All-Ireland in 1951 remains, after Pádraig Carney died over the weekend. The second round qualifier draw looks tailor made for the three Division One teams:

Down v Mayo
Longford v Tyrone
Monaghan v Armagh
Leitrim v Clare
Westmeath v Limerick
Derry v Laois
Antrim v Kildare
Sligo v Offaly

In truth, Laois v Derry is somewhat of a toss-up that I could have called either way.

[Diable Rouge]

Dublin predictably pull well clear of the Lilywhites in the second half. Limerick slaughtered Clare in the hurling, leaving the Banner needing to defeat Cork to avoid the earliest possible exit.

http://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1137763923522916352

Elsewhere, the qualifiers largely followed expectations (Antrim defeating Louth being the only upset), Cavan dispatched Armagh relatively comfortably in the replay, and Meath had little trouble in defeating Laois in the first Leinster semi.

[Diable Rouge]

Interesting - Dublin only four ahead of Kildare at the break, 0-11 to 0-7.

[Diable Rouge]

A rip-roaring match between Kilkenny and Galway - the Tribesmen led by 7 at one point, before the Cats narrowed the margin to the bare minimum at the finish. It also proved to be a rather tempestuous affair, ending as 13 v 14. Looking at the current table, not inconceivable that the top four could all finish on 5 points, but distinctly improbable:

http://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1137730139347935233

[elguapo4]

Meath beat Laois in the Leinster semi final 3.13 to 0.11, Dublin or Kildare awaiting them in the final.

[Diable Rouge]

Incidentally, the GAA have launched a new streaming service called GAA Now, that can be watched for free worldwide - no major fixtures, but they are currently showing hurling from the Joe McDonagh Cup live:

http://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/1137296709988552709

[Diable Rouge]

Munster Hurling:

Cork v Waterford: Waterford could, theoretically, face a relegation play-off if Kerry win the Joe McDonagh, but also have the tiniest sliver of a top three finish, should they cause an upset here. The Rebels know points difference could determine Munster final placings, so need to inflict a punishment beating here.

Limerick v Clare: Like the Rebels, the current champions are far from guaranteed progression to the All-Ireland series, but given the poverty of the Banner display against Tipp, they have to be favourites this weekend.

Leinster Championship: Wexford v Carlow

Mathematically, Carlow could avoid relegation on points difference should they defeat their neighbours, but demonstrated little likelihood of this against Dublin. Wexford will almost certainly finish in the top three with a success in this fixture.

Kilkenny v Galway:

Promises to be the most attractive match of the weekend, and a potential rehearsal for the Leinster final. The Tribesmen underwhelmed against Wexford in Salthill, and will be keen to make amends against the Cats.

[Diable Rouge]

To begin, the first round of football qualifiers, where the emboldened sides should all advance:

Offaly v London
Leitrim v Wicklow
Wexford v Derry
Louth v Antrim
Monaghan v Fermanagh
Down v Tipperary
Carlow v Longford
Westmeath v Wexford

Ulster Semi-Finals:

Cavan v Armagh: As last week, there should be little to separate the opponents, but I stick with Cavan to ultimately prevail.
Donegal v Tyrone: A football game on RTE - mirabile dictu! It's not as though other games haven't merited such an honour, those involving Cavan, Kildare and Roscommon being the most notable examples. This is in effect the "real" Ulster final, and I would expect the Red Hand to triumph, but only by the minimum.

Leinster Championship:

Dublin v Kildare: The recent provincial finals between the pair proved to be turkey shoots, and while one would expect some narrowing of the margins, a dozen points seems the probable gap this Sunday.

Laois v Meath: Both are on upward trajectories, earning promotion this spring, but with Meath playing Donegal and Kildare, among others, they appear to have the greater quality potential.