The Leinster championship runs into the quarter-final stage this weekend.
There was one big surprise last weekend, will there be anymore?
Laois v Offaly
Both these teams received byes from the preliminary round. This would have been a blessing for Laois as they last played on Easter Saturday, beating Leitirm in the division four final.
Laois were awesome in Croke Park that day, not looking anything like a division four team.
Offaly finished sixth in division three. On league results there is not much between the two teams. This could very much be the way it pans out.
If Laois are as a good as they were against Leitrim, Offaly will have problems. Jordan Hayes could be the key man for Offlay in this one. Otherwise it’s a division four team in a provincial semi-final.
Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Seamus Lacey, James Kelly; Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons, Brian Byrne; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Eoin Lowry, Shaun Fitzpatrick; Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Paul Kingston.
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, John Furlong; Eoin Carroll, Jack McEvoy; Dylan Hyland, Ruairi McNamee, Jordan Hayes; Keith O'Neill, Nathan Poland, Jack Bryant.
Saturday April 13
Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo), Throw-in: 7pm
Verdict: Laois
Kildare v Wicklow
Is there another shock on the cards? Wicklow caused the shock of the weekend, dumping out Westmeath.
Kildare have been simply terrible all-year. Finishing bottom of division two. A Public spat between manager Glen Ryan and the county board. A sinking feeling, that you get the impression Glen Ryan wants out of.
Wicklow on the other hand are the only Leinster county not to win a provincial title. Is this their year? Probably not! Oisin McConville’s side were relegated from division three but turned it around big style last week.
Can they make it two wins in a row? That would be a brilliant season for the most unsuccessful county! Wexford or Louth await in the semi-final!
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Burke, Shea Ryan, Mick O'Grady; Jack Sargent; Eoin Doyle, Paddy McDermott, Aaron Masterson; Kevin Flynn, Alex Beirne; Niall Kelly, Shane Farrell, Kevin Feely; Darragh Kirwan, Daniel Flynn.
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Eoin Murtagh; Matt Nolan, Patrick O Keane, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy, Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Christopher O Brien, Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Kevin Quinn, John Paul Nolan.`
Sunday April 14
Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary), Throw-in: 1:45pm
Verdict: Wicklow
Louth v Wexford
Division two Louth will be nowhere near as close a push over. While Wexford will contest a last gasp penalty against Leitrim as the reason they remain in division four.
Louth will have far too much for the south east men. The door has opened somewhat for Louth to make the Leinster final. A repeat of their 2023 appearance.
Westmeath’s departure and the weakness of Kildare has the door wide open for a May 12 Croke Park date.
Louth: Niall Mc Donnell; Donal Mc Kenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Conall Mc Keever, Anthony Williams, Leonard Grey; Tommy Durnin, Ciaran Murphy; Tom Jackson, Ciaran Keenan, Conor Grimes; Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy, Ciaran Downey.
Wexford: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Kevin O'Grady, Dylan Furlong, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Páraic Hughes, Eoghan Nolan, Mark Rossiter; Graeme Cullen, Sean Nolan, Conor Kinsella.
Sunday April 14
Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois), Throw-in: 4:30pm
Verdict: Louth
Dublin v Meath
13-years, 10 months, two weeks and one day! That’s how long it’s been since Meath last beat Dublin in the championship.
That’s also the timeline it’s been since Dublin last lost a Leinster championship game. It’s really made a mockery of the old Wolfe Tone’s song “fourteen men” and the “six Leinster’s in-a-row” line!
While Meath had too much for Longford last weekend, they’re nothing to write home about.
Stephen Cluxton, Mick Fitzsimons and James McCarthy have been named on the Dubs bench. McCarthy made one in appearance in the league, the others have yet to get a game.
There’s only one winner here!
Dublin: Evan Comerford; Seán MacMahon, Cian Murphy, Eoin Murchan; Brian Howard, John Small, Seán Bugler; Tom Lahiff, Ciaran Kilkenny; Ross McGarry, Killian McGinnis, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel.
Meath: Seán Brennan; Donal Keogan, Adam O'Neill, Harry O'Higgins; Ciarán Caulfield, Ross Ryan, Seán Coffey; Ronan Jones, Daithí McGowan; Shane Walsh, Eoghan Frayne, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, James Conlon.
Sunday April 14
Croke Park
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway), Kick-off: 4:30pm
Verdict: Dublin
