Our selections for the weekend's GAA action include a comfortable win for Donegal over Louth at MacCumhaill Park.
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship has reached the point of no return, with this weekend set to reduce the contenders for Sam Maguire down from 12 to eight after four preliminary quarter-finals are played.
On Saturday, Cavan make the trip to Killarney to face Kerry before Cork step out in Croke Park against Dublin, while on Sunday Ulster duo Down and Donegal host provincial champions Galway and Louth respectively.
The football championship so far has been both entertaining and unpredictable but the betting markets suggest that finding an upset this weekend may prove difficult.
Selections
Down +4 vs Galway @ 5/6
Donegal -8 vs Louth @ 10/11
Down to offer Galway a test
Galway’s recent Championship encounters against Ulster opponents have proved problematic.
They edged Donegal by a point in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, fortuitously, before losing by one to Armagh in the decider.
They travelled to Celtic Park last month to face Derry as strong favourites but emerged only with a draw and, seven days ago, beat the All-Ireland champions by one as Kieran McGeeney took the chance to shuffle his pack with the Orchard County already safely through to the last eight before a ball was kicked.
Now, Galway travel to Newry to face last year’s Tailteann Cup winners Down. Conor Laverty’s side showed up well in the Ulster SFC this season and played out a thriller with Monaghan last week, the contest only getting away from them late on.
Padraic Joyce and Galway have regressed to some degree this season. They were in the ‘group of death’ with Armagh, Dublin and Derry and will claim that survival by any means was mission accomplished, but it was underwhelming and their only win came against an Armagh side with a focus on other things.
That being said, with Shane Walsh firing again, the Connacht champions should have the nous to win this difficult clash in Pairc Esler.
Down can keep them honest and a four-point start looks generous with dangers like the immense Pat Havern sure to keep the scoreboard moving for the home side.
Donegal to blow out Wee challenge
It has been an historic season for Louth after the Wee County ended a 68-year wait for a Leinster title by seeing off Meath last month.
Defeats against Monaghan and Down brought them back to reality before they were three-point victors against Clare in O’Moore Park last weekend to nick a spot in the preliminary quarter-finals.
Their reward is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal, which the Tir Conaill side won by eight points.
Jim McGuinness’ look better this time around, while Ger Brennan’s Louth have perhaps not progressed despite the provincial title.
Louth are also travelling to the lion’s den that is MacCumhaill Park for this thankless assignment.
Donegal started the season with a 10-point win over Derry in Ballybofey and showed their ruthless side in a 19-point win over Cavan three weeks ago. The Ulster champions should better last June’s eight-point winning margin.
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