Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SFC action

Saturday, June 13

All-Ireland SFC Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

In a statement of strength, Donegal have named the same starting XV that had such a convincing victory over Kerry in Round 1 for Saturday’s clash with Cork.

There are two changes to the bench though, with Jamie Brennan and Caolan McColgan named among the substitutes.

Cork have made two enforced changes to the team that defeated Meath in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC. Ruairí Deane replaces the injured David Buckley while Seán Walsh comes in for the suspended Colm O’Callaghan.

The loss of O’Callaghan is a big blow for the Rebels because his midfield partnership with Ian Maguire is one of the best in the country and the engine that drives this Cork team forward.

To have any chance of beating this Donegal team you need to at least break even on kick-outs in the middle third, and the absence of O’Callaghan will make this a considerable taller task for the Rebels.

Donegal’s convincing win over Kerry in Round 1 was a major statement, and if they hit the same heights here they should clinch a similar result.

DONEGAL: Gavin Mulreany; Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Brendan Mc Cole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan Mc Hugh, Caolan Mc Gonagle, Finnbarr Roarty; Jason Mc Gee, Hugh Mc Fadden; Max Campbell, Michael Langan, Ciaran Moore; Conor O' Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen. Subs: Shaun Patton, Cormac Gallagher, Jamie Brennan, Caolan Mc Colgan, Dáire Ó Baoill, Sean Martin, Shane O' Donnell, Shea Malone, Paul O' Hare, Turlough Carr, Kieran Gallagher.

CORK: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O'Mahony, Seán Meehan; Brian O'Driscoll, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy; Ian Maguire, Seán Walsh; Paul Walsh, Seán McDonnell, Ruairi Deane; Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones, Steven Sherlock. Subs: Micheál Aodh Martin, Jacob O'Driscoll, Tomas O'Mahony, Rory Maguire, Darragh Clifford, Dara Sheedy, Conor Cahalane, Eoghan McSweeney, Conor Corbett, Brian Hurley.

All-Ireland SFC Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm - GAA+

Brian Stack will make his first start of the season for Roscommon in Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 2B clash with Monaghan.

Stack has been rehabbing a back injury sustained during St. Brigid’s run to the All-Ireland Club SFC Final, and his return to the fray is a huge boost for the Rossies.

He comes into the team in place of his club colleague, Ruaidhrí Fallon. The other change to the side that fell to a narrow defeat to Tyrone in Round 1 sees Eoin Ward come into the team as an indirect replacement for the injured Enda Smith.

His return to the half-back line releases Colm Neary to the half-forward line where he performed with such distinction against Mayo and Galway.

Monaghan have made one change to the team that was narrowly defeated by Mayo in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC.

Ryan Wylie returns to the starting XV in place of Ryan McAnespie who drops to the bench. Stephen O’Hanlon had been a doubt with a hamstring strain but is fit enough to also be included in their substitutes.

This match has the potential to be a thriller. Both sides play an adventurous brand of attacking football but also leave gaps at the back, so it has the makings to be a high-scoring, end to end game.

Home advantage is an asset for Monaghan, but if Roscommon can reach the level they produced when winning the Connacht Championship then their greater range of attacking threats can give them a slight edge.

MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy; Micheál McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Aaron Carey, Micheál Bannigan, Oisin McGorman; Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods, David Garland. Subs: Kian Mulligan, Fionan Carolan, Robbie Hanratty, Cameron Dowd, Stephen O'Hanlon, Ryan McAnespie, Darragh McElearney, Thomas Hughes, Stephen Mooney, Max Maguire, Tom Doherty

ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Brian Stack, Caelim Keogh, Eoin McCormack; Eoin Ward, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane, Daire Cregg, Colm Neary; Diarmuid Murtagh, Darragh Heneghan, Robert Heneghan. Subs: Aaron Brady, Niall Higgins, Patrick Gavin, Ruaidhri Fallon, Oisin Cregg, Jack Duggan, Shane Cunnane, Cian Mckeon, Paul Carey, Conor Hand. Ciaran Lennon

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Kerry have made three changes to the team beaten two weeks ago by Donegal for this clash with the Lilywhites.

Brian Ó Beaglaoich comes into the defence in place of Tadhg Morley who is named on the bench. While, in attack, Tony Brosnan starts in place of Keith Evans and Joe O’Connor replaces the suspended Micheál Burns.

The Kingdom are still without key injured trio Sean O’Shea, Tom O’Sullivan, and Shane Ryan.

Kildare have made three changes to the team that fell to a 13-point defeat to Galway in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC. Shane Farrell makes his first start in two years at wing-forward in place of Brian McLoughlin.

Padraic Spillane comes in at centre-back in place of the injured Eoin Lawlor, while Jack Robinson makes his first start of the season in place of Eoin Cully at corner-forward.

A packed Cedral St. Conleth’s Park should give the home team a lot of impetus and you get the feeling they’ll rise to the occasion, but Kerry’s greater quality should tell by the end.

They’re able to name their strongest bench in some time, so even if it is a tight match you’d expect players like Paul Geaney, Gavin White, Paul Murphy, and Killian Spillane to come in and make an impact.

KERRY: Shane Murphy; Evan Looney, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Graham O’Sullivan; Mark O’Shea, Sean O’Brien, Joe O’Connor, Paudie Clifford, Diarmuid O’Connor; Tony Brosnan, David Clifford, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Sean Broderick, Eddie Healy, Keith Evans, Killian Spillane, Cillian Trant, Paul Geaney, Gavin White, Armin Heinrich, Tomás Kennedy, Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley.

KILDARE: Eoin Sheehan; Ryan Burke, Mark Dempsey, Harry O’Neill; James McGrath, Padraic Spillane, Brian Byrne; Kevin Feely cpt, Brendan Gibbons; Shane Farrell, Darragh Kirwan, Colm Dalton; Ben Loakman, Alex Beirne, Jack Robinson. Subs: Cian Burke; Rob Fitzgerald, Liam Kelly, James Harris, Tommy Gill, Cathal Hagney, Niall Dolan, Brian McLoughlin, Darragh Swords, Ryan Sinkey, Eoin Cully.

Derry v Meath, Find Insurance Celtic Park, 7pm - GAA+

Former All-Ireland minor winning captain, James Sargent, gets his first senior start for Derry having made his debut as a sub in their Round 1 defeat to Armagh.

He’s one of three changes that Oak Leaf County manager, Ciarán Meenagh, has made to his starting XV as Dan Higgins makes his first championship start of the season and Paul Cassidy returns to the team.

Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner and Shea Downey are the players to drop down to the bench and they’re joined there by goalkeeper Odhrán Lynch who is listed on the panel for the first time this season after his return from injury.

Meath have made one change to the team beaten by Cork in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC as Adam O’Neill comes in as an indirect replacement for Ruairí Kinsella who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his ACL.

He’s a major loss to the Royals because his ability to kick two-pointers and knit their attacking play with his clever range of passing was a major asset.

Confidence is likely an issue for two teams coming into the game off the back of a brace of defeats each so a strong start could be half the battle.

Home comforts and a greater defensive solidity could swing the advantage Derry’s way.

DERRY: Shea McGuckin; Padraig McGrogan, Brendan Rogers, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Eoin McEvoy; Conor Glass, Dan Higgins; Ethan Doherty, James Sargent, Ruairi Forbes; Paul Cassidy, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray. Subs: Odhran Lynch, Diarmuid Baker, Charlie Diamond, Shea Downey, Conall Higgins, Sean Kearney, Niall Loughlin, Niall O'Donnell, Ruairi Ó Mianáin, Niall Toner, Sean Young

MEATH: Seán Brennan; Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Ronan Ryan; Donal Keogan, Bryan Menton, Seán Coffey; Cian McBride, Adam O'Neill; Charlie O'Connor, Mathew Costello, Ciarán Caulfield; Jordan Morris, James Conlon, Eoghan Frayne. Subs: Billy Hogan, Brian O'Halloran, Killian Smyth, Cathal Hickey, Jack Flynn, Jack O'Connor, Ronan Jones, Keith Curtis, James McEntee, Conor Duke, Aaron Lynch

Sunday, June 14

All-Ireland SFC Round 2A

Louth v Armagh, Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen, 1pm - RTÉ

Armagh have named the same team that defeated Derry two weeks ago for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 2A clash with Louth.

Andrew Murnin was forced off in that game with a hamstring strain but, in what’s a big boost for the Orchard County, has been passed fit to play in this game and is named at midfield.

Louth have made one change to the team that defeated Dublin in their last outing with Paul Matthews coming in to replace Seán Callaghan who drops to the bench.

Armagh have arguably been the best team in the country so far this year with five championship wins in a row, most of them of the very convincing variety.

You’d wonder though if the fact they’ve had to play two more games than Louth to get to this stage will have taken a physical and mental toll? Is there a chance that Louth’s greater freshness will be a big asset?

The Wee County did much better on their own and the opposition kick-outs two weeks ago against Dublin than they did against the same opponents in the Leinster semi-final, and that will be the key battle-ground here.

If Louth are to pull off an upset then they need to dominate the middle third because Armagh’s greater firepower (they’ve scored an average of five points more per game in normal time than Louth) should see them come out on top if they break even or better in the battle for possession.

LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Emmett Carolan, Donal McKenny, Daire Nally; Conall McKeever, Dara McDonnell, Craig Lennon; Conor Early, James Maguire; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle, Ciarán Downey, Conall McCaul. Subs: Tiernan Markey, Ryan Burns, Ciarán Byrne, Seán Callaghan, Tommy Durnin, Leonard Gray, Conor Mac Criosta, Tadhg McDonnell, Cormac McKeown, Seán Reynolds, Anthony Williams.

ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Gareth Murphy; Joe McElroy, Tiernan Kelly, Greg McCabe; Jarly Óg Burns, Andrew Murnin; Cian McConville, Darragh McMullan, Tomás McCormack; Conor Turbitt, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty. Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Paddy Burns, Aidan Forker, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Ryan Duffy, Daniel Magee, Oisin O'Neill, Callum O'Neill, Rory Grugan, Aaron O'Neill.

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm - GAA+

Shane McGrath will make his first championship start for Galway on Sunday in what’s the only change to the team that beat Kildare last time out with Ciaran Mulhern dropping out of the squad.

Fionn McDonagh and Jack Mullen are both named on the bench for the first time in this year’s championship while Finnian Ó Laoi also comes into the match-day squad.

Westmeath have named the same team that started their All-Ireland SFC Round 1 win over Cavan for Sunday’s clash with Galway.

There are a couple of interesting additions to the subs bench though as Boidu Sayeh returns to the panel after injury and Shane Ormsby also makes the cut after missing out against Cavan.

Westmeath have been one of the stories of the summer and will bring a lot of belief and momentum to Pearse Stadium as well as a huge following of supporters.

But this will be undoubtedly the biggest test they have faced yet this year against a Galway team that looked like it was timing its run to form perfectly when they dismantled Kildare two weeks ago.

If Ray Connellan, Brían Cooney, and Sam McCartan can dominate Paul Conroy, John Maher, and Cein Darcy in the middle third then the Lake County are in with a chance.

But if Galway come out on top in that war-zone and their increasingly fluent attack gets a good supply of ball, then the Westerners are the more likely winners.

GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Cian Hernon, Liam Silke; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Sean Kelly; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Shane McGrath, Cillian McDaid; Robert Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Shane Walsh. Subs: Conor Flaherty, Johnny McGrath, Séan Mulkerrin, Brian Cogger, Kieran Molloy, Shay McGlinchey, Fionn McDonagh, Daniel Ó Flaherty, Finnian Ó Laoi, Jack Mullen, Damien Comer.

WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Daniel Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Tadhg Baker; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brían Cooney, Ray Connellan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Conor Dillon; Shane Corcoran, Senan Baker, Brandon Kelly. Subs: James Mitchell, Adam Treanor, Boidu Sayeh, Robbie Forde, Ian Martin, Harry Niall, Shane Ormsby, Stephen McGonagle, Eoghan McCabe, Jack Duncan, John Heslin.

Tyrone v Mayo, O'Neill's Healy Park, 3.30pm - RTÉ

Tyrone have named the same team that defeated Roscommon last time out for this clash with Mayo.

There is the notable inclusion of Darragh Canavan on their list of stand-by players though. He missed the Roscommon game with a hip injury and it’ll be interesting to see if he may yet be drafted into the match-day panel.

Mayo have made one change to the team that had a narrow win over Monaghan in Round 1 as Bob Tuohy comes in for Stephen Coen.

The Connacht side played some great attacking football at times in that victory over Monaghan, but they looked really vulnerable defensively at others.

Tyrone look a bit more solid at the back, and that could be enough to see them get the job done.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Joey Clarke; Michael McKernan, Niall Devlin, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Ronan Cassidy, Ciaran Daly; Eoin McElholm, Mattie Donnelly, Ethan Jordan. Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Michael Rafferty, Aidan Clarke, Ben Cullen, Frank Burns, Ruairi McHugh, Oisin McCann, Conor O'Neill, Ciaran Bogue, Lorcan McGarrity, Darren McCurry.

Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne (C), Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Diarmuid Duffy; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney; Hugh O’Loughlin, Conor Loftus, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O’Donoghue, Kobe McDonald. Subs: Rob Hennelly, Fenton Kelly, Paddy Durcan, Eoin McGreal, Conal Dawson, Aidan O’Shea, Stephen Coen, Paul Towey, Diarmuid O’Connor, Tommy Conroy, Cian McHale.

All-Ireland SFC Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm

Dublin have recalled goalkeeper Evan Comerford for Sunday’s clash with Cavan in place of Hugh O’Sullivan who stood between the posts for their defeat to Louth two weeks ago.

Theo Clancy comes in for the injured Killian McGinnis while Colm Basquel, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, and Ross McGarry are included in a strong looking bench.

Cavan have made two changes to the team that was beaten after extra-time by Westmeath in Round 1 as Ryan Tobin and Dara McVeety are both rewarded for the impact they made as subs in that game with starting jersies this time around.

Conor Casey and Evan Crowe are both ruled out with injuries which is a blow for the Breffni County.

Dublin struggled on their own and the opposition’s kick-outs in that defeat to Louth. If they can improve in that regard the undoubted quality in their attack should shoot them to victory.

CAVAN: Liam Brady; Paddy Meade, Brían O' Connell, Jensen Tynan; Gerard Smith, Ciarán Brady, Ryan Tobin; Conor Brady, Ryan Donohoe; Tiarnan Madden, Dara McVeety, Emmanuel Shehu; Barry Donnelly, Patrick Lynch, Fionntán O'Reilly. Subs: Ryan Connolly, Cormac Brady, Niall Carolan, Jason McLoughlin, Darragh Lovett, Ryan Brady, Eoin Clarke, Oisin Brady, Peter Corrigan, Cian Shekleton, Cian Madden

DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Greg McEneaney, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Theo Clancy, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Con O'Callaghan, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello. Subs: Hugh O'Sullivan, Tom Lahiff, Liam Smith, Lee Gannon, Cian Murphy, Seán Guiden, Josh Bannon, Ross McGarry, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Colm Basquel, Tim Deering