Saturday July 1

All Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 2A

Laois v Clare, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3pm

A year ago at this exact stage Clare defeated Laois by a single point at Cusack Park, Ennis.

It was a victory that injected Clare with confidence with Colm Collins’ charges subsequently defeating Sligo and Roscommon before losing an All Ireland SFC Quarter-Final against Kerry.

Having retained their Allianz Football League Division Two status Clare’s spring was satisfactory and for 35 minutes they had Kerry in serious trouble.

But with James O’Donoghue in splendid form Kerry had the character and class to survive as Clare reflected on what might have been.

Collins is a shrewd operator and acknowledged that Kerry’s clinical attack was the difference. “I think Kerry gave a lesson in shooting efficiency, especially in the second-half,” Collins reflected.

David Tubridy was in good scoring form for Clare against Kerry, while Gary Brennan’s relevance to the cause shouldn’t be underestimated.

It has been a strange campaign for Laois, who were relegated to Division Four in the Allianz Football League.

Peter Creedon’s charges, inspired by Donie Kingston, defeated Longford before losing heavily to Kildare in Leinster.

There were some encouraging signs, though, in the 2-16 to 3-10 win over Wicklow, especially the decent scoring returns of Donie Kingston and Gary Walsh.

LAOIS: Graham Brody; Darren Strong, Mark Timmons, Trevor Collins; Eoin Buggie, Padraig McMahon, Colm Begley; Brendan Quigley, John O’Loughlin; Alan Farrell, David Conway, Damien O’Connor; Stephen Attride, Donie Kingston, Gary Walsh.

CLARE: Joe Hayes; Gordon Kelly, Kevin Harnett, Dean Ryan; Pearse Lillis, Martin McMahon, Ciaran Russell; Gary Brennan, Cathal O'Connor; Cian O'Dea, Sean Collins, Jamie Malone; Keelan Sexton, Eoin Cleary, David Tubridy.

Donegal v Longford, Ballybofey, 5pm

** **

It was a summer that commenced with such promise for Donegal. The Allianz Football League experiments went well, a raft of emerging players dealt with that level soundly.

An emphatic victory against Antrim was followed by a surprisingly poor loss against Tyrone in the Ulster SFC Semi-Final.

Now Donegal face a potentially awkward assignment against a Longford outfit that carved out a fine away win over Louth in the previous round.

Longford did leak four goals against Laois in Leinster which is a worry and manager Dennis Connerton expects a tough test in Ballybofey.

“We are playing a team that won an All-Ireland in 2012 and have been in the last six Ulster Finals,” Connerton says.

Donegal’s youngsters, though, were overpowered by Tyrone and they will be anxious to summon an instant response.

It will be interesting to see what personnel Rory Gallagher selects for this encounter.

While the Tyrone loss was an undoubted setback a win here would nudge Donegal back into Round 3, one step away from the last 12.

Donegal have consistently operated in August for the past six campaigns. Getting back there is the challenge.

Mayo v Derry, MacHale Park, Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, 5pm

** **

Disappointed to have been beaten by Galway for a second successive year in Connacht, Mayo return to Qualifier action in Castlebar.

A large and expectant crowd will gather to see what reaction the Green and Red can summon. The injury news in recent weeks brought worry, but Lee Keegan is expected to play some part.

With Keith Higgins suspended and Ger Cafferkey and Chris Barrett rated as concerns Mayo’s defensive options could be tested.

Barry Moran and Conor O’Shea have returned to training which is a boost ahead of the Derry clash.

Damian Barton’s Derry proved to be too strong for Waterford in their Round 1A encounter at Fraher Field.

Tyrone finished strongly to beat Derry convincingly in Ulster, but Barton’s youthful team will be striving to deliver a display against last year’s All Ireland finalists.

Danny Heavron and Danny Tallon were effective against Waterford, while Chrissy McKaigue and Ciaran McFaul impressed also.

Inevitably much speculation will surround what role Aidan O’Shea can play for Mayo, who failed to muster an equaliser against Galway at Pearse Stadium.

In the closing stages Mayo fashioned several opportunities, but were unable to supply a precise finish as Galway prevailed.

Mayo were able to beat Fermanagh, Kildare, Westmeath, Tyrone, and Tipperary following their Galway setback in 2016. Will they embark on that type of a journey once more?

MAYO: David Clarke; Brendan Harrison, Ger Cafferkey, Chris Barrett; Colm Boyle, Lee Keegan, Patrick Durcan; Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons; Fergal Boland, Diarmuid O'Connor, Stephen Coen; Kevin McLoughlin, Cillian O'Connor, Andy Moran.

DERRY: Ben McKinless; Niall Keenan, Brendan Rogers, Karl McKaigue; Ciaran McFaul, Chrissy McKaigue, Carlus McWilliams; Conor McAtamney, Danny Heavron; Ryan Bell, Niall Loughlin, Enda Lynn; Danny Tallon, Emmett McGuckin, Benny Heron.

Meath v Sligo, Pairc Tailteann, Navan, 6pm

** **

Meath’s Leinster SFC Semi-Final defeat to Kildare hurt deeply and the Royals know the importance of this clash in Navan.

Andy McEntee’s team are blessed with potential, but Kildare had the power to claim a deserved win at Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park.

It means Meath must now attempt to earn victories in the Qualifiers with Niall Carew’s developing Sligo side tricky opponents.

Sligo were disappointed at how their Allianz Football League Division Three challenge fizzled out after a bright start.

The Yeatsmen have already played three Championship matches in 2017 against New York, Mayo, and Antrim claiming two wins.

There is a nice blend of youth and experience in the Sligo panel with Charlie Harrison, Ross Donovan, Brendan Egan, Mark Breheny, Adrian Marren, and David Kelly established inter-county players.

“Everything is in favour of Meath and they’ll feel like they should win, but we’re quietly confident going into it,” Carew says. “But we know we’ll have to be at our best to beat teams like Meath.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t be at our best. I am expecting a backlash. I’m also expecting a big performance from our players.”

Donal Lehinan is an opportunistic finisher for Meath, while Ruairi O’Coilleain will be pushing for inclusion following a three point haul as a substitute in the Kildare match.

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Ross Donavan, Kevin McDonnell , Charlie Harrison; Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, John Kelly; Adrian McIntyre , Patrick O’Connor ; Neil Ewing , Kyle Cawley, Niall Murphy; Stephen Coen, Pat Hughes, Adrian Marren.