Saturday, May 6

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4

Laois v Kildare, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 2.30pm

This a must-win game for Laois if they’re to maintain their challenge for a place in the top two which would both secure a place in the McDonagh Cup Final as well as progression to the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.

A draw with Carlow last time out as well as an opening round defeat to Offaly means the midlanders can’t afford any more slip-ups.

After three successive defeats, Kildare’s ambitions will be less lofty – avoid relegation back to the Christy Ring Cup.

It almost looks like the Lilywhites are jaded after putting so much effort into their League campaign.

Laois have shown better form of late and go into the game as favourites.

LAOIS: Enda Rowland; Donnchadh Hartnett, Fiachra C Fennell, Ian Shanahan; Ryan Mullaney, Padraig Delaney, Jack Kelly; Aidan Corby, Ross King; Patrick Purcell, Stephen Maher, James Keyes; James Duggan , Martin Phelan, Stephen Bergin. Subs: Peter Walsh, Padraic Dunne, Liam Senior, Padraig Lalor, Jordan Walsh, Gearoid Lynch, John Lennon, Tomás Keyes, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Colm Stapleton, Fionán Mahoney.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, Cormac Byrne; John McKeon, Rian Boran, Drew Costello; Sean Christanseen, Paul Dolan; Declan Flaherty, Johnny Byrne, Mark Delaney; Brian Byrne, Cian Boran, David Qualter. Subs: Seán Burke, Richie Hogan, James Dolan, Daniel O'Meara, Micheál Hogan, Harry Carroll, Alan Goss, Sean Whelan, Frank Bass, Reece Gavin, Killian Harrington.

Sunday, May 7

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Offaly v Kerry, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1pm

This battle of the top two will have a huge bearing on how the Joe McDonagh Cup group phase ultimately pans out.

If Offaly make it four wins from four then they’re guaranteed of a place in the Final, whereas if Kerry win then nothing will be decided until the final round.

Offaly’s form has been more convincing to date, with players like Cillian Kiely and Eoghan Cahill the top men so far in a high-functioning Offaly attack.

A Kerry team very reliant on Shane Conway for scores don’t have the same cutting edge, but their defence has been the best in the competition so far.

There won’t be much in this, but home advantage could give Offaly an edge.

OFFALY: Stephen Corcoran; Dara Maher, Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely; David King, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson; Paddy Delaney, David Nally; Cillian Kiely, Jack Clancy, Adrian Cleary; Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan, Eoghan Cahill. Subs: Eamonn Cleary, Eimhin Kelly, John Murphy, Sam Bourke, James Nally, Shane Dooley, Liam Langton, Joey Keenaghan, Cathal O'Meara, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Langton

KERRY: Louis Dee; Darragh Shanahan, Eric Leen, Eoin Ross; Fionan MacKessy, Paudie O'Connor, Gavin Dooley; Evan Murphy, Jason Diggins; Kyle O'Connor, Brandon Barrett, Michael Leane; Colin Walsh, Shane Conway, Padraig Boyle. Subs: Conor Bohane, Sean Weir, Morgan Madden, Mickey Boyle, Cillian Trant, Keith Carmody, Jordan Conway, Niall Mulcahy, Dan Goggin, Philip Lucid, Ricky Heffernan.

Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm

A gritty Carlow team with a proud record of punching above their weight are still very much in the hunt for a place in the top-two thanks to consecutive draws with Kildare and Laois.

They have seriously talented forwards in the shape of Marty Kavanagh, Chris Nolan, and Paddy Boland, while Jack Kavanagh has been chipping in two from midfield.

Down are always tough to beat in Ballycran, but they’ve lost their three matches to date by an average of 18 points so it would be a big surprise if they could turn that form-graph upside down here.

DOWN: Stephen Keith; John McManus, Barry Trainor, Niall McFarland; Mark Fisher, Caolan Teggart, Ruairi McCrickard; Jordan Doran, Liam Savage; Finn Turpin, Paul Sheehan, Daithi Sands; Oisin MacManus, Chris Egan, Pearse Óg McCrickard. Subs: Cathal Lavery, Tom Murray, Aodhan Furlong, Darragh Mallon, Matt Conlon, Ryan McCusker, Stuart Martin, Eoghan Sands, Jason Croskery, Deaglan Mallon, Tim Prenter.

CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor, Niall Bolger; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack McCullagh; Conor Kehoe, Kevin McDonald; Jon Nolan, Martin Kavanagh, James Doyle; Jack Tracey, Paddy Boland, Chris Nolan. Subs: Damien Jordan, JP Treacy, Richard Coady, Michael Joyce, Fiach O’Toole, John Doyle, Jack Kavanagh, Paudie O’Shea, Ciarain Kavanagh, Eric English, John Michael Nolan