GAA Football and Hurling Championship Previews

It's a weekend to saviour for all GAA fans around the country - and indeed in more far-flung places - as Round 2 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Qualifiers offers a feast of action, while there are also two GAA Hurling All-Ireland Phase 2 games to keep small ball enthusiasts happy on Saturday.

On Sunday, the business of determining the Leinster GAA Football and Munster GAA Hurling champions for 2010 gets underway with the meeting of Louth and Meath at 2.00pm at Headquarters, followed closely by the clash of Munster rivals Cork and Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 4.00pm.

Click on the fixtures below for in-depth previews on all 12 Championship games taking place this weekend.

Of the 16 teams in Round 2 of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers, just two have failed to register a win in the current campaign. Cork and Leitrim, however, do have the opportunity this weekend to rectify that anomaly.

After their replay loss to Kerry, the Rebels will be anxious to get back on track with a win over Cavan and the home side will be favoured to even up their overall record against the Breffni men, which currently stands at two wins and three losses.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh: Cork v Cavan , 3.00pm

Leitrim supporters will not be as confident as their Leeside counterparts of success against Kildare at Newbridge. To date the Connacht minnows have lost all eight of their outings in the Qualifiers and St Conleth's Park is a tough venue in which to try and end that streak.

Newbridge: Kildare v Leitrim , 7.00pm

And a 'home' win is what Dublin will be hoping for after the return of the side from the capital to the Qualifiers following a six-year absence. The Dubs have played just seven matches in this arena, which is the joint lowest with Waterford and London. However, unlike the Déise and the Exiles, both of whom have yet to win a match, the Metropolitans enjoy a record that is second only to Kerry, with their only loss coming against Armagh in 2003.

Tipperary manager John Evans has been instrumental in the improved performances of the Premier County footballers and after their win over Laois they will not be short of confidence. A win at Croke Park would put the traditional hurling county on a new level.

Croke Park: Dublin v Tipperary , 6.00pm

Another county where the big ball plays second fiddle is Waterford, although promotion to Division 3 in the Allianz GAA Football National League this year gave some spotlight to the Déise footballers. Both the visitors and the hosts defeated Clare by similar margins en-route to today's first-ever meeting, and that suggests that a close encounter is in prospect.

Tullamore: Offaly v Waterford , 5.00pm

At Newry, Down will be confident of gaining revenge for the five-point loss to Longford eight years ago, while despite having to travel to Mullingar, Derry may just have the edge over Westmeath. It will be a repeat of their All-Ireland quarter-final meeting at Croke Park six years ago, which the Oak Leaf County won by a couple of points.

Newry: Down v Longford , 7.00pm

Mullingar: Westmeath v Derry , 5.00pm

Galway and Wexford complete the Round 2 line-up. Neither side has played near their potential this summer and it could be that home advantage might be enough to swing it.

Twelve months ago the eight matches in Round 2 provided four home and four away winners. This year the advantage may rest a little more with the hosts.

Pearse Stadium: Galway v Wexford , 2.00pm

In Phase 2 of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers, Dublin boss Anthony Daly will lead out his young charges against his native county, Clare, at Croke Park.

Croke Park: Dublin v Clare , 4.00pm

The other big hurling clash of the weekend brings together Offaly and Justin McCarthy's Limerick at Tullamore.

Tullamore: Offaly v Limerick , 7.00pm

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Sunday, July 11

Another All-Ireland quarter-final repeat from that year is on the cards at Enniskillen, where Fermanagh host Armagh. The Ernesiders eked out the narrowest of wins at Croke Park in 2004, but that victory was their only success against the Orchard County in their last 17 meetings. Both sides fell heavily to Monaghan in the provincial campaign and there probably won't be a whole lot between them at the final whistle, although Armagh's record gives them the nod.

Brewster Park: Fermanagh v Armagh , 4.00pm

In Croke Park on Sunday, Louth take on Meath in the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final. The Wee men are looking for provincial honours for the first time since 1957, while Meath have to back to 2001 for their last Leinster title.

Croke Park: Louth v Meath , 2.00pm

Down south, Cork and Waterford meet in the Munster GAA Hurling Championship final at Thurles.

Thurles: Cork v Waterford , 4.00pm