Ahead of another busy weekend of championship football, six-time All-Ireland winner Paul Flynn casts his eye over the action.
First up it's Derry against Monaghan in Healy Park. I covered the Monaghan v Tyrone game in Healy Park a couple of weeks back and I was really impressed with, not just the performance from Monaghan but also the character they showed to grind out the victory in the second half.
Derry were exceptional against Fermanagh, scoring 3-17, but they’ve been leaking goals and I still can’t get the league final loss out of my head.
I think it’s going to be a tight, tight affair and we may need extra-time to decide this one. If we do, I think Monaghan will edge it with the strength of their panel.
Both Armagh and Down put up really impressive performances against Cavan and Donegal respectively.
Armagh will come into this game reenergised - Kieran McGeeney has reenergised them since their disappointing relegation from Division 1.
Conor Turbitt and Shane McPartlan are showing really well and driving them on. We have Rian O’Neill to come into back the fold. He’s named on the bench but he may start and Jarley Og Burns is starting.
So with those guys coming back, although Conor Laverty has really reenergised Down and they’re on an upward trend as well, I think this one will go to Armagh.
On Sunday we have a double header in Croke Park and I’m really looking forward to two good games, starting off with Offaly against Louth.
Martin Murphy has done a fine job galvanising the Offaly lads and the players have to take a lot of credit for what they’ve been able to do in the last two wins against Longford and Meath in the wake of what’s been a traumatising couple of months with the unfortunate and very sad loss of Liam Kearns.
In the first-half display against Meath they were absolutely brilliant with Nigel Dunne, Dylan Hyland and Rory Egan all key.
In the second half the performance dropped a little bit and if we look at Louth, they’re a second-half team and they’ve been doing it all season.
They did it again, against Westmeath in the Championship last week when Conor Earley, Sam Mulroy and Conor Grimes were just immense for Louth.
The next step for Louth now is to get to a provincial final and Mickey Harte has to take a lot of credit. It’s a Louth win for me.
I’m really looking forward to getting in and seeing Dublin take on Kildare.
Kildare have to take a lot of credit for their ability to turn around what was a disappointing start to the league. They finished it strongly and also got a good win against Wicklow last week.
But Dublin’s display against Laois shows they mean business this year. The four goals were really impressive and the performances from Con O’Callaghan from Colm Basquel, - seeing Ciaran Kilkenny - was really inspiring for the Dubs.
Against Kildare it will be good to see the likes of Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and Brian Howard get minutes in Croke Park. It’s all building for Dublin and I think they’ll continue that process with a win against Kildare.
Paul Flynn was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland
Watch Kilkenny v Galway in the Leinster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport and listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch Cork v Waterford in the Munster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 3.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport and listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch Kilkenny v Galway and Cork v Waterford in the Leinster and Munster Hurling Championships on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport and listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
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