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Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Finals: All you need to know

New York are set for a third competitive game this summer
New York are set for a third competitive game this summer

SATURDAY 10 JUNE

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals
Offaly v Wexford, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 4pm
Carlow v New York, Netwatch Cullen Park, 5pm
Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 6pm
Down v Longford, Páirc Esler, 7pm

ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app. Highlights also available across the weekend.

TV
Carlow v New York and Down v Longford are available to watch on GAAGO. Highlights of all the weekend's action on The Sunday Game, RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, from 9.30pm.

RADIO
Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport. Also live updates on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an tSathairn.

WEATHER
Saturday:
Generally cloudy with scattered showers moving up from the south to many parts through the morning and afternoon, reaching the north later in the evening. Some of the showers may be heavy. Hazy sunshine likely ahead of the showers. Warm with highest temperatures of around 20 to 25 degrees, depending on the cloud cover, with a light southeast airflow. For more go to met.ie.


Paul Flynn's predictions


Trying to make home comforts count

Offaly, Carlow, Fermanagh and Down, by virtue of finishing second in their respective groups, will have the advantage of being hosts as the second staging of the competition reaches the winner-takes-all phase.

Whoever emerges victorious from these four games will then be away from home in the last eight, with the draw for the quarter-finals set to take place on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland from 8.30am on Monday.

Cavan, Limerick, Meath and Antrim will be keeping a close eye on what happens in the preliminary ties.

Monday's draw shall be subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the group stage.

Pairing that can't happen: Limerick v Carlow, Limerick v Longford, Cavan v Offaly, Cavan v Laois, Meath v Down, Antrim v Fermanagh, Antrim v Wexford.

Form guide

Carlow players Jamie Clarke, 15, and Darragh Foley celebrate the win over Longford i

Based on the group tables, Carlow and Down bring the best form into Saturday's games. Niall Carew's side, after losing to Wicklow in Leinster, then turned the tables on Oisín McConville's side in their opening group game. A defeat to Limerick followed, but Carlow edged Longford on Sunday last to claim second spot.

With Darragh Foley expertly leading the line, the Barrowsiders will fancy getting over the challenge of New York at Netwatch Cullen Park.


Tiernan Mathers relishing another bite of the championship apple with New York


The Exiles haven't played in seven weeks, since that loss to Sligo in the Connacht semi-final, and it was a heavy defeat. How Johnny McGeeney's side have regrouped since, well we won't know until the early minutes.

Down's Pat Havern

Down, under Conor Laverty are making progress, and will be looking to at least see Croke Park action in this competition. They lost narrowly to Meath in the battle for top spot in their group; a couple of converted frees late on seeing the Royals over the line.

Odhran Murdock and Pat Havern are players that have caught the eye for the Mournemen.

Longford are the visitors to Newry. A tough spring saw relegation to Division 4 for Paddy Christie's side, with the 3-17 to 2-09 win over Wicklow on 20 May good enough to see them through to this stage.

Elsewhere, Offaly welcome Wexford to Glenisk O'Connor Park and Laois make the trip to Brewster Park to take on Fermanagh.

The Faithful started well with a win over London, but then had to dig deep to get a point against Laois and were well beaten by Cavan last weekend.

Wexford custodian Darragh Brooks

Wexford bagged a vital victory over Leitrim last weekend to see them advance. Ben Brosnan rolled back the years with a crucial late goal which helped secure knock-out football for the Slaneysiders. Darragh Brooks chipped in with four points at Parnell Park.

Offaly defeated Wexford by a point in the preliminary round of last year's Tailteann Cup.

Fermanagh were undone by late goals from Antrim last weekend and so missed out on a quarter-final place. On paper, they'll fancy their chances against a Laois side who haven't pulled up too many trees so far in 2023. Two draws for Billy Sheehan's side have been enough to get them this far, the latter came against London, where former League of Ireland goalkeeper Niall Corbet kicked a last-gasp point.

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