Joe McDonagh Cup - Round 2
There's no rest in hurling's second-tier sprint as the the six teams are out again for the second of five weekends in a row.
Westmeath's first Championship win over Laois in 50 years was the surprise result of round 1 as Antrim beat Meath and Carlow dispatched Kerry.
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Saturday
Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park, 3pm
The Saffrons will go in with sky-high confidence after an impressive opening day in Navan.
We tipped Nigel Elliott as a 'player to watch' ahead of the last weekend and the Dunly man didn't disappoint, blasting a hat-trick as Antrim bounced back from going two goals down early on and win 5-25 to 2-18.
This was despite Elliott losing his bearings in an unfamiliar midfield role early on and accidentally shooting towards his own goal.
"I actually don't know (what happened)" he told the Irish News. "How do you start answering that? I'm just glad it never went over."
Carlow could do with him chipping in for a few points in their favour, though they showed great resilience to score the last five points in a row and reel in Kerry first day out.
The sides met four times in League and Christy Ring last year - Antrim won twice, Carlow once and there was one draw.
Carlow won the most recent and meaningful encounter though, the Christy Ring final, and Antrim will be gunning for revenge tomorrow.
Teams
Stephen Rooney and Conor McCann replace David Kearney and Conor Carson for Antrim.
Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, John Dillon, Conor McKinley; Joe Maskey, Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge; Eoghan Campbell, Simon McCrory; Nigel Elliott, Conor Johnston, Neil McManus; Donal McKinley, Michael Armstrong, Conor McCann.
Carlow: TBC
Captain Coady helped tip the balance in our favour last Sun., now we hit the road to Corrigan Pk. tomorrow to take on our old foes @AontroimGAA in the Joe McDonogh Cup 🇬🇳☄️🏆🇬🇳
— Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) May 11, 2018
#CarlowRising 🇬🇳 @itcarlow 🇬🇳 pic.twitter.com/XE9Seki6bw
Sunday
Westmeath v Meath, TEG Cusack Park, 1pm
Westmeath upset the odds last weekend with a superb 2-21 to 1-21 victory in O'Moore Park.
A second victory in a row for Michael Ryan's men would put them firmly in the mix for place in the final.
Westmeath edged their neighbours when the teams met in Trim in Division 2A, 1-19 to 1-18, and will be confident of repeating that result.
"There's not much between the teams in this group," captain Tommy Doyle told the Westmeath Topic.
"It's a great thing that every team is evenly balanced and you will see teams take points off each other. It could go right down to the wire for the top two places."
This one is part of a double-header with the same counties' footballers as they play the snow-delayed O'Byrne Cup final at 3.
Teams TBC
Kerry v Laois, Austin Stack Park, 3pm
Pre-competition favourites Laois need to get back on track quickly but that won't be easy against a Kerry side who will be smarting after losing the lead late against Carlow.
The O'Moore county will be away to Antrim in the next round so desperately need something from this game.
"It's not going to be easy going to either of them. But if we can win the two away ones now we can suffer not winning the home one," manager Eamonn Kelly told the Leinster Express.
When the sides last met, in the 2017 Leinster round-robin, Kerry led by four points at half-time but Laois improved considerably in the second and ran out three-point winners.
TEAMS TBC
Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard
Elsewhere, it's the first round of the now tier-three and four Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard competitions on Saturday.
London and Kildare will be expected to contend for the Christy Ring having played in Division 2A, along with 2B champions Mayo and runners-up Down.
Christy Ring Cup - Round 1
Derry v London, Ballinascreen, 1pm
Wicklow v Mayo, Joule Park, 3pm
Down v Armagh, Ballycran, 3pm
Kildare v Roscommon, Newbridge, 3.30pm
Nicky Rackard Cup - Round 1
Louth v Warwickshire, Dowdallshill, 1pm
Tyrone v Donegal, Killyclogher, 3pm
Monaghan v Longford, Inniskeen, 4.30pm
