Preview: Weekend's Tailteann Cup action

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Preview: Weekend's Tailteann Cup action

Darragh Kirwan is a key player for Kildare. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Darragh Kirwan is a key player for Kildare. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Saturday May 18

Group One

Waterford v Kildare, Fraher Field, 5pm

Kildare's convincing win over Longford was a morale boosting result.

Darragh Kirwan starred in the victory for Glen Ryan's outfit, who will be hoping to generate momentum and confidence.

Waterford have made improvements in recent months, summoning a battling performance against Leitrim.

Tom O'Connell, who also impressed in the Munster Championship, is a key figure for Waterford.

Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Liam Fennell; Robbie McGrath, Billy O'Keeffe, Dermot Ryan; Michael Curry, Tholom Guiry; James Walsh, Jason Curry, Billy Hynes; Stephen Curry, James Power, Seán Whelan-Barrett.

Subs: Paudie Hunt, Alan Dunwoody, Donie Fitzgerald, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Michael O'Brien, Mark Cummins, Tommy Martin, Jason Sheehan, Richard Lynch, Niall McSweeney, John Kinsella.

Kildare: Didier Cordonnier; Ryan Burke, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; Tony Archbold, Brian Byrne, Kevin Flynn; Luke Killian, Brendan Gibbons; Barry Kelly, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Kevin Feely, Niall Kelly.

Subs: Mark Donnellan, Alex Beirne, Barry Coffey, Daniel Flynn, Sam McCormack, Dean O'Donoghue, Mick O'Grady, Shane O'Sullivan, Jack Sargent, Darragh Swords, Rian Teahan.

Group Two

Tipperary v Sligo, FBD Semple Stadium, 2pm

Sligo demonstrated their credentials in this competition during a high scoring encounter against Wexford.

Alan McLoughlin and Niall Murphy were prominent for Tony McEntee's team, who are developing nicely.

At the opposite end of the field Conor Sweeney, who has made a welcome return to competitive action, starred for Tipperary in the loss away to Antrim.

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Tadhg Condon, Jimmy Feehan, James Morris; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Kieran Costello; Stephen Grogan, Conall Kennedy; Conor Cadell, Jack Kennedy, Peter McGarry; Jack Kennedy, Riain Quigley, Darragh Brennan.

Subs: Jack Rodgers, Luke Boland, Teddy Doyle, Emmet Moloney, Manus McFadden, Steven O'Brien, Shane O'Connell, Seán O'Connor, Eoghan Power, Mark Russell, Conor Sweeney.

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin, Seán Carrabine; Mikey Gordon, Patrick O'Connor, Niall Murphy.

Subs: Daniel Lyons, Brian Callaghan, Donal Conlon, Eoghan Smith, Jack Lavin, Keelan Cawley, Lee Deignan, Luke Casserly, Mark Walsh, Petter Laffey, Shane Deignan.

Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 4pm

This should be an interesting match between two attack minded teams.

Andy McEntee's Antrim, with Ruairi McCann effective, netted four goals when beating Tipperary in the opening round.

Glen Malone continues to deliver for Wexford, who will be eager to register a win on home turf.

Under John Hegarty Wexford have shown signs of progress, so they will want to embark on a decent run in this competition.

Wexford: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Dylan Furlong, Páraic Hughes, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Kevin O'Grady, Eoghan Nolan, Mark Rossiter; Conor Kinsella, Seán Nolan, Ben Brosnan.

Subs: William Foley, Graham Staples, Liam O'Connor, Conor Carty, Shane Doyle, Jonathon Bealin, Richie Waters, Shane Pettit, Tom Byrne, Jack Higgins, John Dunne.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Niall Burns, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann; Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan.

Subs: Luke Mulholland, Calum Higgins, Colm McLarnon, Conhuir Johnston, Cormac McGettigan, Daniel McNicholl, Dominic McEnhill, Eoin Hynds, James McDonnell, Oran Downey, Pat Shivers.

Group Three

Carlow v Fermanagh, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm

Aaron Amond's two late goals ensured Carlow divided the spoils with Laois last weekend.

That was a gritty performance from Niall Carew's charges, who will be aware of Fermanagh's ability.

Kieran Donnelly's charges cruised to an emphatic victory over Wicklow with substitute Conor Love netting two goals.

Carlow: Johnny Furey; Colin Byrne, Mark Furey, Eric Molloy; Mikey Bambrick, Jamie Clarke, Colm Hulton; Conor Doyle, Ross Dunphy; Aaron Amond, Paddy McDonnell, Conor Crowley; Liam Gavin, Darragh Foley, Cormac Lomax.

Subs: Aaron Power, John Murphy, Mark Mullen, John Phiri, Ciaran Moran, Shane Buggy, Kevin Murphy, Oisín Doyle, Cathal Kelly, Niall Hickey, Adam Burgess.

Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Che Cullen, Oisín Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Elis; Ronan McCaffrey, Joe McDade; Callum Jones, Conor McShea, Fionan O'Brien; Ultan Kelm, Garvan Jones, Seán Cassidy.

Subs: Seán McNaly, Aidan Breen, Brandon Horan, Conor Love, Jonathan Cassidy, Darragh McGurn, Oisín Murphy, Tiarnan Bogue, Diarmuid King, James McMahon, Rian McGovern.

Group Four

Limerick v Offaly, Rathkeale, 3pm

Following opening round losses, the stakes are piled high for Limerick and Offaly in Rathkeale.

Down were always in control against Limerick at Páirc Esler even though Peter Nash finished with a 1-4 haul for the visitors.

Offaly endured a heavy defeat to London on home turf with Dylan Hyland contributing four points for the Faithful.

Significant improvement is necessary for both counties, but whoever prevails will be well placed to earn a position in the knockout stages.

Limerick: Josh Ryan; Tony McCarthy, Seán O'Dea, Paul Maher; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Cormac Woulfe; Tommy Childs, Emmett Rigter; Shane Costelloe, James Naughton, Cathal Downes; Danny Neville, Rob Childs, Peter Nash.

Subs: Jeffrey Alfred, Darren O'Doherty, Ruadhan O'Connor, Joe Sweeney, Iain Corbett, Tommy Griffin, Bryan Nix, Diarmaid Kelly, Eoin Hurley, Brian Ahern, Andrew Meade.

Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, John Furlong; Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, Rory Egan; Eoin Carroll, Cathal Donoghue; Dylan Hyland, Cathal Flynn, Jordan Hayes; Cian Farrell, Keith O'Neill, Jack Bryant.

Subs: Mikey Cunningham, Diarmuid Finneran, Jack O'Brien, Daire McDaid, Declan Hogan, Ruairi McNamee, Kevin McDermott, Anton Sullivan, Nigel Dunne, Nathan Poland, Dan Wyer.

London v Down, McGovern Park, 6pm

Buoyed up by a splendid opening round win over Offaly, London will be hoping to build on a solid Tailteann Cup foundation.

Michael Maher, the London manager, will be fully aware of Down's potential as they have developed under Conor Laverty's shrewd guidance.

That was perfectly underlined during a facile victory over Limerick with Daniel Guinness and Eamonn Brown influential.

Ciaran Diver and Shay Rafter were London's heroes in a comprehensive triumph over Offaly.

London: Andrew Walsh; Eoin Walsh, Daire Rooney, Ciaran McKeon; Oran Kerr, Liam Gallagher, Aidan McLoughlin; Michael Carroll, Josh Obahor; Stephen Dornan, Daniel Clarke, Ciaran Diver; Ruairi Rafferty, Shay Rafter, Fiontan Eastwood.

Subs: Matt Moynihan, Cahir Healy, Nathan McElwaine, Michael Miller, Seán Tucker, Joseph McGill, Seán McMonagle, Tighe Barry, DJ O'Flaherty, Conor Cox, Luke Kelly.

Down: John O'Hare; Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Paddy McCarthy; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Shealan Johnston; Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock; Miceal Rooney, Ryan Johnston, Danny Magill; Eamonn Brown, Pat Havern, Oisín Savage.

Subs: Kevin Anderson, Finn McElroy, Shane Annett, Jonny Flynn, Ben McConville, Ceilum Doherty, Rory Mason, John McGovern, James Guinness, Gareth McKibben, Conor McCrickard.

Sunday May 19

Group One

Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2.30pm

A derby clash that matters hugely after contrasting opening round results.

Leitrim eventually shrugged off Waterford's spirited resistance in Ballinamore with Ryan O'Rourke an influential figure.

In Hawkfield, Longford suffered a heavy defeat to Kildare so Paddy Christie will be demanding a response.

Darren Gallagher and Joe Hagan are important players for the midlanders, who know another demanding test awaits against Andy Moran's outfit.

Longford: Paddy Collum; Paddy Fox, Oisín O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Paddy Kiernan, Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Darren Gallagher, Dylan Farrell; Mark Hughes, Michael Quinn, Joseph Hagan; Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh, Jayson Matthews.

Subs: Cian McGuinness, Darragh Finlass, Conor Smith, Ciarán Scanlon, Jack Macken, Aaron Farrell, Ruairi Harkin, Keeilin McGann, Dáire Duggan, Enda Macken, Cathal McCabe.

Leitrim: Nevin O'Donnell; Adam Reynolds, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; Jamie McGreal, Radek Oberwan, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheany, Pearce Dolan; Barry McNulty, Ryan O'Rourke, Donal Wrynn; Riordan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney, Tom Prior.

Subs: Kilian Gaffey, Cathal McHugh, Kieran Clancy, Conor Reynolds, Paul Keaney, James Rooney, Mark Plunkett, Jack Flynn, Ben Guckian, Darren Cox, Evan Sweeney.

Group Three

Wicklow v Laois, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 3pm, GAAGO

Having accumulated a commanding advantage, Laois were disappointed to concede two late goals against Carlow.

Despite Mark Barry, Rioghan Murphy, and Evan O'Carroll's excellence, Laois only managed a draw.

Wicklow were soundly beaten by Fermanagh, which means they need a positive result from the upcoming tussle with Laois.

Eoin D'Arcy supplied four points for Wicklow in the Fermanagh game.

Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Patrick O'Keane; Matt Nolan, Eoin Murtagh, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy, Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Oisín McGraynor, Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Kevin Quinn, John Paul Nolan.

Subs: Mark Jackson, Mark Kenny, Cillian McDonald, Gearóid Murphy, Joe Prendergast, Adam Arslan, Eoin D'Arcy, Padraig O'Toole, Jack Treacy, Conor Fee, Jaques McCall.

Laois: Killian Roche; Dylan Kavanagh, Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons; Séamus Lacey, Brian Byrne, Simon Fingleton; Mikie Dempsey, Conor Heffernan; Mark Barry, Eoin Lowry, Kevin Swayne; Rioghan Murphy, Evan O'Carroll, Niall Dunne.

Subs: Conor Brown, Ciarán Burke, Brian Daly, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Fionn Holland, Paul Kingston, James Kelly, Jack Lacey, Damon Larkin, Kieran Lillis, Cormac Murphy.