Birr, 4pm (K. Delahunty)

CLARE and Westmeath kickstart the 2014 TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship qualifiers in Birr on Saturday afternoon.

Clare were hammered by both Cork and Kerry in the Munster championship and are underdogs against a Westmeath side that contested this year’s Division 2 final.

But the Lake County are smarting themselves after they were obliterated by Dublin in the Leinster semi-final, suffering a 1-7 to 7-18 defeat.

But Dublin’s subsequent hammering of Laois in the provincial decider reflected a little better on Westmeath, who scored 1-3 more than Laois did against the Sky Blues.

Westmeath still have plenty of class in their ranks, with players of the calibre of Maud Annie Foley, Ruth Kearney; Johanna Maher and Karen Hegarty.

On the Clare side, Marie Considine, Louise Henchy, Aine Kelly and Niamh Keane have real quality but Westmeath appear to be a more capable outfit overall.

Odds:

Clare 2-1

Westmeath 4-9

Draw 10-1

Kildare v Tyrone,

Páirc Tailteann, 5:15pm (E O’Hare)

TYRONE were TG4 All-Ireland senior finalists in 2010 but their stock has plummeted considerably since then. They suffered a 1-5 to 2-17 defeat to Armagh in the Ulster championship but Armagh’s victory over Monaghan in the provincial decider may paint Tyrone’s effort in a more favourable light.

Kildare were destroyed by rampant Dublin in the Leinster championship and lost their opening qualifier against Clare last year.

The Lilywhites could badly do with a championship win but they appear to have regressed. When Dublin played Kildare in 2013, 11 points separated the sides but 12 months later, the margin was 20.

Tyrone are a Division 1 outfit and with ace forward Gemma Begley in their ranks, they will have enough firepower in their ranks to extend their championship season, even if the bookies can’t split them.

Odds:

Kildare evs

Tyrone evs

Draw 10-1

Cavan v Meath,

Páirc Tailteann, 7:00pm (P. Swift)

A REALLY interesting tie is down for decision in Navan, where Cavan and Meath lock horns in a local derby.

Cavan, All-Ireland intermediate champions last year, were whipped by Monaghan in the Ulster championship but won’t need much motivation against neighbours Meath.

The Royals will start as favourites, however, and they should have beaten Laois in the Leinster semi-final.

Meath led for most of the game before suffering an agonising defeat as Laois produced a strong second half display. Katie O’Brien scored 2-4 on that occasion while Alice Davis, Bridgetta Lynch and Jenny Rispin are also dangerous in attack for Meath.

Roisin O’Keeffe, Mona Sheridan and Claragh O’Reilly possess real scoring power for Cavan but home advantage should help to swing this one in Meath’s favour.

Odds:

Meath 8-13

Cavan 6-4

Draw 9-1

TG4 Intermediate Football Championship Round 1 Qualifier

Tipperary v Wicklow,

Birr, 2pm (C. McManus)

TIPPERARY have beaten TG4 All-Ireland intermediate finalists last year, have endured a difficult campaign.

Manager John Leahy opted to dispense with a number of experienced players but Tipp suffered heavy defeats to Limerick and Waterford in the Munster championship. Wicklow, meanwhile, lost after extra-time in their Leinster semi-final against Longford, who will play last year’s All-Ireland junior champions Offaly in Sunday’s provincial intermediate decider.

Following a line of form, Wicklow will start as favourites but they failed to make a significant impact during this year’s League campaign. Tipperary were operating in a higher Division (3) but their hopes of promotion diminished with a massive semi-final defeat to Armagh.

There may be little to choose between these sides but Wicklow, All-Ireland junior winners in 2011, get a tentative nod.

Odds not available.

Verdict: Wicklow

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