O'BYRNE CUP SF FINAL DUBLIN v LAOIS Tullamore, 2.00 Fitting this should be the pairing in Leinster's secondary competition as they're firmly the two best teams in the province and have been, 2004 apart, the top two for the last five seasons. Both are looking for a few players and pieces that will help them make a greater impact at national level. Keep a particular eye out today for Colm Parkinson, who scored 0-3 and 1-2 in his last two games in his latest effort to re-start his county career, and Paul Lawlor, who kicked "ve points from play off Offaly last week.

DR McKENNA CUP SF SEMI-FINAL ARMAGH v DONEGAL Omagh, 2.00 Donegal have to break their Armagh hoodoo some day and with so many Armagh players in Dubai, they'll never get a better chance. The big one is when they play on 27 May though.

WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP SH SEMI-FINALS WATERFORD v CORK Dungarvan, 2.00 They still have to meet each other in the league, and very likely, in the championship on 17 June, but obviously neither side wants to lose face today. Cork start with nine of the team that started last year's epic All Ireland semi-"nal, while in their world, Waterford start with 12 of their starters from that day.

The rivalry of this decade so far, and very likely, the rivalry of today and this year too.

CLARE v TIPPERARY Meelick, 2.00 Their respective games last week showed that while Tipp are in highscoring mood, Clare are in experimental mode.

The difference should be evident again today.

WALSH CUP SHC FIRST ROUND KILKENNY v UCD Thomastown, 2.00 Babs has decided to coach in this one rather than the game in Meelick today, to closely gauge the form of Paul Ormond, Diarmaid Fitzgerald and the All Ireland champions. Here, we reckon, Babs will have them within sight all year. Tipp are not that far off the pace.

WEXFORD v ANTRIM Piercestown, 1.30 WESTMEATH v OFFALY Mullingar, 2.00 KEHOE CUP WICKLOW v LOUTH Arklow, 2.00 KILDARE v DIT Newbridge, 2.00 CARLOW v ATHLONE IT Carlow, 2.00 MEATH vMAYO Navan, 2.00