THE SFC takes a rest this weekend and in its we have a mixed back of tricks - featuring quarter-finals in the SHC and a lot of action in Intermediate and all Junior grades of football. The Baltinglass v. Bray Emmets replay in the SFC goes back to the 11th/12th weekend. COOGAN HARDWARE SHC AVONDALE V. KILTEGAN Little has separated the two sides in recent years so this is a game that is hard to call. John Mitchell has got Avondale motoring in recent times and while they may not be the finished article yet the feeling in the camp is that they are good enough to make the semifinal at least

Hurling is going through a bad patch in Kiltegan but now that they are out of the football championship they may be able to get a better muster of players and put in a bigger effort for the hurling championship.

First they have to recover from the disappointment of last week but if they can put that behind them and they get out at full strength team they will be hard enough to beat. Jeffrey Bermingham, Eoin O'Neill, the Furlong brothers, and John Keogh are above average players but even they can not play hurling from memory.

Avondale will be backboned by county players Eamonn Kearns and Ger Whyte and have other strong players in Eugene Dunne, Shane McGrath, Seamus O'Shoughnessy and Ray Nolan and with John Mitchell calling the shots they too will be hard to beat.

For once I will let my heart rule my head and go for Kiltegan.

Verdict: Kiltegan. ARP V. BRAY EMMETS

The Emmets from Bray is the only dual club still in the running for the Miley Cup and the O'Donoghue Cup. They may find that to be an added incentive, or on the other hand a handicap. Certainly PJ Cunningham will not relish having his players exposed at a time when he is trying to get minds and bodies focused on a football replay against Baltinglass.

However, after winning five Minor championships they must have plenty of spare bodies around the seaside town. They have dual players like the two Minors - Aaron Murphy and John Henderson - along with Paul Cunningham and Ronan O'Brien who also play both games. Bill Maher is a hugely experienced full-back while Liam Kenny is a very effective full-forward.

The 'Rocks are not having a good year and are now depending too much on TJ Byrne for too many things. Trevor Mellon, Danny and Shane Curran, John Harper and Brian Byrne are all former county players at some stage will lead the charge as they always do.

However, John Henderson's men have the better record and have been fancied to make the semifinals for a long time.

Verdict: Bray Emmets. INTERMEDIATE HURLING KILCOOLE V. GLENEALY

Kilcoole and Glenealy clash in the Intermediate hurling championship at Greystones. Hard to oppose Glenealy in any grade of hurling at the present time. They are in the Senior semi-final and the Junior A final and their Minors are leading the way in their championship.

KIlcoole also have a hurling tradition and have a nice blend of youth and experience and a few county hurlers like Ronan and Daragh Keddy and Fintan Donnolly thrown in.

It's no more than a guess at this stage and since both are going through to the semi-finals anyway it hardly matters but I am going for Glenealy.

Verdict: Glenealy. D'ARCY SAND IFC BALLYMANUS V. VALLEYMOUNT

Events over the weekend has turned this into a make or break match for Ballymanus. They got a draw with Avondale on Sunday but it was a win they needed to clinch second place in their group. Now they must beat Valleymount to force a play-off with Avondale for that second spot.

Valleymount could argue that they are not out of the running yet but they would have to win this one and hope for something close to miracles.

The Billies are still the better placed of the two and have the greater incentive. If they can win what would amount to a semi-final in the group awaits them.

Both sides are traditional battlers; both are a mixture of youth and experience but on paper at least the Billies appear to have more up and coming talent.

Verdict: Ballymanus. JUDGES INN JAFC BALLINACOR V. NEWCASTLE

Do I hear someone ask - 'are Ballinacor slipping?. After a few great wins they had a less than impressive outing against Blessington last time out and then lost in the league to Shillelagh.

Newcastle have been knocking at the championship door for some time and now have a very experienced team built around one of Micko's new recruits Adam Merryman.

They are at the stage where they could be looking at a last chance of glory and that's when all teams are at their most dangerous.

Sources close to Ballinacor assure me that the Glenmalure men are still flying but will be taking nothing for granted against Newcastle. I think I will stick with the Glen men.

Verdict: Ballinacor. KNOCKANANNA V. ST. PAT'S

The two form teams in the group, Knockananna and St. Pat's, meet at Arklow on Saturday. They share the top of the table in the league while only a point separates then in Group 1 of the championship.

Knockananna are a lovely young team and on their day can be a match for any team. However, they lost their workaholic centre-forward Damien Byrne last time out and may find him hard to replace.

St. Pat's have former Seniors like Mark Donoghue and Mark Conway and promising young players not long out of Minor ranks like Lorcan Smullen and Eamonn Woulfe but most important of all, this team have gelled well this year and have an abundance of team spirit.

This one looks too close to call but if I must I will go for a Knockananna win.

Verdict: Knockananna. JAFC BALTINGLASS V. LARAGH

Baltinglass are still in with a great chance of qualifying from their group and are expected to tighten their grip that bit more when they take on Laragh at Avondale

They have very strong players in James Sheerin, Thomas Furlong, Brian Whelan and Brian Fleming.

Laragh are one of the small clubs that have lost a number of players in recent times and are finding it hard to replace them. However, the spirit is always good in the little Village and you can be sure that they will fight to the end.

Verdict: Baltinglass. BLESSINGTON V. ENNISKERRY

Enniskerry must be fancied to get back on the winning trail with a win over Blessington at Laragh. However, the 'Blues' are on a roll right now in all grades of football. When the flagship team is going well it tends to lift all other boats. So perhaps I should go for Blessington.

Verdict: Blessington. PHILIP DOYLE JBFC RATHNEW V. AN TOCHAR

Third teams from both clubs - never know what to expect. Rathnew likely to have a number of their good Minors on board and that could be the deciding factor.

Verdict: Rathnew. AGB V. DONARD-GLEN

Donard-Glen to get their second win in this championship but it will be close. Football has come on a ton in the seaside town this year and if they are taking this championship seriously they will be very hard to beat.

Verdict: Donard-Glen. JCFC BLESSINGTON V. VALLEYMOUNT

Local rivalry could lift this game, to be played at Dnnlavin, above the average. We have already gone for another Blessington team on the grounds that the club is flying at the moment. But that did not involve the next door neighbours.

Verdict: Valleymount. KNOCKANANNA V. FERGAL OG

A second championship team in Knockananna may raise eyebrows in some quarters but football is on fire in the little Carlow border village. And more that that we are tipping them to win.

Verdict: Knockananna.

- PETER KEOGH GAA reporter