NFL - WICKLOW V. CLARE: Micko and his men kick off the new season's National Football League with a match against Clare, most likely in Ennis on Sunday.

After a very poor showing in the O'Byrne Cup and Shield, everyone, mentors, supporters and players will be looking forward to a change of fortunes.

In fact it will take a big improvement in form to get a win in the Banner County.

On our last visit to Ennis in 2008 the home side won by 0-11 to 0-8 in a game played in atrocious conditions.

Last year Wicklow avenged that defeat with a convincing win in Aughrim - 1-15 to 2-9. So in a way this is the rubber.

While Micko makes no secret of the fact that, for him its the championship that counts, he would, nonetheless like a win to get the year moving.

In his two matches in the O'Byrne games the Kerryman and his selectors were in experimental mood.

Against Louth they tried out four newcomers, Stephen Canavan, Richard Murphy, Paul Hogan and Eamonn Kearns. In addition they gave Ciarán Jones his first start and brought on Mikie English, Shane Morley and Niall Gaffney in the course of the match.

Against Carlow they tried out Stephen Mann, Stephen Kavanagh and gave a first start to Paul Cunningham. In addition Niall Mullet got a first run and English and Gaffney came on as subs again.

Others like Billy Norman, Brian Lennon, James Stafford, Leighton Glynn and Brian McGrath got a first start this year in one or other match.

For anyone else that would be enough experimenting for one month but Micko could go for more in this match.

Others like Alan Byrne, Jacko and Paddy Dalton and Dara O'Sullivan are waiting for a first run out while there is also other newcomers like Mark Doyle, Mark Kenny, Robert Lambert, Stephen and Willie Dillon to get trials and the returned Rory Finn and students Ciarán Walshe, John McGrath, Paddy Byrne and Paul D. Cunningham to come into the reckoning.

Unless there is a big change in policy it is unlikely that any team will be announced before training on Thursday night.

So all we can do is speculate; Mervyn will be in goal; Ciarán Hyland and Stephen Kelly will be in the full-back line; Stephen Mann may be thrown in at the deep end at fullback, but there again they could go for a 'safety first' policy and call on the very experienced Alan Byrne.

In the half-back line it could be a toss up between the late starting Brian McGrath and newcomer Stephen Canavan for centrehalf. Paudge McWalter and Darren Hayden should get the wing positions.

Staffo will man midfield but who will his partner be? The jury is still out on any or all of the five players that were tried in that position so far.

Long before Micko's time Wicklow were unable to find a leader for the attack so will they take another gamble and give the promising, but 'raw' Paul Cunningham another run on the '40'?. Tony Hannon, if he is not needed to bolster up midfield and Leighton Glynn should fill the wind-forward positions.

Seánie Furlong will start at full-forward and that could leave Dean Odlum, Paul Earls, Ciarán Jones, Dara O'Sullivan and possibly the improving Rory Finn in contention for the remaining positions.

A win would be an ideal kick-off to the new season and I believe we are good enough to do it

One way or another Wicklow followers, and from what we hear there will be quite a few making the journey, would dearly love a win to brighten the gloom, prevailing in all sectors of society at the moment.

KEHOE SHIELD SEMI-FINAL - WICKLOW V. LONGFORD

Casey O'Brien gets another outing for his hurlers on Sunday when they take on Longford in the semi-final of the Kehoe Shield at a home venue, most likely Arklow.

Wicklow in fact should have got a quarterfinal match in this competition but because Mayo pulled out, giving Carlow IT a walkover in the first round we went straight into the semi-final without a match..

A good feedback from the training camp with a big turnout every night. Casey had a daylight session in Carnew on Saturday where the team got in a lot of valuable stick work.

It was back under lights again on Tuesday night where it was expected the team to play the midlanders would be announced.

The display against Roscommon was promising enough for a squad that was only a week in training.

With more options available, another two weeks of training under their belts and home advantage the team must be fancied to get a first win.

That would give them another match in the final and leave them that bit better prepared to take on Fingal in their first league match.

However, Dublin is at an all-tme high at the moment so Casey will be taking no chances.

So a win on Sunday is a 'must' if they are

to get off to a good start in the league.

LEINSTER VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FINAL

On the busiest weekend of the year so far Wicklow take on mighty Meath in the final of the Leinster V.S. Senior fotball championship at Parnell Park, Dublin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Wicklow have won many Leinster titles in this grade down the years and in good years or lean were always the team to beat in the province.

They won three All-Ireland titles, the first in 1974 with a team backboned by players from the Dunlavin school and trained by their teacher Frank Campbell The captain that year was Pat Ryan, Dunlavin and the St. Laurence's club in Ballytore.

The second title came in 1983 when Ken Browne was at the helm; Baltinglass were the top school and Kevin O'Brien was the captain.

The third All-Ireland cup was won in 2006 with Longford man, Fergus Boyle leading the way. Niall McGraynor of Bray was the captain.

Wicklow could start as outsiders this time against a county that has become a great power in schools football.

U-21 FOOTBALL

To round off a busy weekend Tim Healy's county U-21 football team are due to play Dublin in the final of a tournament sponsored by Carlow.

With Mick O'Dwyer unlikely to release players like Stephen Mann and Paul Cunningham anything could happen with this game so the message is - check before you travel.