AFTER A quite weekend with no inter county matched concerning Wicklow the GAA calendar goes into overdrive this week.

The Senior footballers take on Carlow in the NFL at Aughrim on Sunday; the Senior hurlers play their postponed match in the League at Swords on Saturday while Tim Healy's U-21 footballers are out in the second round of the Leinster Championship at Aughrim on Saturday.

And if that is not enough Mick Hagan kicks off his SFL at a number of venues on Saturday and Sunday. NFL - WICKLOW V CARLOW

This could and should be a rip roaring contest with Wicklow going all out to gain revenge for that trashing in the 0'Byrne Shield in Dr Cullen Park . And Carlow will not want to let the advantage that win gave them slip away.

Since then both teams have got in a few matched in the League and will be that mush fitter, if nothing else.

This is a very important match for both teams if they intend to stay in line for promotion. Carlow got off to a flying start in the league with a win over Longford but then dropped three points in their next two matches, a brace away to Limerick and a home point to Waterford .

Wicklow on the other hand got the sort of start no teams want, losing to an under-strength Clare team in Ennis. However, they bounced back with a home win over Leitrim and followed that up with a win over lowly London in Ruislip.

The bottom line is both teams have dropped points and can't afford to drop any more.

On the face of it Micko's panel appears to be growing in strength and balance but matches against stronger opposition could paint a different picture.

The team showed improvements against Leitrim and won with some ease in Aughrim.

Again they stepped up their game in London but questions must be asked about the strength of the opposition.

This match will be won by which ever sides wants it the most. Micko makes no secret of the fact that to him it is the championship that counts. None the less this is one match that he would dearly love to win. Luke Dempsey is in more or less the same position.

With a championship match between the pair looming a win on Sunday would give either side a great boost, and that I believe could be the deciding factor. Of equal importance it could inject something like championship passion into this game.

So the big winners on Sunday could be the spectators that turn up for the game - the losers, the ones that stay away.

Training is going well and the mood in the camp is good so that should add up to a win for Wicklow on Sunday. U-21 FC - WICKLOW V LAOIS

Another man that has just been handed a revenge mission is the new U-21 boss Tim Healy.

A year ago Wicklow started the U-21 Football championship with a good win over Longford down in Longford. They had Laois at home in the second round but instead of the expected win they took a hiding from the O'Moore youngsters. Now Bray businessman Tim Healy has been called in and handed the job of turning the tide for Wicklow. A hard training campaign and another good win over Longford has raised hopes that the experienced Tim can accomplish the task,

He has Mick O'Toole, Kiltegan and Jim McCormack of Bray as his selectors and has pulled together a good, strong bunch of young players all of them ready, willing and able to take on the task. They have prepared well, took part in a four county tournament, sponsored by the Carlow County Board. They reached the final where hey were beaten by Dublin. The big win over Longford gave the team a great confidence boost and got them into the right mood to tackle the Laois lads

However, Tim has been hit by what amounts to an injury crisis which stretches from goalkeeper Ronan Phelan to corner-forward Ciaran Walshe and has now visited all ports in between In a practice match against the Seniors on Sunday the selectors reckoned they were short of no less than five of the team they would like to be starting with.

However it is not all doom and gloom.

Lorcan Trainor did well in goal and the defence, even without Robert Lambert, did well and conceded no goals. Adam Merryman played well at midfield and is starting to look like a senior player while Brendan McGarr is now starting to make his years of experience tell.

Anthony McLoughlin is a strong and experienced leader of the attack and has two good flankers in Paul Cunningham and Ronan Carroll.

If the supply of the ball is right we have the potential in the full forward line to win the match. Peadar Burke is flanked by two opportunists in Dean Siney and Shane Carty.

On the injury list last week was Ronan Phelan, Paul McLoughlin, Brian Osbourne, Conor Foley, Brendam McGarr, Kevin Hanlon, Ciaran Walshe and Mark Kenny

A lot could depend on how many of that bunch report fit for action on Saturday.

Laois have a team of big name players, but not as big as the one we beat in Portlaois two years ago

If Wicklow are at full strength and well fired up then this is a game they are fit to win. NHL - FINGAL V WICKLOW

Just as he was celebrating his first success as Manager of the Wicklow hurling team, Casey O'Brien suffered his first setback. His first match in the League was cancelled because of unplayable pitches in Dublin

Now that match against Fingal has been refixed for Swords on Saturday.

While it is always a setback not to be able to start with the rest of the field in this cast no great damage has been done because this is a free Saturday and gives us a chance to catch up.

Reports from the training camp is good, a big turn out at all sessions and at this stage no major injuries. Last week Don Hyland came out of retirement and joined the squad and another Canew man Liam Kennedy has returned from injury and is back training.

Hyland, who has won almost every honor available to him could be a major asset to the team. For one thing he could slot in at full forward and with Jonathan O'Neill outside him the one thing the attack would not lack would be leadership.

Wicklow could do well in this division of the league and now that they has broken a losing spell Casey will want to keep them going. Dublin hurling is on a high as Tipperary found out on Sunday so Fingal will be no push over.

However, Casey will be going all out for another win on Saturday and with a bit of luck Wicklow should pick up their first brace of points.