Pearse Stadium, Sunday, 1.30pm.

Galway will be looking for revenge when they take on Armagh on Sunday.

Twelve months ago the men from the Orchard County wreaked havoc on Galway, running out victors by 3-14 to 2-07. The bad news for Galway is that things may not get much better for them this weekend.

Armagh have been in flying form, despite playing with their Crossmaglen contingent. Stevie McDonnell, in particular, has been most impressive in the early season games. The whole team smacks of experience and the return of Martin O’Rourke further enhances this.

The Tribesmen are stuck at the bottom of the table and have shown nothing for their fans to take heart from. The lack of Padraig Joyce for the first two round of the NFL clearly upset the balance of the side and Peter Ford will be eager to get him back to full fitness as soon as possible.

The young heads that he (Ford) has had to rely on so far will not be able to prevent another loss to the world-wise ways the Orchard County.

Verdict: Armagh

Kildare v Derry

Newbridge, Sunday, 2.30pm.

Kildare manager John Crofton will be optimistic that his side can maintain their unbeaten record in the NFL when they take on Derry this Sunday.

Johnny Doyle is flying fore the Lilywhites and neither Down nor Laois have found a way of stopping him yet. His form is comparable to that of Wexford’s Mattie Forde in the 2005 NFL season. Whether or not Doyle can steer his side to the final in the same manner remains to be seen.

Derry will, no doubt, have their own plans for dealing with Doyle. The likelihood is that Sean Marty Lockhart will track Doyle. Elsewhere, Derry need to start getting the best out of Enda Muldoon and paddy Bradley once again. They have failed to hit their usual fine form and need to rectify that soon if they are to make the knockout stages.

The sneaky suspicion here is that Derry will contain Doyle and take the two points on offer.

Verdict: Derry

Laois v Louth

Portlaoise, Sunday, 2.30pm.

Louth have clearly been undaunted by their arrival in the top flight so far, they need to continue to do so against Laois on Sunday.

The Wee County will be without centre-back Peter McGinnity, who was carried off against Armagh in the last clash. They would have won that game bit for a late Stevie McDonnell goal. If Darren Clarke gets into his stride against The O’Moore County then they may be able to start planning for an assault of the upper end of the table.

Laois are without Colm Parkinson and Aidan Fennelly for this tie. This is a must-win game for them as, having already lost one game; they will not make the semi-finals if they lose out again. Billy Sheehan returns and should provide a link between defence and attack that was sorely missing on recent occasions.

This should prove to be a close encounter but Laois should be able to edge out Louth a couple of points.

Verdict: Laois

Westmeath v Down

Mullingar, Sunday, 2.30pm.

Westmeath, the surprise package of Division 1B, take on a troubled Down outfit this Sunday.

The Midlanders have flown out of the block and have shown no signs that they are going to let off. They were particularly impressive in their 3-10 to 1-09 away win at Derry. The side seems less dependent on Dessie Dolan than they have been in the past and are start to move more as a unit.

Down, despite drawing with Kildare last time out, have been very out of sorts. The positioning of Benny Coulter in midfield seems to have robbed them of the some of the bite in front of goal that we are used to him offering. They face more formidable opposition in this eager Westmeath side and need to introduce some more urgency into their play.

Down may have had a chance with home advantage but an away trip against a nicely motoring Westmeath side was the last thing they needed at this stage of the competition.

Verdict: Westmeath