Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

With eleven games down for decision, the non-knockout matches will command most of the attention this weekend,writes Emmet Moloney...

It's another bumper GAA weekend, with the type of fixture congestion that could cause you to miss a result here and there. Eleven games in total down for decision, all but two of the knockout variety. Such is the strange and elusive hold the GAA has on us – the two non-knockout games will command the most attention. And why not? One is the Dubs in Croker against underdogs Wexford and the other is the Munster hurling final.

It is at this point that most journalists would wax lyrical about the Munster hurling final, but we’ve been down that road before. It writes itself. Pairc Ui Chaoimh this Sunday instead of Thurles, so be prepared for walking, traffic problems and most of the crowd getting wet if it rains. The rest of the day will be fine and to those travelling, get in early, Clare and Waterford in the minor final should be a humdinger.

The senior game is not the foregone conclusion that most neutrals think. Davy Fitz will have hammered into his squad the necessity of depriving Tipp’s electric forward line of any space. Tactics will litter Sunday. The Deise will play men back in defence and, at times, try and move the ball like footballers in order to get it to their marksmen. Men like Mullane will probably be shadowed by both his marker and the spare defender Tipp will have hanging around. Expect a bit of tennis with the ball going back and forth at a rapid rate between the backs until Tipp figure out a way to get past that.

The weather, if wet, could be a factor while the Cork venue is a happy hunting ground for Waterford, Tipp do not have the best record record there. The last time these two met in a Munster final in Cork was back in 2002, Tipp were All-Ireland champions and overwhelming favourites. Waterford fans know the rest.

But we’re clutching at straws.

At the end of it all, Tipperary should still win. Quite simply, they will score more than any team in the country right now, with the possible exception of a rejuvenated Kilkenny. Waterford’s game plan will not be rocket science. They will try every legal means at their disposal to strangle the Tipp forwards. Brick Walsh and Tony Browne will be the key men here. If they’re on the ball a lot in the first half, then Waterford are in with a chance. But the All-Ireland champions will be ready for that. You simply cannot hold these guys for 70 minutes - they will get goals and they will run through you a couple of times. Far too much has to go right for Waterford to win while a lot less has to go right for Tipp. It will be closer than last weekend’s hurling fare, but the same inevitability will ensue.

It won’t be the end of the road for Waterford – the qualifiers will suit them and they could still arrive in Croke Park on All-Ireland semi-final day a fairly fresh and hungry outfit. I still have a fancy that they’ll have a say in the business end of this championship.

Cork or Galway won’t after Saturday night. This was a good draw for both teams because whoever comes out of that contest is the momentum side. Watching Galway brush Clare aside in Salthill on Saturday night wouldn’t convince me they have their house in order as much as that result suggests. Cork are in transition but retain enough warriors of old like John Gardiner, the O’Connors and Niall McCarthy to trouble the Tribesmen. The space the Banner so carelessly afforded Galway will not be on offer in the Gaelic Grounds, Cork can cause the upset here.

A Saturday evening double header in Thurles might have suited the hurling qualifiers better, but instead Limerick supporters will bring their rediscovered enthusiasm for their senior hurlers to Parnell Park. In a match made for Antrim, this will not be the straightforward Limerick win everyone expects. Far from it. Antrim always have one performance up their sleeves in the qualifiers and this should be it. The Shannonsiders should still emerge winners but only after getting a decent fright.

This brings us to the football and eight more matches. London hosting Waterford in Ruislip should see the Exiles reach the third round proper of the qualifier draw. A sign of the times and, hopefully, if they get past the Deise, they’ll be rewarded with another home draw. As someone who spent countless Sundays in Ruislip covering the local GAA scene in London, this progress will mean so much to those who slave away promoting and protecting our identify in foreign fields. They deserve their success and long may it continue.

The other stand-out football matches see Leinster rivals Laois take on Kildare while Meath and Galway will recall some battles of years gone by. Kildare on all known form will have too much for Laois, but as per usual, they will probably only fall over the finish line. The Royals on the other hand will be playing a Galway football team devoid of life right now. A disastrous league was followed by a meek championship exit at the hands of a limited Mayo: this recent footballing giant is seriously on the wane. Meath are beginning to bubble – they look like certainties at home.

Armagh by virtue of their home draw will end Micko’s time in Wicklow. It can’t be any other way, can it? If there is a GAA God up there, Wicklow will make these last 70 minutes a proper send off, battling Armagh to the bitter end.

This too would be a healthy scenario for Dublin and Wexford in Croke Park. Last Sunday’s 33,000 Leinster hurling final attendance should be topped, but the 2pm throw-in will inconvenience Dubs supporters! They should get in early because this game could be over before half two. We wish it weren’t so but the Dubs will cut loose here. Goals win matches and the earlier they come, the sooner the contest is over. The Dubs minus the handicap is a good bet.

With only one game live on TV this Saturday, let’s hope the attendances reflect that. There are plenty of attractive pairings on offer (although there is only one double header in Limerick), the tickets prices have been reduced and there are over 20 county teams in action. This is the weekend to throw the kids in the car and make for the match. Because before you know it, (hurlers of Galway, Antrim, footballers of Laois, Limerick, Wicklow, Leitrim, Longford, Carlow, Waterford and Galway), it could be all over for another year. To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...