Donegal manager Jim McGuinness and Derry boss Mickey Harte. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Saturday April 20
Sligo v Galway, Markievicz Park, 3.30pm
Progress has been made by Sligo under Tony McEntee so they will be eager to test Galway at Markievicz Park.
An emerging crop of players - used to provinical success at underage level - ensures optimism surrounds Sligo football once again.
With Canice Mulligan and Niall Murphy impressing, Sligo enjoyed a convincing 0-15 to 0-6 triumph over Leitrim.
Galway's Allianz League campaign was seriously disrupted by injuries to several key players, but Pádraic Joyce's outfit still retained Division One status.
Considering the lengthy absentee list that was significant with John Daly, Paul Conroy, and Johnny Heaney providing valuable leadership when required.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Eddie Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Peter Laffey, Nathan Mullen, Darragh Cummins; Seán Carrabine, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin, Eoghan Smith; Paul Kilcoyne, Niall Murphy, Lee Deignan.
Subs: Daniel Lyons, Brian Cox, Daire O'Boyle, Donal Conlon, Dylan Walsh, Keelan Cawley, Patrick O'Connor, Brian Callaghan, Mikey Gordon, Mark Walsh, Luke Casserly.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, Seán Kelly; Johnny Heaney, Shane Walsh, Céin D'Arcy; Jack McCabe, Rob Finnerty, Liam Ó Conghaile.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Eoin Kelly, Kieran Molloy, Daniel O'Flaherty, Daiarmuid Kilcommins, Niall Daly, Patrick Egan, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Damien Comer, Rory Cunningham.
Sunday April 21
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 4pm, RTE
This neighbourly tussle promises to be interesting and revealing at Dr Hyde Park.
Davy Burke's Roscommon delivered a defiant display to overcome Mayo in Castlebar last year so the green and red will be intent on summoning a response.
Ryan O'Donoghue starred in Mayo's emphatic opening round win over New York at Gaelic Park.
Kevin McStay, though, will be fully aware of the threat a pumped up Roscommon possess with Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh influential figures.
Ensuring Aidan O'Shea, O'Donoghue, and Tommy Conroy are supplied with plenty of possession will be key for Mayo.
A Connacht SFC final place and a better seeding in the All-Ireland series is the decent prize for whichever team prevails.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; David Murray, Brian Stack, Niall Higgins; Niall Daly, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Eoin McCormack; Enda Smith, Tadhg O'Rourke; Dylan Ruane, Ultan Harney, Ronan Daly; Donie Smith, Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh.
Subs: Colm Lavin, Patrick Gavin, Shane Cunnane, Robbie Dolan, Ben O'Carroll, Cian Connolly, Andrew Glennon, Keith Doyle, Conor Cox, James Fitzpatrick, Ciarán Lennon.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Sam Callinan; Paddy Durcan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, Mattie Ruane; Bob Tuohy, Fergal Boland, Jack Carney; Aidan O'Shea, Tommy Conroy, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Rob Hennelly, James Carr, Jordan Flynn, Conor Hunt, Conor Loftus, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Pádraig O'Hora, Michael Plunkett, Kevin Quinn, Paul Towey.
Prolific Kerry forward David Clifford. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Saturday April 20
Kerry v Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium, 4pm, GAAGO
Since 2000 Kerry and Cork have met 34 times in Championship football.
Kerry have won 22 of those clashes, with six Cork triumphs, and six draws.
In Killarney, though, Cork's last Munster Championship win over Kerry was in the 1995 provincial decider.
Initially, Cork encountered some bother in the league before finishing their Division Two campaign strongly.
Matty Taylor, Luke Fahy, and Chris Óg Jones all impressed, while Cork were also comfortable 3-13 to 0-11 winners over Limerick in the Munster SFC quarter-final.
Kerry registered five Division One victories in seven Allianz League matches, but it wasn't enough to earn a place in the decider.
Seán O'Shea and the Clifford brothers, Páidí and David, remain classy and consistent forwards for Kerry.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Tom O'Sullivan; Graham O'Sullivan, Gavin White, Seán O'Brien; Diarmuid O'Connor, Joe O'Connor; Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford, Cillian Burke; David Clifford, Seán O'Shea, Dara Moynihan.
Subs: Shane Murphy, Barry Dan O'Sullivan, Dylan Casey, Tony Brosnan, Paul Geaney, Stephen O'Brien, Mike Breen, Killian Spillane, Darragh Roche, Ronan Buckley, Armin Heinrich.
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O'Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Luke Fahy, Tommy Walsh, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Seán Powter, Brian O'Driscoll; Chris Óg Jones, Conor Corbett, Brian Hurley.
Subs: Mícheál Aodh Martin, Seán Meehan, Darragh Cashman, Thomas Clancy, Kevin O'Donovan, David Buckley, Eoghan McSweeney, John O'Rourke, Ruairí Deane, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock.
Waterford v Clare, Fraher Field, 6pm
A stirring Munster SFC Quarter-Final triumph over Tipperary ensures Waterford enter this weekend's match in Dungarvan optimistic.
Tom O'Connell struck a couple of vital goals for Paul Shankey's improving team, who responded impressively following a tough Allianz Football League Division Four campaign.
Clare, now under the stewardship of Mark Fitzgerald, won five out of seven matches in Division Three, but it wasn't sufficient to attain promotion.
Mark McInerney and Ciarán Downes have been prominent for Clare in recent months, but the Banner will know that a determined Waterford outfit can provide a tricky test.
Waterford, haven't defeated Clare in Championship fare since 2010.
Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Liam Fennell; Billy O'Keeffe, Dermot Ryan, Robbie McGrath; Michael Curry, Jason Curry, Caolan MacCraith, Donie Fitzgerald, William Beresford; Stephen Curry, Tom O'Connell, James Power.
Subs: Aaron Beresford, Alan Dunwoody, Seán Whelan-Barrett, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Billy Hynes, James Walsh, Michael O'Brien, Joe Booth, Tommy Martin, Niall McSweeney, Jason Sheehan.
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Alan Sweeney, Cillian Rouine, Daniel Walsh; Brian McNamara, Darragh Bohannon; Gavin Murray, Dermot Coughlan, Ciarán Downes; Emmet McMahon, Aaron Griffin, Mark McInerney.
Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Fergal Ginnane, Cian Burke, Ikem Ugweru, Cormac Murray, Thomas Kelly, Darren Nagle, Joe McGann, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Tom McDonald, Kieran Malone.
Tyrone forward Darragh Canavan continues to impress. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday April 20
Derry v Donegal, Celtic Park, 6.15pm, RTE & BBC
An eagerly anticipated encounter - with no shortage of sub plots - beckons at Celtic Park.
Derry's Allianz Football League Division One triumph ensures Mickey Harte's charges enter the Ulster Championship armed with belief and momentum.
Two provincial titles in a row illustrates Derry's potential, but Donegal make the short journey hopeful too.
Jim McGuinness' return as manager has injected optimism back into Donegal football.
Promotion and the Allianz Football League Division Two triumph highlights Donegal's recent imrpovement.
Oisín Gallen has enjoyed productive moments in 2024 and Donegal will be primed for this match.
Ciarán Thompson, Niall O'Donnell, and Peadar Mogan are others, who contributed handsomely during the league.
Derry's panel is sprinkled with crafty footballers - Chrissy McKaigue, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ciarán McFaul, Ethan Doherty, and Shane McGuigan remain influential figures.
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Chrissy McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty, Eoin McEvoy, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Ciarán McFaul, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.
Subs: Ryan Scullion, Emmett Bradley, Declan Cassidy, Matthew Downey, Shea Downey, Donncha Gilmore, Conleith McGuckin, Gareth McKinless, Eunan Mulholland, Mark Doherty, Niall Toner.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Ciarán Moore, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Shane O'Donnell; Ciarán Thompson, Michael Langan; Odhran Doherty, Niall O'Donnell, Daire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisín Gallen, Aaron Doherty.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Kevin McGettigan, Stephen McMenamin, Hugh McFadde, Domhnall MacGiolla Bhríde, Jeaic MacCeallbhuí, Brendan McCole, Jamie Brennan, Jason McGee, John Ross Molloy, Cathal MacAonghása.
Sunday April 21
Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm, BBC
Another attractive match is on the agenda on Sunday afternoon at Kingspan Breffni.
Heartened by a stirring, Paddy Lynch inspired victory over Monaghan, Cavan will be confident about producing another similarly effective performance.
In his first year as manager Raymond Galligan, who has assembled a decorated backroom team, will be content with Cavan's championship start.
It was a mixed Allianz Football League Division One campaign for Tyrone, who won three and lost four matches.
Tyrone, though, haven't suffered a championship loss against Cavan since an Ulster quarter-final way back in 1983.
Gerard Smith and Pádraig Faulkner made key contributions in Cavan's 3-12 to 1-12 victory over Monaghan.
Inevitably, Tyrone will be looking to the in form Darragh Canavan and Darren McCurry for inspiration.
Cavan: Gary O'Rourke; Cian Reilly, Killian Brady, Brian O'Connell; Pádraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Conor Brady; James Smith, Oisín Kiernan; Ciarán Brady, Gerard Smith, Oisín Kiernan; Cian Madden, Paddy Lynch, Oisín Brady.
Subs: Fergal O'Rourke, Mark Magee, Luke Fortune, Conor Rehill, Jason McLoughlin, Tristan Noack Hofmann, Ryan Donohoe, Killan Clarke, Tiarnan Madden, Cormac O'Reilly, Caoimhin O'Reilly.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Conal Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Seán O'Donnell, Mattie Donnelly, Niall Devlin; Brian Kennedy, Aodhan Donaght; Ciarán Daly, Kieran McGeary, Joe Oguz; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Ruairí Canavan.
Subs: Lorcan Quinn, Aidan Clarke, Ben Cullen, Conor Cush, Cormac Donnelly, Liam Gray, Nathan McCarron, Lorcan McGarrity, Cathal McShane, Michael O'Neill, Tiernan Quinn.