Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 3 action

Saturday, June 20

All-Ireland SFC Round 3

Kerry v Armagh, Fitzgerald Stadium, 4pm - GAA+

Kerry make one change to the team that beat Kildare last time out with Paul Murphy replacing Evan Looney at corner-back.

Significantly though there are returns to the match-day panel for fit again duo Seán O’Shea and Shane Ryan.

O’Shea hasn’t played a match since the League Final against Donegal while goalkeeper Ryan hasn’t played at all so far this year.

Armagh also make a single change to their XV as Andrew Murnin returns to the fold having missed their one-point defeat to Louth. His inclusion sees Ross McQuillan drop to the bench.

When these two teams met in last year’s All-Ireland Final it was Kerry’s dominance of kick-outs and breaking ball in the middle third that swung the balance of power decisively in their direction in the second half.

It’ll be a crucial battle-ground again on Saturday and the physical presence of Kerry wing-forwards Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor could give Kerry an edge here.

Armagh will feel though that if they get their running game going they’re capable of pulling the Kerry defence out of shape in much the same manner that Donegal did in Killarney in Round 2A.

It’s likely to be a match of fine margins that will be decided by the impact of the respective benches, and both teams have plenty of quality to call on here.

Ross McQuillan, Oisin O’Neill, Barry McCambridge, and Rory Grugan will give Armagh a lot of impetus when called into the fray, but Kerry arguably have even more quality in the shape of men like O’Shea, Gavin White, Tony Brosnan, and Tomás Kennedy.

KERRY: Shane Murphy; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Graham O'Sullivan; Mark O'Shea, Seán O'Brien; Joe O'Connor, Paudie Clifford, Diarmuid O'Connor; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Shane Ryan, Evan Looney, Keith Evans, Tony Brosnan, Cillian Trant, Armin Heinrich, Gavin White, Killian Spillane, Tadhg Morley, Seán O'Shea, Tomás Kennedy

ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Gareth Murphy; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns; Andrew Murnin, Joe McElroy; Cian McConville, Darragh McMullan, Tomas McCormack; Conor Turbitt, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty. Subs: Shea Magill, Paddy Burns, Aidan Forker, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Ciaran Mackin, Daniel Magee, Oisin O'Neill, Callum O'Neill, Rory Grugan, Aaron O'Neill.

Mayo v Meath, Elvery's MacHale Park, 6.15pm - GAA+

Mayo make one change to the team narrowly beaten by Tyrone last weekend as Stephen Coen comes into the starting XV in place of Hugh O’Loughlin who drops out of the matchday squad.

John McMonagle could potentially make his championship debut for the Connacht county after being named on the subs.

Meath make two changes to the team that defeated Derry as Adam O’Neill comes in for Jack Flynn at midfield and Charlie O’Connor replaces Jack O’Connor at wing-forward.

This has all the ingredients to be a seriously entertaining contest because both teams play an attacking brand of football that occasionally leaves them short-handed in defence.

Mayo were a tad unfortunate to lose last weekend against Tyrone and if they can play with the same cohesion but be more clinical with their chances then they’re capable of winning here.

But if Meath can break even in the middle third though they’ll believe that their inside forward line of Jordan Morris, James Conlon, and Eoghan Frayne can shoot them to victory.

MAYO: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Jordan Flynn, Jack Carney; Paddy Durcan, Conor Loftus, Stephen Coen; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O Donoghue, Kobe McDonald. Subs: Rob Hennelly, Diarmuid Duffy, John McMonagle, Bob Touhy, Conal Dawson, Aidan O Shea, Matthew Ruane, Paul Towey, Diarmuid O'Connor, Tommy Conroy, Cian McHale

MEATH: Seán Brennan; Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Ronan Ryan; Donal Keogan, Bryan Menton, Seán Coffey; Cian McBride, Adam O'Neill; Charlie O'Connor, Matthew Costello, Ciarán Caulfield; Jordan Morris, James Conlon, Eoghan Frayne. Subs: Billy Hogan, Brian O'Halloran, Killian Smyth, Cathal Hickey, Jack Flynn, Jack O'Connor, Ronan Jones, Keith Curtis, James McEntee, Conor Duke, Aaron Lynch

Sunday, June 21

Sam Maguire Cup Round 3

Dublin v Donegal, Croke Park, 1.15pm - RTE

Dublin make two changes to the team that defeated Cavan last weekend as Eoin Kennedy and Seán Bugler come into the team in place of Lee Gannon and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne who drop to the bench.

Donegal also make just one change to the team that was beaten by Cork last week as Gavin Mulreany replaces Shaun Patton in goal.

There is a notable inclusion on the Donegal bench though, as Ciaran Thompson makes his comeback from the ACL he sustained in last year’s All-Ireland Final.

Dublin’s new-look defence still hasn’t fully bedded in yet and they could be vulnerable against a Donegal attack that comes at you at pace and from all sorts of angles.

Dublin’s potent attack gives them a puncher’s chance, but Donegal’s ability to win breaking ball in the middle third of the pitch is likely to be decisive.

DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Greg McEneaney, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Theo Clancy, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Con O'Callaghan, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello. Subs: Hugh O'Sullivan, Tom Lahiff, Liam Smith, Lee Gannon, Cian Murphy, Seán Guiden, Josh Bannon, Ross McGarry, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Colm Basquel, Tim Deering

DONEGAL: Gavin Mulreany; Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Brendan Mc Cole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan Mc Gonagle, Finnbarr Roarty; Jason Mc Gee, Hugh Mc Fadden; Shane O' Donnell, Michael Langan, Ciaran Moore; Conor O' Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen. Subs: Shaun Patton, Paul O' Hare, Jamie Brennan, Caolan McColgan, Dáire Ó Baoill, Sean Martin, Max Campbell, Shea Malone, Ciaran Thompson, Turlough Carr, Kieran Gallagher

Monaghan v Westmeath, Clones, 4pm - GAA+

Westmeath have made two changes to the team defeated by Galway last weekend for this do or die clash with Monaghan.

Ray Connellan hasn’t recovered from the injury he sustained in that match and is replaced by Shane Ormsby who also came in for him against Galway, while Adam Treanor is picked ahead of Danny Scahill at corner-back.

Connellan is named on Westmeath’s stand-by list, and if he’s fit enough to play some part in the game it would be a major boost for the Lake County because he’s such an integral figure for them.

Monaghan manager, Gabriel Bannigan has named the same starting XV that stormed to such an impressive win over Roscommon last weekend.

If they are as clinical again here as they were in the second half of that match, you’d fancy them to have too much scoring power for a Westmeath team that could be running out of steam.

MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Dessie Ward, Ryan O'Toole, Conor McCarthy; Mícheál McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Oisin McGorman, Mícheál Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney. Subs: Kian Mulligan, Fionan Carolan, Robbie Hanratty, Cameron Dowd, Aaron Carey, Ryan McAnespie, Darragh McElearney, Thomas Hughes, Max Maguire, David Garland, Tom Doherty

WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Adam Treanor, Charlie Drumm, Tadhg Baker; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brían Cooney, Shane Ormsby; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Conor Dillon; John Heslin, Senan Baker, Brandon Kelly. Subs: James Mitchell, Jack Duncan, Boidu Sayeh, Robbie Forde, Ian Martin, Harry Niall, Shane Corcoran, Stephen McGonagle, Eoghan McCabe, Dillon Matthews, Daniel Scahill