Saturday, April 8

Connacht SFC quarter-finals

London v Sligo, McGovern Park, 3pm

Sligo come into this match with their tails up after last weekend’s Allianz Football League Division 4 Final victory over Wicklow.

They laboured for much of the first half of that match but eventually found their groove and showcased once again they’re capable of putting together slick attacking moves, with Niall Murphy a very dangerous focal point in attack.

London had a disappointing League campaign with just one draw from seven matches and were beaten by seven points when Sligo visited Ruislip in February.

The Exiles always raise their game for Championship, but Sligo will go into this match as warm favourites with good reason.

London panel: Noel Maher, Eoin Flanagan, Michael Clarke, Nathan McElwaine, Eoin Walsh, Conal Gallagher, Aidan McLoughlin, Daniel Clarke, Liam Gavaghan, Christopher Duggan, Enda Lynn, Stephen Dornan, Christopher Farley, James Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Kevin Mullan, Conor O'Neill, Daire Rooney, Henry Walsh, Joseph McGill, Joshua Obahor, Niall O'Leary, Oran Kerr, Ronan Slone, Ruadhan McCarthy, Ryan Tohill

Sligo panel: Daniel Lyons, Nathan Mullen, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Luke Towey, Brian Cox, Paul McNamara, Paul Kilcoyne, Cian Lally, Keelan Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Finnian Cawley, Pat Spillane, Patrick O Connor, Niall Murphy, Keelan Harte, David Phillips, Donal Conlon, David Quinn, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Mikey Gordon, Jack Lavin, Mark Walsh, Alan Reilly, Joe Keaney, Peter Laffey.

New York v Leitrim, Gaelic Park, 11pm Irish time (GAAGO)

The last time Leitrim visited Gaelic Park for a Connacht SFC match five years ago they escaped by the skin of their teeth, eventually winning by a single point after extra-time.

That experience means they won’t be taking anything for granted this time around, especially as New York will be able to field their strongest team for some time.

Normally a large turnover of players is an issue for the Americans, but they’ve retained most of last year’s panel and in players like Eoghan Kerin, Johnny Glynn (both Galway), Alan Campbell, Bill Maher (both Tipperary), Gavin O’Brien (Kerry), Niall Madine (Down), and Mark Ellis (Cork) they have some really proved performers.

Add in the fact the native born New Yorkers are getting better all the time, and the potential is there for New York to win their first ever match in the Connacht championship.

The counter-argument is that Leitrim are developing well under Andy Moran and came within a kick of a ball of winning promotion from Division 4 of the Allianz Football League this year.

Keith Beirne scored more than any other player in the League this year and is a potential match-winner if he gets a good supply.

New York panel: Michael Cunningham, Jamie Boyle, Alan Campbell, Eoghan Kerin, Bill Maher, Robert Wharton, Shane Brosnan, Johnny Glynn, Gavin O'Brien, Mark Ellis, Adrian Varley, Shane Carthy, Mikey Brosnan, Patrick Boyle, Daniel O'Sullivan, Adam Loughlin Stones, Matthew Queenan, Killian Butler, Colin Keane, Connell Ahearne, Niall Madine, Jack Reilly, Luke Kelly, Peter Fox, Tiernan Mathers, Padraig Studdard

Leitrim panel: Nevin O Donnell, Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds, Conor Farrell, Shane Quinn, James Rooney, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn, Conor Dwyey, Mark Plunkett, Paul Keaney, Aidan Flynn, Keith Beirne, Evan Sweeney, Darren Maxwell, Tom Quinn, Adam Reynolds, Domhnaill Flynn, Diarmuid Kelleher, Jack Heslin, Cillian Mc Gloin, Tom Prior, Oisín Mc Loughlin, Barry McNulty, Stephen Mc Loughlin

Ulster SFC preliminary round

Armagh v Antrim, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm (BBCNI)

It’ll be interesting to see how Armagh respond to the set-back of being relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League.

Their championship hopes would be helped in a major way by the return to fitness of Rian O’Neill, but a quad injury has ruled him out of this match.

Andrew Murnin is also out, but the Orchard County can call on the fit again Aidan Nugent, Ben Crealey, James Morgan, and Eoin Woods which strengthens their hand significantly.

It’s difficult to know what to expect from Antrim. They finished third from bottom in Division 3 and yet managed to beat eventual champions Cavan in their most crucial match and were unlucky to lose to beaten finalists Fermanagh as well as Down, both by a single point.

They look like they’ve improved their physical conditioning under manager Andy McEntee, but may struggle to cope with Armagh’s superior firepower.

Armagh panel: Ethan Rafferty, James Morgan, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Ciaran Mackin, Greg McCabe, Barry McCambridge, Ben Crealey, Shane McPartlan, Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, Jason Duffy, Jemar Hall, Conor Turbitt, Tiernan Kelly, Shea Magill, Ross Finn, Ciaran Higgins, Ross McQuillan, Stephen Sheridan, Connaire Mackin, Cian McConville, Eoin Woods, Justin Kieran, Aidan Nugent, Jarly Óg Burns.

Antrim panel: Michael Byrne, Eoghan McCabe, Peter Healy, James McAuley, Patrick McCormick, Joseph Finnegan, Marc Jordan, Conor Stewart, Kevin Small, Colm McLarnon, Ruairí McCann, Patrick Finnegan, Dominic McEnhill, Ruairi McCann, Odhran Eastwood, Luke Mulholland, Barry McCormick, Declan Lynch, Sean O'Neill, Ronan Boyle, Oisin Lenehan, Jack Dowling, Patrick McBride, Pat Shivers, Adam Loughran, Ryan Murray

Sunday, April 9

Connacht SFC quarter-final

Mayo v Roscommon, Hastings MacHale Park, 4pm, RTÉ2.

This should be a fascinating encounter between recently crowned Allianz Football League Division 1 champions Mayo and a Roscommon team that also caught the eye in Division 1 this year.

You can be sure Mayo got an emotional boost from winning last weekend’s League Final against Galway, but will their exertions that day have taken a physical toll?

Roscommon have been fully focused on this contest for the past two weeks whereas Mayo have had less time to prepare mentally for it.

There wasn’t much between the teams when they met in the League, Mayo eventually winning by two points after resisting a late Roscommon charge.

In what’s likely to be a match of very fine margins, Mayo’s greater physicality and ball-winning ability in the middle third may be decisive.

Mayo panel: Colm Reape, Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Donnacha McHugh, Stephen Coen, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan, Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor, Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O'Shea, James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue, Rory Byrne, Sam Callinan, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Frank Irwin, Darren McHale, Eoghan McLaughlin, Conor McStay, Cillian O’Connor, Pádraig O’Hora, Paul Towey.

Roscommon panel: Conor Carroll, Conor Hussey, Conor Daly, David Murray, Niall Daly, Brian Stack, Eoin McCormack, Dylan Ruane, Keith Doyle, Ciaráin Murtagh, Ciarán Lennon, Enda Smith, Conor Cox, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ben O'Carroll, Colm Lavin, Colin Walsh, Robbie Dolan, Richard Hughes, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Cian Connolly, Donie Smith, Cian McKeon, Niall Kilroy, Paul Carey, Eddie Nolan.

Leinster SFC preliminary round

Wicklow v Carlow, Aughrim, 2.30pm

There’s rarely much between these two counties when they meet and that was the case once again in the first round of the League when they played out a draw.

Wicklow’s form graph rose more rapidly than Carlow’s from that point on, though, with the Garden County eventually winning promotion whereas the Barrow-siders finished third from bottom in Division 4.

The big unknowable is just how much losing last weekend’s League Final against Sligo will have taken out of this Wicklow team both mentally as well as physically.

If they can match Carlow’s energy, then a combination of what should be a vocal home support and arguably a greater spread of natural score-getters in attack could be enough to get Wicklow over the line.

Wicklow panel: Mark Jackson, Eoin Murtagh, Paul Mc Loughlin, Malachy Stone, Karl Furlong, Patrick O Keane, Cillian Mc Donald, Dean Healy, Pádraig O’Toole, Mark Kenny, John Paul Hurley, Darragh Fitzgerald, Cian O’ Sulivan, Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy, Peter Byrne, Arran Murphy, Craig Maguire, Fintan O'Shea, Sam O'Callaghan, Zach Cullen, Gearoid Murphy, Tom Moran, Jacques McCall, Tom Maher, John Keogh.

Carlow panel: Ciaran Cunningham, Shane Buggy, Mikey Bambrick, Liam Roberts, Seanie Bambrick, Jordan Morrissey, Jamie Clarke, Mark Furey, Conor Doyle, Josh Moore, Ciarán Moran, Shane Clarke, Ross Dunphy, Darragh Foley, Colm Hulton, Johnny Furey, Niall Hickey, Jonah Dunne, Dara Curran, Cormac Lomax, Liam Brennan, Finbarr Kavanagh, Eric Molloy, Padraic Deering, Paddy Regan, Cathal Kelly

Longford v Offaly, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm

There’s a very recent reference point for this match because both teams played in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League on March 5 when Offaly prevailed by a single point.

Longford were ultimately relegated, and that defeat to Sunday’s opponents must have been their biggest regret because it was a game they could and probably should have won.

They hit 16 wides compared to Offaly’s five, and seconds before Jack Bryant struck a decisive goal for the winners Dylan Farrell had an effort for Longford that went narrowly wide.

That was a match of fine margins and this one probably will too. Offaly put together a more impressive body of work in the League, but Longford will take encouragement from the fact they improved steadily throughout the campaign, even if they were eventually relegated.

Longford panel: Patrick Collum, Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O'Farrell, Iarla O'Sullivan, Michael Quinn, Ryan Moffett, Jack Macken, Darren Gallagher, Joe Hagan, Aaron Farrell, Daniel Mimnagh, Dessie Reynolds, Keelin McGann, Dylan Farrell, Mícheál Hughes, Oran Kenny, Peter Foy, Fergal Sheridan, Daire O Brien, Bryan Masterson, Peter Lynn, Tadhg McNevin, Liam Connerton, Daniel Reynolds, Darragh Doherty.

Offaly panel: Ian Duffy, Ciaran Donnelly, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey, Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham, Lee Pearson, Jack McEvoy, Conor McNamee, Cian Farrell, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan, Dylan Hyland, Nigel Dunne, Jamie Evans, Corey White, Cian Donohoe, Bernard Allen, Joe Maher, Jack Bryant, Bill Carroll, Jack O'Brien, Kevin Nugent, Aaron Brazil, Aaron Leavy, Luke Egan

Laois v Wexford, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 3.30pm

When these two teams played in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League back in February, Laois won by five points and generally looked the more polished team.

Wexford improved steadily as the League progressed though, and eventually finished in a creditable fourth place in the table, just behind Laois who were pipped for promotion in the final round due to Sligo’s win over Leitrim.

Wexford are a well-drilled team under new manager John Hegarty. When the opposition has the ball whoever is centre-forward drops into a defensive position and they go with two inside forwards, but once they turn it over they quickly get men high up the pitch again.

They are somewhat over-reliant on Mark Rossiter for scores though, whereas Laois have a greater spread of attacking threats in players like Paul Kingston, Mark Barry, and Eoin Lowry.

Laois panel: Scott Osborne, Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott, Sean O’Flynn, Mark Timmons, Padraig Kirwan, Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin, Kevin Swayne, Paul Kingston, Patrick O Sullivan, Eoin Lowry, Evan O’Carroll, Mark Barry, Killian Roche, Seamus Lacey, Alex Mohan, Dylan Kavanagh, Seán O Neill, Ciaran Burke, Cathal Doyle, Niall Corbet, Brian Daly, Darragh Carolan, James Finn.

Wexford panel: Darragh Brooks, Brian Cushe, Brian Molloy, Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Paudie Hughes, Cathal Walsh, Glen Malone, Niall Hughes, Sean Nolan, Eoghan Nolan, Kevin O Grady, John Tubritt, Robbie Brooks, Mark Rossiter, Anto Larkin, Rioghan Crosbie, Dylan Furlong, Jim Rossiter, Jamie Murphy, Richard Waters, Emmet Cullen, Conor Carthy, Dean O Toole, Conor Kinsella, Ben Brosnan

Munster SFC quarter-finals

Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium, 2pm

Both teams come into this match off the back of very disappointing League campaigns.

Tipperary were relegated from Division 3 with just one draw from seven matches while Waterford finished second from bottom in Division 4 with one win from seven matches.

Tipperary’s attacking threat has been dulled by the season ending injury suffered by All-Star captain Conor Sweeney, and in his absence other forwards like Stephen Quirke, and Sean O’Connor have yet to catch fire.

Waterford have their own forward line issues – they scored less than any other team across the four divisions in the Allianz League, averaging just 10 points per match.

If Tipperary’s best ball-players like Colman Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, and Steven O’Brien are on song, they are good enough to edge what will likely be a close encounter.

Tipperary: Michael O'Reilly, Shane O'Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O'Shaughnessy, Kevin Fahey, Colman Kennedy, Keith Ryan, Paudie Feehan, Jack Kennedy, Emmet Moloney, Teddy Doyle, Mikey O'Shea, Steven O'Brien, Stephen Quirke, Sean O'Connor, Kuba Beban, Luke Boland, Darragh Brennan, Conor Cadell, Willie Eviston, Martin Kehoe, Donough Leahy, Tommy Maher, Liam McGrath, Riain Quigley, Mark Russell.

Waterford: Paudie Hunt, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Darragh Ó Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell, Dermot Ryan, Brian Looby, Jordan O'Sullivan, Michael Curry, Brian Lynch, Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Jason Curry, Michael Kiely, Sean Whelan-Barrett, Eoghan McGrath-Butler, Aaron Beresford, Caoimhín Maguire, Donal Fitzgerald, John Devine, Ross Browne, Dean Reidy, Jack Keane, Niall McSweeney, Barry O'Brien, Billy Hynes, Damien Quirke

Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm

When these two teams played in the same venue a month ago, Cork were convincing victors by a margin of eight points.

Clare were uncharacteristically subdued that day though, and you’d expect them to rise to the occasion this time around.

The Banner County were relegated from Division Two, but were unfortunate to lose to both Dublin and Kildare by a single point.

The addition of Kevin Walsh to Cork’s backroom team has made them a more tactically astute team, with a better balance between defence and attack.

They scored more than any other team in the top three divisions of the League and in Steven Sherlock and Brian Hurley have two forwards playing with a lot of confidence.

That firepower makes Cork favourites, but if Clare can reproduce the sort of physical intensity and tactical awareness they showed against Dublin they’re more than capable of winning too.

Clare: Stephen Ryan, Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine, Ciaran Russell, Jamie Malone, Daniel Walsh, Cathal O'Connor, Darragh Bohannon, Pearse Lillis, Emmett McMahon, Dermot Coughlan, Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton, Padraic Collins, David Sexton, Gavin Cooney, Michéal Garry, Aaron Griffin, Shane Griffin, Dan Keating, Ronan Lannigan, Mark McInerney, Darren O'Neill, Alan Sweeney, Ikem Ugweru.

Cork: Míchéal Aodh Martin, Kevin O' Donovan, Daniel O'Mahony, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor, Colm O'Callaghan, Ian Maguire, Eoghan McSweeney, Ruairi Deane, Brian O' Driscoll, Sean Powter, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones, Chris Kelly, Sean Meehan, Paul Ring, Cian Kiely, Killian O' Hanlon, Paul Walsh, John O' Rourke, Fionn Herlihy, Conor Corbett, Steven Sherlock, Mark Cronin