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Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Finals

Enda Smith remains a key performer for Roscommon. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Enda Smith remains a key performer for Roscommon. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Finals

Saturday June 24

Cork v Roscommon, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm, GAAGO,

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

A fifth Championship meeting between Cork and Roscommon since 1990 has plenty of intrigue attached.

Cork's storming finish against Mayo ensures John Cleary's outfit are beginning to believe in themselves once again.

Roscommon fell to third place in the group following a bitterly disappointing defeat to Kiladre in Tullamore.

That hurt Roscommon even though Enda Smith maintained his impressive form for Davy Burke's outfit.

The Murtagh brothers and Smith have carried a scoring threat for Roscommon with Cian McKeon also showing his ability this summer.

Cork, though, have enjoyed some good moments with Steven Sherlock's cameo in the Mayo triumph hugely significant.

Colm O'Callaghan and Ian Maguire are making a real impact for Cork, while Seán Powter's relevance shouldn't be underestimated either.

Reaching an All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final is the prize for whoever prevails on the banks of the Lee. It could go the distance.

Cork: Mícheál Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire, Tommy Walsh; Luke Fahy, Daniel O'Mahony, Mattie Taylor; Colm O'Callaghan, Ian Maguire; Brian O'Driscoll, Ruairí Deane, Killian O'Hanlon; Seán Powter, Brian Hurley, Eoghan McSweeney.

Subs: Patrick Doyle, Cian Kiely, Tom Clancy, Kevin O'Donovan, Paul Walsh, Chris Óg Jones, Conor Corbett, John O'Rourke, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Fionn Herlihy.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Colin Walsh, Brian Stack, David Murray; Niall Daly, Conor Daly, Eoin McCormack; Eddie Nolan, Dylan Ruane; Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Cian McKeon; Ciarán Lennon, Ben O'Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh.

Subs: Aaron Brady, Conor Hussey, Niall Kilroy, Richard Hughes, Keith Doyle, Donie Smith, Conor Cox, Cian Connolly, Daire Cregg, Shane Cunnane, Ruaidhrí Fallon.

Kevin Feely continues to impress for Kildare. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Kevin Feely continues to impress for Kildare. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Kildare v Monaghan, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 4.45pm GAAGO

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

It has been a mixed Championship campaign so far for Kildare and Monaghan.

That is why this particular game brings plenty of possibilities because both teams will firmly believe that further progress can be made.

Kevin Feely's sweet last gasp point capped a fine Kildare performance against Roscommon at Glenisk O'Connor Park.

Kildare, with Ben McCormack motoring smoothly, return to the Tullamore venue heartened.

Monaghan were beaten by Donegal in their last group fixture which was a severe disappointment.

Jack McCarron's brilliance had inspired Monaghan to a win over Clare following a draw with Derry.

In Ulster Monaghan performed smartly to overcome Tyrone before losing to Derry so there has been an issue with consistency.

Karl O'Connell and Conor McCarthy have been prominent dashing forward from deep, while Rory Beggan remains an influential figure.

Similar to Monaghan, Kildare have shown glimpses of their ability, so this will be a revealing encounter.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent; Kevin O'Callaghan, Aaron Masterson; Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne; Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate.

Subs: Aaron O'Neill, Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Harry O'Neill, Jack Robinson, Darragh Malone, Tony Archbold, Jimmy Hyland, Paul Cribbin, Barry Coffey, Matthew Kelly.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan O'Toole, Kieran Duffy, Ryan Wylie; Karl O'Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy; Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle; Stephen O'Hanlon, Micheal Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie; Jack McCarron, Gary Mohan, Shane Carey.

Subs: Darren McDonnell, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus, Seán Jones, Darren Hughes, Dessie Ward, Kevin Loughran, Fabian Beggan, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon.

Tyrone forward Darragh Canavan and joint manager Fergal Logan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Tyrone forward Darragh Canavan and joint manager Fergal Logan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Donegal v Tyrone, MacCumhaill Park, 7pm, GAAGO

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

Following a demanding Allianz Football League and Ulster Championship, Donegal have responded with real defiance in the All-Ireland series.

Victories over Clare and Monaghan in the group stages, combined with the return from injury of important players ensures Donegal enter the knockout stages optimistic.

Tyrone, beaten by Monaghan in the provincial championships, secured three points in a tight group to remain in the national reckoning.

Brian Dooher and Fergal Logan will certainly be demanding an improvement from Tyrone, who possess plenty of talent.

Darragh Canavan's 0-10 haul in the draw with Westmeath illustrated the Errigal Ciarán attacker's class.

At the opposite end of the field Donegal's Oisín Gallen will pose questions for Tyrone.

This will be a 27th Championship meeting between the rivals with Tyrone winning 14, Donegal emerging victories on 11 occasions, with one draw.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan McColgan; Caolan Ward, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Stephen McMenamin; Caolan McGonagle, Hugh McFadden; Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan, Ciarán Thompson; Jason McGee, Oisín Gallen, Conor O'Donnell.

Subs: Gavin Mulreaney, Patrick McBrearty, Odhran Doherty, Rory O'Donnell, Dylan Dorrian, Brian O'Donnell, Jeaic McKelvey, John Ross Molloy, Luke McGlynn, Johnny McGroddy, Paul Brennan.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey; Cormac Quinn, Michael O'Neill, Peter Harte; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Conor Meyler, Joe Oguz, Ruairí Canavan; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Lorcan Quinn, Frank Burns, Aidan Clarke, Niall Devlin, Richard Donnelly, Nathan McCarron, Kieran McGeary, Michael McGleenan, Cathal McShane, Seán O'Donnell, Niall Sludden.

Pádraic Joyce and Kevin McStay following the 2023 Allianz Football League Final at Croke Park. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Pádraic Joyce and Kevin McStay following the 2023 Allianz Football League Final at Croke Park. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Sunday June 25

Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, 3pm, RTE 1

Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)

Last Sunday there was no shortage of Championship drama with Galway and Mayo suffering setbacks.

Before losing to Armagh Galway had been dealing adequately with the various challenges presented. Suddenly several injuries disturbed Galway, who now face Mayo in Salthill.

The green and red endured a harrowing loss themselves to a pumped up Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Cork finished strongly to secure a morale boosting win.

Mayo, who triumped in Killarney against the All-Ireland champions earlier in the competition, were suddenly demoted to third place in the group.

Now Kevin McStay's team will be striving to prevail in Salthill.

Jordan Flynn, effective throughout 2023, was impressive in the Cork game, while Mayo will be eager to involve Ryan O'Donoghue and Aidan O'Shea inside.

For Galway, Seán Kelly, Dylan McHugh, and Damien Comer's availability will be vital for Pádraic Joyce's charges. This is an eagerly anticipated match in the west - a 93rd Championship fixture involving Galway and Mayo.

So far Mayo have won 44, Galway 42, with six draws.

In 2023 they've already clashed in the Connacht FBD League and Allianz Football League, including the final, which Mayo won 0-14 to 0-11.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn; Cian Hernon, John Daly, Cillian McDaid; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney; Ian Burke, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Bernard Power, Seán Fitzgerald, Seán Mulkerrin, Billy Mannion, Dylan McHugh, Paul Kelly, Niall Daly, Cathal Sweeney, Rob Finnerty, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Tomo Culhane.

Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Pádraig O'Hora; Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan; Stephen Coen, Mattie Ruane; Diarmuid O'Connor, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue.

Subs: Rory Byrne, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Enda Hession, Fionn McDonagh, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Eoghan McLaughlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Cillian O'Connor, Bob Tuohy.