Dessie Farrell's first Leinster SFC match in charge of Dublin takes place on Saturday evening.
Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday November 7
Dublin v Westmeath, MW Hire O'Moore Park, 6.15pm
The standard bearers and five in a row champions make the journey to Portlaoise for a clash with Westmeath.
In these exacting times it will be strange to see Dublin operating in the Championship without crowds and the fanfare associated.
Since returning to inter-county action Dessie Farrell's charges have done enough to chalk up hard earned wins over Meath and Galway.
Paddy Small clipped some tasty scores, while Sean Bugler made an important cameo in Salthill.
Jack Cooney has carried out quietly impressive work with the midlanders, who remain stocked with accomplished performers.
Delivering a defiant display against the sky blue force, though, will be Westmeath's mission.
WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Boidu Sayeh; Jamie Gonoud, Ronan Wallace, James Dolan; Ray Connellan, Sam Duncan; David Lynch, Ronan O'Toole, Killian Daly; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Kieran Martin.
Sunday November 8
Longford v Laois, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1.30pm
Darren Gallagher's enduring excellence inspired Longford to victory against Louth.
There was plenty to admire in the manner Longford finished in Mullingar with substitute Robbie Smyth prominent.
Longford, well organised by Padraic Davis and John Donnellan, restricted Louth, who were over reliant on the impressive Sam Mulroy.
Rian Brady is another inside threat for Longford, but Laois will be encouraged by the manner in which they finished the closing stages of the Division Three encounter against Fermanagh.
With Gary Walsh potent in the full forward line and Paul Kingston and Evan O'Carroll also effective, Mike Quirke's charges will believe that some momentum can be generated.
Davy Burke has enjoyed an impressive start to his senior inter-county managerial career with Wicklow.
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 1.30pm
It has been a hugely satisfying return to action for Wicklow, who followed up achieving promotion from Division Four with another Championship triumph over Wexford.
Davy Burke's industrious approach is being reflected by a hard working team with a nice blend of emerging and established players.
The experience supplied by Seanie Furlong is vital, but Meath will be a difficult assignment for Wicklow.
A narrow defeat to Dublin was followed by a gutsy draw against Monaghan for Andy McEntee's charges.
Joint captains Donal Keogan and Bryan Menton continue to provide leadership, while Jordan Morris excelled in the Monaghan match.
Kildare v Offaly, MW Hire O'Moore Park, 5.30pm
Bernard Allen and Niall McNamee rifled the scores that mattered for Offaly against Carlow.
Kildare, though, will be intent on making a Championship impact after preserving Division Two status.
Jimmy Hyland has shown glimpses of his abundant class and Jack O'Connor's team will be adamant that they can enjoy a productive campaign.
The Lilywhites' panel is sprinkled with plenty of quality, but they will afford Offaly the utmost respect.
Kildare wins over Cavan and Westmeath offered a pre Championship boost.
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mark Dempsey, Shea Ryan, Darragh Malone; David Hyland, Con Kavanagh, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely, Aaron Masterson; Fergal Conway, Ben McCormack, Paddy Brophy; Daniel Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Jimmy Hyland.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; Declan Hogan, Eoin Rigney, Niall Darby; Eoin Carroll, Johnny Moloney, Joseph O'Connor; Aaron Leavy, Jordan Hayes; Peter Cunningham, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan; Bernard Allen, Niall McNamee, Cian Farrell.
Paul Murphy, Kerry, and Ruairi Deane, Cork, during the 2018 Munster SFC.
Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Finals
Saturday November 7
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 1.15pm
This promises to be a lively battle between two teams intent on reaching a provincial decider.
After attaining promotion, Billy Lee's Limerick did precisely what was required in their clash against Waterford in Dungarvan.
Goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan and Iain Corbett continue to offer much to the Limerick cause, but Tipperary will want to avenge the defeat suffered at Semple Stadium in 2019.
That hurt Tipp to the core, but David Power is stitching a capable team together once more with Conor Sweeney accurate in attack.
LIMERICK: Donal O'Sullivan; Sean O'Dea, Brian Fanning, Paul Maher; Tony McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Killian Ryan, Cillian Fahy, Adrian Enright; Hugh Bourke, Tommy Griffin, Sean McSweeney.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O'Shaughnessy; Bill Maher, Kevin Fahey, Robbie Kiely; Conal Kennedy, Liam Casey; Jack Kennedy, Michael Quinlivan, Emmet Moloney; Jason Lonergan, Conor Sweeney, Colman Kennedy.
Sunday November 8
Cork v Kerry, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm
Seven Munster titles on the spin have been claimed by Kerry, who will be primed for a battle Leeside.
Cork won promotion from Division Three, while All Ireland underage glory last year hinted at the promise that exists.
Kerry, though, know all about the value of securing silverware in the development ranks, but being ready for the senior grade is a significant challenge.
Peter Keane's team finished the league impressively to land the title by virtue of victories over Monaghan and Donegal.
Gavin White's blistering raids forward was a key feature in those triumphs, with David Clifford and Tony Brosnan splendid up front also.
Cork did cause Kerry some bother at the same venue in the Championship last year and a similarly hard running approach could be adopted once more by Ronan McCarthy's developing outfit.
CORK: Micheal Martin; Sean Powter, Maurice Shanley, Kevin Flahive; Kevin O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Killian O’Hanlon; John O’Rourke, Colm O’Callaghan, Ruairi Deane; Mark Collins, Brian Hurley, Luke Connolly.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Jason Foley, Tadhg Morley, Tom O'Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Peter Crowley, Gavin White; David Moran, Diarmuid O'Connor; Stephen O'Brien, Sean O'Shea, Ronan Buckley; Tony Brosnan, David Clifford, Dara Moynihan.
Cavan goalkeeper Raymond Galligan.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday November 7
Cavan v Antrim, Kingspan Breffni, 1.15pm
Raymond Galligan's remarkable last gasp free sealed a memorable win over neighbours Monaghan at Clones.
In this condensed Championship the next challenge is never too far away so Cavan are quickly back in action against Antrim.
Lenny Harbinson provides a welter of sideline experience and knowledge as Antrim manager.
It has been a peculiar stint for Cavan, who have suffered two Allianz League relegations, but still were able to produce gritty displays in Championship fare.
The resilience demonstrated in the Monaghan success delighted Mickey Graham, who will be adamant that further progress can be made.
ANTRIM: Michael Byrne; Patrick Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Kevin O'Boyle; Peter Healy, James McAuley, Niall Delargy; Colm Duffin, Michael McCann; Kevin Quinn, Mark Sweeney, Dermot McAleese; Patrick Cunningham, Conor Murray, Patrick McBride.
Sunday November 8
Fermanagh v Down, Brewster Park, 1.30pm
Another tight and tense encounter is anticipated in Enniskillen.
With preparations disrupted by Covid complications Fermanagh were relegated to Division Two, while Down earned promotion into that pool.
Paddy Tally is carrying out effective work with Down, who now want to show their ability on the provincial stage.
Ryan McMenamin was a selector when Fermanagh reached the 2018 Ulster final so he will know all about the understated craft that exists in his panel.
DOWN: Rory Burns; Peter Fegan, Patrick Murdock, Pierce Laverty; Gerard Collins, Kevin McKernan, Daniel Guinness; Caolan Mooney, Johnny Flynn; Conor Poland, Paul Devlin, Barry O'Hagan; Jerome Johnston, Donal O'Hare, Ceilum Doherty.
Aidan O'Shea, Mayo, and Enda Smith, Roscommon, remain key performers in the west.
Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Sunday November 8
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 1.30pm
An eagerly anticipated match beckons at the Hyde with Roscommon intent on reaching a fifth Connacht decider in a row.
Since last hoisting the Nestor Cup in 2015, Mayo haven't contested a provincial showpiece.
On a national level Mayo have enjoyed good moments, reaching All Ireland finals in 2016 and 2017, and a semi-final last year.
Any team managed by James Horan, and containing Lee Keegan, Aidan O'Shea, and Cillian O'Connor, amongst others, will believe that significant honours can be obtained.
Roscommon, under Anthony Cunningham's guidance, regained top flight status in the Allianz League and enter this winter Championship confident.
Sean Mullooly, the Smiths, Cathal Cregg, and Conor Cox have serious ability and this could go the distance out west.
ROSCOMMON: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Conor Daly, Sean Mullooly; Ronan Daly, Brian Stack, Niall Daly; Cathal Compton, Tadhg O'Rourke; Niall Kilroy, Enda Smith, Cian McKeon; Donie Smith, Conor Cox, Cathal Cregg.
MAYO: David Clarke; Oisin Mullin, Chris Barrett, Lee Keegan; Paddy Durcan, Stephen Coen, Eoghan McLaughlin; Matthew Ruane, Conor Loftus; Bryan Walsh, Ryan O'Donoghue, Diarmuid O'Connor; Tommy Conroy, Aidan O'Shea, Cillian O'Connor.
