Saturday August 4

All Ireland SFC Quarter-Final Group 1

Galway v Monaghan, Pearse Stadium, 6pm

Monaghan need to avoid defeat to secure a much coveted All Ireland Semi-Final place for the first time since 1988.

Galway have already secured a spot at the penultimate round. It is a stage at which Galway haven't operated in 17 years so this has most certainly been an encouraging campaign for Kevin Walsh's charges.

Monaghan, though, have made smooth and steady progress themselves since losing to Fermanagh in the Ulster Championship.

Malachy O'Rourke's outfit defeated Waterford, Leitrim, and Laois in the Qualifiers. The Quarter-Final Group Phase triumph over Kildare was noteworthy, while Monaghan came within a whisker of beating Kerry.

David Clifford's splendid last gasp goal ensured the spoils were divided in Clones. How much of an impact that intervention has on Monaghan's season overall will be evident following the final whistle in Salthill.

Conor McManus was at his brilliant best in that encounter bringing his 2018 Championship total to 2-35, while goalkeeper Rory Beggan has nailed 0-16 from dead balls.

Aware that they are already guaranteed a trip to Croke Park it will be interesting to see how Galway approach this game, but the home team will want to top the pool.

MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey, Karl O'Connell; Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes; Ryan McAnespie, Shane Carey, Owen Duffy; Conor McCarthy, Fintan Kelly, Conor McManus.

Kerry v Kildare, Fitzgerald Stadium, 6pm

Kerry must claim a victory and hope that a favourable result occurs for them in Salthill.

That is a strange position to be in, but the 2018 Championship in both codes means matches elsewhere carry huge relevance.

So disappointing against Galway at Croke Park Kerry summoned an improved display in Clones to eke out a point.

It was a brave and necessary rally from Kerry, who had been in severe distress with Monaghan's cocktail of purpose and passion.

Monaghan were on the verge of a famous victory, but talented teenager David Clifford reacted promptly to blast a goal following Kieran Donaghy's clever flick.

Experience and youth combined to ensure Kerry lived to fight another day.

Kildare competed valiantly against Monaghan and Galway, but ultimately lost both encounters which brought plenty of pain.

Ultimately, though, it has been a reasonable summer for Kildare, who won four qualifiers and also impressed in the underage grades.

KERRY: Brian Kelly; Jason Foley, Peter Crowley, Tom O'Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Killian Young, Gavin White; David Moran, Jack Barry; Micheál Burns, Sean O'Shea, Stephen O'Brien; David Clifford, Kieran Donaghy, Paul Geaney.

KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland, Mick O'Grady; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick; Fergal Conway, Paul Cribbin, Keith Cribbin; Neil Flynn, Niall Kelly, Paddy Brophy.

Sunday August 5

All Ireland SFC Quarter-Final Group 2

Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey, 3.30pm

A winner takes all Ballybofey battle looms with one small caveat. Tryone would go through to the semi-final if the game ends in a draw due to their superior scoring difference.

During the past decade there has been a significant rivalry between Donegal and Tyrone. This will be their seventh meeting in eight years with Donegal winning four of the last six encounters.

Donegal, with Odhran MacNiallais and Michael Murphy prominent, escaped from a tricky fixture in Dr Hyde Park against Roscommon with the full complement of spoils.

That was critical following the Croke Park loss to Dublin, who also overcame Tyrone at Healy Park. Tyrone's first Quarter-Final Group Phase fixture was a convincing win over Roscommon so Mickey Harte's charges will want to return to GAA headquarters.

Injuries have disturbed Donegal since their highly effective Ulster triumph, but this tussle on home turf with Tyrone should be interesting.

TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Hugh Pat McGeary; Tiernan McCann, Frank Burns, Peter Harte; Colm Cavanagh, Padraig Hampsey; Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden, Conor Meyler; Cathal McShane, Richard Donnelly, Connor McAliskey.

Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park, 3.30pm

Having already defeated Donegal and Tyrone, Dublin are guaranteed to top of the group.

Roscommon have endured a couple of disappointing losses so they will be hoping to produce a gutsy display against the standard bearers.

Jim Gavin's team, though, know an All Ireland semi-final fixture awaits in six days and being ready for that game is critical.

The depth of the Dublin panel for these type of matches has been evident previously and the impressive manner in which a string of last year's Leinster and All Ireland Under 21 winning outfit are perfoming bodes well.

Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard contributed handsomely to Dublin's successes in the Quarter-Finals Group Phase. Always seeking to improve and develop Dublin know that the most demanding tests are edging closer.

ROSCOMMON: James Featherstone; David Murray, Peter Domican, Niall McInerney; John McManus, Darra Pettit, Ross Timothy; Tadhg O'Rourke, Enda Smith; Niall Kilroy, Ciarain Murtagh, Conor Devaney; Diarmuid Murtagh, Brian Stack, Ciaran Lennon.