Anthony Cunningham and Mickey Harte shake hands following an Allianz Football League Division One draw in February.
**All Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals Group Phase
**
Saturday July 13
Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park, 5pm
In the first game of last year's All Ireland Quarter-Final Group Phase Tyrone blitzed Roscommon, who were unable to respond in their remaining two fixtures.
Valuable lessons, though, were learned by Roscommon, who regained the Connacht title in impressive fashion by beating Leitrim, Mayo, and Galway.
Anthony Cunningham focused on making Roscommon more resilient and the evidence so far this summer is encouraging.
Conor Cox's addition to the attack has been a boost as the accurate forward has rifled over 0-15, including nine points from play in Roscommon's winning sequence.
Still Roscommon will be fully aware that a severe test looms on home turf against Tyrone, who have overcome Longford, Kildare, and Cavan in the qualifiers.
With Cathal McShane supplying a physical presence and scoring threat inside, Tyrone are motoring smoothly again with last weekend's success over Cavan illustrating how competent the Red Hands can be.
Brian Fenton is an influential figure for Dublin.
Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 7pm
Cork have reached the last eight for the first time in five years and sit the toughest examination of the lot when facing Dublin at Croke Park.
Having claimed the last four All Ireland Championships, Dublin very much remain the team to beat.
Jim Gavin's charges overcame Louth, Kildare, and Meath in Leinster, but Cork are boosted by an emphatic triumph over Laois.
That followed a gutsy display when losing the Munster decider to Kerry, but Ronan McCarthy's outfit will want to deliver on the Croke Park stage.
Brian Hurley has rattled five goals in three fixtures, while Mark Collins is in good scoring form also.
How Cork cope with Dublin's dynamic runners from deep will be critical and they will need to restrict Brian Fenton's influence at centrefield.
In attack Cormac Costello, Paul Mannion, and Con O'Callaghan have all supplied flashes of their considerable ability, while the prolific Dean Rock enjoyed a productive cameo against Meath.
CORK: Mark White; James Loughrey, Thomas Clancy, Kevin Flahive; Liam O’Donovan, Tomas Clancy, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Ronan O'Toole; Kevin O’Driscoll, Sean White, Ruairi Deane; Mark Collins, Brian Hurley, Luke Connolly.
Meath's Cillian O'Sullivan and Donegal's Michael Murphy during the Allianz Football League Division Two Final at Croke Park.
Sunday July 14
Donegal v Meath, MacCumhaill Park, 2pm
Buoyed up by a second successive Ulster title, Donegal hit the All Ireland series loaded with hope and encouragement.
Declan Bonner's charges adequately dealt with Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Cavan with Jamie Brennan delivering some dynamic displays.
Paddy McBrearty's return and the enduring excellence of Michael Murphy are other sources of optimism for Donegal, who have defeated Meath twice in Division Two of the Allianz Football League already this year.
Donegal were fortunate to emerge following the group fixture, but they showed good powers of recovery in the Division Two Final at Croke Park.
Mickey Newman caused Donegal significant bother initially, but they recovered well.
That some emerging players featured throughout the spring has bolstered the Donegal panel, but Meath will hope to cause a surprise in Ballybofey.
James Conlon has mined 0-12 from play in the Championship, Newman has notched a total of 3-20, while Padraic Harnan and Donal Keogan have also been key performers for Andy McEntee's team.
Kerry's Sean O'Shea during the Allianz Football League Division One Final at Croke Park.
Kerry v Mayo, Fitzgerald Stadium, 4pm
A gripping battle is anticipated in Killarney as the latest addition to the Kerry and Mayo story will be penned.
Mayo's Allianz Football League Division One Final triumph brought significant green and red satisfaction.
Since then Mayo's Championship has been typically dramatic with a facile win over New York followed by a crushing loss to Roscommon.
Suddenly all sorts of worries existed in Mayo, but they have beaten Down, Armagh, and arch rivals Galway to secure a berth in the last eight.
James Carr's two goal salvo in the Galway triumph was crucial, while Darren Coen continues to provide valuable scores in attack.
Kerry will treat the Mayo challenge with the utmost care and diligence.
Peter Keane's team remain top of the pile down south, but endured some anxious moments before posting wins over Clare and Cork.
Stephen O'Brien's energy and David Clifford's mixture of substance and style enabled Kerry to overcome an awkward finish at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Mayo are next on the agenda and a revealing 70 minutes beckons.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Jason Foley, Tadhg Morley, Tom O'Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Jack Sherwood, Gavin White; David Moran, Diarmuid O'Connor; Micheal Burns, Sean O'Shea, Stephen O'Brien; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dara Moynihan.
