Sligo vs Mayo, CSFC quarter-final, Markievicz Park (Sligo)Mayo have a large number of injuries heading into their quarter-final clash with Sligo as Aiden Kilcoyne is definitely out and there are serious concerns over the availability of Alan Dillon and Trevor Howley. The loss of these three players would be felt by any county in Ireland but Mayo has a strong enough squad to deal with the problem.
Seamus O’Shea, Chris Barrett, Alan Freeman and Enda Varley all come in for their championship debuts after impressing during the league. These players will no doubt be looking to impress against the Yeats County and keep their places further down the line. With players like Aiden O’Shea and Pat Harte breathing down their necks a big performance will be needed.
There will be contrasting morale in the two camps as the Mayo players are still down following their annihilation in the league final against Cork,
whereas Sligo won their second NFL title in a row when they defeated Antrim at Croke Park.
The Yeats County have made great strides under Kevin Walsh and this is a big year for them. Home advantage and a big crowd behind them should benefit them. If they are to defeat the defending Connaught champions, then belief could be the key to their success. Just as it was in 2007.
Mayo has an abundance of quality at their disposal but has constantly failed to deliver in big games. In the past ten years alone they have only beaten Tyrone and Dublin in a big championship game. I discount Fermanagh (2004 semi-final) as they are not All-Ireland contenders.
Saturday's game may not be considered a 'big game' in some quarters, but a determined Sligo has the capability to pull off the shock of the weekend. However, with players such as Conor Mortimer, Ronan McGarrity, and Andy Moran Mayo have more than enough quality to see of their neighbours and set up another championship meeting against Galway.
Verdict: Mayo by 5Kerry vs Cork, MSFC semi-final, KillarneyThis is possibly the first of a few meetings between these sides this summer,if the last number of years are anything to go by.
Kerry are undoubtedly a team in transition, but any team in transition who can call on five All-Ireland winners as replacements cannot be doing too bad. The one thing that must be asked though is, after so much All-Ireland success over the last decade, does Kerry care for the Munster championship? They went the qualifying route last year and we all know how that turned out and in the All-Ireland, they proved, no matter how much they are written off, that they are the best in the country.
The loss of five key players this year was not highlighted in the comfortable first round win over Tipperary, but it certainly will against Cork.
Cork's physicality is one of their main strengths and the return of Pearse O'Neill is a major plus as too is Colm O'Neill's return to the side.
The midfield diamond area could be the winning or losing of this game for either team and Cork are definitely stronger in that area. With Galvin missing and Mike McCarthy a doubt Cork will be expected to run riot over Kerry in this area. Michael Quirke's mobility in the middle of the park is still questionable also.
It remains to be seen if Graham Canty starts; his inclusion would be massive boost to the Leesiders, but regardless they should have enough firepower to see off Kerry's challenge. Whether or not that can be said later in the championship is a debate for another day.
Verdict: Cork by 4Waterford vs Limerick, MSFC semi-final, Fraher Field (Dungarvan)This is a repeat of the division four final that Limerick won by a narrow margin. There is not much to separate these sides this year. Waterford has improved immensely over the past few years and will be looking to become third best in Munster ahead of Limerick and Tipperary.
Limerick will go into the match as favourites and justifiably as they are an experienced outfit, who know what it takes to reach a provincial final. Their ability to take their scores in the league final proved the difference between the sides and that is something Waterford will no doubt have worked on over the past few weeks.
Playing at home could make all the difference for the Déise, they are a side hungry for success and it is refreshing to see in the modern game. Spurred on by an enthusiastic home crowd and the possibility of a double Munster final involving the Waterford hurling & football teams could just see them over the finish line and into a first Munster final since 1960.
Verdict: Waterford by 2Louth vs Kildare, LSFC quarter-final, Pairc Tailteann (Navan)Louth are back in championship action less than two weeks after a hard fought win over Longford in Portlaoise, whereas Kildare are making their bow in this years championship.
The Wee County will have to show a vast improvement from their performance the last day and if the produce the kind of wayward shooting displayed against Longford, then they have no chance against a Lilywhites side who showed in a recent challenge game against Mayo that they have their shooting boots at the ready this season.
Changes are not expected to be made to the Louth team following that win while Kildare will be without Ken Donnelly, Mike Conway and Rob Kelly for the rest of the year, while it remains to be seen if last years All-Star midfielder Dermot Earley will be fit to last 70 minutes.
The tight pitch at Navan could well suit Louth and they pushed Tyrone all the way in the qualifiers there a few years back, but the Lilys will be looking to go all the way in Leinster this year and they should prevail.
Verdict: Kildare by 8Wicklow vs Westmeath, LSFC quarter-final, O’Connor Park (Tullamore)This is a repeat of last year's championship clash between the sides. On that occasion, Westmeath needed extra time to see off the challenge of the Garden County, but 12 months is a long time in Gaelic football.
Wicklow's confidence has risen as a result of last year’s historic run through the qualifiers and they easily swept aside Carlow in the first round. That game will have brought them on even further and they will be gunning for revenge on Sunday. In Leighton Glynn, they have a very influential captain who leads by example and if Westmeath are to win this match, then they will have to keep the shackles on the experienced wing forward.
To say Westmeath had a bad league campaign would be an understatement, no wins for the second year in a row, the loss of a manager and a players' revolt are just some of the problems that the Midlanders have had to deal with. Pat Flanagan, as top quality of a GAA coach as he is, has had little time to put things right, but he has been trying his hardest. The return of Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon is a massive boost to them. However, this game may have come a little too soon for Westmeath and Wicklow are primed to progress to the Leinster semi-final.
Verdict: Wicklow by 5Monaghan vs Armagh, USFC quarter-final, Casement Park (Belfast)This should be one of that matches of this years championship. The Division 2 champions Armagh will believe they can go all the way in this year’s championship while Monaghan are seen as one of the underdogs and could go all the way in Ulster for the first time since 1988.
Armagh boss Paddy O'Rourke has received mixed news ahead of Sunday's game as it looks to have come too soon for Ronan Clarke, but Kevin Dyas cane through a recent challenge match unscathed and is available for selection.
The benefit of having already played in this year’s championship cannot be underestimated and should stand to Armagh. They were made to work hard against Derry three weeks ago and managed to get the job done, albeit not in an impressive fashion.
This is a massive campaign for the Farney County. A lot of their players have been knocking on the door for some time now and time may be running out for them. On paper, they are probably more experienced than Armagh at the moment and if they are ever to do anything in the province then this could well be the year.
Both teams had successful league campaigns and will be heading into this game with much confidence. A cracker could be in place in the city of Belfast.
Verdict: Monaghan by 2
