All-Ireland champions Kerry need a draw or win against Louth to be sure of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the championship.
GROUP 1
Sunday, June 18
Kerry v Louth, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm.
Ref: James Molloy (Galway)
Reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry need at least a draw in this match to be sure of progressing to the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland SFC.
Were they to lose this match and Cork beat Mayo in the other Group 1 match, then Kerry would finish bottom of the group and be out of the championship.
By extension, a win for Louth here is a must to have any hope of making it to the knock-out rounds. They were competitive against both Mayo and Cork, so won’t be overawed by this challenge.
Mike Breen has been handed his first championship start at wing-back for the Kingdom in place of Gavin White who isn’t part of the match-day panel. Brian Ó Beaglaoich is back from injury and named on the subs bench.
Louth make two changes to the team that were beaten by Mayo with Dan Corcoran coming in at corner-back in place of Bevan Duffy and Craig Lennon replacing Anthony Williams at corner-forward.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Mike Breen; Diarmuid O'Connor, Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan, Sean O'Shea, Adrian Spillane; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Paul Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Tony Brosnan, Dylan Casey, Barry Dan O'Sullivan, Ruairi Murphy, Micheál Burns, Stephen O'Brien, Donal O'Sullivan, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Ronan Buckley, Chris O'Donoghue.
LOUTH: James Califf; Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch, Donal Mckenny; Leonard Grey, Niall Sharkey, Conall Mckeever; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Ciaran Murphy, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes; Conall Mccaul, Sam Mulroy, Craig Lennon. Subs: Peter Mcstravick, Ryan Burns, Jonathan Commins, Bevan Duffy, Liam Jackson, Daire Mcconnon, Oisin Mcguinness, Paul Mathews, Jack Murphy, Dylan Mckeown, Anthony Williams.
Mayo v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 2pm (GAAGO)
Ref: Paul Faloon (Down)
Table-toppers Mayo can claim a direct route to the quarter-final if they defeat or draw with Cork.
But if Cork beat Mayo, then where they and everyone else in this group ends up in the final rankings will depend on the Kerry v Louth match.
Cillian O’Connor is still absent from the Mayo panel through injury after also missing the first two matches in the group phase.
His brother, Diarmuid, who missed the win over Louth is included amongst the substitutes, as is Eoghan McLaughlin who broke a bone in his hand just three weeks ago.
Fionn McDonagh starts at wing-forward in place of Jason Doherty who dops to the bench and Paddy Durcan comes into the defence in place of Donnacha McHugh.
Cork have named the same team that ran Kerry to two points in Round 2.
CORK: Míchéal Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire, Kevin O' Donovan; Luke Fahy, Daniel O Mahony, Mattie Taylor; Colm O'Callaghan, Ian Maguire; Brian O'Driscoll, Ruairi Deane, Killian O' Hanlon; Sean Powter, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones. Subs: Patrick Doyle, Cian Kiely, Tom Clancy, Tommy Walsh, Paul Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, Conor Corbett, John O'Rourke, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Fionn Herlihy
MAYO: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Pádraig O’Hora; Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan; Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane; Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, James Carr, Ryan O'Donoghue. Subs: Rory Byrne, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Enda Hession, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Eoghan McLaughlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Diarmuid O’Connor, Paul Towey, Bob Tuohy
How they currently stand in the Group phase of the All-Ireland SFC.
GROUP 2
Sunday, June 18
Galway v Armagh, Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 4pm (RTE2)
Ref: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Table-toppers Galway, on four points, can secure a home quarter-final by either drawing with or beating Armagh.
Armagh can still make it through to the knock-out stages if they lose this match, but only if Tyrone win or draw with Westmeath.
Were Armagh to lose by a decent margin here and Westmeath to pull off a shock against Tyrone, then the Orchard County could be in danger of going out of the championship.
They’ll be highly motivated to put their best foot forward then, but their hopes of taking Galway’s scalp haven’t been helped by the suspension of star forward Rian O’Neill.
Armagh have made three changes to the team that lost to Tyrone, with Paddy Burns, Ciaran Higgins, and Conor O’Neill, all coming into a new-look defence.
Galway have made two changes to the team that beat Westmeath with Damien Comer and Dylan McHugh both fit enough to start. Cathal Sweeney and Robert Finnerty drop to the bench.
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Ciaran Higgins, Aidan Forker; Greg McCabe, Aaron McKay, Conor O Neill; Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey; Jason Duffy, Rory Grugan, Callum Cumiskey; Conor Turbitt, Andrew Murnin, Stefan Campbell. Subs: Shea Magill, Joe McElroy, Ross McQuillan, Barry McCambridge, Jarly Óg Burns, Stephen Sheridan, Shane McPartlan, Jemar Hall, Justin Kieran, Cian McConville, Oisin Conaty
GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; John McGrath, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Cian Hernon; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Johnny Heaney, Peter Cooke; Ian Burke, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Subs: Bernard Power, Seán Fitzgerald, Sean Mulkerrin, Billy Mannion, John Maher, Paul Kelly, Niall Daly, Cathal Sweeney, Robert Finnerty, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Tomo Culhane.
Tyrone v Westmeath, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm (GAAGO)
Ref: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
A win or a draw would ensure Tyrone’s progression to the knock-out stages, but if they lose they’ll be left nervously awaiting the result from the Galway-Armagh match.
For a Westmeath team with two defeats from two matches, this looks like a tall order, but they were competitive against both Galway and Armagh and have nothing to lose so expect them to give it a lash.
The Canavan brothers, Darragh and Ruairí, will start a senior championship match for Tyrone together for the first time with Ruairí coming into the Red Hand XV in place of Niall Sludden.
Westmeath make one change to the team that were beaten by Galway as Jonathan Lynam comes in for Andy McCormack. Lynam’s inclusion at wing-forward sees Sam McCartan switch from wing-forward to wing-back.
WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, Jamie Gonoud; Sam Duncan, Ray Connellan; Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O'Toole, David Lynch; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Stephen Smith. Subs: Trevor Martin, Lorcan Dolan, Kieran Martin, Conor Dillon, David Giles, Eoin Mulvihill, Daniel Scahill, Senan Baker, Andy McCormack, Brían Cooney, Shane Dempsey
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Michael Mc Kernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey; Cormac Quinn, Michael O’Neill, Peter Harte; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Conor Meyler, Joe Oguz, Ruari Canavan; Darren McCurry, Matthew Donnelly, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Lorcan Quinn, Frank Burns, Aidan Clarke, Niall Devlin, Richard Donnelly, Niall Kelly, Nathan McCarron, Kieran McGeary, Michael McGleenan, Sean O'Donnell, Niall Sludden
Eoin Murchan returns to the Dublin starting XV.
GROUP 3
Sunday, June 18
Dublin v Sligo, Kingspan Breffni, 1.45pm (GAAGO)
Ref: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
Tied on three points with Roscommon but with an inferior scoring difference of a two points, Dublin won’t be just out to win this match, but win it by as big a margin as possible.
Sligo will be highly motivated to play to the very last whistle because even if they lose they can still make it through to the knock-out round on scoring difference if Kildare also lose to Roscommon.
Dublin are strengthened by the return to the panel of Jack McCaffrey, Eoin Murchan, and Evan Comerford who were all recent absentees due to injury.
Murchan starts at corner-back while McCaffrey and Comerford are part of a strong looking bench that also includes All-Stars Ciaran Kilkenny, Paul Mannion, and Dean Rock.
Sligo make three changes to the team that was beaten last time out by Roscommon. Darragh Cummins replaces Nathan Mullen at corner-back, Keelan Cawley replaces Alan Reilly at wing-forward, and Pat Spillane replaces Luke Nicholson at corner-forward.
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Murchan; John Small, Seán MacMahon, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Brian Howard, Seán Bugler, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Evan Comerford, David Byrne, Ciaran Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Lorcan O'Dell, Killian O'Gara, Dean Rock
SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Darragh Cummins; Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Luke Towey; Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne; Finnian Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Keelan Cawley; Pat Spillane, Patrick O’Connor, Niall Murphy Subs: Daniel Lyons, Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Eoghan Smith, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Jack Lavin, Joe Keaney, Kenny Gavigan, Luke Nicholson, Mark Walsh, Mikey Gordon
Roscommon v Kildare, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.45pm (RTE2)
Ref: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
Roscommon currently top the table, but only on scoring difference by two points ahead of Dublin.
So even if they win here, if Dublin beat Sligo by two points more than Roscommon beat Kildare, even a win over the Lilywhites would not be enough for the Connacht side to hold on to top spot.
Kildare, much like Sligo, need to keep playing to the last whistle even if they find themselves behind because scoring difference could well decide which team finishes in third sport in Group 3.
Roscommon make one change to the team that defeated Sligo with Donie Smith coming in for Ciaran Lennon. Smith’s inclusion sees Dylan Ruane move from wing-forward to midfield.
Kildare have named the same starting XV that were beaten by Dublin in Round 2.
ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Colin Walsh, Brian Stack, David Murray; Niall Daly, Eoin McCormack, Conor Daly; Dylan Ruane, Eddie Nolan; Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Donie Smith; Cian McKeon, Ben O'Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh. Subs: Aaron Brady, Conor Hussey, Niall Kilroy, Richard Hughes, Ciarán Lennon, Conor Cox, Cian Connolly, Daire Cregg, Shane Cunnane, Paul Carey, Ruaidhrí Fallon
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, Ryan Houlihan, Brendan Gibbons, Darragh Malone, Tony Archbold, Jimmy Hyland, Paul Cribbin, Barry Coffey, Matthew Kelly
Stephen O'Hanlon of Monaghan in action against Caolan McColgan of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division One match between Monaghan and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
GROUP 4
Saturday, June 17
Derry v Clare, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 6pm
Ref: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
Clare are the only team left in the competition who have only pride to play for as they’re already out of the championship.
The most they can finish on is two points and even if Donegal lose to Monaghan and also finish on two points they’ll still finish above Clare in the table on the head to head rule because they beat Clare in Round 1.
Derry will be highly motivated not just to win, but to win by as much as possible because if Monaghan beat Donegal then whichever team has the better scoring difference will top the group.
Currently they both have the same scoring difference (+5), but Monaghan sit above Derry in the table because they have scored three more points than them after two rounds.
Derry make just one change to the team that beat Donegal in Round 2 with Niall Loughlin coming in at corner-forward in place of Benny Heron.
Clare also make one change to the side beaten by Monaghan in Round 2 with Alan Sweeney coming in for Cillian Brennan.
CLARE: Stephen Ryan; Ronan Lanigan, Ciaran Russell, Manus Doherty; Alan Sweeney, Pearse Lillis, Cillian Rouine; Cathal O'Connor, Darragh Bohannon; Daniel Walsh, Emmet McMahon, Jamie Malone; Mark McInerney, Keelan Sexton, Pádraic Collins. Subs: David Sexton, Micheal Garry, Aaron Griffin, Shane Griffin, Thomas Kelly, Tom McDonald, Brian McNamara, Ikem Ugweru, Darren O'Neill, Fergal Ginnane, Cillian McGroary
DERRY: Odhran Lynch; Christopher McKaigue, Eoghan McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Ciaran McFaul, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin. Subs: Ryan Scullion, Declan Cassidy, Benny Heron, Shea Downey, Lachlan Murray, Ben McCarron, Paul McNeil, Padraig Cassidy, Conleth McGuckian, Mark Doherty, Oisin McWilliams
Monaghan v Donegal, O’Neills Healy Park, 6pm (GAAGO)
Ref: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
Donegal still have an outside chance of topping this group if they win this match and Clare pull off a shock against Derry.
At the least, a win over Monaghan would assure them of a home tie in the preliminary quarter-finals.
Table-toppers Monaghan know a win over Donegal won’t be enough to see them maintain that position. If Derry beat Clare, they need to beat Donegal by a bigger margin to be sure of topping the group.
Donegal are boosted by the return to the starting XV of team captain Patrick McBrearty who comes in as an indirect replacement for Jason McGee. There’s one change in defence too, with Stephen McMenamin coming in for Odhran Doherty.
Monaghan have named the same team that defeated Clare last time out.
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan McColgan; Caolan Ward, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Stephen McMenamin; Caolan McGonagle, Hugh McFadden; Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan, Ciaran Thompson; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Conor O Donnell. Subs: Gavin Mulreaney, Brian O Donnell, Odhran Doherty, Jeaic Mc Kelvey, John Ross Molloy, Luke McGlynn, Johnny McGroddy, Joel Bradley Walsh, Dylan Dorrian, Rory O Donnell,Paul Brennan
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Ryan O'Toole, Kieran Duffy, Ryan Wylie; Karl O Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy; Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle; Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie; Jack Mc Carron, Gary Mohan, Shane Carey. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus, Sean Jones, Darren Hughes, Dessie Ward, Kevin Loughran, Fabian Beggan, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon
