Tipperary and Cork clash again in the Munster Senior Football Championship.
Saturday May 26
Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Leitrim v Roscommon, Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 5.30pm
A young Leitrim outfit survived an awkward assignment in Gaelic Park finishing strongly to defeat New York.
Now, though, the gradient steepens considerably because Roscommon are beginning to emerge as a serious team.
Last year's Connacht title was followed by silverware in Division Two of the Allianz Football League.
During the past two years Roscommon have beaten Leitrim by 17 and 13 points respectively so the underdogs know the challenge.
Brendan Guckian's developing outfit took encouragement from their win in New York, but this is a demanding assignment on home turf.
LEITRIM: Diarmuid McKiernan; Paddy Maguire, Micheal McWeeney, Oisin Madden; James Rooney, Donal Wrynn, Shane Quinn; Mark Plunkett, Dean McGovern; Jack Heslin, Emlyn Mulligan, Ryan O'Rourke; Darragh Rooney, Keith Beirne, Brendan Gallagher.
ROSCOMMON: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Peter Domican, Niall McInerney; John McManus, Brian Stack, Conor Devaney; Cathal Compton, Tadhg O'Rourke; Enda Smith, Niall Kilroy, Fintan Cregg; Donie Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciarain Murtagh.
Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Westmeath v Laois, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 5pm
A first Championship meeting between Westmeath and Laois since the 2004 Leinster Final replay.
That was an historic occasion for Westmeath, who won their first ever provincial crown.
The intervening years have featured the odd flicker of promise, but both teams believe that an appearance in the 2018 decider is possible.
Laois staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Wexford in an epic preliminary round tie.
Following their Allianz Football League Division Four success it has been an encouraging spell for John Sugrue's charges.
Westmeath had a solid campaign on their return to Division Three and were in the promotion hunt until late on.
Colin Kelly has proven to be a shrewd operator with his native Louth previously and wants to make a summer impact with the midlanders also.
LAOIS: Graham Brody; Stephen Attride, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Trevor Collins, Colm Begley, Finbar Crowley; John O'Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Alan Farrell, Paul Kingston, Damien O'Connor; Ross Munnelly, Donie Kingston, Benny Carroll.
Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7pm
It promises to be an intriguing battle at Semple Stadium. The stakes are piled high with a place in the Munster decider at stake.
Tipperary did exactly what was required when beating Waterford at the quarter-final stage, but a much more revealing test looms for Liam Kearns' team.
Cork's Allianz Football League Division Two form was mixed, but new manager Ronan McCarthy is hopeful about making progress.
McCarthy is a widely respected figure in Cork and will have his team primed for this match which could go the distance in Thurles.
CORK: Mark White; Kevin Crowley, Jamie O'Sullivan, Kevin Flahive; Sean White, Stephen Cronin, Tomás Clancy; Aidan Walsh, Ian Maguire; Kevin O'Driscoll, Mark Collins, Ruairi Deane; John O'Rourke, Colm O'Neill, Luke Connolly.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Down v Antrim, Pairc Esler, 7pm
With the popular Lenny Harbinson in charge Antrim remain hopeful about taking a scalp or two in Ulster.
While Antrim's Allianz Football League Division Four campaign ended in disappointment there had been some positive early signs.
Harbinson is an organised coach, who will have Antrim ready for this game in Newry against Down.
Eamonn Burns charges were relegated from Division Two which was a blow, but they did reach last year's Ulster final.
In that march Down enjoyed a couple of stirring victories and Burns will hope his team can rediscover that dash once more.
Michael Fitzsimons, Dublin, and Seanie Furlong, Wicklow, pictured at the Leinster Senior Football Championship launch.
Sunday May 27
Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Kildare v Carlow, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 2pm
Amazingly Kildare and Carlow have only met twice in the Championship since 1965.
Kildare won on both occasions in 1980 and 2001, but the Lilywhites will know all about Carlow's improvement in recent years.
Turlough O'Brien has Carlow committed and courageous with their emphatic preliminary round victory over Louth a clear sign of how far they have developed.
Kildare suffered relegation from Division One of the Allianz Football League losing all seven games, but they enjoyed a reasonable summer in 2017.
Carlow haven't reached the penultimate round in Leinster since 2011 and this could be a keenly contested affair.
Longford v Meath, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm
An important game for Longford and Meath, who are anxious to show signs of progress in Leinster.
Longford have reserved their best displays for the qualifiers for much of the past decade and are without a provincial win since 2015.
Meath lost three games on the spin midway through their League campaign to end any promotion hopes.
Andy McEntee's team, though, did rally winning their last couple of matches in the competition to avoid relegation.
Another effective attacking display was summoned in the Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cup final against Westmeath a few weeks ago, and the Royals want to reach the last four in the east.
Dublin v Wicklow, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, 4pm
The All Ireland champions head for Portlaoise to face a Wicklow team, who showed admirable resolve when defeating Offaly.
That was a hugely encouraging result for John Evans' mix of young and experienced players.
Obviously Dublin will be a much more difficult proposition, but Carlow battled admirably at the same stage and venue in 2017.
Jim Gavin's standard bearers recaptured the Allianz Football League title during another successful spring.
Gavin's Championship statistics are staggering with Dublin winning 28, drawing two, and losing one of his 31 matches in charges.
Back in 1989 and 1990 Wicklow were competitive against Dublin, who have won all previous 12 Leinster Championship encounters between the teams.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Derry v Donegal, Celtic Park, 4pm
Derry have suffered five Championship losses in a row against Donegal since 2008.
Relegation to Division Four of the Allianz Football League was a setback for Derry, who know that significant improvement is necessary in the summer.
Damian McErlain is trying to integrate some talented young players into the Derry set-up and it will be interesting to see how they cope against Donegal.
Michael Murphy was immense during Donegal's comfortable preliminary round triumph over Cavan. Declan Bonner is also bringing through young players in Donegal and will want them to produce a similarly industrious performance.
