Tadhg O'Rourke, Roscommon, and Diarmuid O'Connor, Mayo, collide during an Allianz Football League encounter in January.
Saturday May 25
Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Mayo v Roscommon, Elverys MacHale Park, 7pm
Buoyed up by a successful spring in the Allianz Football League and a commanding win over New York at Gaelic Park, Mayo return to action in Castlebar eager to advance to a first Connacht decider since 2015.
In the intervening three years Roscommon have contested provincial finals against Galway, but only triumphed in 2017.
That statistic is something which bothers some Roscommon players, especially those who spearheaded talented and decorated underage outfits.
James Horan's return to the Mayo hotseat means interest and a level of expectancy surrounds the green and red once more.
How Horan guided Mayo to League success blending established and emerging footballers merely added to the excitement and sense of anticipation.
Once again Roscommon's cause hasn't been helped by the absence of some key performers, but manager Anthony Cunningham believes progress can be made.
While Roscommon did suffer relegation from Division One of the League the team was solid defensively in the majority of their fixtures.
Facing Mayo represents a real test for Roscommon, who are eager to deliver on the Elverys MacHale Park stage.
MAYO: Robert Hennelly; Chris Barrett, Brendan Harrison, Keith Higgins; Paddy Durcan, Michael Plunkett, Lee Keegan; Matthew Ruane, Aidan O’Shea; Fergal Boland, Jason Doherty, Diarmuid O’Connor; Evan Regan, Darren Coen, Kevin McLoughlin.
ROSCOMMON: Darren O’Malley; David Murray, Sean Mullooly, Conor Daly; Niall Daly, Conor Hussey, Ronan Daly; Tadhg O’Rourke, Shane Killoran; Hubert Darcy, Cathal Cregg, Niall Kilroy; Ultan Harney, Conor Cox, Diarmuid Murtagh.
Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Carlow v Meath, O'Moore Park, 5pm
Relieved to have survived a real Championship scare against Offaly, Meath now are eager to advance to the penultimate stage in Leinster.
Despite enduring relegation from Division Three of the Allianz Football League, Carlow will be awkward opponents.
How Turlough O'Brien has turned Carlow into a respected outfit is worthy of the utmost respect, but they will need to summon a battling display in Portlaoise.
Carlow eked out five points in the spring, but it wasn't enough to retain their place in Division Three following their 2018 exploits.
It represented a setback for Carlow, who will be intent on making an impact in the summer now.
Last year's march to the last four in the province was a most rewarding experience so Carlow will be striving to examine Meath's credentials.
Having secured Division One status for 2020 Meath enjoyed a pleasing start to the campaign. Now the mission is to be a seriously competitive force in Leinster and McEntee won't rest easy until it is accomplished.
Promising Dublin footballer Darren Gavin.
Dublin v Louth, O'Moore Park, 7pm
The four in a row All Ireland champions enter the Gaelic Football summer in Portlaoise.
Three Allianz Football League Division One defeats ensured Dublin didn't advance to the decider in that competition.
That was a blow for Dublin, but they have been a most productive outfit in Leinster for most of the past two decades.
Jim Gavin's ability to unearth and develop promising players has enabled the team to flourish with Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard's relevance in 2018 adding further depth to the panel.
It will be interesting to note who is afforded opportunities at the highest level in the coming weeks and months.
Louth were content to carve out a win over Wexford with manager Wayne Kierans delighted that his outfit will get to spend an evening in the company of an illustrious Dublin team.
Kierans' wants to increase the profile of Gaelic Football in Louth and his efforts with underage teams from the county augurs well for the future.
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Antrim v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds, 6pm
Three wins from seven meant Antrim reflected on a disappointing Allianz Football League Division Four campaign so this will be a demanding encounter against Tyrone.
The Red Hands eventually shrugged off Derry's spirited resistance in the Ulster Championship opener with Cathal McShane prominent.
Mickey Harte is delighted with how McShane, so effective in the League, continues to prove his worth.
Reclaiming the Ulster title is one of Tyrone's objectives for the year and getting through to the penultimate round with the minimum of fuss is precisely what they will seek to achieve on Saturday.
Potential exists in Antrim, but this will be a daunting challenge.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Hugh Pat McGeary, Ronan McNamee, Michael McKernan; Tiernan McCann, Padraig Hampsey, Michael Cassidy; Colm Cavanagh, Ben McDonnell; Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden, Frank Burns; Cathal McShane, Peter Harte, Richie Donnelly.
Gareth Dillon, Laois, and Kieran Martin, Westmeath, pictured at the launch of the Leinster Championships.
Sunday May 26
Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Westmeath v Laois, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 2pm
Westmeath sampled Allianz Football League Division Three glory defeating Laois in a well contested final at Croke Park.
That match illustrated just how competent a finisher Ger Egan is, while Kieran Martin and John Heslin are capable footballers for Westmeath.
Laois, though, have made strides under John Sugrue earning a second successive promotion and they have plenty of attacking punch themselves.
Evan O'Carroll enjoyed some productive moments in the spring, while Donie Kingston remains a stylish operator.
Having lost to Westmeath twice already in 2019 Laois will be gunning to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.
Jack Cooney's shrewd work with Westmeath has been highlighted by silverware accumulated in the Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cup and Division Three crowns being collected.
Those triumphs have injected some momentum into the maroon and white outfit, who will treat the Laois challenge very carefully.
LAOIS: Graham Brody; Denis Booth, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Sean O'Flynn, Colm Begley, Patrick O'Sullivan; John O'Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Daniel O'Reilly, Conor Boyle, Damien O'Connor; Paul Kingston, Colm Murphy, Evan O'Carroll.
Longford v Kildare, Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park, 4pm
Kildare did just enough to overcome Wicklow, but the Lilywhites know improvement will be necessary against Longford.
Despite being without the Mullinalaghta St Columba's contingent initially, Padraic Davis' midlanders commenced their Allianz Football League Division Three campaign smartly.
Seven points were accumulated by Longford, who will relish the chance to face Kildare.
In Round Two of the 2018 All Ireland SFC qualifiers Kildare defeated Longford by 1-16 to 1-13. That victory was the start of an efficient three game winning streak by Kildare, who subsequently advanced to the last eight in the Championship.
Cian O'Neill wasn't happy with Kildare's conversion rate in the Leinster opener against Wicklow and will be demanding a more clinical approach.
LONGFORD: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O’Farrell; Colm P Smyth, Padraig McCormack, Darren Quinn; John Keegan, David McGivney; Gary Rogers, Barry McKeon, Michael Quinn; Daniel Mimnagh, James McGivney, Liam Connerton
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mark Dempsey, David Hyland, Mark Hyland; Peter Kelly, Eoin Doyle, Keith Cribbin; Kevin Feely, Fergal Conway; David Slattery, Ben McCormack, Eoghan O’Flaherty; Adam Tyrrell, Paddy Brophy, Neil Flynn.
Ulster Senior Football Championship
Fermanagh v Donegal, Brewster Park, 2pm
A repeat of the 2018 Ulster final which was dictated by Donegal.
Fermanagh, though, will hope to be much more competitive on home turf.
Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Ryan McHugh plundered first half goals in Clones last June with Fermanagh unable to recover.
The spring brought further silverware and the emergence of some promising footballers for Declan Bonner's Donegal, who earned the Allianz Football League Division Two title.
In the group phase, though, Fermanagh did take Donegal's scalp which was a notable result for Rory Gallagher's team.
Fermanagh have proven themselves adept at causing surprises in the province in recent years so Donegal will know that this could be a dangerous fixture.
