Connacht SFC quarter-final London v Mayo, Ruislip, 3.0 – Curiously for a fixture that is fulfilled so ritually every five years, Mayo have found this to be at times a tricky hurdle but also quite an encouraging one. On three of the last four occasions the sides have met, Mayo have gone on to reach the All-Ireland final and in 2011 – when they were taken to extra time – they eliminated the All-Ireland champions later in the summer.
Manager Stephen Rochford has been hampered with injuries all year, frustrating his attempts to develop his first-choice team during the league and similarly interfering with the build-up to this match.
Donal Vaughan, Ger Cafferkey, Diarmuid O'Connor and possibly Séamus O'Shea (above) will play no role, although O'Shea is named on the bench.
London have their own problems with Cathal Greene and Lorcan Mulvey both not risked to start. The exiles have been far more competitive in recent years and have won a few matches along the way.
Ultimately though, this is an All-Ireland contender against one of the weakest teams, a Division One county against a Division Four one and the outcome will reflect that.
Last meeting: 2013 Connacht final, at MacHale Park, Mayo 5-11, London 0-10. Odds: Mayo 1/100, London 16/1 and 40/1 the draw. Just the ticket: Sold out. Verdict: Mayo to win. LONDON: Gavin McEvoy; Philip Butler, Caoimhín Carty, Ciarán Dunne; Colin Dunne, Danny Ryan, Dave McGreevy; James Moran, Liam Gavaghan; Adrian Moyles, Mark Gottsche, Cormac Coyne; Eoin Murray, Scott Conroy, Patrick O'Hara. MAYO: Robbie Hennelly; Brendan Harrison, Kevin Keane, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Patrick Durcan; Tom Parsons, Jason Gibbons; Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O'Shea, Jason Doherty; Evan Regan, Cillian O'Connor, Conor O'Shea.
Munster SFC quarter-finals Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 2.0 – There will be two divisions between the teams in next year's league, as Clare were promoted while their opponents travelled in the other direction. Colm Collins's team had the added satisfaction of beating Kildare in Croke Park in the Division Three final.
They look far too settled and potent for Limerick, with the enduring excellence of Gary Brennan in the middle and the sharpness of Keelan Sexton, Eoin Cleary and the experienced David Tubridy up front. Limerick, by contrast, lost established centrefielder Tom Lee because of a messy registration row, a blow coming on top of the loss of other key players from last year: no reason, in other words, why Clare can’t repeat their six-point win from the league.
Last meeting: 2015 Munster quarter-final, at Cusack Park, Clare 0-15, Limerick 0-13. Odds: Clare 4/9, Limerick 5/2 and 15/2 the draw. Just the ticket: Unreserved tickets: €15. Reduction of €5 for students and senior citizens. Children (under 16) free. Verdict: Clare to win. LIMERICK: Tba CLARE: Tba
Waterford v Tipperary, Dungarvan, 3.30 – It's easy to forget that this fixture, on the same afternoon as Dublin-Longford last year, was held up as an example of all that was wrong with the championship's mismatches after Waterford's 22-point annihilation. Although things have changed drastically for Tipp – who are short 11 of the players who featured 12 months ago – they are none the less expected to win this and have 10 of the same starting 15, even if the quality of the exodus to various destinations –from the senior hurling panel to the AFL – is striking. Waterford haven't had a great year themselves but have some decent forwards in Paul Whyte and Patrick Hurney. Still, the patterns of the 28 years since Waterford last won this fixture are unlikely to be disturbed.
Last meeting: 2015 Munster quarter-final, at Thurles, Tipperary 1-24, Waterford 0-5. Odds: Tipperary 1/6, Waterford 5/1 and 12/1 the draw. Just the ticket: Unreserved tickets: €15. Reduction of €5 for students and senior citizens. Children (under 16) free. Verdict: Tipperary to win. WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Tadhg O hUallacháin, Thomas O'Gorman, Maurice O'Gorman; James McGrath, Stephen Prendergast, Ray O'Ceallaigh; Tommy Prendergast, Craig Guiry; Michael Curry, Paul Whyte, Patrick Hurney; Gavin Crotty, JJ Hutchinson, Lorcán O Corraoin. TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Colm O'Shaughnessy, Alan Campbell, Ciarán McDonald; Bill Maher, Robbie Kiely, Shane Leahy; Alan Moloney, George Hannigan; Josh Keane, Peter Acheson, Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Philip Austin. Ulster SFC quarter-final Cavan v Armagh, Kingspan Breffni Park, 3.30 – Armagh's chances hang like a shadow over the fixture: insubstantial and yet oddly foreboding. They ambushed Cavan two years ago at the same stage but the teams have moved in opposite directions since, literally in the case of this year's Division Two campaign.
They passed each other previously last March when Cavan won by a massive 17 points, after which Kieran McGeeney took personal responsibility for the performance, as he had fielded the team. That would appear to have been genuine in that Armagh have changed half the side that lined out that day, whereas their opponents are more or less as they were.
Cavan’s promotion to the top flight was a merited reflection of Terry Hyland’s side’s evolution from the contagion carriers of ultra-defence into the highest scoring unit in the top half of the league.
Their impressively sized attack, driven by Gearóid McKiernan, with David Givney and Seán Johnston at its apex, will again be a challenge for Armagh, whose centrefield is another area of concern.
They did, however, go unbeaten in the their last three league matches but a recent trimming in a challenge by Donegal has re-set any rampant optimism. They’ll be more competitive here but have done little to suggest they can win.
Last meeting: 2014 Ulster quarter-final, Athletic Grounds, Armagh 1-12, Cavan 0-9. Odds: Cavan 8/15, Armagh 2/1 and 8/1 the draw. Injuries: Kevin Dyas and Andrew Murnin are long-term injury withdrawals for Armagh, while Jamie Clarke and Caolan Rafferty are abroad. Cavan defender Jason McLoughlin is out with a shoulder injury. Suspension: None. Just the ticket: Stand: Sold Out. Adult terrace €15/£12 if purchased in advance (€18/£15 on the day). Reductions for students and senior citizens. Children (under 16) free. Verdict: Cavan to win. CAVAN: Raymond Galligan; Pádraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke, Rory Dunne; Feargal Flanagan, Conor Moynagh, Niall Murray; Tomás Corr, Liam Buchanan; Dara McVeety, Gearóid McKiernan, Martin Reilly; David Givney, Michael Argue, Seán Johnston. ARMAGH: Patrick Morrison; James Morgan, Charlie Vernon, Mark Shields; Andy Mallon, Aidan Forker, Ciaran McKeever; Brendan Donaghy, Ethan Rafferty; Rory Grugan, Tony Kernan, Ciarán O'Hanlon; Colm Watters, Stefan Campbell, Gavin McParland.
