ROUND TWO OF the Allianz Football League commands the focus this weekend.
With a three-week hiatus after this programme of games, teams will be eager to claim victories.
In Division 1, Kildare, Dublin, Mayo and Tyrone are chasing their second successive wins.
While Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Down seek to pick up their first points of the campaign.
There are two games pencilled in for Saturday night in Páirc Uí Rinn and Ballybofey while Castlebar and Killarney are the venues for Sunday’s games.
Division 1
Saturday
Cork v Kildare, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7pm, (Ref: Rory Hickey, Kildare), (Setanta Sports 1)
Donegal v Down, Ballybofey, 7pm, (Ref: Marty Duffy, Sligo), (Setanta Ireland)
Sunday
Kerry v Dublin, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 2pm, (Ref: David Coldrick, Meath), (TG4 Live)
Mayo v Tyrone, Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar, 2pm, (Ref: Maurice Deegan, Laois), (TG4 Deferred)
In Division 2, all four games take place next Sunday afternoon. Westmeath, Wexford, Laois and Galway were the victors in last week’s matches.
Division 2
Saturday
Longford v Westmeath, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm, (Ref: David Gough, Meath)
Armagh v Wexford, Athletic Grounds, 2pm, (Ref: Joe Curley, Meath)
Derry v Laois, Celtic Park, 2pm, (Ref: Joe McQuillan, Cavan)
Louth v Galway, Drogheda, 2pm, (Ref: Derek Fahy, Longford)
In Division 3, there are two matches fixed for Saturday night and the remaining two on Sunday afternoon. Monaghan, Fermanagh, Roscommon and Antrim were the winners of last week’s games.
Division 3
Saturday
Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7pm, (Ref: Barry Cassidy, Derry)
Fermanagh v Roscommon, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 7pm, (Ref: Noel Mooney, Cavan)
Sunday
Sligo v Antrim, Markievicz Park, 2pm, (Ref: Liam Devenney, Mayo)
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 2pm, (Ref: Fergal Barry, Kildare)
Finally in Division 4, there is one match taking place on Saturday night while two games are down for decision on Sunday afternoon.
Division 4
Saturday
Waterford v Tipperary, Dungarvan, 7pm, (Ref: Anthony Nolan, Wicklow)
Sunday
Leitrim v Clare, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2pm, (Ref: Paddy Neilan, Roscommon)
Offaly v Limerick, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 2pm, (Ref: Shane Hehir, Galway)
The finals of the pre-season hurling competitions are also down for decision this weekend.
Saturday
Waterford Crystal Cup final
Tipperary v Clare, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 7.30pm, (Ref: Jer O’Connell, Cork)
Sunday
Walsh Cup final
Wexford v Dublin, Bellefield, Enniscorthy, 2pm, (Ref: Tony Carroll, Offaly)
Kehoe Cup final
Meath v Kildare, Trim, 2pm, (Ref: John Keenan, Wicklow)
It’s also a huge weekend of club action with the All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-finals scheduled for Saturday afternoon while the junior and intermediate club competitions approach their conclusions.
Saturday
All-Ireland Club SHC semi-finals
Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) v Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly), O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 2pm, (Ref: Colm Lyons, Cork), (TG4)
St Thomas (Galway) v Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim), Parnell Park, Dublin, 4pm, (Ref: Barry Kelly, Westmeath), (TG4)
All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final second replay
Castleknock (Dublin) v Kenmare Shamrocks (Kerry), Croke Park, 5.30pm, (Ref: Eamon McHugh, Tyrone)
All-Ireland Club IFC final
Cookstown Fr Rocks (Tyrone) v Finuge (Kerry), Croke Park, 7.15pm, (Ref: Fergal Kelly, Longford)
Sunday
All-Ireland Club IHC final
St Gabriel’s (London) v Clara (Kilkenny), Croke Park, 2pm, (Ref: Shane Hourigan, Limerick)
All-Ireland Club JHC final
Fullen Gaels (Warwickshire) v Thomastown (Kilkenny), Croke Park, 3.45pm, (Ref: Garrett Duffy, Antrim)
The third-level action cranks up tomorrow with the second round of games in the group stages of the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Thursday
Fitzgibbon Cup
Group A
Mary Immaculate College (Limerick) v UCC, Limerick, 2pm, (Ref: Alan Kelly, Galway)
NUI Galway v GMIT, Dangan, 2pm, (Ref: Cathal McAllister, Cork)
Group B
Cork IT v Carlow IT, Cork IT Sportsgrounds, Bishopstown, 7.30pm, (Ref: Shane Hourigan, Limerick)
Group C
DCU v UCD, DCU Sportsgrounds, 2pm, (Ref: Brian Gavin, Offaly)
Group D
Dublin IT v UL, Parnell’s GAA club, Coolock, 2pm, (Ref: Christopher Browne, Kildare)
Finally there is also plenty second-level action on the colleges front this week.
Friday
Leinster Colleges SAFC quarter-final
Coláiste Eoin (Stillorgan) v Good Counsel (New Ross), Bray Emmetts Astro, 2pm
Saturday
Corn Uí Mhuiri SAFC semi-final
Coláiste Chríost Rí v St Brendan’s (Killarney), Cloughduv, 2.30pm
Dr Harty Cup SAHC semi-final replay
Our Lady’s (Templemore) v Ardscoil Rís, MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, 2.30pm
Leinster Colleges SAFC quarter-final
St Peter’s (Wexford) v St Pat’s (Navan), Carlow area, 2pm
