WITH JUST TWELVE TEAMS left in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and only half as many still in with a chance in the hurling equivalent, this weekend’s action will really sort the men from the minors.
Sunday sees a Croke Park hurling triple-bill with both of this year’s senior All-Ireland Quarter Finals taking place, being preceded by the meeting of Waterford and Galway in the equivalent round of the minor series.
Galway against Tipperary, at 4pm, will be the star attraction of the day, however, with the All-Ireland draw having thrown together the two beaten provincial finalists in the same do-or-die encounter.
With the Back Door now sealed there are no more chances for either side, with the losers of the quarter-finals bowing out of the championship for another year.
The winners of the Galway and Tipp clash will meet Munster champions Waterford, who many will see as the easier of the two semi-final options with Kilkenny – just two games from five straight All-Irelands – awaiting in the other side.
They will meet the winners of Sunday’s second game, between Cork and surprise packages Antrim (2pm). The Saffrons have done brilliantly to get this far – it’s their best championship performance since 2004.
Sadly, on that occasion they were foiled by Sunday’s opponents, who destroyed them 2-26 to 0-10, and most will expect a similar routing as Cork aim to be the ones who stop their greatest rivals, Kilkenny, from creating history.
Cork are still without Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Jerry O’Connor, but the Rebels should still have more than enough to put the brakes on Ulster’s ongoing quest for a first-ever All-Ireland hurling title.
No third chances for eight football qualifiers
Saturday sees the four Round 4 football matches, which – like in the hurling – offer the last chance for the participating teams with the safety net of a back door now definitely removed.
Pick of the round will be the meeting of Dublin and Louth in Headquarters at 5pm, where the Leinster Champions from the last six years face off against the side many believe to be their rightful successors.
Louth haven’t beaten Dublin in twelve meetings since 1973, however, and having dispatched with Armagh last week, many will expect the Metropolitans to dismiss the Wee County – though, with many seeing Louth as Leinster’s best team right now, a shock is possible.
Monaghan and Kildare meet beforehand at 3pm, with the Lilywhites on good form after disposing of Antrim, Leitrim and Derry in successive Saturdays, while Monaghan were taken apart by Tyrone in the Ulster decider last weekend.
Sligo meet Down in Kingspan Breffni Park at 7pm, with both sides out to prove their worth after disappointing weekends. Having beaten Galway and Mayo, Sligo were expected to claim provincial honours only to be scuppered by Roscommon, while Down were patchy at best in overcoming Offaly.
Cork visit Limerick in the last of the games at 7pm, with the home side seeking revenge for last year’s Munster final when the Rebels scuppered Limerick’s bid to win their first Munster title since 1896.
Cork, though having beaten Wexford with ease last week, were not without their flaws and Limerick – having pushed Kerry all the way in their second successive Munster final defeat – will feel they can triumph.
