ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL
Mayo v Tipperary, Croke Park, 3.30pm
ONLINE
Live blogs on RTE.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, video highlights on social media.
TV
RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player will have live coverage, as will Sky Sports. Viewers outside Ireland can access the action on GAAGO.
There will be full highlights of on The Sunday Game, RTÉ2, at 9.30.
RADIO
Live commentary of both games on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
WEATHER
Mainly dry with sunny spells but there is a chance that frost and fog may linger in some areas for much of the day. Maximum temperatures 3 to 6 degrees, light variable winds or calm conditions. For more go to met.ie.
The route so far
Mayo, along with Galway and Roscommon were the contenders in Connacht, with the Green and Red getting past their rivals to end a five-year wait for a title.
And so to Munster. Kerry people are still wondering how they let things slip against the Rebels on Leeside. It wasn't supposed to end this way for a squad with designs on scuppering the Dubs' quest for a sixth All-Ireland on the trot.
Limerick will feel that they should have ended Tipperary's interest at the semi-final stage. Conor Sweeney's late leveller past the 70th minute a thing of beauty amid the November gloom. Tipp has their noses in front when it mattered most after extra-time.
On the weekend to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, perhaps it was fitting that the Premier kitted out in replica jerseys from that day in 1920, should emerge victorious. Cork, we thought were a bit more progressive in their line-up, but in truth they played second fiddle for the most part. Tipperary, the deserving winners.
Plenty of intrigue
Just like 2016, Mayo are favourites to get the job done against Tipperary at the semi-final stage. The Green and Red weren't overly impressive in getting the victory some four years ago, just as they were against Galway in the Connacht final.
It was a bit of a dogfight in Salthill three weeks ago. Galway did their homework in ensuring that Aidan O'Shea, Cillian O'Connor and Tommy Conroy did not find the room to cause havoc, as was the caser in the league. As a result Mayo benefitted from the runs of Lee Keegan and Eoghan McLaughlin. More space at Croke Park will suit them.
The Green and Red will have to improve on their accuracy in front of the posts. A number of chances werer spurned against both Roscommon and Galway.
A view prior to this game is that Tipperary can get success in the midfield area and in winning the breaking ball. Mayo will be ravenous than Cork were the last day in fighting for the scraps but Colin O'Riordan and Liam Casey will be up for the fight.
Tipp scored 0-17 to win the Munster final, a combined total of 0-12 came from Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney. Prodigious talents both, but others chipping in with more scores would lessen the load.
Mayo have introduced new faces to compliment the old guard, while Tipperary are again delivering on a promise to yield tangible returns from underage success.
The ingredients are right for a rip-roaring contest.
A view from the Kingdom
Pat Spillane believes Tipperary have a real chance of upsetting Mayo but feels they contain a weakness in one area.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, he said: "If I'm looking for a weak-link in the Tipperary side, I would say it's their full-back line.
"The only problem I see with Mayo is that I'm not too sure whether they'll utilise the full-forward line. In the first half against Galway, they lost shape. Cillian (O'Connor) drifted out and Aidan (O'Shea) came to midfield. There was no outlet ball and their forward performance against Galway was quite poor."
On assessing Tipp's progress so far, the Kerry legend added: "
"They have experience. These boys have won All-Ireland minor medals, they've been in an U21 final. There's probably more experience in this Tipperary team than there is in Mayo. These lads aren't afraid of Mayo so they'll come in confident.
"Great goalkeeper, half-back line outstanding, Bill Maher, Kevin Fahey and Robbie Kiely. They have the advantage in midfield because in terms of primary ball-winners, O'Brien, O'Riordan, and Casey, if he comes out, they're better primary ball-winners than Ruane and Loftus.
"And then you have the two boys up front. Quinlivan had been having a poor Munster championship. He didn't score against Clare, he only scored a point against Limerick and he was very good in the Munster final.
"Sweeney is brilliant. Sweeney is an outstanding forward and is nailed on to be an All-Star.
"Do I have a problem? 40% of their scores in the Munster championship have come from Conor Sweeney. Do I give them a chance? Of course I do! There's a good manager there, great experience, great character.
"If you told me at half-time in the Gaelic Grounds that this Tipperary team would be an All-Ireland semi-final... they were seven points down against a Division 4 team in Limerick. But they came out after half-time and scored 1-06 without reply."
Mayo and Tipperary last met in a competitive game in 2018 when the Connacht side prevailed in a Round 2 All-Ireland qualifier. This will be the sixth championship clash between them, with Mayo enjoying three victories.
