SUNDAY 4 JULY
LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINALS
Laois v Westmeath, Bord na Mona O'Connor Park, 1.30pm
Meath v Longford, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm
Wexford v Dublin, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 3.30pm
Kildare v Offaly, MW Hire O'Moore Park, 4.30pm - GAAGO
ONLINE
Live blogs on all games on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app.
TV
The Sunday Game, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 9.30pm, will have highlights of all the day's action. Matches can be watched live on GAAGO.
RADIO
Live updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
WEATHER
Not looking great! Widespread heavy slow moving showers will occur through the day, especially in the afternoon and evening with thundery downpours leading to spot flooding. Humid and rather warm with highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees Celsius, in a light west to southwest breeze. For more go to met.ie.
We could have thrills and spills....
Others have said it before, but let's say it again: "The Leinster football championship would be great if Dublin weren't in it". What a battle it would then be for the Delaney Cup.
Offaly, under John Maughan have upped it notch this year and would feel they'd have a right shot at glory.
Meath, after a disappointing end to their league campaign, might feel a little nervous in welcoming Longford to Navan. Padraic Davis' side recovered from a jittery start to life in Division 3 to comfortably retain their status in that section, and last weekend notched up 0-25 in accounting for Carlow.
Laois and Westmeath both got relegated from Division 2 - a chance for them to now get a win on the board.
And then there's Kildare, who will be operating back in Division 1 in 2022. The bookies' favourites for Leinster if the Dubs weren't involved. That said, those Offaly's lads won't be fearing the sight of those white jerseys in Portlaoise.
You would expect Mickey Harte to get an even greater tune out of Louth next year. So all told, the Eastern province could be a real delight with ten counties involved (We would love if Kilkenny found it in themselves to embrace the big-ball game a bit more).
Alas, we are where we are, and this year those all-conquering Dubs are bidding an 11th provincial title on the spin. Only for Meath stopped them at the semi-final stage in 2010, they'd now be eyeing up a 17th consecutive title. Nobody else has got much of a look-in, yes Kildare, Laois and Wexford did offer some resistance in the early days of Dublin's dominance, but it's far too much of an ask for any outfit to give Dessie Farrell's side any trouble in 2001.
The short straw at the quarter-final stage is in the grasp of Wexford footballers. Quote of the week goes to Model manager Shane Roche who said that his side would "show Dublin the respect they deserve". I hear he said it with a straight face, and didn't blink.
How do Wexford 'plan accordingly' for Dublin? And why?
Wexford coming up against the powerhouse that awaits them on Sunday adds further fuel to the fire that the current provincial structure is not fit for purpose. Take a step back and glance around the provinces does show a competitiveness to some degree.
Ulster remains a 'bear pit'; Connacht has three counties that could win it in any year - Sligo and Leitrim being off the pace is a concern, while Munster, in spite of how many titles Kerry could now win given their conveyor-belt of talent, does offer the chance of at least four counties getting to a decider.
After a weekend of one-sided football games, Ciarán Whelan and @colmcooper13 again comment on a system that is "broken" #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/AR06nFdrBa
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 27, 2021
And then there's Leinster which, aside from the three games that Dublin play, is sure to provide close contests.
Writing on the never-ending debate regarding a new look to the football championship, my colleague Conor Neville said: Abolishing the provincial championships, or even detaching them fully from the All-Ireland championship, will be a seismic moment for the GAA.
"The tear-streaked interviews by the Cavan and Tipperary players last November will be cited in evidence by the conservatives when the debate comes up at a Special Congress expected later this year."
Cluxton's future - that is the question
Above there is a picture of Stephen Cluxton lifting the Delaney Cup. At this remove, though things could change, we are not likely to see a similar scene on 1 August.
Last Thursday week, Ciarán Kilkenny insisted his team-mate was back training with the Dubs, saying: "Yeah, and there's numerous lads that are on the return-to-play list. He is [training]."
However Cluxton - who turns 40 in September - lined out for his club Parnells in their league match against St Brigid's two days later, an indicator that he may not be involved when the reigning All-Ireland champions travel to Wexford.
Ciarán Whelan does not expect Stephen Cluxton to be between the posts for Dublin's championship opener against Wexford #rtegaa @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/q2FDShROKr
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 27, 2021
Evan Comerford will step up then for his third championship start between the posts.
Earlier this week, Dublin's eight-time All-Ireland winner Cian O'Sullivan announced his retirement from the game.
The 33-year-old did not feature in the championship at all last year but had hoped to force his way into manager Dessie Farrell's plans this summer.
Those ambitions have been ruined by persistent injury problems, with the Kilmacud Crokes man confirming on Sunday that he cannot continue playing.
"Regrettably, and despite best efforts to address a number of recurring injuries, it's time to draw a close on my footballing days," tweeted defender O'Sullivan, who won three All Stars and ten Leinster titles in a sparkling career in sky blue.
"The competitive demands have taken their toll and while my heart would love dearly to continue on, my body simply can't."
Returning to aid the Dublin cause even more will be Dean Rock, who missed the entire league programme.
Tie of the round
On paper, the clash of Kildare-Offaly is the one that stands out. The Lilywhites' dismissal of Meath in that do-or-die league clash was most impressive in the way they withstood a Royal fightback after Luke Flynn's red card. Getting back to Division 1 was an emphatic box-ticking of their intent in 2021.
Jack O'Connor's side would surely fancy themselves through the back-door and reaching another Super 8 format. Another county left to bemoan the way of things in this condensed season.
Offaly may have had three goals to spare over Louth last Sunday, but it took extra-time to separate the pair, with John Maughan's men crucially finding the way to the net when it mattered most.
Again, Niall McNamee showed all his class for the midlanders
The only survivor from the sides' last meeting in Leinster 16 years ago, McNamee found the net in the opening period of extra-time and set up Peter Cunningham in the second period to finally put what was a gruelling contest to bed.
Manager talked about the spirit being good in the county at the moment. Claiming the scalp of Kildare would be an added bonus on top of a productive year so far. Getting to a Leinster final would top it all off.
The Faithful have much to be excited about within a fully-stocked programme of fixtures come 2022.
