SATURDAY 19 APRIL
Munster SFC semi-finals
Clare v Tipperary, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm
Cork v Kerry, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Fermanagh v Down, Brewster Park, 4pm
Connacht SFC semi-final
Leitrim v Mayo, Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 4.30pm
SUNDAY 20 APRIL
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Monaghan v Donegal, Clones, 2pm
Connacht SFC semi-final
Galway v Roscommon, Pearse Stadium, 4pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app
TV
Fermanagh v Down live on BBC2 NI. Leitrim v Mayo and Monaghan v Donegal will both be streamed on GAA+. Galway v Roscommon live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Highlights of the weekend's action on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport. Also live updates on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae.
WEATHER
Saturday: A cloudy and damp start to Saturday, with further outbreaks of rain. It will become generally drier as the day goes on but some patches of light rain or drizzle will linger in some areas, mainly in the west. Highest temperatures of 9 to 15 degrees with moderate to fresh easterly winds, easing later.
Sunday: Current indications are for dry weather in the east, with occasional sunny spells, but cloudier weather in the west with rain moving in. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees in a moderate southeasterly breeze.
For more go to met.ie
Can Rebels yell with fury again?
Twelve months ago, Cork put it up to Kerry at this stage of the championship. In the end the winning margin was just three points; a late flurry of scores from the Kingdom enough to see them over the line. A year on and neutrals would welcome another close encounter but have John Cleary's side enough resolve in them to again push their neighbours all the way?
League form gives us something of an indicator. Cork produced a mixed bag of sorts in Division 2, never threatening those at the summit. They finished with a narrow win over Cavan, a game where they dictated affairs from the off and then had enough in reserve to withstand the late Breffni surge.
Kerry, meanwhile, were somewhat slow out of traps in the top tier, but eventually found their groove. At the end of it all they had silverware to show for it and didn't even bother with any of that two-point malarkey in their final games against Armagh, Galway and Mayo.
Of course, we all know that under Jack O'Connor when a league title is won, Sam Maguire follows a few months later. Will that happen again? Well, who knows. It's a congested field that has their sights on Sam in '25.
Covid time saw Cork ambush Kerry late on at the Páirc. Another Rebel sucker-punch was inflicted way back in 1983; Tadhg Murphy's late goal bringing about more Kerry tears, this after Seamus Darby's late cameo the previous autumn. Cork would now love to be in a position to have O'Connor's men trembling as the clock ticks down. That scenario is unlikely, though the addition of Seán McDonnell in attack has added potency for a Rebels outfit that had to contend with retirements and players stepping away during the off-season.
Paul Flynn's football championship predictions
That league final win over Mayo did not require Kerry to do anything above the ordinary. And while we, with good reason wax lyrical about their attack with the Clifford brothers again to the fore and Seanie O'Shea set to return, it was their well-drilled defence that also caught the eye against the westerners.
Quite simply, Mayo's attack lacked the sort of penetration required to get the job done. The green and gold rearguard proving a tough nut to breach. Games in June and July will no doubt test that defensive shield further.
*Cork v Kerry has been by far the busiest championship rivalry in football since 2000. They have met 35 times, with Kerry winning 23 to Cork's six, while there were six draws.
The other semi-final sees Clare host Tipperary in Ennis. Peter Keane's side should have too much for the Premier, so booking a spot in a third consecutive Munster final and with it a place in the All-Ireland series.
It was a case of so near and yet so far for the Banner in Division 3: level on points with Kildare and Offaly at the head of affairs but losing out on score difference when it came to promotion. The defeat away to Sligo ultimately proving costly. Keane and co will have a few regrets; wasteful shooting against Offaly also not helping their cause.
As for Tipp, well they avenged last year's loss to Waterford in the previous round. Steven O'Brien (above) marked his return from injury with a first-half haul of 1-08 to help the Premier to a three-point victory. Yet it was a case of much change for both sides with regard to those who lined out in 2024.
19 of the 30 players who started in the Déise victory 12 months were not involved.
Only one scorer from either side remained.
Half of Tipp's 26-man matchday panel had never featured in championship before. They gave debuts to Shane Ryan, Jason Madigan, Ben Comerford, Michael Freaney, and Cian Smith, plus Jack O’Neill, Conor Fahey, Billy O’Connor, and Micheál Lowry off the bench.
*Clare's last win over Tipperary in Munster was in 2000
Down in bonus territory of sorts
Fermanagh and Down lock horns at Brewster Park, where the winner will face either Monaghan or Donegal in the Ulster semi.
For the Mourne County, they've known since the 13 July last that they had an All-Ireland series ticket in their possession following their Tailteann Cup success. Perhaps that tempers the disappointment of their instant return to Division 3. Fine margins were at play in their relegation, but Down would rather be looking up and getting the chance to take on the likes of Derry and Tyrone in tier two next year.
An indication of their worth came in their final league game against Monaghan. They built up a significant first-half advantage and stood tall at the death to repel the surge at the death when the Farney had a few more of their big guns on the pitch.
Down assistant coach Mickey Donnelly accentuated the positives of their league campaign, telling the Newry Reporter: "We are where we are, and we have to take a wee bit of satisfaction out of it. None of the seven performances did we come away from it saying, 'that was a horrendous performance'.
"Some of the games were a wee bit substandard in terms of standards set for ourselves, but ultimately we were competitive in all seven games, and it gives us a mini bounce if you like, going into the championship."
Such were the permutations on the final day in Division 3 that at one stage Fermanagh were heading to Division 2. Leading against Laois, the Ernesiders were hoping Antrim could maintain their good start against Kildare. The Lilies, however, would eventually bloom to secure their promotion ticket.
Kieran Donnelly's side warmed up for this encounter with a trip to Vilamoura in the Algarve. The latest inter-county trend it would seem. Home advantage gives them more of a fighting chance of causing a surprise of sorts.
*Down are attempting to reach the Ulster semi-final for a third successive year; Fermanagh were last in the semis in 2018. They have lost their first game every season since then
No-win scenario for McStay's men
All told it's a not a great state of affairs in Leitrim, this a year on from last Easter when the county were present at Croke Park for a Division 4 final. Yes, they were well beaten by Laois, but their fans certainly made their presence felt at GAA HQ and in a few hostelries afterwards.
The step up to a competitive third tier was always going to be tricky for a side now by managed by Down native Steven Poacher. They took some heavy beatings before a more competitive outing at home to Offaly.
And then came one of the talking points of the spring: Leitrim failing to fulfil their fixture against Fermanagh.
Poacher spoke to RTÉ Sport about the "uncanny" set of circumstances which have led to his side only having 16 players available for that clash with the Ernesiders.
Former Leitrim great Emlyn Mulligan and others had offered to don the jersey again so as to avoid the ignominy of a no-show. Their call was not answered. Poacher and co did travel to Sligo for their final game, slipping to a 22-point defeat, bringing their overall score difference to -99.
Páirc Seán is back in action. We can only hope that Leitrim offer some resistance.
Lee Keegan: Galway and Donegal should flex All-Ireland muscle
In his latest column on these pages, Lee Keegan states that "not many see them [Mayo] in the All-Ireland shake-up". He's probably correct though who knows what might happen when the new rules are played out under a high sun and raucous crowds.
Mayo reached a league final they didn't expect to be in and then offered a little against Kerry.
The turnaround was quick for a championship opener against Sligo. There was nothing on view against the Yeatsmen that made us stand up. Job done, no more than that. Little will be learned from whatever the winning margin is in Carrick. Onwards to a Connacht final. Silverware would be great.
Aidan O'Shea, ahead of his 200th league and championship appearance, has had a productive spring, while Darren McHale, Davitt Neary and Dylan Thornton, who made his debut against Sligo, are others who have caught the eye. McStay will no doubt try a few more things out. It's rare you get such a day out to experiment.
*Mayo have lost to Leitrim only three times in the Connacht Championship (1994-1976-1959)
Clones cauldron
And so to this tasty Ulster quarter-final. Monaghan v Donegal, a throwback to the last decade and provincial deciders between the pair. The Farney dethroned the then then All-Ireland champions in 2013 before Jimmy's men gained revenge a year later.
Donegal, with Jimmy 2.0, now calling the shots are up there again as genuine Sam Maguire contenders. They powered past Derry a fortnight ago, going through the gears when they had to, with Michael Murphy majestically leading the line, aided in that quest by the O'Donnells, Shane and Conor, and Paddy McBrearty.
Hugh McFadden continues to soar and then charge forward with intent from midfield.
Twenty-five were registered against Derry, made up of just two two-pointers. Donegal are progressing without the requirement of a substantial return from beyond the 40-metre arc - and also the need for goals. Just one green flag was registered against the Oak Leaf men, following the two across the whole league campaign.
Paddy McBrearty is happy enough to go down the one-point route, telling RTÉ Sport after their opening win in Ulster: "If we're good within getting the one-pointers, we just keep going for that. It's the best score at the time.
"We're not going to be kicking two-pointers just for the sake of it. If it's on to take it closer in the goal, we'll take it closer in the goal and keep the momentum going that way."
On the question of more goals, the response was a little more concerning in its tone.
"That's probably the biggest talking point within our changing room," he said.
"I think the numbers are very, very evident. I think we've got two goals the whole league campaign, it's not good enough."
"It's something that we're talking about, it's something we are practising, it's just the composure in front of the post."
Now if Donegal can solve that issue.
*Goals have been scarce in recent Donegal-Monaghan championship games with the last six producing a total of four
Monaghan are back in Division 1 and were top scorers across all the divisions totalling 13-154 in their seven Division 2 games before adding 1-26 against Roscommon in the final.
Conor McManus may have departed but Micheál Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon and the already established duo of Conor McCarthy and Jack McCarron are leading the scoring charge. Rory Beggan is adept at firing over the two-pointers while newbie defender Dylan Byrne has certainly made an impression.
Monaghan won't fear Donegal and even if defeat is their lot, who would bet against them making at least an All-Ireland quarter-final.
Galway expectancy after last July's heartache
A competitive Connacht semi to look forward to. Thankfully no strong winds are forecast at Pearse Stadium, so the kickers won't have that as an excuse if the radar is a little off.
Much attacking talent will be on view but there is one notable absentee: no Shane Walsh for Galway, not even named amongst the subs. Damien Comer is, however, part of that former list. As he outlined to RTÉ Sport during the week, Comer may not be involved in a full 70 minutes for now, a case of treading carefully after his hamstring woes of 2024.
🗣️TEAM NEWS 🗣️
— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) April 17, 2025
Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
GAILLIMH V ROS COMÁIN
📍Staid an Phiarsaigh, Gaillimh
🗓️Sunday 20th April
🕓4.00pm
📺Live on RTE TV
📱Live Scores via @WhatstheScor App
📻 Commentary on @gbfmsports
🎟️Ticketshttps://t.co/IlMvENhT63
Best of… pic.twitter.com/QRuFSf2Sta
"I have to respect that and go with the advice I've been given from my medical team and strength and conditioning, he said.
"Hopefully as the summer progresses and seeing that I've built up a bank of resilience, I will hopefully play the 70 minutes but for the moment it will probably be curtailed. I'm OK with that, as long as I'm able to stay on the pitch and keep playing."
John Maher, who picked up an in injury in New York, is down to start, continuing his midfield partnership with Paul Conroy.
Galway, then, in spite of Shane Walsh's absence, have one focus and one focus only, delivering Sam. Having Walsh back will help but as Éamonn Fitzmaurice pointed out on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, it's a case of now is their time, the window of opportunity is open for them.
"That window is closing and you have a period to get it done.," he remarked.
*Galway and Roscommon have met 67 times in the championship. Galway have won 40 to Roscommon's 21, with six draws. The last draw was in the 2016 Connacht Final – Galway won the replay.
*Galway are bidding to reach the Connacht Final for a tenth successive year, a feat they last achieved in 1956-65
Roscommon always take great satisfaction in lowering Galway and Mayo colours when least expected. They are underdogs here but it's not long odds we're dealing with. And they'd be that bit shorter only for a somewhat sluggish finish to the league, in spite of their promotion
It's been said, somewhat ad nauseam, about the Rossies' attacking worth and their shakiness at the back.
A chance then to arrest the slippage from the last month or so.
