SATURDAY 28 JUNE
Monaghan v Donegal, Croke Park, 4pm
Tyrone v Dublin, Croke Park, 6.15pm
SUNDAY 29 JUNE
Meath v Galway, Croke Park, 1.45pm
Armagh v Kerry, Croke Park, 4pm
ONLINE
Live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Monaghan v Donegal and Tyrone v Dublin will be streamed live on GAA+. Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 1.15pm. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.45pm and The Sunday Game from 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on Saturday Sport & Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 - and Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHER
Saturday: The day will start out mostly cloudy with scattered falls of rain and drizzle. It looks set to become drier and brighter across the northern half of the country during the afternoon and evening with sunny spells. However, cloud and patchy rain will linger in many southern areas throughout much of the day. Maximum temperatures ranging from 17 to 23 degrees in moderate southwest winds.
Sunday: A warm and humid day. There will be lots of cloud in the south in the morning with perhaps some patches of mist and drizzle. However, cloud will break in many areas during the afternoon with bright or sunny spells developing. Maximum temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees in moderate southerly winds. Lots of dry weather on Sunday night but there'll be a little patchy rain or drizzle in Atlantic coastal districts. A close and humid night with lowest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in moderate southerly breezes. For more go to met.ie.
One destination for all, one goal, that is being still involved come July
It has taken 28 games to whittle 16 down to 8. Not too many complaints after such protraction. Close encounters of the varying kind, allied with high scoring. The only downside is that such a format has been dispensed with for next year. A case of if it ain't broke, well we have to fix it!
The octet still standing, in the main, has a familiar look. Those who gazed with such conviction at their crystal balls may have had Mayo and Roscommon still in the mix, but it's a case of inquests and for the former much annoyance as to how their championship campaign unfolded.
For Jim McGuinness and Donegal it's been about their long and winding road, and Jimmy has been at great pains to convey that. The journey began on 6 April against Derry in the Ulster preliminary round, with the half-way point seeing a retention of their Ulster title.
And then came a slip on the chicane; Tyrone seizing their chance late on in Ballybofey as the round-robin circuit got underway. That meant an extra game but before all that Jimmy spoke out as his side were dragged to Roscommon to play Mayo.
All this talk about fixtures and fatigue. When the miles were finally totted up, it was Galway who endured the longest trek, this after trips to Derry, Cavan and Newry.
PAUL FLYNN'S QUARTER-FINAL PREDICTIONS
Now it's a case of all roads leading to Croker. Injury concerns, dips in form, magical moments; that's what has permeated the narrative so far. The expectation is that things are going to ratchet even more, starting this weekend. None of the quarter-final pairings are a gimme. On paper, Tyrone v Dublin and Armagh v Kerry have top billing, but there is much to chew over on both days. A fortnight's preparation for the semis lies in wait for those that negotiate these hurdles.
A Sunday evening draw
No hanging about then. The draw for the All-Ireland semi-finals will take place on The Sunday Game Live at approximately 6.15pm, providing Armagh-Kerry does not go to extra-time and penalties.
Key point: All repeat pairings in this year's championship will be avoided.
Unlike the quarter-finals draw where only All-Ireland group match-ups and provincial final line-ups were avoided, the last-four draw will be set up to prevent any repeat encounters where possible.
Pairings that can't happen: Dublin v Meath, Armagh v Tyrone, Armagh v Donegal, Armagh v Dublin, Armagh v Galway, Dublin v Galway, Donegal v Tyrone and Kerry v Meath.
The semi-finals will take place on 12/13 July.
Ulster familiarity
Was it the draw Monaghan wanted? A second meeting with Donegal, this after their narrow loss to McGuinness' side in the Ulster semi-final. A second-half surge from the Farney on Easter Sunday saw them fall short by two points. A case of what might have been then and Monaghan's frustration was compounded at the death when Shaun Patton's kickout via a touch from one of his team-mates went out for a sideline ball.
The hooter sounded and referee David Coldrick called time on their comeback. Monaghan thought the game could continue but that was not the case, with Coldrick, as per the implementation of the new rule following the sounding of the hooter, correct in bringing the game to a close.
Since then, Gabriel Bannigan's troops have gone unbeaten, topping their round-robin section, this after a hard-fought win over Down a fortnight ago. It was a game where Monaghan showed their experience and know-how in getting the job done, with Jack McCarron outstanding in the second half.
Over the last decade, the Farney would certainly not have feared Donegal and in answering the above question, they will probably relish another crack off their provincial rivals. The Croke Park factor should not be an issue as it's only two years since Monaghan contested an All-Ireland semi-final there, and as recently as last spring were too good for Roscommon in a league final.
*Goals have been in short supply in recent Donegal-Monaghan games, producing only four in their last six meetings
Donegal, as was the case in Clones last April, will be hoping to put their stamp on things quickly. Establish an advantage that Monaghan, even with their two-point prowess, may find difficult to overturn. That said, if it's still tight going down the stretch, will the 'fresher' Farney have more in the tank?
Team news
Monaghan have made two changes to the side that overcame Down. Jack McCarron in for Stephen Mooney in the full-forward line. Gavin McPhillips replaces Killian Lavelle in midfield. Daire Ó Baoill coming in at wing-forward is Donegal's sole change from the win against Louth.
Remembering the noughties
It was the 2000s. Tyrone had arrived as a powerhouse, while the Dubs were looking to position themselves closer to the top table. We had the 2005 quarter-final that went to a replay. Owen Mulligan's goal. The following year saw the battle of Omagh. And then in 2008, the Dubs were torn to shreds as the Red Hand found a second wind en route to Sam Maguire glory. Since then the side from the capital have held sway, winning five championship encounters.
If you hone in on the consistency metric, Dessie Farrell's men have been a little bit more inconsistent, even going back to the league. A storming second-half recovery saw them edge out Kerry in Tralee, but weeks later they were abject in going down to this weekend's opponents in Tralee.
Come championship, there was that first-half no-show against Meath, but that was followed by tenacity in getting over Galway. Onwards to Croker against Armagh. 18 wides. Say no more. And then those wins against Derry and Cork, where their ability to see it through was to the fore.
Tyrone, for their part, have not quite toed and froed, their point of concern coming against Mayo, with coach Malachy O'Rourke pointing to the effort against Donegal a week earlier as a reason for their lethargy. They were more like themselves when subsequently accounting for Cavan.
For Dublin, the name of Con O'Callaghan (above) looms large and he's named on the bench. What are the odds he'll start?
There is plenty of attacking talent on view, with plenty of options to come off the bench on both sides. The midfield battle will be key: O Cofaigh Byrne and McGinnis v Kennedy and Kilpatrick.
*This will be the 11th championship clash between the counties – all since 1984. Dublin have won seven to Tyrone's two while there has been one draw in the previous ten. Dublin won in 1984-1995-2010-2011-2017-2018- 2019; Tyrone won in 2005 (in a replay) and 2008
Team news
As mentioned, Con O'Callaghan is on the bench for Dublin, while Colm Basquel is not included in the matchday panel, with DCU's Sigerson star Ethan Dunne among the replacements.
For Tyrone, Michael McKernan is missing from the matchday panel having come off with a shoulder injury after just three minutes against Cavan in the final group game two weeks ago, with Mark Bradley coming into the team at full-forward.
Royals rumbling once more
In one of the standout games of the year, Meath ended Dublin's 14-year unbeaten run in Leinster. Many will say that Robbie Brennan's side surpassed themselves when lowering the Kingdom colours on 14 June. In between was the disappointment of losing the Leinster final. But Meath are back.
Kerry were without Paudie Clifford, Seanie O'Shea and Diarmuid O'Connor in Tullamore, but the Royals were minus the likes of Matthew Costello and James Conlon, so there was nothing soft on offer.
Meath went at their opponents from the off and in Eoghan Freyne, Ruairí Kinsella and Conor Duke they had a trio that scored 15 points between them, which included four two-pointers.
Galway are still standing. This time last year, they found a renewed spark that floored Dublin. They were signs against Down that they are approaching free-flowing mode. Matthew Thompson is shaping into a player of real threat, while Pádraic Joyce's calls of the bench, namely Peter Cooke and Tomo Culhane, made telling impacts.
*Other than Monaghan, who won all three games, Meath (two wins and a draw) were the only unbeaten team in the All-Ireland 'Round Robin' series
It's 2001 since the counties last met at Croke Park. All-Ireland final day, with Pádraic Joyce kicking ten points on a day of celebration for the Tribes. Nearly a quarter of century on, Galway should have enough to ensure that Meath don't add another scalp to their 2025 collection.
Team news
Galway are unchanged from the win over Down, so Shane Walsh will start, this after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first half in Newry. Conor Flaherty retains the goalkeeper's jersey ahead of Connor Gleeson, while Damien Comer, not needed last weekend, is named on the bench again.
Meath also go with an unchanged XV. Mathew Costello has returned to the matchday panel.
Costello, who scored 0-05 in the group stage win over Cork, missed the victory over Kerry through injury but returns to the squad and will wear No 26.
Robbie Brennan's side are still without James Conlon and Jack Flynn.
Kerry to cause an upset?
We've been here before. Remember 2006? Same stage of the season and Kerry, with their new deadly assassin on display, Kieran Donaghy, simply devoured Armagh after the break. Similar junction in 2009 and it was Dublin who were left reeling, prompting Pat Gilroy to utter "startled earwigs"
Are Kerry as vulnerable now with all their injuries and a few off-colour performances? Probably not. One David Clifford is still calling the tune; the new rules giving him an even greater lease of life. Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney are named on the bench for this crack off the All-Ireland champions. Again, what's named on Thursday may bear no semblance to who starts where on a Sunday afternoon.
Armagh are moving well. They will, however, be concerned at the number of chances they afforded Dublin at the start of the month. That said, the contest on Jones' Road was one they never looked like losing.
The return of Oisin Conaty, Rory Grugan and midfielder Ben Crealey has strengthened their hand and they can also call on notable score getters off the bench.
*Kerry are the only county to have reached the quarter-finals every year since they were introduced in 2001
*This is the 13th year that Armagh have reached the quarter-finals
Very much of saving the best till last. Tentative vote goes to a more settled Orchard side.
Team news
Paul Geaney and Paudie Clifford on the bench. Dylan Casey and Micheál Burns are set to come into the side in place of Mike Breen and Diarmuid O'Connor.
Breen has been sidelined with a hamstring issue, which he picked up before the preliminary quarter-final win over Cavan. O'Connor, meanwhile, was replaced during that game due to a shoulder injury.
Armagh will be without the influential Stefan 'Soupy' Campbell due to a hand injury.
The Orchard County make three changes to their starting line-up from their round-robin defeat by Galway, a game they played having already secured their place in the last eight.
Ben Crealey comes into midfield, replacing Jason Duffy, while Rory Grugan returns in the half-forward line after sitting out the Galway game.
Rian O'Neill shifts to corner-forward with Conor Turbitt moving to the bench, and Oisín Conaty gets the nod ahead of Cian McConville.
