Throw-in times
Carlow v Kildare, Bord na Mona O'Connor Park, Sunday 27 May, 2pm
Longford v Meath, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Sunday 27 May, 3pm
Dublin v Wicklow, O'Moore Park, Sunday 27 May, 4pm
Online
Live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News Now App from 1.30pm on Sunday.
Radio
Live updates on Sunday Sport, RTÉ Radio 1, Carlow v Kildare - Adrian Eames, Longford v Meath - John Lynch, Wicklow v Dublin - Brian Carthy.
TV
Highlights of all games along with all the weekend's action, on The Sunday Game, RTÉ 2, from 9.30pm.
Carlow v Kildare - Past 5 Championship Meetings
2001 Kildare 0-19 Carlow 1-11 (Leinster quarter-final)
1980 Kildare 2-17 Carlow 2-11 (Leinster first round)
1965 Kildare 4-10 Carlow 2-9 (Leinster quarter-finals)
1954 Kildare 1-7 Carlow 1-6 (Leinster 1st round) Second replay
1954 Kildare 2-6 Carlow 1-9 (Leinster 1st round) First replay
After finally making the escape from Division 4, the good vibe around Carlow football continued with an impressive 2-17 to 0-12 victory over Louth in the preliminary round.
Kildare were relegated from Division 1 after losing all seven games and have been without a competitive tie since 25 March.
"Carlow will be a match for Kildare" - Seán Cavanagh pic.twitter.com/aYkRR6DBwL
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 13, 2018
The Lilywhites have reached the Leinster semi-final every year since 2010 when they lost to Louth in the quarter-final. Carlow are attempting to reach the Leinster semi-final for the first time since 2011.
Teams
Lilies boss Cian O'Neill hands a championship debut to Moorefield's Eanna O'Connor, who starts in the full-forward line.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland, Mick O'Grady; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely, Paul Cribbin; Fergal Conway, Keith Cribbin, Paddy Brophy; Eanna O'Connor, Daniel Flynn, Niall Kelly
Longford v Meath - Past 5 Championship Meetings
1995 Meath 4-15 Longford 0-10 (Leinster quarter-final)
1990 Meath 3-15 Longford 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
1982 Longford 0-12 Meath 0-11 (Leinster first round)
1972 Meath 0-16 Longford 1-9 (Leinster quarter-final)
1968 Longford 0-12 Meath 0-7 (Leinster semi-final)
It's 23 years since these counties last met in Leinster combat. The Royals were comfortable winners back then and their side included Colm O'Rourke and Brian Stafford, who were ending their inter-county careers, while the likes of Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles were part of new generation coming through and would themselves go on to win All-Ireland medals.
Both teams are having their first outing in this year's championship.
Meath finished fifth in Division 2 of the Allianz League, winning three, losing three and drawing one of their seven games. Longford missed out on promotion to Division 2 after losing their final Division 3 game narrowly to Fermanagh. They finished third behind Armagh and Fermanagh, winning four, losing two and drawing one of their encounters.
The last time Meath lost their first outing in the Leinster championship was in 2011 when they went down to Kildare.
Denis Connerton is in his third season as Longford manager while Andy McEntee is in his second year at the Royals helm.
Wicklow v Dublin - Past 5 Championship Meetings
1990 Dublin 2-14 Wicklow 0-12 (Leinster semi-final)
1989 Dublin 1-12 Wicklow 1-6 (Leinster semi-final)
1987 Dublin 2-18 Wicklow 0-6 (Leinster semi-final)
1981 Dublin 0-10 Wicklow 0-8 (Leinster quarter-final)
1979 Dublin 3-13 Wicklow 2-7 (Leinster semi-final)
Form Guide
Wicklow were the story a fortnight ago after seeing off Offaly in extra-time. Goalkeeper Mark Jackson top-scored with seven points and a second-half penalty in regulation time as John Evans troops prevailed by five points.
Needless to say, Wicklow have never beaten Dublin in 30 championship and league meetings and that stat look set to move to 31 after their O'Moore Park clash.
This time last year, Carlow set up quite defensively, and who could blame them when they faced the Dubs at this juncture. The scoreline was respectable.
For John Evans, it's simply a case of not having the time to put such a shield in place to counter the league and All-Ireland champions.
"I have this team five months, you don’t just set up a defensive system," he told RTÉ Sport. "You just don’t click your fingers and it happens.
'Only a mad man would think we are going to beat Dublin' - Eamon Horan travels to the Garden County to see how preparations are progressing ahead of Sunday's showdown #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/p9eIoKvkwI
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 23, 2018
"So we’re going to play what would be termed ordinary football against a super team.
"It’s difficult to prepare against a team like that but I suppose I would have had a lot of experience when Tipperary played against Kerry on three occasions and twice when they were All Ireland Champions.
"You know, we played football and once you play football, you’ll give a good account of yourself."
There were 30 places between Dublin and Wicklow in this year’s Allianz League. Jim Gavin's side finished second in the Division 1 table (they beat Galway in the final). Wicklow finished bottom of Division 4.
The Dubs have not lost a Leinster quarter-final since going down to Westmeath in 2004.
Teams
Wicklow TBA
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Philly McMahon, Eric Lowndes; James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, John Small; Michael Darragh Macauley, Brian Fenton; Niall Scully, Ciarán Kilkenny, Brian Howard; Paul Mannion, Dean Rock, Con O’Callaghan.
Eleven of the team that started last year’s All-Ireland final win over Mayo will line out.
Wing-forward Brian Howard is the only player making his first Championship start, the Raheny man having made two substitute appearances in the Leinster campaign last season.
Defender Eric Lowndes, former Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh Macauley, and half-forwards Niall Scully and Howard are the changes from the All-Ireland winning team.
Tomás O'Sé's verdict
One of the quarter-finals is tight to call, says the multiple All-Ireland winner.
Weather
Saturday: In the afternoon and evening, showers or longer spells of rain will move into the Southeast and South turning heavy and possibly thundery and some spot flooding is possible. Highest temperatures will range 17 to 23 degrees Celsius.
Sunday: Again warm and humid with highest temperatures typically ranging 18 to 22 or 23 degrees Celsius, warmest across central and northern areas. Some southwestern counties will experience slightly lower maxima with onshore breezes. Some scattered showers early on but they will tend to become more isolated with spells of sunshine through the day, all in near calm conditions. For more go to met.ie
