There are two crunch games in the TG4 All-Ireland Qualifier Championship, with a big Ulster derby leading the way.

Saturday, 8th August

Senior - Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park, 5:15pm (K. Delahunty)

This match is the first part of a mouthwatering double header in Kingspan Breffni Park. Cavan are a team that are very much on the rise since winning the TG4 Intermediate All Ireland in 2013.

They took time to adjust to senior football last year but they are now very competitive. This young and talented side have been boosted by the return to the panel of ace attacker Bronagh Sheridan. Donna English leads the team well from centre forward but their undoubted star has been Aisling Doonan at full forward. Monaghan had a great win over Armagh in the Ulster Championship but were brought crashing down to earth by Donegal in the Ulster Final. This team do have the potential to beat anyone but they have been inconsistent in their performances of late; however, the knowledge that if they lose they exit the championship should ensure that they find their best form against a dangerous Cavan side.

Clare native, Fiona Lafferty, is a welcome addition at midfield and Cora Courtney will be as reliable as ever. Sharon Courtney leads the team from full back where she will be expected to pick up the dangerous Aisling Doonan. Caoimhe Mohan and Laura McEnaney were both substituted in their Ulster Final disappointment so they will both be determined to improve their performances and help Caitriona McConnell and Ciara McAnespie who have shouldered the scoring burden. Cavan are an improving team but Monaghan have a lot to prove and will surely find another gear to their performance for this match.

Senior - Armagh v Westmeath, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7:15pm (J. Niland)

This is a meeting of two teams that are no strangers to each other having played twice this season in Division 2 already with Armagh winning both encounters with ease. However, this is a Westmeath side that are on an upward curve. Westmeath have been improving steadily and will have found real belief after a good showing in their Leinster Final defeat against Dublin when they would have felt that with more time they could have defeated the champions.

The strength of this team is around the middle of the field where Triona Durkin and Emma Morris are a good combination whilst their half forward line of Johanna Maher, Fiona Leavy and Maud Annie Foley is as good as any other in the country. Discipline has been the enemy of Westmeath and if they manage to keep 15 players on the field throughout this match they have a real chance of springing a surprise. Armagh are coming off the back of a good win over Laois in the last round and will have taken confidence from that result following their disappointing defeat at the hands of Monghan in Ulster.

This is a solid Armagh side with players like Sinead McCleary, Kelly Mallon and Fionnuala McKenna opertating through the spine of the team but there is little doubt that all eyes will be on their inspirational captain, and last years Player of the Year, Caroline O'Hanlon and their rising star and sensational forward Aimee Mackin. There is no doubt that Westmeath will prove a well organised and difficult challenge for Armagh but with the individual talent at their disposal it would be a surprise to see Armagh fail to progress.

Intermediate - Antrim v Wexford, Kinnegad, 3:30pm (K. Corcoran)

Antrim and Wexford will meet in what should be a fascinating chamoionship encounter. There is very little to separate these two sides who have both been recent winners of the TG4 Junior Championship. Antrim will be hoping to get over their diappointing Ulster Final display and certainly have the quality in their ranks to do so. Mairead Cooper is one of the best forwards at this grade and her combination with Kirsty McGuinness can set the tone for the Saffrons.

Wexford defeated London for the second time in their previous round and will be looking forward to getting back into action. Wexford have been operating at a higher level in the national league, Division 3, and will hope that the greater experience they have will see them through. There is little to separate these two sides so expect this to be a very closely fought encounter.

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