Here are our previews for the four All-Ireland SFC clashes taking place at Croke Park this weekend. 

Saturday, July 30th 

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 4B 

Cork v Donegal, Croke Park, 4pm 

The first of this weekend's four All-Ireland SFC fixtures looks to be the most difficult one to call as Cork and Donegal vie for a place in the last eight.  

The Rebels recovered from their shock defeat to Tipperary last month with wins over Limerick and Longford in the qualifiers but are about to embark on their biggest test of the season here. Donegal's late defeat to Tyrone in the Ulster final will have stung badly for Rory Gallagher and his players, and they'll no doubt want to bounce back at Croker on Saturday and into the quarter-finals. 

Odhrán MacNiallais has been the Tir Chonaill men's form forward this summer and should have sufficient back up in the likes of Paddy McBearty, Michael Murphy and Marty O'Reilly if the southsiders' season is to be concluded this weekend. At the far end, veterans Daniel Goulding and Paul Kerrigan will hope to keep the Munster train rolling in the race for Sam. 

These two sides' last competitive meeting came in the league back in February when Donegal strode to a comfortable 2-14 to 1-7 win in Ballyshannon, but it's the Leesiders that hold the edge in their previous three championship encounters by two games to one.  

Verdict: Donegal 

Mayo v Westmeath, Croke Park, 6pm  

After their 15-point defeat to Dublin in the Leinster final, Westmeath face another big ask in trying to topple Mayo on Saturday evening at HQ.  

The Lake men, now minus the services of the injured Ray Connellan, are ranked as 10/1 outsiders to end Stephen Rochford's side's campaign. That upset is difficult to envisage though given the Westerners' form since their Connacht semi-final loss to Galway. Mayo have hit 4-31 in their last two outings and the recent form of Diarmuid O'Connor and Evan Regan could present a problem for Tom Cribbin's defence, along with having All Stars Aidan O'Shea and Cillian O'Connor to contend with.  

In what is only the sides' second ever meeting in the championship (Westmeath won the first in 2001 after extra-time), Mayo will be gunning for their sixth consecutive All-Ireland quarter-final, while their Leinster counterparts are looking to end a 10-year wait for a berth in the last eight. 

Verdict: Mayo 

 

Sunday, July 31st 

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals 

Kerry v Clare, Croke Park, 2pm  

This will be the second meeting in six weeks between these two teams in the championship and Clare's first ever appearance in an All-Ireland quarter-final.  

Colm Collins' team stunned Roscommon with a thoroughly deserved victory in Salthill last Saturday and are priced at 10/1 to do the same against Munster conquerors Kerry this weekend. Gary Brennan, David Tubridy and Eoin Cleary have all be stars in the Banner County's historic year to date, having also scored the Division Three title in April, but Sunday would require something extraordinary to deny the Kingdom.  

Eamonn Fitzmaurice is set to be without eight-time All Star Colm Cooper for this one due to a shoulder problem, while Johnny Buckley and Michael Geaney have also been ruled out. However, with some much talent at his disposal, the 2014 All-Ireland winning manager should see his side comfortably come through. 

Verdict: Kerry 

Galway v Tipperary, Croke Park, 4pm 

They may be set to meet in the hurling championship in a little over three weeks, but this Sunday will see blue and maroon clash for a place in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals. 

Many neutrals feel this tie is where the upset could come from this weekend given Tipperary's run in the championship thus far. Waterford, Cork and Derry have all fallen on the Premier men's sword to date, but they're coming up against a Galway side that were impressive in their Connacht final replay demolishment of Roscommon.  

Manager Kevin Walsh will look to nullify the in-form Conor Sweeney on Sunday and also make sure that his defence don't give too many cheap frees to marksmen Kevin O'Halloran and Michael Quinlivan. On the other end, Tipp will have their hands full in trying to make sure the likes of Gary Sice, Damien Comer and goal merchant Danny Cummins don't inflict them with irreversible damage.  

The Tribesmen have beaten their Munster counterparts the last two times they met in the championship (2013 and 2014), and are bidding for their first semi-final berth since 2001 when they last brought Sam Maguire back across the Shannon.  

Verdict: Galway  

 

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