The All-Ireland football quarter-finals roll around this weekend and there are some mouth watering ties to consider.

Saturday 13^th August

TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship quarter finals - ET if Necessary

Mayo v Westmeath, 3.15pm, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, (G Corrigan)

Mayo and Westmeath will raise the curtain on proceedings in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park at 3:15pm. It has been a long wait for Mayo since their last match when they claimed the Connacht title after impressively ousting their neighbours and great rivals, Galway. Westmeath have had totally contrasting experiences in their last two matches, they were well beaten by Dublin in the Leinster final but were easy winners over Meath in their Qualifier.

Mayo will enter this match as the favourites and rightly so. They pushed Cork close in the Lidl National Football League final after enjoying an unbeaten season up to that point and followed that up with an emphatic TG4 Connacht Final triumph. They have had a long wait to get back into the action and will be chomping at the bit this weekend. Their team has a very solid look about it and especially through the spine where Yvonne Byrne is one of the best goalkeepers right up to the familiar presence of Cora Staunton. The most notable feature of this Mayo squad is their strength in depth as they have potential game changers like Grace Kelly, Amy Bell, Rachel Kearns, Helena Lohan and Claire Egan held in reserve.

Westmeath are coming into this match after a morale boosting win over Meath but they know that this will be a totally different level of competition. Fiona Claffey reverts to the defence where she will play at centre half back but the real strength of this side is around the middle of the field where Johanna Maher, Fiona Coyle, Karen McDermott and Maud Annie Foley are all strong players. Leona Archibold and Laura Walsh will need to be on form and covert every chance that comes their way if Westmeath are to claim a famous win.

Westmeath will make this a very tough game for the Connacht champions and have the capacity to starve their opposition of possession around the middle of the field but they will need to keep Cora Staunton, Niamh Kelly and Sarah Rowe quiet for the entire contest, a tall order for any team.

Dublin v Donegal, 5.00pm, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford, (G Chapman)

If Dublin are to reach their third TG4 All Ireland Final in a row they might not face a tougher test than the one that will be provided by Donegal. The 2015 Ulster Champions played a thrilling match against Galway, a game that they only won with the last kick of the game, although, in truth they were the better team throughout. Dublin reach this stage without having faced a real challenge having retained their TG4 Leinster championship crown with very little difficulty.

This is an experienced Dublin team that will take to the field on Saturday with many of the players holding multiple Leinster Championship medals and having played in  Croke Park in recent years. Deirdre Murphy is a new name in the team at full back as is Lauren Magee who is set to start in the middle of the field. Goal machine, Nicole Owens, is set to start at centre forward but the inside forward line of Siobhán Woods, Sinéad Aherne and Lyndsey Davey is possibly the best trio in the game.

Donegal played brilliantly against Galway at this same venue to eke out a one point win but they know they will have to hit an even higher standard to emerge with a win this weekend. Their defensive unit has been excellent throughout the year but having conceded 4 goals against Galway they will need to improve against Dublin. Ciara Hegarty is one of the best defenders around and her understanding with sister and team captain, Niamh Hegarty at centre forward will be vital for Donegal. Karen Guthrie and Elfin clubmate, Gráinne Houston, will hope to dominate the middle of the field and may be assisted by Katy Herron who wore number 3 but played in a more advanced role last time out. However, Donegal's hopes will rest with their dynamic duo of Yvonne McMonagle and Amber Barrett who were both goal scorers in the last game and have the talent to trouble any defence.

This will be a fascinating tussle between a full strength Dublin side and a Donegal team that are without several of their top players including Geraldine McLaughlin. Sinead Goldrick is often the player detailed to mark the oppositions best forward and should she pick up Yvonne McMonagle it may be the match up that decides who will reach the semi finals. Dublin are the team that will have the pressure of being favourites and playing against a team of the quality of Donegal, after a long period without facing a real test, could be the recipe for an upset in Longford.

 

Sunday 14^th August

TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Championship - Quarter Finals - ET if Necessary

Kildare v Leitrim, 1.30pm, Kinnegad, Westmeath, (E Moran)  

Kildare and Leitrim will face each other in a game that might prove to be the best of the weekend. Kildare reclaimed their Leinster title and have their sights set on going one step further having reached the TG4 All Ireland Intermediate final last year. Leitrim were left hurting after losing their Connacht title to Sligo in July and they certainly showed that they were determined to rediscover their form after hammering Fermanagh in their Qualifier.

Kildare will need to hit the ground running against a talented Leitrim team so steady leadership and experience is vital for the Lilywhites. Aisling Savage is the defensive rock at the heart of their defence and they don't come more experienced that captain, Aisling Holton in the middle of the field. Maria Moolick, Eadaoin Connolly and Ellen Dowling will carry the scoring threat for Kildare up front.

Leitrim have been close to the top of the Intermediate ranks for a number of years but have yet to find a way of getting over the line. This is a well balanced Leitrim team that has experienced players like Claire Beirne, Anna Conlon, Michelle Heslin and the Guckians to call on. However, their captain and star forward, Áine Tighe, is the player to keep an eye on. The towering Kiltubrid full forward has the capacity to trouble any defence and will be a marked woman on Sunday which could create space for the dangerous Carla LeGuen.

There is very little between these two sides when they come face to face on Sunday. Aisling Savage is expected to pick up Tighe from the beginning and if she can keep the Leitrim forward quiet it could see them through to the semi final.

Sligo v Wexford, 3.15pm, Kinnegad, Westmeath, (C McManus) 

Sligo are coming into this encounter in good spirits after defeating Leitrim to claim the TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship. They endured a difficult Lidl Division 2 campaign but did consolidate their place in the division for 2017. Wexford were disappointed to lose out narrowly to Kildare in the Leinster title but they have shown huge improvement since winning the TG4 Junior All Ireland title in 2014.

Sligo have been progressing well under Paddy Henry and after winning in Connacht they will have their eyes fixed on an even bigger prize this September. Noelle Gormley is possibly the best goalkeeper in the country and she will captain the side. Jaqui Mulligan makes a welcome return to the side and is sure to provide plenty of experience from the half back line alongside Elise Codd. Stephanie O'Reilly will be a constant threat from the centre forward position where her ability to set up scores for Elaine O'Reilly could be vital. Katie Walsh and Emma Hansberry are both set to start on the bench but both could yet prove vital should they be needed.

Wexford are a very strong unit that have improved even more this year. Róisín Murphy is a key player in the centre of their defence as is Clara Donnelly in midfield alongisde Niamh Moore. Their half forward line of Ellen O'Brien, Fiona Rochford and Kellie Kearney are all strong players and could be the key to a Wexford victory.

Sligo will want to really underline their All Ireland credentials against Wexford but should they underestimate their opposition this Summer will be a lot shorter than they had planned.

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