Senior footballer hoping to retain grip on Leinster

Kerry remain the only provincial champions crowned so far in the 2016 GAA football championships but, barring draws, they will be joined by winners in Connacht, Leinster and Ulster next Sunday.

The Donegal v Tyrone Ulster final has a 2.0 start in Clones; Galway and Roscommon replay the Connacht final in Castlebar at 3.30 while it’s Dublin v Westmeath in the Leinster final in Croke Park at 4.0.

It’s also a very busy weekend on the All-Ireland qualifier scene with two games each in 3A and 3B on Saturday as follows:

3A: Sligo v Clare, Markievicz Park, 2.0; Cavan v Derry, Kingspan Breffni Park, 3.30.

3B: Longford v Cork, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3.0; Mayo v Kildare, Elverys MacHale Park, 7.0

DUBLIN v WESTMEATH

This will be the 18th championship meeting between the counties with wins standing at 14-3 in Dublin’s favour from the previous 17 games. Westmeath’s last win over Dublin was in 2004. Their only other wins were in 1967 and 1931.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2015: Dublin 2-13 Westmeath 0-6 (Leinster final)

2013: Dublin 1-22 Westmeath 0-9 (Leinster quarter-final)

2009: Dublin 4-26 Westmeath 0-11 (Leinster semi-final)

2008: Dublin 0-13 Westmeath 1-8 (Leinster semi-final)

2006: Dublin 1-12 Westmeath 0-5 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10 (Leinster quarter-final)

Dublin 0-21 Meath 0-11 (Leinster semi-final)

Top Scorers

Dean Rock..................1-20 (0-15 frees)

Diarmuid Connolly.....1-8

Ciarán Kilkenny..........0-4

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Westmeath 0-13 Offaly 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)

Westmeath 1-12 Kildare 1-11 (Leinster semi-final)

Top Scorers

John Heslin....... 0-9 (0-6 frees)

Paul Sharry..... 0-5 (0-2 ‘45s’)

James Dolan......1-1

LAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH

Dublin 2-13 Westmeath 0-6 (2015 Leinster final)

Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time but early second half goals by Bernard Brogan and Paul Flynn gave Dublin an advantage which they maintained quite easily all the way to the end.

Bernard Brogan (1-1), Ciarán Kilkenny, Diarmuid Connolly (0-3 each) were top scorers for Dublin while John Heslin (0-3, 0-2 frees) was Westmeath’s top marksman. The attendance was 49,840.

LEINSTER FINAL SHORTS

*Dublin are bidding to win the title for the sixth successive year, a feat they last achieved in 1974-79. They won five-in-a-row in 2005-09, leaving them seeking their 11th title in 12 seasons.

*Westmeath are bidding to win the title for the second time, having won it for the first time in 2004.

*Dublin are seeking their 55th Leinster title.

*Westmeath are their second successive Leinster final for the first time.

*Prior to last year, Dublin and Westmeath had never met in a Leinster final.

*Dublin’s last defeat in a Leinster final was in 2001 when they went down to Meath by 2-11 to 0-14. Since then, they have won the 2002-05-06-07-08-09-11-12-13-14-15 finals.

WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE

The winners qualify for the All-Ireland quarter-finals on August 6; the losers have a Round 4B qualifier on July 30/31.

DONEGAL v TYRONE

They meet for the fourth time in five seasons, with Donegal having won all four. They won in Ballybofey in 2015 and 2013 and in Clones in 2011 and 2012. It leaves Tyrone seeking their first win over Donegal 2007 when they won an Ulster semi-final in Clones.

This will be the 21st championship meeting between the counties, with Tyrone leading 10-9 with one draw from their previous 20 clashes.

Last Five Championship Clashes

2015: Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10 (Ulster 1st round)

2013: Donegal 2-10 Tyrone 0-10 (Ulster quarter-final)

2012: Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-10 (Ulster semi-final)

2011: Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9 (Ulster semi-final)

2007: Tyrone 2-15 Donegal 1-7 (Ulster semi-final)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Tyrone 3-14 Derry 0-12 (Ulster quarter-final)

Tyrone 3-7 Cavan 0-16 (Ulster semi-final)

Tyrone 5-18 Cavan 2-17 (Ulster semi-final replay)

Top Scorers

Peter Harte................3-5 (0-1free)

Ronan O’Neill........ 2-7 (0-4 frees)

Conor McAliskey....1-6 (0-2 frees)

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Donegal 2-12 Fermanagh 0-11 (Ulster quarter-final)

Donegal 1-11 Monaghan 0-14 (Ulster quarter-final)

Donegal 0-17 Monaghan 2-10 (Ulster semi-final replay)

Top Scorers

Paddy McBrearty...........0-12 (0-7frees)

Odran MacNiallais...........3-1

Michael Murphy .............0-9 (0-7 frees)

LAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLASH

Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10 (2015 Ulster 1st round, Ballybofey)

Martin McElhinney 1-2 and Michael Murphy 0-3 were Donegal’s top scorers while Sean Cavanagh 0-4, Conor McAliskey 0-3 and Darren McCurry 1-0 were Tyrone’s top scorers.

It was level after 51 minutes but Tyrone failed to score for the rest of the game while Donegal added three points.

ULSTER FINAL SHORTS

*Donegal are in the Ulster final for a sixth successive year, having won in 2011-12-14 and lost in 2013 and 2015. It’s the first time that any county has reached six successive Ulster finals since Down qualified for every final in 1958-69.

*Tyrone are bidding to win the Ulster title for the first time since 2010.

* Donegal are seeking their 9th Ulster title, having previously won it in 1972-94-83-90-92-2011-12-14.

*Tyrone are bidding for their 14th Ulster title, having previously won it in 1956-57-73-84-86-89-95-96-2001-03-07-09-10.

WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE

The winners qualify for the All-Ireland quarter-finals on August 6; the losers have a Round 4B qualifier on July 30/31.

GALWAY v ROSCOMMON

They meet in a Connacht final replay for the first time since 1998 when, after drawing 0-11 each in Tuam Stadium, Galway won after extra-time in Dr. Hyde Park by 1-17 to 0-17.

Their only other Connacht final replay was in 19876 when Galway won by 1-14 to 0-9.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2016: Galway 0-13 Roscommon 1-10 (2016 Connacht final)

2015: Galway 3-15 Roscommon 0-10 (Connacht quarter-final)

2008: Galway 2-16 Roscommon 0-6 (Connacht quarter-final)

2006: Galway 3-7 Roscommon 1-8 (Connacht semi-final)

2003: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 0-8 (Connacht quarter-final)

LAST FIVE CONNACHT FINAL CLASHES

2016: Galway 0-13 Roscommon 1-10 (Connacht final)

1998: Galway 1-17 Roscommon 0-17 (Replay), Dr. Hyde Park

1998: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 0-11, Tuam Stadium

1990: Roscommon 0-16 Galway 1-11, Dr Hyde Park

1986: Galway 1-8 Roscommon 1-5, Dr Hyde Park

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Roscommon 1-15 New York 0-17, Gaelic Park (Connacht first round)

Roscommon 1-21 Leitrim 0-11, Carrick-on-Shannon (Connacht semi-final)

Roscommon 4-16 Sligo 2-13, Dr.Hyde Park (Connacht semi-final)

Roscommon 1-10 Galway 0-13 (Connacht final)

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Galway 1-12 Mayo 0-12 (Connacht semi-final)

Galway 0-13 Roscommon 1-10 (Connacht final)

WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE?

The winners qualify for the All-Ireland quarter final on July 30/31; the losers play in Round 4 of the qualifiers on July 23.

MAYO v KILDARE

They meet in the championship for the first time since the 1935 All-Ireland semi-final when Kildare won by 2-6 to 0-7.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Mayo 2-16 London 0-9 (Connacht quarter-final)

Galway 1-12 Mayo 0-12 (Connacht semi-final)

Mayo 2-13 Fermanagh 1-12 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 2)

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Kildare 0-9 Wexford 0-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

Westmeath 1-12 Kildare 1-11 (Leinster quarter-final)

Kildare 1-22 Offaly 2-14 (All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 2)

SLIGO v CLARE

They meet for the third time in the championship, having clashed in the 2004 and 2005 All-Ireland qualifiers.

Clare won by 1-15 to 1-7 in Ennis in 2004 while Sligo won by 1-13 to 0-11 in Castlebar in 2005.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Roscommon 4-16 Sligo 2-13 (Connacht semi-final)

Sligo 2-15 Leitrim 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 2)

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Clare 0-16 Limerick 0-13 (Munster quarter-final)

Kerry 2-23 Clare 0-17 (Munster semi-final)

Clare 0-14 Laois 1-10 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 2)

LONGFORD v CORK

They meet for the first time in the championship, with Longford bidding to reach the Round 4 qualifiers for the first time since 2006.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Offaly 2-21 Longford 2-13 (Leinster 1st round)

Longford 2-24 Down 3-17 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 1) after extra-time

Longford 2-13 Monaghan 1-13 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 2)

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Tipperary 3-15 Cork 2-16 (Munster semi-final)

Cork 2-12 Limerick 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 2)

CAVAN v DERRY

Their last two championship clashes went to extra-time, with Cavan winning a qualifier clash in Celtic Park in 2013 while Derry won in Celtic Park in 2004.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2013: Cavan 1-22 Derry 0-20 (All-Ireland qualifiers Round 3 (after extra-time)

2004: Derry 0-25 Cavan 2-9 (All-Ireland qualifiers Round 2) (after extra-time)

2001: Derry 1-14 Cavan 2-7 (All-Ireland qualifiers Round 4)

1999: Derry 2-14 Cavan 0-5 (Ulster quarter-final) Replay

1999: Derry 2-15 Cavan 2-15 (Ulster quarter-final)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Tyrone 3-14 Derry 0-12 (Ulster quarter-final)

Derry 1-18 Louth 2-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 1)

Derry 1-14 Meath 1-11 (All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 2)

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Cavan 2-16 Armagh 0-14 (Ulster quarter-final)

Tyrone 0-16 Cavan 3-7 (Ulster semi-final)

Tyrone 5-18 Cavan 2-17 (Ulster semi-final replay)

Cavan 2-13 Carlow 0-12 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 2)

2016 GAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

CONNACHT

May 1: Preliminary Round: Roscommon 1-15 New York 0-17, Gaelic Park.

May 22: Quarter-final: Roscommon 1-21 Leitrim 0-11, Carrick-on-Shannon.

May 29: Quarter-final: Mayo 2-16 London 0-9, Ruislip

June 12: Semi-final: Roscommon 4-16 Sligo 2-13, Dr.Hyde Park.

June 18: Semi-final: Galway 1-12 Mayo 0-12, Elverys MacHale Park.

July 10: Final: Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium

July 17: Final (Repay): Galway v Mayo, Elvery’s MacHale Park

LEINSTER

May 14: First Round: Louth 2-24 Carlow 3-11, O’Moore Park; Laois 3-16 Wicklow 0-18 O’Moore Park.

May 15: First Round: Offaly 2-21 Longford 2-13, O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

May 21: Quarter-final: Kildare 0-9 Wexford 0-8, Croke Park.

June 4: Quarter-final: Dublin 2-21 Laois 2-10, Nowlan Park.

June 12: Quarter-final: Meath 0-20 Louth 1-13, Parnell Park; Westmeath 0-13 Offaly 0-12, TEG Cusack Park.

June 26: Semi-finals: Dublin 0-21 Meath 0-11; Westmeath 1-12 Kildare 1-11, Croke Park.

July17: Final: Dublin v Westmeath, Croke Park.

MUNSTER

May 29: Quarter-finals: Tipperary 1-15 Waterford 1-7 Fraher Field, Dungarvan; Clare 0-16 Limerick 0-13, Gaelic Grounds

June 12: Semi-finals: Tipperary 3-15 Cork 2-16, Semple Stadium; Kerry 2-23 Clare 0-17, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

July 3: Final: Kerry 3-17 Tipperary 2-10, Killarney

ULSTER

May 15: Preliminary Round: Fermanagh 1-12 Antrim 0-9, Brewster Park.

May 22: Quarter-final: Tyrone 3-14 Derry 0-12, Celtic Park

May 29: Quarter-final: Cavan 2-16 Armagh 0-14, Kingspan Breffni Park.

June 5: Quarter-final: Monaghan 2-22 Down 0-9, Clones

June 12: Quarter-final: Donegal 2-12 Fermanagh 0-11, Ballybofey

June 19: Semi-final: Tyrone 0-16 Cavan 3-7, Clones

June 25: Semi-final: Monaghan 0-14 Donegal 1-11, Kingspan Breffni Park.

July 2: Semi-final replay: Donegal 0-17 Monaghan 2-10, Kingspan Park.

July 3: Semi-final replay: Tyrone 5-18 Cavan 2-17, Clones

July 17: Final: Clones: Donegal v Tyrone, Clones.

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 18: Qualifiers – Round 1A: Derry 1-18 Louth 2-10, Owenbeg; *Laois 1-10 Armagh 0-10, Portlaoise (Re-fixture arranged); Carlow 1-17 Wicklow 1-12,

Netwatch Cullen Park; June 19: Leitrim 0-12 Waterford 0-8, Carrick-on-Shannon; July 2: Re-fixture: Laois 1-11 Armagh 1-10, Portlaoise.

June 25: Qualifiers – Round 1B: Offaly 0-17 London 1-7, Tullamore; Fermanagh 0-19 Wexford 1-11, Innovate Wexford Park; Limerick 2-6 Antrim 0-9, Corrigan Park, Belfast; Longford 2-24 Down 3-17, Newry (after extra-time)

July 2: Qualifiers – Round 2A: Sligo 2-15 Leitrim 0-10, Markievicz Park;

July 9: Qualifiers - Round 2A: Cavan 2-13 Carlow 0-12, Kingspan Breffni Park; Derry 1-14 Meath 1-11, Owenbeg; 2B: Mayo 2-14 Fermanagh 1-12, Elverys MacHale Park; Kildare 1-22 Offaly 2-14, Newbridge; Cork 2-12 Limerick 0-10, Thurles; Longford 2-13 Monaghan 1-13, Clones.

July 10: Qualifier: 2A: Clare 0-14 Laois 1-10, Ennis

July 16: Qualifiers – Round 3A: Sligo v Clare, Markievicz Park; Cavan v Derry, Kingspan Breffni Park; Round 3B: Mayo v Kildare, Elverys MacHale Park; Longford v Cork, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

July 23: Qualifiers – Round 4A: 3A winners v Connacht and Ulster runners-up

July 30/31: Qualifiers – Round 4B: 3B winners v Leinster and Ulster runners-up.

QUARTER-FINALS

July 30/31: Galway or Roscommon v Round 4A winner; Kerry v Round 4A winner

August 6: Dublin or Westmeath v Round 4B winner; Tyrone or Donegal v Round 4B winner.

SEMI-FINALS

August 21: Connacht v Ulster, Croke Park

August 28: Leinster v Munster, Croke Park

FINAL

September 18: Final, Croke Park