Senior footballers hoping to reach Leinster final

With the provincial finalists decided in Munster and Connacht, the focus will be very much on Leinster and Ulster next weekend, with three semi-finals down for decision.

In Leinster, it’s a Croke Park double-header on Sunday when defending champions, Dublin take on Meath while 2015 runners-up, Westmeath face Kildare.

It’s a repeat of last year’s Ulster final when Monaghan, the defending champions, play Donegal in the semi-final in Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday evening to decide who faces Cavan or Tyrone in the final on July 17.

There are also four Round 1 qualifiers on the Saturday programme.

SATURDAY

All-Ireland 1B Qualifiers

Antrim v Limerick, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 2.0

Down v Longford, Pairc Esler, Newry, 2.0

Offaly v London, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 2.0

Wexford v Fermanagh, Innovate Wexford Park, 5.0

Ulster Semi-Final

Donegal v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7.0

SUNDAY

Leinster Semi-Finals

Kildare v Westmeath, Croke Park, 4.15

Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 6.35

DUBLIN v MEATH

Dublin are bidding to reach the Leinster final for the 11th time in 12 seasons, having missed out in 2010 only when they lost to Meath in the semi-final. Since then, they have won 16 successive games in Leinster.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2014: Dublin 3-20 Meath 1-10 (Leinster final)

2013: Dublin 2-15 Meath 0-14 (Leinster final)

2012: Dublin 2-13 Meath 1-13 (Leinster final)

2010: Meath 5-9 Dublin 0-13 (Leinster semi-final)

2009: Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)

MOST RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Dublin 3-20 Meath 1-10 (2014 Leinster final)

Dublin led by nine points at half-time and pressed further ahead in the second-half. Bernard Brogan 1-6, Kevin McManamon 1-5 and Eoghan O’Gara were Dublin’s top scorers while Michael Newman on 1-2 was Meath’s main marksman.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

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

Meath 0-20 Louth 1-13 (Leinster quarter-final)

DID YOU KNOW?

Meath have beaten Dublin only once (2010) in their last nine championship games.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners play Kildare or Westmeath in the Leinster final on July 17; the losers will play in a 2B qualifier.

KILDARE v WESTMEATH

They may be meeting for the second time this year, having already clashed in the League, but championship meetings between them have been quite rare.

In fact, this will be their first championship clash since 2005 and only their ninth in all, with Westmeath having won only once (1960 Leinster quarter-final).

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2005: Kildare 0-14 Westmeath 0-11 (Leinster quarter-final)

1992: Kildare 4-11 Westmeath 2-5 (Leinster semi-final)

1975: Kildare 1-15 Westmeath 1-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

1960: Westmeath 2-9 Kildare 2-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

1931: Kildare 2-9 Westmeath 1-6 (Leinster final)

MOST RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Kildare 0-14 Westmeath 0-11 (2005 Leinster quarter-final)

Westmeath, who had won the Leinster title for the first time in 2004, lost their crown at the first fence in 2005. They led by a point at half-time but Kildare, despite being down to 14 men, out-scored Westmeath by 0-8 to 0-4 in the second half.

MOST RECENT COMPETITIVE GAME

Kildare 2-9 Westmeath 0-11 (Allianz FL Div 3: 31 January 2016)

First-half goals by Daniel Flynn and Cian O’Donoghue set Kildare on their way to a 2-6 to 0-8 lead at the interval. It was enough to sustain them through the second-half and pick up the first two points of a campaign where Kildare were promoted while Westmeath were relegated.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

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

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

DID YOU KNOW?

Kildare and Westmeath have met only eight times in the Leinster championship, with the Lilywhites winning seven. Westmeath’s only success was in 1960 when they beat Kildare by a point in a quarter-final in Tullamore.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners play Dublin or Meath in the Leinster final on July 17; the losers will play in a 2B qualifier on July 9.

DONEGAL v MONAGHAN

They meet in the Ulster championship for a fourth successive year, with the previous coming in the final. Monaghan won in 2013 and last year, while Donegal won in 2014.

Donegal are bidding to reach the Ulster final for the sixth successive year while Monaghan are seeking a fourth successive performance.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2015: Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 0-10 (Ulster final)

2014: Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 1-9 (Ulster final)

2013: Monaghan 0-13 Donegal 0-7 (Ulster final)

2008: Monaghan 0-16 Donegal 0-15 (Round 2 qualifiers)

2007: Monaghan 2-12 Donegal 1-7 (Round 3 qualifiers)

MOST RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Monaghan 0-11 Donegal 0-10 (2015 Ulster Final)

Monaghan led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time before Donegal battled back. However, Monaghan, for whom Conor McManus scored 0-6 (0-3 frees) held on in a tense finish. Donegal’s Paddy McBrearty scored 0-6 (0-4 frees).

MOST RECENT COMPETITIVE GAME

Monaghan 1-10 Donegal 1-9 (Allianz FL, Round 7, 4 April 2016, Castleblayney)

Colin Walshe scored a dramatic stoppage time point which not only won the game for Monaghan but ensured they remained in Division 1. A draw or defeat would have seen them drop to Division 2. Donegal led by 1-4 to 0-0 after 20 minutes but Monaghan launched a spirited revival, winning the remaining 50 minutes by 1-10 to 0-5.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Monaghan 2-22 Down 0-9 (Ulster quarter-final)

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

DID YOU KNOW?

The last four championship games between Donegal and Monaghan have produced only one goal, scored by Monaghan when they lost the 2014 Ulster final by 0-15 to 1-9.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners play Tyrone/Cavan in the Ulster final on July 17; the losers enter Round 2B of the qualifiers on July 9.

ANTRIM v LIMERICK

They meet for the second time in the championship, with Limerick having won their first encounter by 3-11 to 0-15 at the Gaelic Grounds in a Round 1 Qualifier clash in 2014.

Ger Collins (2-0), Ian Ryan (0-4) and Darragh Treacy (1-0) were Limerick’s top scorers while Paddy Cunningham (0-7) was Antrim’s main marksman.

Limerick were relegated from Division 3 this year while Antrim were promoted from Division 4.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

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

Fermanagh 1-12 Antrim 0-9 (Ulster preliminary round)

DID YOU KNOW?

Limerick are seeking their first win of the year, having had ten outings. They lost their two games in the McGrath Cup, lost six and drew one of seven Allianz League (Div 3) games, before going down to Clare in the Munster quarter-final.

LAST YEAR’S QUALIFIERS

Tyrone 1-14 Limerick 0-8 (Round 1B)

Antrim 2-15 Laois 1-16 (Round 1A)

Fermanagh 1-21 Antrim 0-11 (Round 2A)

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners advance to Round 2B on July 9; the season will be over for the losers.

DOWN v LONGFORD

They meet for the third time in the All-Ireland championship, having clashed in the 2002 and 2010 qualifiers. Longford won a Round 1 game by 1-16 to 0-14 in Pearse Park in 2002 while Down won by 1-14 to 1-10 in Newry in Round 2 in 2010, a season when the Mourne men went on to reach the All-Ireland final, losing to Cork.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Monaghan 2-22 Down 0-9 (Ulster quarter-final)

Offaly2-21 Longford 2-13 (Leinster 1st round)

LAST YEAR’S QUALIFIERS

Wexford 2-16 Down 2-11 (Round 1B)

Longford 2-16 Carlow 1-8 (Round 1A)

Longford 2-12 Clare 1-12 (Round 2A)

Kildare 2-24 Longford 0-11 (Round 3A)

DID YOU KNOW?

Down lost all seven games in Division 1 this year before losing to Monaghan in the Ulster quarter-final.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners advance to Round 2B on July 9; the season will be over for the losers.

OFFALY v LONDON

They meet for only the second time in the championship, with Offaly having won their first encounter by 4-15 to 0-10 in a Round 1 Qualifier in Tullamore in 2003.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

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

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

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

2015 QUALIFIERS

Offaly 1-20 Waterford 1-7 (Round 1A)

Kildare 1-15 Offaly 1-13 (Round 2A)

Cavan 2-22 London 0-11 (Round 1A)

The winners advance to Round 2B on July 9; the season will be over for the losers.

DID YOU KNOW?

London have won only once in the 15-year history of the All-Ireland qualifiers. That was in 2011 when they beat Fermanagh (0-15 to 0-9) in Round 1 in Ruislip.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners advance to Round 2B on July 9; the season will be over for the losers.

WEXFORD v FERMANAGH

They meet for the third time in the championship having previously clashed in the 2006 and 2007 All-Ireland qualifiers.

Fermanagh won both (2-12 to 0-11 in Round 3 in Enniskillen in 2006; 1-12 to 1-8 in Round 1 in 2007)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

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

Fermanagh 1-12 Antrim 0-9 (Ulster preliminary round)

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

LAST YEAR’S QUALIFIERS

Wexford 2-16 Down 2-11 (Round 1B)

Derry 1-16 Wexford 0-10 (Round 2B)

Fermanagh 1-21 Antrim 0-11 (Round 2A)

Fermanagh 1-14 Roscommon 0-16 (Round 3A)

Fermanagh 1-13 Westmeath 0-7 (Round 4A)

DID YOU KNOW?

Both Wexford (2008) and Fermanagh (2004) reached the All-Ireland semi-final, via the qualifiers.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The winners advance to Round 2B on July 9; the season will be over for the losers.

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

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 v Meath; Westmeath v Kildare, Croke Park.

July17: Final, 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 v Tipperary, 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 v Donegal, Kingspan Breffni Park.

July 3: Semi-final replay: Tyrone v Cavan, Clones

July 17: Final: Clones

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 18: Qualifiers – Round 1A: Derry 1-18 Louth 2-10, Owenbeg; Laois 1-10 Armagh 0-10, Portlaoise; Carlow 1-17 Wicklow 1-12, Netwatch Cullen Park ; June 19: Leitrim 0-12 Waterford 0-8, Carrick-on-Shannon.

June 25: Qualifiers – Round 1B: Offaly v London; Wexford v Fermanagh; Antrim v Limerick; Down v Longford.

July 2: Qualifiers – Round 2A: Sligo v Leitrim; Clare v Laois; Tyrone/Cavan v Carlow; Derry v Dublin/Meath

July 9: Qualifiers – Round 3A; 2B

July 16: Qualifiers – Round 3B

July 23: Qualifiers – Round 4A

July 30/31: Qualifiers – Round 4B

QUARTER-FINALS

July 30/31: Connacht winners Round 4A winner; Munster winners v Round 4A winner

August 6: Leinster winners v Round 4B winner; Ulster winners 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.