Senior footballers ready to set off on Leinster road

Will Dublin footballers win the All-Ireland three-in-a-row for the first time since 1921-22-23? Will they win the Leinster title for a seventh successive season, beating the record set by the Dubs of the Seventies who won six-in-a-row in 1974-79?

Jim Gavin’s men begin the defence of the Leinster and All-Ireland titles on Saturday when they take on Carlow and there’s more Leinster quarter-final action on Sunday (Laois v Kildare and Meath v Louth) while Ulster also stage a quarter final on Sunday (Down v Armagh).

The programme is as follows:

 SATURDAY

 Leinster SF quarter-final: Carlow v Dublin, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 7.0

SUNDAY

 Ulster SF quarter-final: Armagh v Down, Pairc Esler, 2.0

Leinster SF quarter-finals: Laois v Kildare, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 3.0; Louth v Meath, Parnell Park, 3.0

CARLOW v DUBLIN

 They meet in the Leinster championship for the first time since 1988 when Dublin won a quarter-final clash by 1-14 to 0-8 in front of a crowd of 8,000 in Dr Cullen Park.

 LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

 1988: Dublin 1-14 Carlow 0-8 (Leinster quarter-final)

1978: Dublin 6-15 Carlow 2-9 (Leinster quarter-final)

1964: Dublin 1-14 Carlow 1-5 (Leinster quarter-final)

1959: Dublin 1-11 Carlow 2-4 (Leinster quarter-final)

1958: Dublin 3-9 Carlow 2-7 (Leinster quarter-final)

*Jim Gavin is in his fifth season as Dublin manager, leading them to Leinster titles in 2013-2014-2015-2016 and to the 2013-2015-2016 All-Ireland titles. Dublin’s championship record under Gavin reads: Played 25; Won 22, Drew 2, Lost 1. The only defeat was against Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.

*Carlow’s win over Wexford in the opening round (2-17 to 2-13) was their first win in the Leinster championship since beating Louth in 2011. Paul Broderick (0-10) and Brendan Murphy (1-2) were top scorers for Carlow.

*Turlough O’Brien is in his third season as Carlow manager. The recent win over Wexford was his first in the Leinster championship.

*Carlow provided the opposition for Jim Gavin’s first game in charge of Dublin on 6 January 2013. Dublin won a Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup game by 3-13 to 1-12 in Netwatch Cullen Park.

*Dublin have not lost a game in Leinster since going down to Meath in the 2010 semi-final. Prior to that, they hadn’t lost since 2004 when Westmeath beat them in the quarter-final.

* There were 26 places between Dublin and Carlow in this year’s Allianz League. Dublin topped Division 1 before losing the final to Kerry; Carlow finished third in Division 4.

*The winners play Offaly or Westmeath in the Leinster semi-final on June 25.

 DID YOU KNOW?

This will be the 11th championship game between the counties, with Dublin winning nine to Carlow’s one of the previous ten. Carlow’s sole victory came in the 1944 final when they won by 2-6 to 1-6 in Athy. It remains the only time Carlow won the Leinster title.

KILDARE v LAOIS

 It has been a season of great contrast so far for this pair, with Kildare winning promotion to Division 1 and Laois dropping into Division 4.

 Last Five Championship Clashes

2015: Kildare 3-18 Laois 1-11 (Leinster quarter-final) Replay

2015: Kildare 0-16 Laois 0-16 (Leinster quarter-final) Draw

2011: Kildare 3-16 Laois 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

2009: Kildare 2-18 Laois 0-9 (Leinster semi-final)

2005: Laois 0-21 Kildare 0-9 (Leinster semi-final)

*Laois already have an impressive win behind them in this year’s championship, beating Longford by 4-15 to 0-16 in the Leinster first round. The Kingston brothers Paul (2-1) and Donie (1-4) scored 3-5 between them.

*Kildare won promotion from Division 2 of the Allianz Football League this year, finishing second to Galway, who also beat them in the final. Kildare won five and lost three of their eight games.

*Laois were relegated from Division 3 after losing five and winning two of their seven games.

*Cian O’Neill is in his second year as Kildare manager while Peter Creedon is in his first season with Laois.

*Laois have scored only one goal against Kildare (Donie Kingston 2015 replay) in their last five championship meetings.

*It’s 12 years since Laois, then managed by Mick O’Dwyer, last beat Kildare in the championship. Laois won the 2005 semi-final by 0-21 to 0-9.

*The winners will play Meath or Louth in the Leinster semi-final on June 17.

 DID YOU KNOW?

Laois have not reached the Leinster semi-final since 2009. The last year Kildare failed to reach the Leinster semi-final was 2010.

LOUTH v MEATH

They meet for a second successive year in the Leinster championship. Meath won last year’s quarter-final (0-20 to 1-13) in Parnell Park in front of an 8,380 crowd. The Royals, for whom Mickey Newman scored 0-7, led by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

 2016: Meath 0-20 Louth 1-13 (Leinster quarter-final)

2011: Meath 5-8 Louth 2-8 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

2010: Meath 1-12 Louth 1-10 (Leinster final)

2006: Meath 1-15 Louth 0-10 (Leinster first round)

2002: Meath 3-8 Louth 2-9 (All-Ireland qualifiers Round 2)

*Louth are having their second outing in this year’s championship after beating Wicklow (1-19 to 1-14) in the first round. Meath are having their first game of this year’s campaign.

*Louth won promotion from Division 3 this year, winning five and losing two of seven games before losing the final to Tipperary.

*Meath finished third in Division 2, winning four, drawing one and losing two of seven games.

*Colin Kelly is in his third season as Louth manager while Andy McEntee is in his first season with Meath.

*The winners play Laois or Kildare in the Leinster semi-final on June 17.

DID YOU KNOW?

 Louth are seeking their first championship win over Meath since 1975. They have lost to their neighbours nine times since then.

ARMAGH v DOWN

It’s one of the great rivalries in Ulster football and is certain to attract a big crowd to Newry for the first championship clash between the counties for six years.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2011: Armagh 1-15 Down 1-10 (Ulster quarter-final)

2008: Armagh 1-12 Down 0-11 (Ulster semi-final)

2001: Armagh 1-13 Down 2-4 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

1999: Armagh 3-12 Down 0-10 (Ulster final)

1998: Armagh 0-16 Down 0-11 (Ulster quarter-final)

*Down are seeking their first win in the Ulster championship since beating Derry in the quarter-final in 2013. Their last win in the championship was in 2014 when they beat Leitrim in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

*Armagh’s last win was in the Ulster championship was in 2014 when they beat Cavan in the quarter-final.

*Down finished sixth in Division 2 of this year’s Allianz League (two wins, one draw, four defeats). Armagh finished third in Division 3 (four wins, one draw, two defeats).

*Eamonn Burns is in his second year as down manager while Kieran McGeeney leads Armagh for a third season.

*Down have won only three of their last 20 League and Championship games.

*Down last won the Ulster title in 1994; Armagh’s last won on it in 2008.

*The winners will play Monaghan or Cavan in the Ulster semi-final on June 25.

DID YOU KNOW?

Down are seeking their first championship win over Armagh since 1992. They have lost five times since then.

GAA FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2017: FIXTURES & RESULTS

CONNACHT

May 7: Preliminary Round: Sligo 1-21 New York 1-13, Gaelic Park.

May 21: Quarter-final: Mayo 2-14 Sligo 0-11, Elverys MacHale Park.

May 28: London v Leitrim, Ruislip

June 11: Semi-final: Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium.

June 18: Semi-final: Roscommon v Leitrim/London, Dr Hyde Park.

July 9: Final

LEINSTER

May 21: First Round: Carlow 2-17 Wexford 2-13, Netwatch Cullen Park; Laois 4-15 Longford 0-16, O’Moore Park; Louth 1-19 Wicklow 1-14, Parnell Park

June 3: Quarter-final: Dublin v Carlow, O’Moore Park.

June 4: Quarter-finals: Kildare v Laois, O’Connor Park; Meath v Louth, Parnell Park.

June 11: Quarter-final: Offaly v Westmeath, O’Connor Park.

June 17: Semi-final: Meath/Louth/ v Laois/Kildare.

June 25: Semi-final: Dublin/Carlow v Offaly/Westmeath.

July 16: Final, Croke Park.

MUNSTER

May 27: Quarter-final: Cork 1-12 Waterford 1-11, Fraher Field, Dungarvan;

May 28: Quarter-final: Clare 1-13 Limerick 1-12, Cusack Park.

June 10/11: Semi-finals: Kerry v Clare, Ennis; June 10: Tipperary v Cork, Pairc Ui Rinn.

July 2: Final

ULSTER

May 20: Preliminary Round: Monaghan 1-20 Fermanagh 1-11, Clones.

May 21: Quarter-final: Donegal 3-19 Antrim 1-9, Ballybofey

May 28: Quarter -final: Tyrone 0-22 Derry 0-11, Celtic Park

June 4: Quarter-final: Down v Armagh, Newry.

June 11: Quarter-final: Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park.

June 18: Semi-final: Tyrone v Donegal.

June 25: Semi-final: Monaghan/Cavan v Down/Armagh.

July 16: Final, Clones

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 17: Qualifiers: Round 1A June 24: Qualifiers: Round 1B July 1: Qualifiers: Round 2A July 8: Qualifiers: Round 3A; 2B July 15: Qualifiers: Round 3B July 22: Qualifiers: Round 4A July 29/30: Qualifiers: Round 4B

QUARTER-FINALS

July 30: Connacht winners v 4A Winner; Munster winner v 4A winner August 5: Leinster winners v 4B Winner; Ulster winners v 4B winner

SEMI-FINALS

August 20: Connacht champions* v Munster champions* August 27: Leinster champions* v Ulster champions* *Or quarter-final winners

FINAL

September 17: Final