Compiled by GAVIN CUMMISKEY

Saturday

Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm – Game of the day. The sides had a fine battle in Croke Park last summer with Seán Cavanagh’s two goals the difference. The four time All Star is in rehab, along with Kyle Coney and Tommy McGuigan, while Philip Jordan and Brian Dooher are the most notable retirees.

Roscommon are a young team spearheaded by Donie Shine, who has the potential to become one of the best players in the country.

However, this fixture feels like bad timing. Tyrone retain match winners in Stephen O’Neill and Owen Mulligan while Peter Harte is gradually growing into a dominant force.

There is also Tyrone’s qualifier record to consider. They crave these battles on the road. It has shaped them into champions before.

Shine even admitted this week that Roscommon need Tyrone to malfunction. But even if Tyrones stars don’t perform, there are others to drag them through.

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, N Carty, S Purcell; N Collins, P Domican, I Kilbride; C Shine, K Mannion; N Kilroy, C Cregg, N Daly; S Kilbride, C Compton, D Shine.

TYRONE: P McConnell; A McCrory, C Clarke, D Carlin; C McCarron, C Gormley, S O’Neill; J McMahon, C Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly, M Donnelly, P Harte; M Penrose, S O’Neill, O Mulligan.

Referee: R Hickey (Clare)

Tipperary v Wexford, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 3pm – Both counties showed well against Kerry and Dublin but can they perform when expectation exists?

Wexford seem better equipped to progress. Tipperary’s strides at underage have yielded glimpses of future success but they have stalled in recent months.

Jason Ryan has reacted to the Dublin loss by dropping Aindreas Doyle and Colm Morris as Rob Tierney starts at corner back and Paddy Byrne at centre forward.

The plan will be the same though; the fire-power of Ben Brosnan and Ciarán Lyng should be enough to guide them through.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; A Morrissey, P Codd, C McDonald; B Fox, R Kiely, A Campbell; G Hannigan, H Coghlan; R Ryan, B Mulvihill, D Leahy; M Quinlivan, P Acheson, P Austin.

WEXFORD: A Masterson; R Tierney, G Molloy, B Malone; A Flynn, D. Murphy, L Chin; D Watters, E Bradley; S Roche, P Byrne, B Brosnan; PJ Banville, C Lyng, R Barry.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)

Antrim v Galway, Casement Park, 3pm – The return of Michael Meehan is a tremendous boost for Galway while it is unclear if Antrim manager Liam Bradley is going to drop Paddy Cunningham. Their primary attacking weapon may be punished for missing the qualifier victory over London.

This direct contrast between the teams – clarity and confusion – indicates a Galway victory. Alan Mulholland’s side was impressive against Roscommon yet equally poor against Sligo but Meehan’s return changes everything.

Tom Fahy, Fiontan Ó Curraoin and Conor Doherty also come into the starting XV as the Tribesmen seek to end an eight-year drought since their last qualifier win.

ANTRIM: TBC.

GALWAY: A Faherty; K Kelly, F Hanley, J Duane; G Bradshaw, G ODonnell, T Fahy; J Bergin, F O Curraoin; G Sice, S Armstrong, C Doherty; M Meehan, P Conroy, M Hehir.

Referee: D Fahy (Longford)

Leitrim v Wicklow, Carrick-on-Shannon, 6pm – Home advantage seems crucial here. The spring time meeting saw Wicklow prevail 2-13 to 1-10, in Aughrim, but that means little in July. Their ability to perform in qualifiers does count for something, but the loss of Leighton Glynn to injury may be felt today.

Ciarán Hyland is another gone for the season with torn ankle ligaments. Leitrim have also lost Wayne McKeon to a similar injury.

Still, Leitrim were shocking against Mayo, so the wheels may have already come off their campaign. If not, they can progress.

LEITRIM: TBA

WICKLOW: TBA.

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).

Longford v Limerick, Pearse Park, 2pm – If Glen Ryan’s Longford can get over this tie today they can grow into the qualifier team nobody wants to meet. Derry suffered from the boot of Seán McCormack earlier this month as the corner forward posted 0-11 in a surprise result.

Limerick have recalled Andrew Lane, Stephen Lucey, Jim Donovan and Eoghan OConnor following their surprise defeat by Clare. They also have established quality in their attack, particularly in Ian Ryan.

But Longford have momentum, and the Barden brothers so Brian Kavanagh should profit inside them at full forward. It should be enough.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; C P Smyth, M Quinn, S Mulligan; B McElvaney, J Keegan; D Barden, P Barden, N Mulligan; D McElligott, B Kavanagh, S McCormack.

LIMERICK: B Scanlon; A Lane, J McCarthy, L ODwyer; J Riordan, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J Donovan, S Buckley; E OConnor, S Kelly, P Browne; G Collins, S OCarroll, I Ryan.

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).

Sunday

Cavan v Kildare, Breffni Park, 3pm – Will he or won’t he play? Where does he actually live? The main benefit of this fixture is the long drawn out, even by GAA standards, Seánie Johnston saga can finally be shelved.

Considering the poor return from Kildare forwards in the defeat to Meath, Johnston is expected to feature tomorrow – possibly from the outset. Kieran McGeeney has constructed a finely tuned footballing panel. They have almost everything. They are powerful, fast and superbly conditioned. They even have a Kieran Donaghy type target man, in Tomás O’Connor, on the square’s edge.

Johnston can be their poor man’s Gooch Cooper. He has the scoring instincts to profit off O’Connor, allowing the other Kildare forwards to add the necessary three or four points that will see them through.

The veterans in this team remain important. Johnny Doyle was anonymous against Meath, while the arrival of Dermot Earley, Eamonn Callaghan and Ronan Sweeney had little impact. Andriú MacLochlainn returns at corner back and Robert Kelly is at midfield.

The expectation is that Cavan will come out swinging. Eugene Keating is a competent gatherer of scores and if the rest can reduce the 15 wides posted against Fermanagh we’ll have ourselves a serious contest.

CAVAN: TBC

KILDARE: S Connolly; A MacLochlainn, M Foley, P Kelly; E Bolton, M OFlaherty, H McGrillen; D Flynn, R Kelly; E OFlaherty, M Conway, A Smith; J Doyle, T OConnor, J Kavanagh.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).

Westmeath v Kerry, Cusack Park, Mullingar, 3pm – The absence of the injured Kieran Gavin and Dessie Dolan should see Westmeath out of the championship by tea time tomorrow. This is also factoring in the decision of three Tyrrellspass players to play for the club instead of attending training this week.

It makes this fixture more about Kerry than Westmeath football.

Darran O’Sullivan continues to nurse a hamstring so Donnacha Walsh comes into the half forward line, while Bryan Sheehan returns at midfield. Brian Maguire gets a run at wing back ahead of Peter Crowley. James O’Donoghue starts beside Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy.

Jack O’Connor has put the qualifiers to good use before. If it gets Donaghy and Paul Galvin fully functional again then it will have served its purpose. The seven point handicap looks under threat.

WESTMEATH: D Quinn; M McCallon, J Gaffey, K Maguire; D Harte, M Ennis, D McDermott; J Heslin, P Bannon; K Martin, G Egan, C McCormack; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, P Sharry.

KERRY: B Kealy; M Ó Sé, A OMahony, K Young; T Ó Sé, E Brosnan, B Maguire; A Maher, B Sheehan; P Galvin, Declan OSullivan, D Walsh; J ODonoghue, C Cooper, K Donaghy.

Referee: M Higgins (Fermanagh)

Laois v Monaghan, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3pm – On the evidence of performances to date, Monaghan should progress. That’s looking at how they took care of Antrim and strode into a nine-point lead against Down. What happened after that changes matters significantly and Eamonn McEnaney has injury doubts over Conor McManus, Owen Lennon, Kieran Hughes and Ciarán Hanratty.

Laois are coming from the opposite direction. A hugely disappointing loss to Longford, followed by a scrambling win over Carlow, leaves Justin McNulty’s managerial term under pressure.

Billy Sheehan has been recalled at centre forward so Colm Begley switches into midfield alongside Brendan Quigley. The reshuffle sees John O’Loughlin at centre back and Kevin Meaney at fullback.

Laois to progress, on the premise that Monaghan are faltering and McNulty’s team can only improve.

LAOIS: E Culliton; C Healy, K Meaney, J Kavanagh, D Strong, J OLoughlin, C Boyle; B Quigley, C Begley; D OConnor, B Sheehan, G Walsh; R Munnelly, P Clancy, C Kelly.

MONAGHAN: TBC

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).