Next weekend will be the busiest of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship season with no fewer than twelve important games being staged over Saturday and Sunday.

There are provincial semi-finals in Leinster, Connacht and Ulster while the first round of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers are also on the agenda, featuring the sixteen teams which were beaten in provincial first round and quarter-finals.

The full schedule is as follows:
Saturday
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers, Round 1
• Armagh v Donegal, Crossmaglen, 3.30pm
• Carlow v Derry, Dr. Cullen Park, 5.00pm
• Longford v Mayo, Pearse Park, 7.00pm
• Cavan v Wicklow, Kingspan Breffni Park, 7.00pm
• Kildare v Antrim, Newbridge, 7.00pm
• Offaly v Clare, Tullamore, 2.00pm

Sunday
• Connacht GAA Football Championship Semi-final: Galway v Sligo, Pearse Stadium, 2.00pm
• Leinster GAA Football Championship Semi-finals: Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 4.00pm; Louth v Westmeath, Croke Park, 5.50pm
• Ulster GAA Football Championship Semi-final: Monaghan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni Park, 3.30pm
• GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers, Round 1:
London v Wexford, Ruislip, 2.30pm; Tipperary v Laois, Thurles, 3.30pm.

On TV....
The following games will be shown 'live' next weekend:
Saturday
• Armagh v Donegal (RTE)

Sunday
• Galway v Sligo (TV3)
• Meath v Dublin (TV3)
• Louth v Westmeath (RTE)

DUBLIN v MEATH
Croke Park is set for another enthralling chapter in the epic tale that is the
Dublin v Meath rivalry. Next Sunday's clash will be the 59th championship
meeting between the counties, stretching back to 1894 when they met for the
first time in a game that finished level (0-4 each). Dublin leads 32-18 with eight
draws from the previous 58 meetings.
Dublin have beaten Meath four times and drawn once in their last five
meetings, leaving the Royals chasing their first win over their great rivals since
2001 when they beat them in the Leinster final.
Dublin are in pursuit of their sixth successive Leinster title, something they last
achieved in 1979 while Meath are bidding to win the Leinster title for the first
time since 2001. The winners will play Louth or Westmeath in the final on July
11.

Last Five Championship Clashes
2009 - Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
2007 - Dublin 0-16 Meath 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final) Replay
2007 - Dublin 1-11 Meath 0-14 (Leinster quarter-final)
2005 - Dublin 1-12 Meath 1-10 (Leinster quarter-final)
2002 - Dublin 2-11 Meath 0-10 (Leinster semi-final)

Story so far...
Dublin got a real fright against Wexford in the quarter-final, having had to haul
back a big lead to bring the game to extra-time which they dominated en route
to a 2-16 to 0-15 win. Meath have had three games, beating Offaly by 1-20 to
2-7, drawing with Laois (2-13 to 1-16) before winning the replay by 2-14 to 0-
10 last Saturday.

LOUTH v WESTMEATH
It's nine years since they last clashed in the championship (GAA Football All-
Ireland Senior Championship qualifiers) and sixteen years since they last met
in the Leinster GAA Football Championship.
Westmeath won the 2001 qualifier but Louth won the previous three Leinster
championship clashes and overall have very good record against Westmeath
in the championship.

Westmeath are seeking to reach the Leinster final for the first time since 2004
(when they won the title for the first time) while Louth are seeking a place in
the final for the first time since 1960. They won the last of their eight Leinster
titles in 1957.

Last Five Championship Clashes
2001: Westmeath 1-13 Louth 0-13 (All-Ireland qualifier)
1994: Louth 0-13 Westmeath 1-9 (Leinster first round)
1983: Louth 2-11 Westmeath 2-5 (Leinster first round)
1977: Louth 2-9 Westmeath 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
1969: Westmeath 1-7 Louth 1-6 (Leinster first round)

Story so far....
Westmeath won their first competitive game of the year when they beat
Wicklow by a point (0-15 to 1-11) in the quarter-final. Louth have two wins
behind them, beating Longford by 1-11 to 1-7 in the first round and Kildare by
1-22 to 1-16 in the quarter-final.

GALWAY v SLIGO
They meet for the second successive year, with Galway having won last year's
Connacht GAA Football Championship Semi-final by four points, 1-13 to 0-12
in Markievicz Park with the clinching goal from Sean Armstrong coming in the
final minute.

Sligo, managed by former Galway All-Ireland winning hero, Kevin Walsh, have
only beaten Galway five times in the history of the championship but go into
Sunday's game off an excellent quarter-final win over Mayo, the 2009
Connacht champions. Sligo's last win over Galway was in 2007 which was
their first success over the Tribesmen since 1975.

Galway have beaten Sligo 26 times while there have been four draws. Galway
are bidding to reach the Connacht final for the sixth successive year, having
won in 2005 and 2008 and lost in 2006, 2007, 2009.

Last Five Championship Clashes
2009: Galway 1-13 Sligo 0-12 (Connacht semi-final)
2007: Sligo 1-10 Galway 0-12 (Connacht final)
2006: Galway 0-19 Sligo 1-12 (Connacht quarter-final)
2002: Galway 1-11 Sligo 0-11 (Connacht final)
2000: Galway 0-22 Sligo 0-4 (Connacht semi-final)

Story so far....
Galway got a real fright against New York before running out seven point
winners (2-13 to 0-12) in the quarter-final while Sligo eliminated reigning
champions, Mayo on a 0-15 to 1-8 scoreline.

FERMANAGH v MONAGHAN
Fermanagh have never won the Ulster championship while Monaghan won the
last of their 13 Ulster titles in 1988. Question is - who can keep their ambitions
alive in 2010?

The sides last clashed in the Ulster GAA Football Championship in 2008 when
Fermanagh won a quarter-final tie by 2-8 to 0-10 in a game where Ciaran

McElroy and Liam McBarron were the goal scorers. Fermanagh have a good
record against Monaghan in recent times, winning four of their last five Ulster
GAA Football Championship clashes. The winners will play Tyrone in the final
on July 18.

Last Five Championship Clashes
2008: Fermanagh 2-8 Monaghan 0-10 (Ulster quarter-final)
2002: Fermanagh 4-13 Monaghan 2-11 (Ulster quarter-final)
2001: Monaghan 2-10 Fermanagh 0-14 (Ulster quarter-final)
2000: Fermanagh 3-12 Monaghan 1-10 (Ulster preliminary round)
1999: Fermanagh 2-12 Monaghan 1-10 (Ulster preliminary round)

Story so far...
Monaghan turned in one of the best displays of the championship beating
Armagh by 1-18 to 0-9 in the quarter final while Fermanagh knocked out
Cavan on a 1-13 to 0-13 scoreline.

QUALIFIERS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Next weekend is the most important of the year for 16 counties as they seek to
avoid elimination from the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship. The
eight first round qualifiers have thrown up some very interesting games
featuring teams from all four Divisions of the Allianz GAA Football National
League. The eight winners will play the eight provincial semi-final losers on
July 10.

Carlow v Derry
Last year's qualifiers: Donegal 2-13 Carlow 1-6; Derry 3-16 Monaghan 0-20;
Donegal 2-13 Derry 0-19 (After extra-time)
2010 Championship: Wicklow 3-13 Carlow 0-12; Armagh 1-10 Derry 1-7.

Kildare v Antrim
Last year's qualifiers: Kildare 1-16 Wicklow 2-9 (Kildare lost All-Ireland quarter
final to Tyrone); Kerry 2-12 Antrim 1-10.
2010 Championship: Louth 1-22 Kildare 1-16; Tyrone 2-14 Antrim 1-13.

Clare v Offaly
Last year's qualifiers: Donegal 0-13 Clare 1-7; Wexford 2-11 Offaly 0-16.
2010 Championship: Waterford 1-10 Clare 0-9; Meath 1-20 Offaly 2-7.

Longford v Mayo
Last year's qualifiers: Longford 0-13 Leitrim 0-10; Kerry 1-12 Longford 0-11;
Mayo won Connacht final, thus missing the qualifiers.
2010 Championship: Louth 1-11 Longford 1-7; Sligo 0-15 Mayo 1-8.

Armagh v Donegal
Last year's qualifiers: Monaghan 0-13 Armagh 0-12 (After extra-time); Donegal
2-13 Carlow 1-6; Donegal 0-13 Clare 1-7; Donegal 2-13 Derry 0-18 (After
extra-time); Donegal 0-14 Galway 0-13 (Donegal lost All-Ireland quarter-final to Cork).
2010 Championship: Armagh 1-10 Derry 1-7; Monaghan 1-18 Armagh 0-9;
Down 1-15 Donegal 2-10 (After extra-time).

Cavan v Wicklow
Last year's qualifiers: Wicklow 1-12 Cavan 0-8; Wicklow 0-17 Fermanagh 1-11;
Wicklow 1-15 Down 0-17; Kildare 1-16 Wicklow 2-9.
2010 Championship: Fermanagh 1-13 Cavan 0-13; Wicklow 3-13 Carlow 0-12;
Westmeath 0-15 Wicklow 1-11.

Tipperary v Laois
Last year's qualifiers: Tipperary 2-10 Louth 1-12; Sligo 1-13 Tipperary 1-12;
Down 2-9 Laois 0-7.
2010 Championship: Kerry 2-18 Tipperary 2-6; Meath 2-13 Laois 1-16 (After
extra-time); Meath 2-14 Laois 0-10 (replay).

London v Wexford
Last year's qualifiers: Down 1-16 London 1-7; Wexford 2-11 Offaly 0-16;
Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 1-8 (After extra-time); Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 0-
8 (Replay)
2010 Championship: Roscommon 0-14 London 0-6; Dublin 2-16 Wexford 0-15
(After extra-time)

GAA FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
CONNACHT
May 2: Quarter-final: Galway 2-13 New York 0-12, Gaelic Park.
May 30: Quarter-final: Roscommon 0-14 London 0-6 Ruislip.
June 5: Quarter-final: Sligo 0-15 Mayo 1-8, Markievicz Park.
June 20: Semi-final: Roscommon 1-13 Leitrim 0-11, Dr.Hyde Park.
Next Sunday: Semi-final: Galway v Sligo, Pearse Stadium.
July 18: Final: Roscommon v Galway/Sligo.

LEINSTER
May 16: First Round: Wicklow 3-13 Carlow 0-12, Portlaoise.
May 23: First Round: Meath 1-20 Offaly, 2-7; Portlaoise; Louth 1-11 Longford 1-7, Portlaoise.
June 5: Quarter-final: Louth 1-22 Kildare 1-16, Navan.
June 6: Quarter-final: Westmeath 0-15 Wicklow 1-11, Tullamore.
June 13: Quarter-finals: Laois 1-16 Meath 2-13 (after extra-time); Dublin 2-16
Wexford 0-15 (after extra-time). Both in Croke Park.
June 19: Quarter-final replay: Meath 2-14 Laois 0-10, Tullamore.
Next Sunday: Semi-finals: Dublin v Meath; Louth v Westmeath, Croke Park.
July 11: Final, Croke Park.

MUNSTER
May 16: Quarter-final: Kerry 2-18 Tipperary 2-6, Thurles.
May 23: Quarter-final: Waterford 1-10 Clare 0-9, Dungarvan.
June 6: Semi-finals: Kerry 0-15 Cork 0-15, Killarney; Limerick 1-17 Waterford 1-9, Dungarvan.
June 13: Semi-final replay: Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-14 (after extra-time), Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
July 4: Final: Kerry v Limerick, Killarney.

ULSTER
May 16: First Round: Armagh 1-10 Derry 1-7, Celtic Park.
May 23: Quarter-final: Tyrone 2-14 Antrim 1-13, Casement Park.
May 30: Quarter-final: Down 1-15 Donegal 2-10 (After extra-time), Ballybofey.
June 6: Quarter-final: Monaghan 1-18 Armagh 0-9, Casement Park.
June 12: Quarter-final: Fermanagh 1-13 Cavan 0-13, Kingspan Breffni Park.
June 19: Semi-final: Tyrone 0-14 Down 0-10, Casement Park.
Next Sunday: Semi-final: Fermanagh v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park.
July 18: Final: Tyrone v Fermanagh/Monaghan.

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP
Next Saturday: Qualifiers Round 1: London v Wexford; Carlow v Derry; Kildare
v Antrim; Offaly v Clare; Longford v Mayo; Armagh v Donegal; Cavan v Wicklow; Tipperary v Laois.
July 10: Qualifiers Round 2: Eight first round winners v eight defeated provincial semi-finalists.
Beaten semi-finalists so far: Waterford, Cork, Down, Leitrim.
July 17: Qualifiers Round 3: Round 2 winners play off against each other in four games.
July 24: Qualifiers Round 4: Round 3 winners v beaten provincial finalists.
July 31/August 1/2/3: All-Ireland quarter-finals.
August 22: All-Ireland semi-final, Croke Park.
August 29: All-Ireland semi-final, Croke Park.
September 19: All-Ireland final, Croke Park. Tweet

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