SIX SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP games will be broadcast live next weeked in a GAA schedule packed with standout ties.
The RTÉ and BBC cameras will take in the Ulster showdown on Saturday as league champions Derry face Donegal in Celtic Park.
Earlier GAAGO have coverage of last year’s All-Ireland finalists Kerry in their opening championship tie as they welcome Cork to Killarney.
On Sunday, the hurling championship throws in with a blockbuster showdown as Clare take on Limerick in Ennis, live on RTÉ, while GAAGO have the other game in Munster as Waterford host Cork.
RTÉ also have a Connacht football tie as Mayo play Roscommon, while BBC NI have Tyrone against Cavan in the Ulster quarter-final.
Here’s the full list of what’s in store.
Saturday 20 April
Connacht senior football semi-final
- Sligo v Galway, Markievicz Park, 3.30pm.
Munster senior football semi-finals
- Kerry v Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 4pm – GAAGO.
- Waterford v Clare, Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 6pm.
Ulster senior football quarter-final
- Derry v Donegal, Celtic Park, 6.15pm - RTÉ 2 and BBC NI.
Joe McDonagh Cup Round 1
- Down v Meath, Ballycran, 2pm.
Christy Ring Cup Round 2
- Derry v Tyrone, Owenbeg, 1pm.
- London v Sligo, Ruislip, 1pm.
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2
- Donegal v Mayo, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, 2pm.
- Monaghan v Roscommon, Grattan Park, Inniskeen, 2pm.
Lory Meagher Cup Round 2
- Lancashire v Leitrim, Glenavy, 2pm.
- Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 3pm.
Sunday 21 April
Connacht senior football semi-final
- Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 4pm - RTÉ 2.
Ulster senior football quarter-final
- Cavan v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm - BBC NI.
Leinster senior hurling championship Round 1
- Galway v Carlow, Pearse Stadium, 2pm.
- Wexford v Dublin, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm.
- Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.30pm.
Munster senior hurling championship Round 1
- Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm - RTÉ 2.
- Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park, 4pm - GAAGO.
Joe McDonagh Cup Round 1
- Laois v Offaly, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 2pm.
- Westmeath v Kerry, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm.
Christy Ring Cup Round 2
- Kildare v Wicklow, Manguard Park, Hawkfield, 2pm.
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2
- Louth v Armagh, Dowdallshill, Dundalk, 2pm.
Lory Meagher Cup Round 2
- Warwickshire v Longford, Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham, 1pm.
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There are also several underage fixtures on around the country this week across the provinces.
Here’s what’s in store:
Tuesday 16 April
Leinster U20 football quarter-finals
- Meath v Laois, Ashbourne, 7.30pm.
- Louth v Wicklow, Darver, 7.30pm.
Munster minor football championship Phase 1 Round 3
- Clare v Tipperary, Quilty, 7pm.
- Waterford v Limerick, Lemybrien, 7pm.
Wednesday 17 April
Munster U20 football championship Phase 2 Round 2
- Cork v Kerry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm.
- Tipperary v Clare, Ardfinnan, 6.15pm.
Connacht U20 football championship Round 5
- Leitrim v Roscommon, Ballinamore, 6.30pm.
- Mayo v Sligo, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, 6.30pm.
Ulster U20 football championship quarter-finals
- Derry v Cavan, Owenbeg, 7pm.
- Armagh v Monaghan, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm.
Thursday 18 April
Munster minor hurling championship Round 3
- Clare v Limerick, Sixmilebridge, 7pm.
Friday 19 April
Munster U20 hurling championship Round 3
- Waterford v Tipperary, Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 7pm.
Connacht minor football championship Round 2
- Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 6.45pm.
- Roscommon v Galway, Dr Hyde Park, 6.45pm.
Leinster U20 hurling championship Round 1 knockout
- Kildare v Meath, Manguard Park, 7.30pm.
Saturday 20 April
Leinster minor hurling championship Round 1
- Dublin v Wexford, Parnell Park, 2pm.
- Kilkenny v Galway, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm.
Tier 2 Group 1 Round 4
- Westmeath v Antrim, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 2pm.
- Wicklow v Offaly, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm.
Leinster U20 hurling championship Round 1 knockout
- Westmeath v Carlow, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 4pm.
Ulster minor football championship Round 2
- Cavan v Armagh, Kingspan Breffni, 12pm.
- Antrim v Derry, Dunsilly, 12pm.
- Monaghan v Down, Clones, 12pm.
- Fermanagh v Tyrone, Brewster Park, 12pm.
The rule changes can’t make the game any worse to look at as a neutral than the sh!te we have seen for the past number of years. Football is light years behind hurling. Maybe this is the start of the comeback for the big ball.
@Maureen: Why do people feel the need to compare 2 different sports. Might as well compare Gaelic football to horse racing, has about the same relevance
@Mel Roberts: So u can see no comparison between both sports even tho so is so many dual players out there? Need I explain that both use the same pitches, goal posts, scoring system etc?
Football is awful to watch, something needed to be done, the Gaa recognise that mainly because the crowds are turning up. Hopefully these rules are a step in the right direction and bringing it back to the glory days.
@Maureen: that’s where the comparisons end. The glory days? Of what? Catch and kick? Not even look for a man just kick it as hard and as far as you can to the other end of the pitch, watch some of the games from 70s and 80s, awful awful stuff
@Mel Roberts: The likes of Tyrone destroyed the game with their possession basketball sh!te and 15 men behind the ball crap. Thankfully the Dubs put a stop to that.
You do know it’s called football? U can pass the ball with the foot as well? At least the top brass can see this and not handpass/throw the ball from one end to the other.
@Maureen: oh yeah it was Tyrone that destroyed football wasnt it. Maybe a motion should be put before Congress to ban Tyrone from entering the championship for all their sins
@Mel Roberts: how does the likes of Tyrone just mean Tyrone? Ye might as well be banned, if there was a B Championship ye would have a good chance of winning that! Thank f#ck ye are finished. Mickey Harte should stick to the Eurovision ; )
@Maureen: We are finished, won back to back Ulster titles in 2016 and 17 and All Ireland runners up in 2018. Sure lump us in the second tier championship right enough there
Why did Meath players club names suddenly go as gaeilge?
Something had to be done . The garbage football of the last few years was un-watchable .