THE draw for football’s All-Ireland semi-finals will take place live on TV straight after Kerry’s tussle with Armagh concludes.
This is in stark contrast to the quarter-final draw which once again was held on RTE Radio One the morning after the last day of the group stages took place.
As usual, that draw being reserved for the less spectacular setting of Morning Ireland drew widespread ire from fans nationwide.
The GAA have confirmed that the semi-final pairings will be structured so as to avoid repeat match-ups from this year’s Championship from occurring.
For example, Dublin cannot play Meath given they clashed in the Leinster Championship in April.
Armagh would also be precluded from squaring off against Tyrone since the neighbours faced off in an Ulster Championship semi-final.
Holders Armagh’s renewal of acquaintances with Kerry looks to be the pick of an admittedly stacked bunch of fixtures this weekend.
Kingdom boss Jack O’Connor has already suffered a blow ahead of Sunday’s 4pm throw-in as his side will be without injured quartet Mike Breen, Tony Brosnan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Tadhg Morley
However, Paul Geaney has returned to the bench after not featuring since sustaining a shoulder injury in the win over Cork four weeks ago.
Paudie Clifford is held in reserve again after being introduced as a second-half sub in last weekend’s win over Cavan.
Breen and Brosnan missed the preliminary quarter-final against the Breffni. O’Connor and Morley, who are replaced by Micheál Burns and Dylan Casey, were both injured during the nine-point win in Killarney.
Ben Crealey, Rory Grugan and Oisín Conaty have been named to start for Armagh. Oisín O’Neill remains sidelined and Stefan Campbell also misses out through injury.
Conor Flaherty retains his place in goal for Galway, who are unchanged for their last-eight meeting with Meath on Sunday.
The side announced by Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan for tomorrow’s meeting with Donegal shows two changes from their win against Down.
Stephen Mooney and Killian Lavelle make way for Jack McCarron and Gavin McPhillips. Gary Mohan is a sub after limping off against Clare.
KERRY (SFC v Armagh): S Ryan; P Murphy, J Foley, D Casey; B Ó Beaglaioch, G White, T O’Sullivan; S O’Brien, J O’Connor; M Burns, S O’Shea, G O’Sullivan; D Clifford, C Geaney, D Geaney.
Subs: S Murphy, P Clifford, E Looney, K Spillane, TL O’Sullivan, A Heinrich, M O’Shea, T Kennedy, D Lyne, P Geaney, D Moynihan.
ARMAGH: E Rafferty; P Burns, B McCambridge, P McGrane; R McQuillan, T Kelly, J Óg Burns; N Grimley, B Crealey; D McMullan, R Grugan, J McElroy; O Conaty, A Murnin, R O’Neill.
Subs: B Hughes, G McCabe, A McKay, A Forker, C Mackin, S McPartlan, C Turbitt, C McConville, J Duffy, T McCormack, C O’Neill.
GALWAY (SFC v Meath): C Flaherty; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, L Silke; D McHugh, S Kelly, C Hernon; P Conroy, J Maher; C D’Arcy, M Tierney, C McDaid; R Finnerty, S Walsh, M Thompson.
Subs: C Gleeson, J Glynn, K Molloy, S Ó Maoilchiaráin, D O’Flaherty, J Daly, P Cooke, S O’Neill, T Culhane, J Heaney, D Comer.
MONAGHAN (SFC v Donegal): R Beggan; R Wylie, K Duffy, D Byrne; R O’Toole, D Ward, C McCarthy; M McCarville, G McPhillips; A Carey, M Bannigan, R McAnespie; J McCarron, A Woods, S O’Hanlon.
Subs: K Mulligan, R Boyle, L Kelly, D Hughes, G Mohan, C McNulty, J Irwin, K Lavelle, S Mooney, D Garland, K O’Connell.
ALL-IRELAND QUARTER-FINALS
Saturday June 28
- Monaghan vs Donegal – 4pm – GAA+
- Tyrone vs Dublin – 6.15pm – GAA+
Sunday June 29
- Meath vs Galway – 1.45pm – RTE Two
- Armagh vs Kerry – 4pm – RTE Two
