All-Ireland SFC weekend: All You Need to Know
SATURDAY 2 MAY
Ulster SFC semi-finalDerry v Monaghan, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm
Leinster SFC semi-finalLouth v Dublin, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 7pm
SUNDAY 3 MAY
Leinster SFC semi-finalKildare v Westmeath, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm
Ulster SFC semi-finalArmagh v Down, Clones, 4pm
ONLINEFollow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport.
TVArmagh v Down live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and BBC2 NI. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game from 9.35pm, The Sunday Game from 9.30pm, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Derry v Monaghan, Louth v Dublin and Kildare v Westmeath can be viewed live on GAA+.
RADIOLive commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport as well as Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHERSaturday: Mostly cloudy with widespread showers though some bright spells will develop through the day. The showers will be heavy at times with a chance of thunder. Feeling cooler with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light southeasterly breezes.Sunday: Likely to be another cloudy day for most with widespread showers developing, again turning heavy at times with a chance of thunder. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light northeasterly breezes. For more go to met.ie.
Tales of the provincial unexpected
Recency bias is all around us. This is the way the wind is blowing and the record in one's head is saying such a thing. A shift in the anemometer reading or a liking for another bit of vinyl on the turntable and our view is altered.
The provincial football championships, in a time not that long ago, were viewed by some as the starter course for what would lie ahead. They felt its place in the calendar were in those weeks before St Patrick's Day and the arrival of longer days. A league format of sorts, building up to knockout fare would then be the route taken before Sam Maguire is handed out.
Roscommon and Down have bright prospects of pulling off future shocks
The provincials weren't really getting the juices flowing any more, an opinion heightened by Dublin's dominance in Leinster and Kerry, in the main, having it all their own way down south. Connacht and Ulster are still competitive, but then a shout from a guy down the back: 'some counties have to play four games to get out of Ulster; Kerry have it too handy'. And then there was the 'split Dublin in half' debate.
But the provincial councils stood firm. There would be no watering down of their sacred creations. The four championships remain an integral part of the season, battles worth fighting for in spite of no real tangible reward for the winners, aside from home advantage in the opening round of the All-Ireland series. Reaching a provincial final for a Division 3 or 4 side, however, does bring with it a place in the Sam Maguire - and possible disappointment for others higher up the league rankings.
Job done! - Callum Rogers after Down ended Donegal's reign in Ulster
And so far in this championship year of 2026, things have not run along expected lines. The Leinster and Ulster favourites - Meath and Donegal - are no more, both caught in a respective whirlwind of Westmeath and Down's making. A case now of both taking breath in advance of the upcoming salvage operations. Dublin were somewhat jittery in overcoming Wicklow, taking advantage of the Garden County's radar being off with the game there to be won.
Next up is Louth, with Ger Brennan set to watch from afar as he continues to serve his 12-week ban. The Dubs, for the first time in 24 years, square up to the reigning Leinster champions.
Elsewhere in Leinster, Kildare and Westmeath eye a final berth, with the latter also seeking a last-16 spot and a shot at the summer's main prize.
Down, who also are desperately seeking Sam, will be buoyed by last weekend's brilliance and will no doubt relish a crack off Armagh. On paper it's the game of the weekend but such is the way of things across this weekend all games are drawing us in, including Derry-Monaghan in the remaining Ulster semi-final. A couple of pairings we did not expect only adds to the sense of anticipation.
For now all is well in the provincial world.
Down on the up - so be wary
It wasn't until 1960 that an Ulster side lifted Sam Maguire for the first time. Down were the team to do it. They came back in '61 and retained their title. Three more All-Irelands have followed since for the Mourne County. Mention Down football and style and swagger come to mind. In their pomp, they have no regard for reputations. Kerry know that all too well, as do Donegal after Jim McGuinness's men were swept aside in Letterkenny on Sunday last.
League form counted for little, as concerns in advance for Down after they struggled to get past Wexford in claiming Division 3 silverware, had no bearing on what transpired. Even when the hosts drew level at a crucial stage in the second half, Conor Laverty's men pulled clear again, aided by Miceal Rooney's second goal. Rooney, Odhran Murdock, Daniel Guinness, Ceilum Doherty and Adam Crimmon all excelled for Down on day when Pat Havern was somewhat quiet but still kicked seven points.
Laverty may have now have wiped a certain screengrab from his phone, with thoughts turning as to how Armagh can be defeated. Kieran McGeeney's side were in full flow, particularly in the opening half against Fermanagh, as they scored at will. They did, however, concede 1-20 in the second period, with the Ernesiders' Darragh McGurn putting on a two-point masterclass. A concern then for the Orchard as they eye a first Ulster title since 2008.
Jim McGuinness pointed out that Donegal could not handle 'free-scoring Down' and it would be no surprise to see the Mournemen adopt a similar front-footed approach in Clones. How Armagh deal with Odhran Murdock and more time into the legs of Ciarán Mackin (below) after his return against Fermanagh are just some of the bones to pick from a narrative that is more likely than not to end with another championship score-fest. The slight nod goes in the direction of team team in orange.
Derry-Monaghan lived up to their part of the bargain in getting this far.
Ciarán Meenagh's men underlined their favourites tag against Antrim with an emphatic display that saw a spread of nine scorers and numerous goal chances created. The only note of Oak Leaf concern from a one-sided encounter would be the failure to convert more of those green-flag chances.
Monaghan were relatively comfortable in overcoming neighbours Cavan in their quarter-final. That said, they needed Rory Beggan to stand tall between the posts in denying the Breffni a couple of more goals late on.
Lachlan Murray finding the net against the Saffrons
In a season of surprises/shocks so far, you would not rule out Monaghan even though Derry's graph is on the rise. At the top end of the field, Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan and Lachlan Murray have the ability to win their own ball and equally score.
That attacking thrust should swing it in Derry's favour as they look to regain the Anglo Celt. Meenagh's squad looks a fore formidable unit from that which landed that provincial silverware in 2022 and '23.
Wee County still have big ambitions
One of the standout moments from last year's championship was Louth ending a 68-year wait for a Leinster title. Beating a Meath in the decider and banishing the memory of Joe Sheridan's crushing intervention in 2010 made it all the more sweeter. Mickey Harte and Ger Brennan built up Louth's stock and Gavin Devlin has added a few more building blocks.
Dara McDonnell (above), operating at No 6, has been catching the eye, with established names like Tommy Durnin, Sam Mulroy and Ciarán Keenan still putting in a shift.
Louth, after dismissing Wexford, are favourites to beat Dublin in Portloaise. The tag is justified, if only for how the Dubs scraped past Wicklow in Aughrim.
Paddy Small's 1-06 haul and, in particular, his 58th-minute goal ultimately nudged Dublin to victory. Charlie McMorrow struck the other goal while Seán Bugler weighed in with crucial points. Selector Dean Rock took charge of Dublin in the absence of suspended manager Ger Brennan and won't have too many fond memories of his debut.
Brian Fenton: All-out approach against Louth could reinvigorate Dublin
That was a fortnight ago. A long time in modern-day championship football, but do Dublin have it in them to rise above a mediocrity that has coursed through their performances? We saw flashes of what they could be during the league, just flashes mind you.
Con O'Callaghan, Eoin Murchan and Colm Basquel were forced off during the Wicklow game but O'Callaghan and Murchan are fit enough to start in Portaoise, with Basquel now not in the squad. Dublin make two changes to the starting XV that faced the Garden County: Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and Ciarán Kilkenny come into team in place of Greg McEneaney and Páidí White.
Dublin XV v Louth: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Tom Lahiff, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Con O'Callaghan
Subs: Hugh O'Sullivan, Seán MacMahon, Eoghan O'Callaghan, Cian O'Connor, Cian Murphy, Seán Guiden, Ethan Dunne, Theo Clancy, Niall O'Callaghan, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello
A full hand for Dublin and who knows they may yet win the most open Leinster championship in years. What a twist that would be. Louth, however, are a seasoned bunch, and have it in them to deal with any Dubs upturn.
Shane Corcoran (left) and Matthew Whittaker after the Lake County stunned Meath
Westmeath's penchant for goals continued in their stunning win against Meath in what was only their second-ever championship victory over their neighbours. Fully deserved it was too. Westmeath, on the wrong end of many narrow defeats over the last year, stood tall late on to repel the Royal surge.
Manager Mark McHugh spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards about "a gameplan" that worked to a tee, highlighting the players' "work rate and clinical finishing", while also lavishing praise on the inside forward line of Shane Corcoran, Luke Loughlin and Brandon Kelly.
Loughlin, though, went off injured during the second half in Tullamore. He will now miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring tear and tendon rupture. A huge blow for Westmeath.
Youngsters Eoin Cully and Ben Loakman played a key role in Kildare's win against Laois. Darragh Kirwan also played his part as the Lilies won by five. Loughlin's injury will offer Kildare greater hope of reaching the decider. That said, Westmeath's scoring threat seems greater and just get the vote to march on and avoid the Tailteann Cup.
