All-Ireland semi-finals - all you need to know
Armagh face Kerry on Saturday while Donegal take on Galway in Sunday
- Published
After a pulsating double-hit of All-Ireland Hurling semi-final action, it's over to the football as four becomes two in the race for Sam.
In terms of entertainment, Galway, Donegal, Armagh and Kerry are under pressure to deliver after a couple of epic semi-final encounters in the small ball code, with Clare beating Kilkenny and Cork toppling five-in-a-row seeking Limerick.
Free-flowing, attacking football would also be a welcome sight this weekend after a set of quarter-finals that lacked drama outside of Galway's epic win over holders Dublin, although Derry's loss to Kerry did turn out to be Mickey Harte's last stand with the Oak Leafers.
There is plenty of intrigue, however, as the four contenders for Sam make their way back to Croke Park.
Match details
Saturday, 13 July - Kerry vs Armagh, 17:30 BST, Croke Park
Sunday, 14 July - Donegal vs Galway, 16:00 BST, Croke Park
Can I watch on the BBC and who are the pundits?
Yes, you can watch both semi-finals on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & BBC Two Northern Ireland.
Coverage of Armagh v Kerry on Saturday begins at 17:00 BST, while the build-up to Donegal v Galway begins at 15:40 BST on Sunday.
A stellar cast of former All-Ireland winners will be part of the broadcast including Philly McMahon (eight titles with Dublin), Owen Mulligan (three titles with Tyrone), Michael Murphy (Donegal captain in 2012), Oisin McConville (2002 winner with Armagh) and the recently-departed Derry manager Mickey Harte, who famously managed Tyrone to three All-Ireland titles.
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentaries, clips, reports, reaction and highlights from both games.
Are replays possible?
No. There must be a winner on the day so extra-time and penalties are possible.
When is the final?
The All-Ireland Football final will be held on Sunday, 28 July at Croke Park (throw-in time TBC).
This will also be available on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & BBC Two Northern Ireland.
Team news - Kelly and Walsh start for Galway
Kerry and Armagh have both named unchanged teams for Saturday's semi-final with Orchard boss Kieran McGeeney opting not to start Stefan Campbell despite his positive impact off the bench against Roscommon.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaoich, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Joe O’Connor; Tony Brosnan, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan; David Clifford, Seanie O’Shea, Paul Geaney.
Subs: Shane Murphy, Dylan Casey, Cillian Burke, Mike Breen, Sean O'Brien, Adrian Spillane, Barry Dan O'Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Stephen O'Brien, Dylan Geaney, Graham O'Sullivan, Armin Heinrich, Darragh Roche.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Paul McGrane; Barry McCambridge, Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Forker; Niall Grimley, Ben Crealey; Oisin Conaty, Rian O’Neill, Joe McElroy; Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt.
Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy, Aidan Nugent, Oisin O'Neill, Stefan Campbell, Shane McPartlan, Ross McQuillan, Jarly Og Burns, Darragh McMullan.
The big news out of the Galway camp is that Sean Kelly and Shane Walsh are named to start.
Kelly was forced off injured in the first half against Dublin while Walsh hobbled off in the second half with Padraic Joyce admitting the forward's injury didn't "look too good".
Joyce names the same 15 the started the win over Dublin.
Donegal boss Jim McGuinness, meanwhile, has been forced into a change with Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui drafted in for Conor O'Donnell.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Ciaran Moore, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui, Shane O'Donnell, Daire O Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O'Donnell.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Odhran Doherty, Luke McGlynn, Mark Curran, Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan, Aaron Doherty, Charles McGuinness.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Sean Mulkerrin; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly; Matthew Tierney, John Maher, Cillian McDaid; Rob Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, John Daly, Eoghan Kelly, Daniel O'Flaherty, Kieran Molloy, Cathal Sweeney, Cein Darcy, Johnny Heaney, Liam O Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Niall Daly.
Armagh vs Kerry - Can Orchard reach first final since 2003?
Kieran Donaghy and Kieran McGeeney faced each other in Kerry and Armagh's last championship meeting in 2006. Donaghy is now one of the coaches on McGeeney's Armagh backroom team
Few counties have endured as much heartache as Armagh in recent seasons. Penalty shootout defeats in the last two Ulster finals, with another two in All-Ireland quarter-finals, the Orchard men deserve huge credit for refusing to wallow in self-pity.
After their latest shootout agony, Kieran McGeeney's side rebounded to top their All-Ireland group before seeing off Roscommon in the quarter-finals.
Saturday will be Armagh's first semi-final since 2005, but they are determined to go even further and reach the decider for the first time since they were denied back-to-back titles by Tyrone in 2003.
Standing in their way are Kerry, who wore down Derry in a desperately dull quarter-final to reach this stage.
The Kingdom have been familiar opponents for Armagh in the league in recent years, but this is their first championship tussle since 2006 (a quarter-final win for Kerry).
While Kerry are favourites, Armagh will not approach Saturday with fear after seeing how Derry managed to keep a number of the Kingdom's danger men quiet for periods in the quarter-final.
Derry's issue, of course, was scoring. Ten points was a paltry return for the Oak Leafers, but Armagh have excelled at times in attack this year, scoring eight goals in the championship.
The counties' last meeting saw Kerry edge a tight Division One game in Tralee 0-12 to 0-11 in February 2023. That game will have little bearing on this weekend, but if Armagh decide to go after Kerry, this could turn into an exciting shootout.
Donegal vs Galway - McGuinness one step from another final
The last time Donegal contested an All-Ireland semi-final was 10 years ago. They beat Dublin that day before losing to Kerry in the final.
They were the final days of Jim McGuinness' first spell as Donegal boss, and a decade on, he is trying to go one better in the first year of his second coming.
Even the most ardent Donegal fans have been surprised by the speed with which McGuinness - who famously led the Tir Chonaill to Sam in 2012 - has breathed new life into the county.
After a disastrous 2023, he has already delivered promotion back to Division One, an Ulster title and a return to the business end of the All-Ireland series.
They were too strong for Louth in the last eight but 2022 beaten finalists Galway represent a considerable step-up in opposition.
The Tribesmen, who last lifted Sam in 2001, delivered the shock of the summer so far a fortnight ago, beating Dublin by a point on nerve-shredding evening inside Croke Park.
While Shane Walsh is an injury doubt, in Dylan McHugh, John Maher and Cillian McDaid, Galway have some of the most in-form players in the championship, so if Donegal are to reach the final, they will require their best performance of the year.
McGuinness and Galway boss Padraic Joyce are good friends, having played together on IT Tralee's Sigerson Cup-winning team in 1998. Friendship will be put to the side, though, as both men aim to lead their counties into the final.
"If we couldn’t win it, I’d be delighted for Padraic and Galway," McGuinness said after his side's quarter-final win.
"We had great times together, he is a great fella, a great football man and is very driven. We have great memories down in Tralee and have always stayed in contact."
This will be Donegal and Galway's first championship meeting since 2017. Galway won that one by 15 points, but Sunday will surely be a much tighter affair.