Aidan Nugent sends one wide are Armagh launch their first attack.

The Galway fans are vastly outnumbered at Croke Park, which is a sea of orange.

Galway are playing keep-ball in the early stages under the glorious Dublin sunshine.

Conleith Gilligan
Former Derry forward on Radio Ulster

Here. We. Go.

This could be something else.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

As expected, Jones' Road was awash with the unmistakable sight of Armagh jerseys from early on this morning.

Sure, the incessant blaring of horns can be a little ear-splitting, but then again, the Orchard County faithful haven't seen their side in an All-Ireland quarter-final since 2017, so they may as well make as much noise as possible.

But make no mistake: there is no shortage of 'G' licence plates in Drumcondra today. Galway are in town and are out to add more memories to a year that has already delivered promotion back to Division One and a record-equalling 48th Connacht title.

The Tribesmen have a notoriously poor record in Croke Park championship games, of course, having won just one in their last 13 visits (against Kerry in 2018).

That year saw Galway's most recent All-Ireland semi-final appearance, but you have to go all the way back to 2005 for Armagh's, when Orchard hearts were broken by that Peter Canavan free.

Even if we don't get quite the same level of late drama this afternoon, this one promises to be a cracker - and much closer than Derry's five-goal demolition job on Clare yesterday.

Image source, BBC Sport

The last competitive meeting between the sides was in the 2016 league, when they drew 1-15 each in Division Two.

Galway last reached the semi-final in 2018 when they lost to all-conquering Dublin, while Armagh's last semi-final was in 2005 when they lost to arch-rivals Tyrone after a replay.

Galway have a poor record in Croke Park over the last 20 years, winning only one (v Kerry in 2018) of 13 championship games. They drew with Donegal in the 2003 quarter-final but otherwise it has been disappointment all the way, losing 11 games to Kerry (2002-2008-2014-2017), Tyrone (2004), Cork (2005-2013), Donegal (2015), Tipperary (2016), Dublin (2018), Mayo (2021).

We don't need many excuses to show dogs so here is Armagh's number one fan.

The stage is set...

Image source, BBC Sport

Every little helps!

Armagh's All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Benny Tierney believes the Orchard County go into Sunday's quarter-final against Galway as marginal favourites.

The weekend's third last-eight tie is widely agreed to be the toughest to call with little separating the sides on paper.

"Galway are a Division Two side and we're a Division One side but they're equally as good as us," Tierney said.

He added: "The bookies have it at 50/50 and I think that's a genuine call.

"The way we've come back in the last two games plus Galway are without competitive football in the last wee while, I think we're slight favourites for this one."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Image source, Getty Images

Rian O'Neill was back to his brilliant best in Armagh's qualifier win over Donegal, hitting 1-7 to help avenge the Ulster semi-final defeat in Ballybofey.

O'Neill has been deployed deeper to great effect recently but he produced a full-forward masterclass the last time he graced the green of Croke Park, scoring 1-4 in Armagh's Division One win over Dublin in January.

Can the Crossmaglen sharpshooter deliver another scoring clinic with the stakes so much higher?

Galway: Gleeson, Silke, S Kelly, Glynn, McHugh, Daly, Molloy, Conroy, McDaid, Patrick Kelly, Tierney, Heaney, R Finnerty, Comer, Walsh.

Subs: Keane, Foley, Mannion, Sweeney, Daly, Paul Kelly, Gallagher, O'Laoi, E Finnerty, Conneely, Culhane.

Armagh: Rafferty, Morgan, Forker, C O'Neill, McKay, McCabe, Burns, Sheridan, Crealey, Grugan, Campbell, Murnin, Nugent, R O'Neill, Duffy.

Subs: Hughes, Shields, Rowland, Higgins, Connaire Mackin, Woods, Turbitt, Ciaran Mackin, Hall, Kieran, McConville.

Peter Canavan
Former Tyrone captain and BBC pundit

Armagh were tipped as one of the favourites for the Ulster Championship but came undone against Donegal which pitched them into the qualifiers.

A superb performance saw them battle past Tyrone in the first qualifier and they booked their spot in the last eight when a demolition job against Donegal - which was revenge for their initial Ulster exit.

Image source, Inpho

It was a good Saturday for Armagh's women's team as they reached the quarter-finals.

Armagh beat Monaghan 2-12 to 0-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Ladies SFC while Cavan were edged out 2-6 to 1-8 by Tipperary.

Aimee Mackin scored 0-4 for Armagh to book a last-eight berth against Kerry, who defeated Westmeath 2-17 to 0-9.

Niamh Coleman (1-1) and Blaithin Mackin were the goal-scorers for the Orchard county while captain Kelly Mallon contributed four frees.

Monaghan and Cavan will both take part in relegation play-offs.

Image source, Inpho

Galway booked their place in the last eight of the All Ireland with the simplest route possible - by becoming champions of Connacht.

Mayo were dispatched in the quarter-final before they hammered Leitrim in the semis.

A three-point victory over Roscommon in the final saw Padraic Joyce's reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Image source, Inpho

Derry boss Rory Gallagher believes his side must "improve massively" if they are to reach the All-Ireland final despite Saturday's emphatic quarter-final win over Clare.

The Ulster champions put five goals past Clare to cruise into the last four of the All-Ireland series for the first time since 2004.

Derry will face either Armagh or Galway for a place in the 24 July final and Gallagher insists his players must operate at an even higher level to beat either of those counties.

"We've enjoyed our period with everyone available," said Gallagher.

"We've built, we haven't been perfect but we've done an awful lot right and now we have to improve massively going into the game because with all due respect to Clare, they haven't been in the latter stages (of the championship).

"Armagh have been a Division One team for the last number of years and have beaten Tyrone and Donegal, while Galway have been in Division One, apart from this year, for the last four or five years and have been in an All-Ireland semi-final (in 2018) and a National League final.

"Whoever comes down it'll be a big step-up."

Derry stormed into the All-Ireland Football semi-finals for the first time since 2004 with a commanding 5-13 to 2-8 win over Clare in a one-sided quarter-final contest at Croke Park.

Four weeks on from their memorable Ulster triumph, the Oak Leaf County had their first All-Ireland quarter-final in 15 years virtually wrapped up by half-time after hitting three first-half goals.

Benny Heron and Conor Glass raised early green flags to put Derry in the ascendancy, and while Clare briefly threatened a revival when Pearse Lillis shot past Odhran Lynch three minutes before the break, Padraig Cassidy's goal gave Rory Gallagher's side a nine-point advantage at the halfway point.

Derry found two more goals - taking their championship total this year to 10 - either side of an Eoin Cleary strike through Gareth McKinless and Shane McGuigan to complete the demolition job and take their place in the last four where they will face either Armagh or Galway.

Dublin joined Derry in the last four with a comfortable 0-20 to 0-10 victory over Cork, setting up a semi-final meeting with either Mayo or Kerry.

Read Matt Gault's full report from Croke Park here.

Image source, Inpho

Yesterday was pretty good for Derry, now can Armagh follow suit and make it two Ulster counties in the last four?

It's a tricky test for Kieran McGeeney's side as Galway stand in their way as the Orchard County look to win a first All-Ireland since 2003.

You can follow this afternoon's game live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle and right here online.

Image source, BBC Sport