And then there were 12.
It’s all hotting up now. Three rounds of the qualifiers have flown past us just like that and now a place in the Super 8s is only one game away for the last team’s standing.
They’ve been walking a tightrope for weeks and now they’re nearly back on track.
It was a shock and a loss to see Mayo fall by the wayside earlier than usual but it’ll be interesting to see if this Kildare team can kick on next time around. Cian O’Neill has stayed loyal to his side’s tactics despite struggles earlier in the year and his persistence seems to be paying dividends.
The draw for Round Four of the qualifiers took place on Monday morning and it thrown up four enticing battles. Indeed, Saturday promises to be a bloody bonanza of gaelic football.
The draw definitely could've been a lot kinder to Laoishttps://t.co/I4dUcGLY9R
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 2, 2018
Sky Sports confirmed on Monday that they would be showing Cork Tyrone live from Portlaoise as well as Kildare’s test against Fermanagh in Navan at 7.00.
That Cork Tyrone clash is part of the sweet double header taking place in Portlaoise on Saturday evening with Kevin McStay’s Roscommon eager to bounce back from Connacht final despair against a rallying Armagh outfit in the game prior.
With the pressure on, RTÉ stepped up and they announced on Tuesday morning that they would be showing Armagh Roscommon live on RTÉ News Now.
That means there will be three football games live on our televisions at 3, 5 and 7.00 on Saturday afternoon. It’s hard to complain about that.
Roscommon v Armagh (RTÉ News Now)
Saturday, 3pm, PortlaoiseCork v Tyrone (Sky Sports)
Saturday, 5pm, PortlaoiseFermanagh v Kildare (Sky Sports)
Saturday, 7pm, Navan
Laois v Monaghan
Sunday, 2pm, Navan
Then on Sunday, RTÉ will be in Thurles for the Leinster final replay of Galway and Kilkenny which throws in at 3.00.
The only ones we’re missing out on are the All-Ireland preliminary hurling quarter finals which take place on Saturday evening. Beaten Joe McDonagh finalists Westmeath take on Wexford here while Limerick travel to Cullen Park for a Carlow clash.
Laois and Monaghan must also feel aggrieved that their game is the only qualifier not being shown live this weekend. Fans from both of those counties will just have to travel to Navan to support their teams.
