Two belters of games.
As it stands, Kildare are the team of the moment. The Lilywhites stood their ground against the GAA last week and they got their reward.
Their reward was a home venue for their clash with Mayo and they made the St Conleth’s Park advantage count on Saturday evening when they made an even important stand against Mayo.
Cian O’Neill’s side had no shortage of motivation going into that one. Let’s not forget, this is a team who had lost 12 games on the trot when they were knocked out of the Leinster championship by Carlow this year.
There'd be some scramble for tickets for this game (if Kildare make it) https://t.co/VUwaGEKUxO
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 2, 2018
At rock bottom, they had no option but to fight. They did that up in Owenbeg when they took Derry out and they backed it up when they came out fighting from that tough challenge against Longford the week after.
So coming into this Mayo game, they had built up a head of steam on the field of play as well as off it. They faced the unenviable challenge in the most durable team the GAA has ever seen but Kildare pulled the fat from the fire when it mattered most.
Now, the men in white are on the crest of a wave and their gunning for the Super 8s. GAA folk all over the country will be keenly following their Qualifier Round Four clash with Fermanagh next week and luckily for them it’s the one that’s been chosen for live coverage on Sky Sports.
The other game to be broadcast on Saturday evening is the clash of Cork and Tyrone. The Red Hand county have impressively navigated their way past a few potential banana skins in the qualifiers this year.
After abandoning the defensive structure that served them so well last year against Monaghan in Ulster, Mickey Harte’s men have reverted the type and they look like more of a solid unit on the back of that.
Cork, meanwhile, have face to save after their shocking showing vs. Kerry in the Munster decider.
The times, dates and venues of all of next weekend’s four qualifiers are TBC but Sky Sports have confirmed via that these two games will take place at 5.00 and 7.00 respectively on Saturday evening.
In fairness, Roscommon Armagh and Laois Monaghan are also enticing ties, but Sky have made the right call with their choice here.
Roscommon v Armagh
Saturday, 3pm, Portlaoise
Cork v Tyrone (Sky Sports)
Saturday, 5pm, Portlaoise
Fermanagh v Kildare (Sky Sports)
Navan, 7pm
Laois v Monaghan
Sunday, 2pm, Navan
