Sold-out games and knockout ties as race for Sam heats uppublished at 14:39 BST
14:39 BST
Donegal v Cork (15:00 BST)
While World Cup fans must wait a couple of weeks for the knockout stages to start at Fifa’s expanded 48-team quadrennial showpiece, jeopardy will be prominent during this weekend’s All-Ireland SFC fixtures.
Like Fifa, the GAA tinkered with the format of its blue riband competition this year, meaning no county was eliminated in round one.
It means that for the first time this year, all 16 counties competing for the Sam Maguire Cup will be in action across the same weekend.
Four counties will secure a quarter-final spot, while it will be the end of the road for another four.
And with four of this weekend’s games having already sold out, there is a sense of intense anticipation as the All-Ireland series heats up.
Read BBC Sport NI’s bumper preview ahead of a big weekend of action here.
Image source, Getty Images and Inpho