The GAA championship season kicks into high gear this weekend with a packed schedule of crucial encounters across the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Tailteann Cup competitions. With glorious weather forecast and several high-profile clashes on the cards, football fans across the country are in for a treat as the championship begins to take shape.
The standout fixture undoubtedly comes from Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening, where Connacht champions Galway welcome a wounded Dublin side still reeling from their shock Leinster semi-final exit. Meanwhile, Kerry begin their All-Ireland defense against a Roscommon team with potent forwards but defensive frailties. With betting platforms like Leonbet offering attractive odds on the weekend’s action, punters across Ireland are analyzing form guides and injury updates ahead of what promises to be a revealing weekend of championship football.
All-Ireland SFC
Group 2
Kerry v Roscommon, Fitzgerald Stadium, 2.30pm
The Kingdom begin their All-Ireland defense at home to Anthony Cunningham’s Roscommon in what many see as a relatively soft landing for Jack O’Connor’s men. Kerry have racked up an impressive 24 goals already this year – the highest tally of any county – and their forward line appears to be firing on all cylinders despite the absence of suspended Paudie Clifford.
Roscommon earned promotion back to Division 1 for next season but their recent form raises questions, with just one win in their last five games (against London). While their forward division looks threatening with the return of Ciaran Murtagh and a fit Ben O’Carroll, their defensive frailties were brutally exposed by Galway in the Connacht semi-final.
“You’d have to fear for Roscommon’s defense against this Kerry attack,” said former Kingdom star Tomás Ó Sé. “Every time Galway went forward in the Connacht semi, they seemed to come away with a score. Against David Clifford and company, that’s a recipe for disaster.”
Group 4
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 5pm
The weekend’s most anticipated clash sees Galway and Dublin renew their increasingly spicy rivalry at Pearse Stadium. This fixture carries added significance following Dublin’s shock Leinster exit to Meath – the first time they’ve failed to reach the provincial final since Brian Cowen was Taoiseach.
Pádraic Joyce’s Galway have received a major boost with the return of talisman Shane Walsh, who has been sidelined since the league clash between these sides in Croke Park. That night, Walsh and Rob Finnerty were withdrawn at half-time after what Joyce described as “missing 2-10 between them.” Unfortunately for the Tribesmen, Damien Comer remains absent through injury.
Dublin’s vulnerabilities were laid bare against Meath, with issues on their kickout and an uncharacteristic looseness in possession. Their away form has been questionable throughout the league, suffering heavy defeats to both Armagh and Tyrone. The absence of Sean Bugler, who scored two goals against Galway in their league encounter, is another blow for Dessie Farrell’s men.
“Last year’s quarter-final win was Galway’s first championship victory over Dublin in 90 years,” noted former Galway star Pádraic Joyce. “There’s a psychological barrier broken now, and with Shane Walsh back, they’ll fancy their chances of making it two in a row.”
Tailteann Cup
Group 2
Waterford v Offaly, Walsh Park, 1.30pm
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 6pm
Group 1
Tipperary v Kildare, Clonmel, 4pm
Kildare travel to Clonmel having posted an intimidating 0-36 against Leitrim in their opening fixture. The Lilywhites look a class above in the competition, and Tipperary will have their work cut out despite only losing by five to Sligo in their opener.
Group 3
Antrim v Limerick, Corrigan Park, 4.30pm
Antrim will look to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Westmeath when they welcome Limerick to Corrigan Park.
All-Ireland SFC
Group 3
Clare v Down, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosog, 2pm
In what has been dubbed the “Group of Life,” Clare and Down meet in a fixture that could prove crucial to both counties’ hopes of advancing. Clare find themselves in the Sam Maguire courtesy of the Munster Council’s refusal to seed their provincial championship, while Down are here on merit as last year’s Tailteann Cup winners.
Peter Keane’s Clare showed strong form in Division 3, beating both Offaly and Kildare before narrowly missing out on promotion on score difference. Down, under Conor Laverty, were unfortunate to be relegated from Division 2 despite beating Monaghan in Clones on the final day.
“Both teams will see this as their most winnable fixture in the group,” said former Down manager James McCartan. “Whoever loses will be under serious pressure with Monaghan and Louth to come.”
Group 4
Mayo v Cavan, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 2.30pm
Mayo look to bounce back from their dispiriting Connacht final defeat to Galway as they welcome Cavan to Castlebar. Kevin McStay’s men were level with 18 minutes remaining against Galway with a strong wind at their backs but failed to capitalize, with poor shooting once again their Achilles heel.
Cavan arrive with little momentum following their Ulster exit to Tyrone – their 10th successive championship defeat to the Red Hands in a barren run stretching back to the early 1980s. Raymond Galligan’s side narrowly missed out on promotion from Division 2, with Dara McVeety’s missed equalizer against Cork proving costly.
“There’s a growing fatalism in Mayo that their best shot at silverware is gone,” observed former captain Andy Moran. “The lack of a reliable left-footed free-taker continues to haunt them, and their stats from two-point range are worrying.”
Tailteann Cup
Group 1
Leitrim v Sligo, Avant Money Páirc Sean MacDiarmada, 1.30pm
Tony McEntee’s Sligo, one of the pre-tournament favorites, face a Leitrim side still reeling from their 0-36 to 0-14 hammering at the hands of Kildare. This local derby will be broadcast live on GAA+.
Group 3
London v Westmeath, Ruislip, 2pm
Westmeath make the journey to Ruislip buoyed by Luke Loughlin’s remarkable 1-17 haul against Antrim in the opening round.
Group 4
Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm
Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm
Group 4 was blown wide open by Carlow’s shock victory over Fermanagh in the opening round. Mikey Bambrick’s 2-04 helped the Barrowsiders to a stunning away win, and they’ll look to build on that against Division 4 table-toppers Wexford.
Fermanagh, pre-tournament favorites for the Tailteann Cup, must bounce back against a Longford side who have struggled this season and are missing key players including talisman Darren Gallagher.
Where to Watch and Listen
ONLINE
Live blog on the All-Ireland SFC action, with Tailteann Cup updates, on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app across Saturday and Sunday.
TV
Live coverage of Kerry-Roscommon and Galway-Dublin on GAA+ on Saturday. The Tailteann Cup meeting of Leitrim and Sligo will be broadcast on GAA+ on Sunday.
Highlights on The Saturday Game (9.40pm) and The Sunday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on Saturday Sport/Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, Spórt an tSathairn/Spórt an Lae ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Weather Forecast
Football fans can look forward to glorious conditions across the weekend:
Saturday: Sunny and warm with highest temperatures of 17-23 degrees, coolest in eastern coastal counties, with light to moderate easterly breezes.
Sunday: Widespread sunshine continuing with temperatures reaching 20-24 degrees and light to moderate northerly winds.
“This weekend will tell us a lot about where several teams stand,” concluded former Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice. “Dublin’s response to their Leinster exit, Kerry’s title defense, Mayo’s ability to bounce back – there are fascinating storylines everywhere you look. The championship is only getting started.”
