Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Saturday May 31
All-Ireland SFC Group, Round 2
Group 1
Tyrone v Mayo, O'Neills Healy Park, Omagh, 7pm, GAA+
These are testing times for Mayo. A battling Connacht final defeat to Galway was followed by a Round 1 All-Ireland SFC loss to Cavan that few, outside of Cavan at least, predicted.
Manager Kevin McStay subsequently stepped back from his role due to health issues. A trip to Tyrone is as difficult a first game as it gets for interim manager Stephen Rochford.
Still, he has huge experience and brings continuity to the role and has largely kept faith with the team that lined out against Cavan. Rory Brickenden's return in defence, for Sam Callinan who drops to the bench, is the only change.
Tyrone are fresh off a terrific Round 1 win over Donegal, arguably their biggest win since claiming Sam in 2021.
Malachy O'Rourke has opted to bring Peter Teague back into his full-back line with Padraig Hampsey making way.
Otherwise it's the same starting team with Eoin McElholm, who kicked 2-4 in Wednesday's Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland U-20 final win for Tyrone, listed among the subs. Peter Harte is held in reserve too despite his two-point heroics against Donegal.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin; Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Mattie Donnelly, Ciaran Daly; Darren McCurry, Mark Bradley, Darragh Canavan.
Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Nathan McCarron, Aidan Clarke, Frank Burns, Shea O'Hare, Ben McDonnell, Aodhan Donaghy, Conor Meyler, Peter Harte, Ruairi Canavan, Liam Gray.
MAYO: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Conor Reid, Rory Brickenden; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Dylan Thornton, Mattie Ruane; Jack Carney, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Davitt Neary, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Adrian Phillips, Bob Tuohy, Conal Dawson, Eoin O'Donoghue, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Paddy Durcan, Paul Towey, Sam Callinan, Sean Morahan.
Group 2
Cork v Kerry, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, 4.45pm, GAA+
Just six weeks after their provincial dust up by the Lee, Munster's big two will reconvene for Round 2.
Kerry won that last meeting after extra-time and went on to retain the Munster title though it was a strong Cork showing.
More was expected of John Cleary's side in their round robin opener last weekend against Meath. They never really got going, kicked 0-12 and slipped to a four-point loss.
Kerry, a bit like their provincial win over Cork, finished strongly to see off Roscommon in Round 1. Paudie Clifford missed the Rossies encounter with a muscle injury but is named at centre-forward this time.
The other change to the team is notable as Diarmuid O'Connor, who'd returned from injury to play against Roscommon, drops out from midfield and isn't included in the 26 this time. His place is taken by Graham O'Sullivan though it's Joe O'Connor that partners up with Barry Dan O'Sullivan at midfield. Cork are unchanged.
CORK: Micheal Aodh Martin; Sean Meehan, Daniel O'Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Brian O'Driscoll, Sean Powter, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, Sean McDonnell; Mark Cronin, Cathail O'Mahony, Chris Og Jones.
Subs: Patrick Doyle, Neil Lordan, Sean Brady, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy, Sean Walsh, Conor Cahalane, Ruairi Deane, Eanna O'Hanlon, Hugh O'Connor, Brian Hurley.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Joe O'Connor, Barry Dan O'Sullivan; Graham O'Sullivan, Paudie Clifford, Sean O'Shea; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Micheal Burns.
Subs: Shane Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Dylan Geaney, Armin Heinrich, Paul Murphy, Tony Brosnan, Conor Geaney, Mark O'Shea, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Sean O'Brien.
Roscommon v Meath, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, 6pm
What a boost to Meath the earlier than anticipated return from injury of Jordan Morris has been.
He was sharp when he came on in the Leinster final and his 1-1 against Cork was the difference last weekend in a four-point Round 1 win.
Meath's eighth win from 12 games since Robbie Brennan took charge as manager was a strong bounce back from the Leinster final loss. Brennan has named an unchanged team so Mathew Costello will make his 60th appearance appearance. For Donal Keogan it will be a 60th Championship appearance.
Roscommon lost by seven points to Meath in the league but that was in Navan and they have home advantage this time. They kept pace with Kerry for half an hour in Round 1 but operated largely in the Kingdom's slipstream.
Davy Burke has made just the one change for Roscommon, bringing in Colm Neary at the back for John McManus.
ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Niall Higgins, Colm Neary, David Murray; Ronan Daly, Brian Stack, Senan Lambe; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle; Dylan Ruane, Ciarain Murtagh, Conor Hand; Daire Cregg, Enda Smith, Ben O'Carroll.
Subs: Aaron Brady, Robbie Dolan, Pearse Frost, Ruaidhri Fallon, Shane Cunnane, Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith, Cian McKeon, Shane Killoran, Declan Kenny, Conor Cox.
MEATH: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Ronan Ryan; Donal Keogan, Sean Coffey, Ciaran Caulfield; Daithí McGowan, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Mathew Costello; Jordan Morris, James Conlon, Eoghan Frayne.
Subs: Sean Brennan, Adam O'Neill, Brian O'Halloran, Cathal Hickey, Eoin Harkin, James McEntee, Cian McBride, Conor Gray, Shane Walsh, Keith Curtis, Aaron Lynch.
Group 3
Down v Louth, Pairc Esler, Newry, 5.30pm
This one could be a belter between the north-eastern neighbours. Leinster champions Louth need the points after slipping up to Monaghan last Saturday.
They scored 4-8 but were always chasing the game, not surprising perhaps after landing a first provincial title since 1957.
They need to win this one to avoid a nervous final round against Clare. Tailteann Cup holders Down were fortunate to see off Fermanagh in Ulster but held their own against Donegal and put a terrific 3-27 on the board against Clare in their group opener. Home advantage for them in Newry is huge.
Defensive duo Dermot Campbell and Peter Lynch, along with ex-AFL player Ciaran Byrne at midfield, all come into the Wee County team.
Eugene Branagan comes into the Down line for Adam Crimmins in the only change to Conor Laverty's team.
DOWN: Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough.
Subs: John O'Hare, Finn McElroy, Aaron McClements, Donal Scullion, Shay Millar, Adam Crimmins, Oisin Savage, Caolan Mooney, Finn Murdock, Patrick Brooks, Conor McCrickard.
LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Conal McKeever, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Ciaran Byrne; Bevan Duffy, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes; Ciaran Keenan, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.
Subs: Tiarnan Markey, Liam Jackson, Anthony Williams, Emmet Carolan, Kieran McArdle, Dara McDonnell, Dan Corcoran, Conor Branigan, Ryan Walsh, Dylan McKeown, Paul Matthews.
Donegal forwards Michael Murphy and Oisin Gallen. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Sunday June 1
All-Ireland SFC, Round 2
Group 1
Cavan v Donegal, Kingspan Breffni, Cavan, 2pm
The expectation is that Donegal will bounce back strongly and reel off a statement win to ignite their All-Ireland SFC title bid.
That may yet to come to pass but Cavan proved by beating Mayo in Castlebar that they're a formidable force and a team bang on form.
They were deserved winners in that one and 10 different scorers underlined just how much of a cohesive team they are.
Paddy Lynch's return after long-term injury was significant against Mayo though he is held in reserve this time, along with Gearoid McKiernan - two huge bench options.
Donegal have been boosted by the return of Shaun Patton in goals following an ankle injury. Jim McGuinness has made two other changes to his team, bringing in Peadar Mogan and ultra experienced attacker Patrick McBrearty, the team captain.
CAVAN: Liam Brady; Niall Carolan, Brian O'Connell, Cian Reilly; Padraig Faulkner, Ciaran Brady, Killian Brady; Evan Crowe, Oisin Kiernan; Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Jason McLoughlin; Ryan O'Neill, Ryan Donohoe, Cormac O'Reilly.
Subs: Gary O'Rourke, Luke Fortune, Killian Clarke, Luke Molloy, Cian Madden, Gearoid McKiernan, James Smith, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Oisin Brady, Paddy Lynch, Sean McEvoy.
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Stephen McMenamin, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Caolan McColgan, Mark Curran, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jamie Brennan, Conor O'Donnell, Domhnall MacGilla Bhride.
Group 3
Monaghan v Clare, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, 4pm
Monaghan were one and done in Ulster, losing a tight quarter-final against Donegal back in mid-April.
They had five weeks without a game but their freshness trumped Leinster champions Louth's apparent fatigue in Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC last weekend.
Monaghan put 1-23 on the board that day and displayed yet again that in Stephen O'Hanlon and Micheal Bannigan they have two livewire forwards who can take them deep into this Championship.
At home, against a Clare side coming off back-to-back heavy defeats to Down and Kerry, and having conceded seven goals in those two games, they must fancy their chances.
Experienced forward Jack McCarron is back in the Farney line up for this one.
Peter Keane has drafted in Rory McMahon, Alan Sweeney, Fionn Kelleher and Shane Griffin. The latter three came on as subs in the defeat to Down.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Ryan O'Toole, Dessie Ward, Conor McCarthy; Micheal McCarville, Gary Mohan; Stephen O'Hanlon, Micheal Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie; Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.
Subs: Kian Mulligan, Louis Kelly, Gavin McPhillips, Darren Hughes, Aaron Carey, Ciaran McNulty, Barry McBennett, Killian Lavelle, Jason Irwin, David Garland, Karl O'Connell.
CLARE: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Ronan Lanigan, Rory McMahon; Alan Sweeney, Fionn Kelleher, Ikem Ugweuru; Brian McNamara, Emmet McMahon; Conor Meaney, Dermot Coughlan, Shane Griffin; Mark McInerney, Eoin Cleary, Aaron Griffin.
Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Daniel Walsh, Jamie Stack, Darragh Burns, Evan Cahill, Darren Nagle, Gavan Murray, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Joseph Rafferty, Cillian McGroary, Keelan Sexton.
Group 4
Derry v Galway, Celtic Park, Derry, 2pm, GAA+
After opening round losses for both teams, defeat again simply isn't an option.
Derry are at home and will hope they can carry the momentum from their strong second-half performance against Armagh into this one.
After losing in Ulster to Donegal, and then the Armagh defeat last weekend, on the back of NFL relegation, they need to dig deeper than ever to find a spark to ignite their season.
There are no changes to the Derry team but the return to the bench of highly rated goalkeeper Odhran Lynch after injury is a bonus.
Galway too will be smarting after losing to Dublin. They went down fighting but can't afford another reversal in the most competitive group of them all.
Jack Glynn's return for Cian Hernon in defence is the only change to the team. Notably, Damien Comer is still unavailable for squad duty.
DERRY: Ben McKinless; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Patrick McGurk; Conor Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Ruairi Forbes; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul; Shane McGuigan, Anton Tohill, Niall Toner.
Subs: Odhran Lynch, Niall Loughlin, Ryan Mulholland, Danny McDermott, Dan Higgins, Tommy Rogers, Ben McCarron, Lachlan Murray, Caolan Devlin, Charlie Diamond, Cahir McMonagle.
GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Mulkerrin, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Matthew Thompson, Cillian McDaid, Cein Darcy; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cathal Sweeney, Kieran Molloy, Sean Fitzgerald, Sam O'Neill, Peter Cooke, John Daly, Johnny Heaney, Colm Costelloe, Cian Hernon.
Dublin v Armagh, Croke Park, 4pm, RTE
A quarter of a century ago, Dublin manager Dessie Farrell and Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney were county title winning clubmates at Na Fianna.
That's just down the road from Croke Park where they'll square up as opposing managers. Dublin bounced back from their Leinster semi-final loss to Meath with a terrific win over Galway.
Senior men like Stephen Cluxton and Ciaran Kilkenny led a much improved performance that day while Armagh emerged from a similar battle victorious against Derry last weekend. Rian O'Neill's first appearance of the year was a major boost.
He starts at corner-forward in a team showing just one change from Round 1 - Oisin O'Neill's introduction in place of Conor Turbitt.
Con O'Callaghan limped off against Galway and hasn't made the 26 this time, diminishing their forward options. He is replaced by Tom Lahiff.
Former Dublin hurlers Eoghan O'Donnell and Davy Keogh are both on the bench while Lee Gannon is back from long-term injury and available too.
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Sean MacMahon; Alex Gavin, Brian Howard, Tom Lahiff; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Killian McGinnis; Ciaran Kilkenny, Lorcan O'Dell, Sean Bugler; Brian O'Leary, Cormac Costello, Colm Basquel.
Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Nathan Doran, Lee Gannon, Davy Keogh, Greg McEneaney, Eoghan O'Donnell, Dan O'Leary, Niall Scully, John Small, Paddy Small.
ARMAGH: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane; Ross McQuillan, Tiernan Kelly, Jarly Og Burns; Jason Duffy, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Rian O'Neill, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt.
Subs: Blaine Hughes, Tomas McCormack, Greg McCabe, Connaire Mackin, Cian McConville, Joe McElroy, Niall Grimley, Callum O'Neill, Stefan Campbell, Shane McPartlan, Jemar Hall.
