Ciarán Kilkenny, Dublin, and Galway's Liam Silke and Dylan McHugh in action during the 2024 All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Saturday, May 17
All-Ireland SFC, Round 1
Group 2
Kerry v Roscommon, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 2.30pm, GAA+
With David Clifford in the form of his career, Sean O'Shea fit again and the Geaneys running amok, Kerry will take some stopping.
The Allianz League Division 1 champions will be at home again too, returning to Killarney where they beat Clare 4-20 to 0-21 in the Munster final.
Five-time All-Star Clifford averaged 10 points per game in Munster and, in all, has hit 5-44 in seven starts so far this year.
Kerry's forwards generally are thriving, striking seven goals in their last two games. Barry Dan O'Sullivan is thriving at midfield and partners up with the returning Diarmuid O'Connor.
Goalkeeper Shane Ryan and O'Connor missed the Clare game but both return to the lineup, for Shane Murphy and Tony Brosnan, while Graham O'Sullivan and Paul Murphy are fit again for bench duty. Paudie Clifford doesn't make the 26 despite being available after suspension.
Roscommon comfortably took care of London in a Connacht quarter-final before losing to Galway by nine points. Boss Davy Burke has shaken up his lineup, drafting in defenders Senan Lambe, Ronan Daly and John McManus, midfielder Keith Doyle and attackers Dylan Ruyane, Conor Hand and Daire Cregg.
KERRY: Shane Ryan; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Diarmuid O'Connor, Barry Dan O'Sullivan; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Shea, Micheal Burns; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Tony Brosnan, Armin Heinrich, Paul Murphy, Graham O'Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Mark O'Shea, Conor Geaney, Evan Looney, Sean O'Brien, Damien Bourke, Ruairi Murphy.
ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; Niall Higgins, Brian Stack, David Murray; Senan Lambe, Ronan Daly, John McManus; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle; Dylan Ruane, Enda Smith, Conor Hand; Daire Cregg, Ben O'Carroll, Ciarain Murtagh. Subs: Aaron Brady, Pearse Frost, Tim Lambe, Colm Neary, Shane Killoran, Shane Cunnane, Conor Cox, Declan Kenny, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaran Lennon, James Fitzpatrick.
Group 4
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 5pm, GAA+
This will be Dublin's first game since relinquishing the Leinster SFC title after 14 successful seasons, losing last month to Meath at the semi-final stage.
That was three weeks ago and they have benefited from the return of a number of players from injury in the meantime. Fit again Cian Murphy starts for Dublin in defence, the only change from the team that started against Meath. Sean Bugler hasn't made the 26 though Sean MacMahon and Luke Breathnach are fit enough for places on the bench.
It is still a giant challenge for Dessie Farrell's crew who are desperate to prove that the Meath loss was a mere speed wobble.
Dublin beat Galway at Croke Park in the league, in mid-March, but struggled to contain Damien Comer when he came on that evening. Comer, significantly, isn't fit to feature in the 26 this time but Shane Walsh returns in the only change to their lineup.
Rob Finnerty, Matthew Tierney, Paul Conroy and Cillian McDaid will hope to deliver again like they did in the Connacht final defeat of Roscommon.
It won't get any easier for either team beyond this weekend as Armagh and Derry are also in Group 4. So a fast start and a Round 1 win will be viewed as vital.
GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean O Maoilchiarain, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Matthew Thompson. Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Kieran Molloy, Sean Fitzgerald, John Daly, Sam O'Neill, Cathal Sweeney, Liam O Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Peter Cooke.
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrrell; Cian Murphy, John Small, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Lorcan O'Dell, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello, Nathan Doran, Alex Gavin, Davy Keogh, Sean MacMahon, Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Brian O'Leary, Dan O'Leary.
Aidan O'Shea will line out for Mayo again in the All-Ireland SFC against Cavan on Sunday.
Sunday, May 18
All-Ireland SFC, Round 1
Group 1
Mayo v Cavan, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, 2.30pm
Mayo did enough to edge out Sligo and Leitrim in Connacht before producing their strongest provincial display in the final defeat to Galway.
That game was a cracker as Mayo dug deep to turn an eight-point deficit into a tied game late on, only for Galway to pip them.
Without Johnny McGrath snapping at his heels this time, Ryan O'Donoghue could be even more potent for Mayo. He starts again while Kevin McStay has brought Enda Hession, Davitt Neary and Darren McHale into his XV. Eoghan McLaughlin, Fergal Boland and Tommy Conroy miss out.
A little like Mayo, it's hard to know which Cavan will turn up. They lost their first three league games but then won the next four. In their solitary Ulster SFC game, they never really looked like beating Tyrone but were competitive throughout.
That is the challenge now for Raymond Galligan's side, to be similarly competitive against an All-Ireland contender. Dara McVeety is more than capable of hitting the two-point trail again though Gearoid McKiernan's absence is significant.
Evan Crowe, Cormac O'Reilly and Ryan Donohoe all come into the Breffni team.
MAYO: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Rory Brickenden; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, Mattie Ruane; Davitt Neary, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Darren McHale, Ryan O'Donoghue. Subs: Adrian Phillips, Bob Tuohy, Conal Dawson, Conor Reid, Dylan Thornton, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Kevin Quinn, Paddy Durcan, Paul Towey.
Cavan: Gary O'Rourke; Cian Reilly, Brian O'Connell, Niall Carolan; Jason McLoughlin, Ciarán Brady, Padraig Faulkner; Killian Clarke, Evan Crowe; Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Oisín Kiernan; Cormac O'Reilly, Ryan Donohoe, Cian Madden. Subs: Liam Brady, Luke Fortune, Killian Brady, Barry Donnelly, Luke Molloy, Ruairi Curran, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O'Neill, Seán McEvoy, Oisín Brady, Paddy Lynch.
Group 3
Clare v Down, Zimmer Biomet Pairc Chiosog, Ennis, 2pm
Positive performances in Ulster against both Fermanagh and Donegal have left Down as slight favourites ahead of their trip to Ennis.
Mourne manager Conor Laverty lamented after their six-point Ulster semi-final loss to Donegal that they didn't take more of their goal chances. Feeling regret after a battling display against a genuine All-Ireland contender is the level that the Tailteann Cup holders are now at.
Danny Magill and Pat Havern will bring pace, direct running and two-point scoring ability to Down's attack again. The team is unchanged from the side that faced Donegal.
Clare manager Peter Keane has drafted Conor Meaney in at midfield, replacing Daniel Walsh, in the only change from their Munster final team.
At home, and with score poachers like Emmet McMahon, Keelan Sexton, Eoin Cleary and Mark McInerney in attack, the Banner will fancy a win to kickstart their All-Ireland SFC campaign.
CLARE: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Ikem Ugwueru, Cillian Rouine, Alan Sweeney; Brian McNamara, Conor Meaney; Keelan Sexton, Emmet McMahon, Aaron Griffin; Mark McInerney, Eoin Cleary, Dermot Coughlan. Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Fionn Kelleher, Daniel Walsh, Shane Griffin, Gavan Murray, Darragh Burns, Rory McMahon, Evan Cahill, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Jamie Stack, Brendan Rouine.
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, Oisín Savage, Caolan Mooney, Finn Murdock, Patrick Brooks, Conor McCrickard.
