Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SFC action
Jim McGuinness and Jack O'Connor shake hands following the 2025 All-Ireland SFC Final at Croke Park. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
* The match day panels for all of this weekend's inter-county championship matches can be viewed and downloaded at the bottom of this article.
All-Ireland SFC Round One
Saturday May 23
Kerry v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3pm, GAA+
A repeat of the 2025 All-Ireland SFC Final which Kerry won comfortably. This should be lively.
The Allianz Football League Division One decider culminated in a surprisingly emphatic Donegal triumph. Plenty has happened since that afternoon in Croke Park.
Donegal endured a bitterly disappointing Ulster SFC defeat in Letterkenny against Down. That was a significant setback.
Kerry beaten so convincingly in Croke Park by Donegal, have subsequently overcome Clare and Cork to retain the Munster SFC title. Considering the volume of players unavailable due to injury, it was a satisfactory stint.
Keith Evans has fared well in attack where David Clifford continues to supply class and scores.
Despite losing to Down, Michael Murphy and Oisín Gallen scored heavily for Jim McGuinness' outfit, who will want to deliver in Killarney. Jack O'Connor will have Kerry primed too.
Cork v Meath, Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.30pm, GAA+
Another attractive encounter beckons Leeside. A repeat of the Allianz Football League Division Two decider, Cork and Meath will believe that they can make an impact in the coming weeks and months.
Meath's Leinster SFC bid ended in disappointing fashion against Westmeath, who embarked on a remarkable adventure in the province.
Valuable lessons were learned by the Royals so a response is imminent. With Donal Keogan still going strong and the inventive Jordan Morris prominent, Meath will be striving to reach the Croke Park phase of the Championship.
Cork, with Brian O'Driscoll and Chris Óg Jones prominent, overcame Limerick and Tipperary with goal laden performances before being outfoxed by Kerry.
That second half in Fitzgerald Stadium hurt, but Cork know the value and relevance of this Páirc Uí Rinn battle. Meath flourished in the All-Ireland series last year. So, this should be lively.
Galway v Kildare, Pearse Stadium, 7.30pm, RTE
A thrilling Connacht SFC decider went the distance with Galway caught by a late Roscommon flurry of scores.
Nonetheless, Galway left King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park knowing that their 2026 prospects were boosted considering the effectiveness of Shane Walsh and Damien Comer.
Kildare have endured disappointments this year, a relegation to Division Three of the Allianz Football and the Leinster SFC Semi-Final loss to Westmeath.
In that Westmeath defeat, though, Eoin Cully, Darragh Kirwan, and Ben Lookman performed smartly, and they will now want to examine Galway in Salthill.
Padraic Joyce, the Galway manager, will be hoping that Galway can generate momentum as the championship pace quickens.
Sunday May 24
Roscommon v Tyrone, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm, GAA+
History has taught Roscommon how dangerous a pumped up Tyrone can be in this type of a situation.
Having recaptured the Nestor Cup in such glorious fashion, Roscommon enter this match armed with equal measures of hope and expectation.
The Heneghans are dovetailing nicely with the experienced Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh. Mark Dowd has a vast array of options and Roscommon are moving briskly in the right direction.
Tyrone, though, were defiant against Armagh before losing in extra-time.
Still, Malachy O'Rourke's charges, will head for the Hyde intent on demonstrating their ability. Conn Kilpatrick and Mattie Donnelly excelled against Armagh, while Michael McKernan will drive forward at every available opportunity.
