Michael Langan of Donegal is tackled by Darragh Canavan of Tyrone during the 2024 Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Donegal and Tyrone at Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Saturday 25 May
All-Ireland SFC round 1
Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey, 7.15pm – GAAGO
Donegal make one change to the team that defeated Armagh in the Ulster Final with team captain Patrick McBrearty named at corner-forward and Eoghan Bán Gallagher dropping to the bench.
The last match Tyrone played was also against Donegal when they were narrowly beaten in the Ulster semi-final four weeks ago, and it’ll be interesting to see if the rest has energised them or dulled their edge.
Donegal’s form in recent weeks makes them favourites, but if Tyrone get a good supply of ball into Darren McCurry and the Canavan brothers in their full-forward line they’re capable of pulling off an upset.
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Daire O Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O Donnell. Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Kevin McGettigan, Stephen McMenamin, Odhran Doherty, Domhnall MacGiolla Bhride, Jeaic MacCeallbhuí, Luke McGlynn, Jamie Brennan, Aaron Doherty, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Cathal MacAonghása.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Ben Cullen, Matthew Donnelly, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Ciaran Daly, Michael O’Neill, Sean O’Donnell; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Ruari Canavan. Subs: Oisin O’Kane, Aidan Clarke, Cormac Donnelly, Peter Harte, Dalaigh Jones, Nathan McCarron, Lorcan McGarrity, Cathal McShane, Joe Oguz, Cormac Quinn, Tiernan Quinn
Armagh v Westmeath, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 6pm
Armagh are without key forward, Rian O’Neill, for this match as he hasn’t recovered from the injury he sustained in the Ulster Final defeat to Donegal. He’s replaced by Tiernan Kelly with Conor O’Neill coming in for Greg McCabe.
Westmeath were weakened by injury when knocked out of the Leinster Championship by Wicklow and recall some experienced faces as Kevin Mguire, James Dolan, Ray Connellan, Jamie Gonoud and John Heslin all come into the starting XV.
There wasn’t much between these teams when the met in the All-Ireland SFC group phase last year, but Armagh will start as hot favourites based on form.
ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane; Conor O'Neill, Ciaran Mackin, Aidan Forker; Tiernan Kelly, Ben Crealey; Joe McElroy, Rory Grugan, Stefan Campbell; Oisin Conaty, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt. Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Barry McCambridge, Connaire Mackin, Greg McCabe, Niall Grimley, Oisin O'Neill, Shane McPartlan, Ross McQuillan, Jarly Óg Burns, Aidan Nugent, Jason Duffy.
WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Jamie Gonoud, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, David Lynch; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack; Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O'Toole, Conor Dillon; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Robbie Forde. Subs: Jack Connaughton, Shane Allen, Charlie Drumm, Eoin Mulvihill, Matthew Whittaker, Daniel Scahill, Senan Baker, Lorcan Dolan, Stephen Smith, Kieran Martin, Conor McCormack.
Sam Mulroy of Louth and Adam O'Neill of Meath during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Meath and Louth at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
Louth v Meath, Inniskeen, 5.30pm
Meath make three changes to the team that was defeated by Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final with Ronan Ryan, Cian McBride, and Cillian O’Sullivan coming in for Ross Ryan, Daithi McGowan, and Jordan Morris.
Louth keep faith with the same starting XV that pushed Dublin all the way in the Leinster Final.
Based on those respective performances against Dublin, Louth look to be the more in-form team and are capable of overturning their defeat to their neighbours in the League.
LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch; Conall McKeever, Anthony Williams, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Bevan Duffy; Niall Sharkey, Ciaran Keenan, Conor Grimes; Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy, Ciaran Downey. Subs: Craig Lynch, Chris O'Neill, Peter Mcstravick, Liam Jackson, Dermot Campbell, Ciaran Murphy, Tom Jackson, Leonard Grey, Ciaran Byrne, Conor Early, Paul Mathews.
MEATH: Billy Hogan; Donal Keogan, Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan; Harry O'Higgins, Darragh Campion, Seán Coffey; Ronan Jones, Cian McBride; Ciarán Caulfield, Cillian O'Sullivan, Cathal Hickey; James Conlon, Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne. Subs: Seán Brennan, Michael Murphy, Seán Ryan, Brian O'Halloran, Ross Ryan, Conor Gray, Daithí McGowan, Ruairí Kinsella, Jack O'Connor, Jordan Morris, Aaron Lynch.
Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park, 5pm – GAAGO
Dublin make just one change to the team that defeated Louth in the Leinster Final with Seán MacMahon coming in for James McCarthy who is presumably injured as he doesn’t even make the bench.
Roscommon make four changes to the team that was defeated in the Connacht SFC semi-final by Mayo with Robbie Dolan, Tadhg O’Rourke, Ciaran Lennon, and Conor Cox coming into the XV.
Five weeks have passed since that game and Roscommon might be a little bit cold coming into what looks like a very difficult assignment against an in-form Dublin team.
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, Cian Murphy; Seán MacMahon, John Small, Seán Bugler; Brian Fenton, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Cormac Costello, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paul Mannion, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: David O'Hanlon, Theo Clancy, Brian Howard, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Killian McGinnis, Daire Newcombe, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Lorcan O'Dell, Killian O'Gara, Paddy Small.
ROSCOMMON: Conor Carroll; David Murray, Brian Stack, Niall Higgins; Niall Daly, Robbie Dolan, Eoin McCormack; Enda Smith, Tadhg O'Rourke; Dylan Ruane, Donie Smith, Ciaran Lennon; Conor Cox, Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh. Subs: Colm Lavin, Patrick Gavin, Shane Cunnane, Ruaidhri Fallon, Ben O'Carroll, Cian Connolly, Ultan Harney, Keith Doyle, Conor Hussey, Adam McDermott, Conor Hand.
