Preview: Weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 1 action
Conor Doherty of Derry is tackled by Barry McCambridge and Oisin Conaty of Armagh, during the 2025 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Armagh and Derry at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Saturday, May 30
All-Ireland SFC Round 1
Westmeath v Cavan, TEG Cusack Park, 5pm - GAA+
Westmeath have named the same side that started their Leinster SFC Final victory for this All-Ireland SFC Round 1 clash with Cavan.
That means Senan Baker must make do with a seat on the subs bench again despite scoring four points in that landmark win over the Dubs two weeks ago.
Cavan make four changes to the team that was well-beaten in the Ulster SFC quarter-final by Monaghan, with Gerard Smith, Ciaran Brady (Corofin), Paddy Meade, and Caoimhin McGovern coming into the XV.
It’s all of six weeks since that match and it’s hard to know what to expect from the Breffni County coming into this game.
Westmeath should have sharper having played just two weeks ago, but you’d wonder if the emotional release of that Leinster Final win over Dublin could have them a little bit flat for this game.
If they can match Cavan’s energy, then their greater athleticism in the middle third and spread of scorers in attack should see them come out on top.
WESTMEATH: Jason Daly; Daniel Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Tadhg Baker; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brían Cooney, Ray Connellan; Kevin O'Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Conor Dillon; Shane Corcoran, Jack Duncan, Brandon Kelly. Subs: Jack Connaughton, Adam Treanor, Tom Molloy, Robbie Forde, Ian Martin, Harry Niall, Shane Ormsby, Stephen McGonagle, Eoghan McCabe, Senan Baker, John Heslin
CAVAN: Liam Brady; Cormac Brady, Brían O' Connell, Niall Carolan; Gerard Smith, Ciarán Brady, Conor Brady; Ciarán Brady, Paddy Meade; Tiarnan Madden, Ryan Donohoe, Emmanuel Shehu; Caoimhan McGovern, Dara McVeety, Patrick Lynch. Subs: Gary O' Rourke, Ryan Tobin, Jensen Tynan, Evan Crowe, Darragh Lovett, Fionntán O'Reilly, Barry Donnelly, Ryan Brady, Peter Corrigan, Cian Shekleton, Conor Casey
Armagh v Derry, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 7.15pm - GAA+
Armagh make one change to the team that beat Monaghan in the Ulster SFC Final two weeks ago with Gareth Murphy coming in for Paddy Burns.
There’s one notable inclusion on the subs bench too with a fit again Callum O’Neill included in the squad for the first time since the opening round win over Tyrone.
Derry have named the same starting XV that was beaten by Monaghan in the Ulster SFC semi-final but there are two changes to the subs listed as former All-Ireland winning minor captain, James Sargent, returns from a long-term knee injury and Dan Higgins returns from a hamstring strain.
Armagh have arguably been the best team in the country so far in this year’s championship, but you’d wonder if their long-awaited extra-time Ulster SFC Final victory will have taken both a physical and emotional toll.
Derry have had four weeks to prepare for this game and if they play to their full potential they’re certainly capable of pulling off an upset.
They’re also a side though that struggles to play with any consistency from match to match and even within games, whereas Armagh are a more proven docket.
If it is a game of fine margins you would fancy a very powerful Armagh bench to make the difference.
ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Gareth Murphy; Joe McElroy, Tiernan Kelly, Greg McCabe; Jarly Og Burns, Andrew Murnin; Cian McConville, Darragh McMullan, Tomas McCormack; Conor Turbitt, Jason Duffy, Oisin Conaty. Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Ryan Duffy, Ross McQuillan, Oisin O'Neill, Daniel Magee, Aidan Forker, Aaron O'Neill, Callum O'Neill
DERRY: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Eoin McEvoy, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Conor Glass, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray. Subs: Ryan Scullion, Charlie Diamond, Shea Downey, Dan Higgins, Sean Kearney, Patrick McGurk, James Sargent, Niall O'Donnell, Ruairi Ó Mianáin, Niall Toner, Sean Young
Sunday, May 31
Dublin v Louth, Croke Park, 2.30pm - GAA+
The big team news from a Dublin point of view is that star forward Con O’Callaghan has recovered from a hamstring strain and comes into the XV as an indirect replacement for the injured Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne.
The Dubs make one other change to the team that was beaten by Westmeath in the Leinster Final as Greg McEnEaney comes into their defence in place of Theo Clancy.
Ó Cofaigh Byrne’s absence is a blow for Dublin, and to replace him they’ve relocated Ciaran Kilkenny from attack to midfield where he will partner Brian Howard.
Kilkenny has played at midfield plenty of times for Castleknock, but it’ll be interesting to see how he fares there at inter-county level.
Louth have had four weeks to lick their wounds after a limp display saw them well-beaten by Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final and their players will surely be highly motivated to give a better account of themselves here.
They’ve made two changes to their team for this as Daire Nally and Kieran McArdle replace Tadhg McDonnell and Ryan Burns in the starting SV.
If Dublin can at least break even in the midfield battle-zone then their superior firepower should give them an edge here, but there’s surely a big performance coming from the Wee county.
DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Greg McEneaney, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Ciaran Kilkenny, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Con O'Callaghan, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Cormac Costello. Subs: Hugh O'Sullivan, Tom Lahiff, Liam Smith, Lee Gannon, Cian Murphy, Seán Guiden, Ethan Dunne, Páidí White, Niall O'Callaghan, Luke Breathnach, Tim Deering
LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Emmet Carolan, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Daire Nally, Dara Mc Donnell, Craig Lennon; Conor Early, James Maguire; Paul Matthews, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes; Kieran Mc Ardle, Ciaran Downey Conall Mc Caul. Subs: Tiarnan Markey, Ryan Burns, Ciaran Byrne, Sean Callaghan, Tommy Durnin, Leonard Grey, Conor Mac Criosta, Tadgh McDonnell, Conal McKeever, Sean Reynolds, Anthony Williams.
Monaghan v Mayo, St Tiernach's Park, 4pm - RTÉ
Mayo manager Andy Moran has responded to his team’s disappointing defeat to Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final five weeks ago by making five changes to his team and handing out three championship debuts.
Goalkeeper Jack Livingstone, wing-back Diarmuid Duffy, and corner-forward Darragh Beiren are all set to play their first championship match and replace Rob Hennelly, Paddy Durcan, and Cian McHale.
The other two changes see Donnacha McHugh and Hugh O’Louglin come in for Rory Brickenden and Aidan O’Shea.
It’s hard to know what to expect from the Connacht side given they’ve changed a third of their team, it’s five weeks from their last match, and their form graph has been very up and down all year.
Their inside forward line of Ryan O’Donoghue, Kobe McDonald, and Beirne could be lethal if they get a good supply of ball, but Mayo struggled to do that against Roscommon and won’t find Monaghan any more generous in the middle third.
The Farney County gave a great account of themselves in the Ulster Final against Armagh and if they can reach a similar level of performance here you’d fancy them to come out on top.
That might be difficult just two weeks after such a physical and emotional exertion, but the flip side of the coin is that Mayo could be rusty after a five-week lay-off.
It’s not an easy one to call, but there’s surely a kick in Mayo this year.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Cameron Dowd, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Aaron Carey, Ryan O'Toole, Dessie Ward; Mícheál McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Oisin McGorman, Mícheál Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, David Garland**. Subs:** Kian Mulligan, Ryan Wylie, Robbie Hanratty, Bobby McCaul, Max Maguire, Ryan McAnespie, Shane Hanratty, Ryan Mohan, Stephen Mooney, Jack McCarron, Thomas Hughes.
MAYO: Jack Livinstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Diarmuid Duffy; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney, Hugh O'Loughlin; Conor Loftus, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O'Donoghue, Kobe McDonald. Subs: Robert Hennelly, Fenton Kelly, Paddy Durcan, Eoin McGreal. Sean Morahan, Aidan O'Shea, Stephen Coen, Paul Towey, Diarmuid O'Connor, Tommy Conroy, Cian McHale
