The 2024 Tailteann Cup commences this weekend. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Saturday May 11
Group One
Kildare v Longford, Manguard Plus Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence, 6pm, GAAGO
It has been a hugely disappointing 2024 for Kildare, who will want to make a positive start in the Tailteann Cup against Longford.
Paddy Christie's charges reached the preliminary quarter-final last year before losing to Down.
In Division Four of the Allianz Football League, Longford, prompted by Darren Gallagher, put themselves into the promotion picture, but ultimately didn't reach that target.
Kildare have endured lots of losses this year, but Darragh Kirwan, Daniel Flynn, and Kevin Feely are talented footballers in Glen Ryan's panel.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Ryan Houlihan, Mick O'Grady, Ryan Burke; Tony Archbold, Brian Byrne, Jack Sargent; Aaron Masterson, Brendan Gibbons; Shane Farrell, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy McDermott; Paddy Woodgate, Daniel Flynn, Kevin Feely.
Subs: Didier Cordonnier, Barry Coffey, Eoin Doyle, Kevin Flynn, Killian Galligan, Luke Killian, Niall Kelly, Barry Kelly, Shea Ryan, Darragh Swords, Rian Teahan.
Longford: Paddy Collum; Paddy Fox, Oisín O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Paddy Kiernan, Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Darren Gallagher, Dylan Farrell; Mark Hughes, Mickey Quinn, Joseph Hagan; Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh, Jayson Matthews.
Subs: Mícheál Hughes, Darragh Finlass, Bryn Peters, Ciarán Scanlon, Jack Macken, Aaron Farrell, Ruairi Harkin, Keelin McGann, Dáire Duggan, Enda Macken, Cathal McCabe.
Leitrim v Waterford, Ballinamore, 6pm
Both counties have enjoyed encouraging moments in 2024.
Leitrim's promotion to Division Three of the Allianz Football League is significant.
Tom O'Connell's goals guided Waterford to a morale boosting Munster Championship win over Tipperary, which was an injection of hope for the Deise.
Darragh Rooney and Ryan O'Rourke are crafty forwards for Leitrim, who will want to embark on a decent run in the competition.
Leitrim: Nevin O'Donnell; Adam Reynolds, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; Jamie McGreal, Mark Plunkett, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheany, Pearce Dolan; Barry McNulty, Ryan O'Rourke, Donal Wrynn; Riordan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney, Tom Prior.
Subs: Killian Gaffey, Cathal McHugh, Kieran Clancy, Stephen McLoughlin, Shane Quinn, James Rooney, Radek Oberwan, Jack Flynn, Ben Guckian, Darren Cox, Evan Sweeney.
Waterford: Pauide Hunt; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Liam Fennell; Robbie McGrath, Billy O'Keeffe, Dermot Ryan; Michael Curry, Jason Curry; James Walsh, Donie Fitzgerald, James Power; Stephen Curry, Tom O'Connell, Seán Whelan-Barrett.
Subs: Aaron Beresford, Alan Dunwoody, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Michael O'Brien, Tommy Martin, Niall McSweeney, Jason Sheehan, Joe Booth, Mark Cummins, Tholom Guiry.
Group Two
Sligo v Wexford, Markievicz Park, 3pm
This promises to be a lively game in the north west.
Sligo came within a whisker of causing a shock against Galway in the Connacht SFC, so Tony McEntee's charges will believe that they can enjoy a productive stint in the Tailteann Cup.
Wexford, well organised by John Hegarty, adopt an attacking approach with Dylan Furlong and Glen Malone capable of bursting forward from deep to support an attack that includes Mark Rossiter.
The prolific Niall Murphy remains an influential figure for Sligo with Seán Carrabine another key player.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLaughlin, Seán Carrabine; Mikey Gordon, Paddy O'Connor, Niall Murphy.
Subs: Daniel Lyons, Brian Callaghan, Daire O'Boyle, Eoghan Smith, Jack Lavin, Keelan Cawley, Lee Deignan, Luke Casserly, Mark Walsh, Peter Laffey, Shane Deignan.
Wexford: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons; Dylan Furlong, Páraic Hughes, Glen Malone; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Kevin O'Grady, Eoghan Nolan, Mark Rossiter; Graeme Cullen, Seán Nolan, Ben Brosnan.
Subs: William Foley, Graham Staples, Liam O'Connor, Conor Carty, Shane Doyle, Cathal Walsh, Jonathon Bealin, Richie Waters, Shane Pettit, Tom Byrne, Conor Kinsella.
Group Three
Fermanagh v Wicklow, Brewster Park, 3pm
Gleaning experience and exposing emerging players to further Championship matches is vital in the development of teams.
So, Fermanagh and Wicklow will both be quietly confident of launching a successful Tailteann Cup adventure.
Wicklow took Westmeath's scalp in Leinster and came close to adding Kildare's before losing. Oisín McConville's team learned plenty in those matches with Kevin Quinn and Dean Healy effective.
Fermanagh were soundly beaten by Armagh in Ulster, but Kieran Donnelly's panel is stocked with Declan McCusker, Ultan Kelm, and Garvan Jones expected to prosper.
Fermanagh: Ross Bogue; Lee Cullen, Ché Cullen, Oisín Smyth; Declan McCusker, Shane McGullion, Josh Largo Elis; Ronan McCaffrey, Joe McDade; Conor McGee, Conor McShea, Fionan O'Brien; Ultan Kelm, Garvan Jones, Seán Cassidy.
Subs: Seán McNally, Aidan Breen, Brandon Horan, Conor Love, Jonathan Cassidy, Darragh McGurn, Oisín Murphy, Tiarnan Bogue, Diarmuid King, James McMahon, Callum Jones.
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Patrick O'Keane; Matt Nolan, Eoin Murtagh, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy, Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Christopher O'Brien, Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Kevin Quinn, John Paul Nolan.
Subs: Cathal Fitzgerald, Mark Kenny, Cillian McDonald, Gearóid Murphy, Joe Prendergast, Oisín McGraynor, Eoin Darcy, Padraig O'Toole, Cathal Baker, Conor Fee, Jaques McCall.
Group Four
Down v Limerick, Páirc Esler, 4pm
Unfortunate not to reach an Ulster SFC decider, Down return to Tailteann Cup action.
Conor Laverty's pacy team reached the final of this competition last year and are beginning to stir again.
Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock, and Pat Havern have been consistent performers for Down throughout the Allianz League and championship.
Limerick were beaten by Laois at the quarter-final stage of the Tailteann Cup in 2023 and will be looking to Peter Nash, Barry Coleman, and Iain Corbett for leadership.
Down: John O'Hare; Finn McElroy, Ryan McEvoy, Peter Fegan; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Shealan Johnston; Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock; Shane Annett, Liam Kerr, Miceal Rooney; Danny Magill, Pat Havern, Ryan Johnston.
Subs: Kevin Anderson, Paddy McCarthy, Ben McConville, Eamonn Brown, John McGovern, Oisín Savage, Conor McCrickard, James Guinness, Rory Mason, Jonny Flynn, Gareth McKibben.
Limerick: Josh Ryan; Darren O'Doherty, Seán O'Dea, Cormac Woulfe; Barry Coleman, Cillian Fahy, Paul Maher; Tommy Childs, Michael Donovan; Shane Costelloe, James Naughton, Cathal Downes; Brian Ahern, Rob Childs, Peter Nash.
Subs: Jeffrey Alfred, Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy, Shane Doherty, Ruadhan O'Connor, Joe Sweeney, Tommy Griffin, Darragh Siochru, Eoin Hurley, Jamie Baynham, Andrew Meade.
Offaly v London, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm
These are interesting times for Offaly, who believe that progress can be made.
The Leinster SFC triumph over Laois was satisfactory before losing to Dublin at Croke Park.
Nonetheless, any panel including Lee Pearson, Cormac Egan, Peter Cunningham, Dylan Hyland, and Keith O'Neill has talent.
Michael Maher continues to afford homegrown players opportunities to shine with London, who had some decent moments in the Allianz Football League. Shay Rafter and Josh Obahor are developing nicely for London.
Offaly: Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, David Dempsey, John Furlong; Cormac Egan, Declan Hogan, Peter Cunningham; Eoin Carroll, Cathal Donoghue; Dylan Hyland, Cathal Flynn, Jordan Hayes; Cian Farrell, Keith O'Neill, Jack Bryant.
Subs: Mikey Cunningham, Diarmuid Finneran, Jack O'Brien, Daire McDaid, Rory Egan, Ruairi McNamee, Kevin McDermott, Dan Molloy, Nigel Dunne, Nathan Poland, Dan Wyer.
London: Andrew Walsh; Eoin Walsh, Daire Rooney, Michael Miller; Oran Kerr, Cahir Healy, Aidan McLoughlin; Stephen Dornan, Liam Gallagher; DJ O'Flaherty, Daniel Clarke, Ciarán Diver; Josh Obahor, Ruairi Rafferty, Fiontan Eastwood.
Subs: Luke Kelly, Ciaran McKeon, Shay Rafter, Seán McMonagle, Tighe Barry, Seán Tucker, Joseph McGill, Nathan McElwaine, Michael Carroll, Matt Moynihan, Conor Cox.
Sunday May 12
Group Two
Antrim v Tipperary, Corrigan Park, 2pm
Tailteann Cup semi-finalists in 2023, Antrim want to make an impact once more.
Andy McEntee's charges host Tipperary, who have endured a difficult 2024, in Belfast.
Dermot McAleese, Patrick McBride, and Dominic McEnhill are important players for Antrim, who were beaten by Down in Ulster.
Tipperary suffered a demoralising Munster SFC reversal against Waterford, and will be hoping for strong displays from Paudie Feehan and Conall Kennedy.
Antrim: Michael Byrne; Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Niall Burns, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Patrick McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Conor Hand, Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann; Ryan McQuillan, Ruairi McCann, Marc Jordan.
Subs: Luke Mulholland, Adam Loughran, Colm McLarnon, Cormac McGettigan, Daniel McNicholl, Dominic McEnhill, Eoin Hynds, Eunan Quinn, James McDonnell, Oran Downey, Pat Shivers.
Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Tadhg Condon, Jimmy Feehan, James Morris; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Kieran Costello; Stephen Grogan, Conall Kennedy; Conor Cadell, Jack Kennedy, Peter McGarry; Jack Kennedy, Riain Quigley, Darragh Brennan.
Subs: Jack Rogers, Luke Boland, Teddy Doyle, Emmet Moloney, Manus McFadden, Steven O'Brien, Shane O'Connell, Seán O'Connor, Eoghan Power, Mark Russell, Conor Sweeney.
Group Three
Laois v Carlow, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 3pm
This local derby promises to be a well contested match in Portlaoise.
Laois secured promotion in the Allianz Football League before losing to Offaly in Leinster.
Damon Larkin, Evan O'Carroll, and Paul Kingston have been effective for Justin McNulty's outfit.
Carlow, with some emerging players, reached the quarter-final last year and will be hoping Mikey Bambrick, Ross Dunphy, and Darragh Foley can continue to impress.
Laois: Killian Roche; Dylan Kavanagh, Eoin Buggie, Mark Timmons; Seamus Lacey, Brian Byrne, Simon Fingleton; Mikie Dempsey, Conor Heffernan; Mark Barry, Eoin Lowry, Kevin Swayne; Rioghan Murphy, Evan O'Carroll, Niall Dunne.
Subs: Conor Brown, Ciaran Burke, Brian Daly, Shaun Fitzpatrick, Fionn Holland, Paul Kingston, Liam Knowles, Jack Lacey, Damon Larkin, Kieran Lillis, Cormac Murphy.
Carlow: Johnny Furey; Colin Byrne, Mark Furey, John Murphy; Mikey Bambrick, Jamie Clarke, Colm Hulton; Conor Doyle, Niall Hickey; Aaron Amond, Paddy McDonnell, Conor Crowley; Ross Dunphy, Darragh Foley, Cormac Lomax.
Subs: Aaron Power, Eric Molloy, Mark Mullen, John Phiri, Ciaran Moran, Shane Buggy, Kevin Murphy, Jamie Lunney, Cathal Kenny, Liam Gavin, Adam Burgess.