The main event
This weekend’s main attraction is undoubtedly the meeting of Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium. After slogging through the round robin stages of a new-look All-Ireland championship, the reward awaits in Salthill – quality teams playing in matches of consequence.
Both sides come into the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final off the back of defeats – Galway fell to Armagh, 1-12 to 0-16, while Mayo lost out to Cork, 1-14 to 1-11.
Jim McGuinness writes that after last weekend’s defeat, Galway – the All-Ireland-winning manager’s dark horse tip for the championship – now face “the long road to All-Ireland final day”. That’s not to say it can’t be done, of course. If they can get Damien Comer back fit, and continue to play with the strengths brought out in the team during Pádraic Joyce’s stint at the helm, the Tribesmen are still in with a shout.
[ Season takes a sudden, serious turn for Galway and MayoOpens in new window ]
Mayo finished third in Group 2, but they’ll take encouragement from previous performances, such as their defeat of Kerry in late Mayo. It’s also worth keeping in mind the last time Mayo and Galway met – Mayo defeated their Connacht rivals in the Division 1 final of the Allianz National League earlier this year.
In the other preliminary quarter-finals: an all-Ulster clash as Donegal face Tyrone, Cork play Roscommon in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Glenisk O’Connor Park is the venue for Kildare and Monaghan.
Hurling heavyweight square up
The All-Ireland SHC reaches the quarter-finals stage this weekend, with a few meaty ties to boot.
Clare will be expected to defeat in Dublin in the first half of a double header at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. That said – they come into the tie after a stinging loss to Limerick in the Munster championship final, which may or may not have a bearing on Saturday’s tie.
Galway and Tipperary will be harder to call. The latter, last weekend, scored 7-38 in the preliminary quarter-final round to inflict a record defeat on Joe McDonagh Cup runners-up Offaly.
The Tribesmen enter the quarter-finals having lost out to Kilkenny in the Leinster final after conceding a crushing last-minute goal.
Tailteann Cup watch
The Tailteann Cup has thrown up few upsets thus far, with favourites Meath and Down hitting stride as the competition reaches the semi-final stage.
Andy McEntee takes his Antrim side to Croke Park to face his former team and home county Meath. The Royals, previously the target of derision after a lacklustre Leinster championship campaign, now carry significant expectation and designs of silverware.
In the other semi-final, also in Croke Park on Sunday, Down face Laois.
TV and Fixtures
Saturday, June 24th
All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals Cork v Roscommon, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm (Streaming on GAAGO); Kildare v Monaghan, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 4.45pm (Streaming on GAAGO); Donegal v Tyrone, MacCumhaill Park, 7pm (Streaming on GAAGO)
All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals Clare v Dublin, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm (Live on RTÉ 2); Galway v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 6.15pm (Live on RTÉ 2)
All-Ireland MFC semi-finals Kerry v Monaghan, 2.30pm, Glenisk O’Connor Park (Live on TG4)
Camogie All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 2pm; Wexford v Tipperary, Bellefield, 4pm
Sunday, June 25th
All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, 3pm (Live on RTÉ 1)
Tailteann Cup semi-finals Meath v Antrim, Croke Park, 2pm (Live on RTÉ 2); Down v Laois, Croke Park, 4pm (Live on RTÉ 2)
LGFA All-Ireland Senior Championship Armagh v Mayo, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 3.30pm; Waterford v Meath, Fraher Field, 1.30pm; Cavan v Dublin, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2pm; Tipperary v Galway, Templetuohy, 2pm
All-Ireland MFC semi-finals Dublin v Derry, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 5.30pm (Live on TG4)
Team news
Cork (SFC v Roscommon): Míchéal Aodh Martin, Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy, Daniel O Mahony, Matty Taylor, Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire, Brian O’ Driscoll, Ruairi Deane, Killian O’ Hanlon, Sean Powter, Brian Hurley, Eoghan McSweeney. Subs: Patrick Doyle, Cian Kiely, Tom Clancy, Kevin O’ Donovan, Paul Walsh, Chris Óg Jones, Conor Corbett, John O’ Rourke, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Fionn Herlihy.
Roscommon (SFC v Cork): Conor Carroll, Colin Walsh, Brian Stack, David Murray, Niall Daly, Conor Daly, Eoin McCormack, Eddie Nolan, Dylan Ruane, Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Cian McKeon, Ciarán Lennon, Ben O’Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh. Subs: Aaron Brady, Conor Hussey, Niall Kilroy, Richard Hughes, Keith Doyle, Donie Smith, Conor Cox, Cian Connolly, Daire Cregg, Shane Cunnane, Ruaidhrí Fallon.
Kildare (SFC v Monaghan): Mark Donnellan, Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle, David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Kevin O’Callaghan, Aaron Masterson, Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Neil Flynn, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate. Subs: Aaron O’Neill, Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn, Harry O’Neill, Jack Robinson, Darragh Malone, Tony Archbold, Jimmy Hyland, Paul Cribbin, Barry Coffey, Matthew Kelly.
Monaghan (SFC v Kildare): Rory Beggan, Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy, Ryan Wylie, Karl O Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy, Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Ryan Mc Anespie, Jack Mc Carron, Gary Mohan, Shane Carey. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus, Sean Jones, Darren Hughes, Dessie Ward, Kevin Loughran, Fabian Beggan, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon.
Donegal (SFC v Tyrone): Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan McColgan, Caolan Ward, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Stephen McMenamin, Caolan McGonagle, Hugh McFadden, Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan, Ciaran Thompson, Jason McGee, Oisin Gallen, Conor O Donnell. Subs: Gavin Mulreaney, Patrick McBrearty, Odhran Doherty, Rory O Donnell, Dylan Dorrian, Brian O Donnell, Jeaic Mc Kelvey, John Ross Molloy, Luke McGlynn, Johnny McGroddy, Paul Brennan.
Tyrone (SFC v Donegal): Niall Morgan, Michael Mc Kernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey, Cormac Quinn, Michael O’Neill, Peter Harte, Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Conor Meyler, Joe Oguz, Ruari Canavan, Darren McCurry, Matthew Donnelly, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Lorcan Quinn, Frank Burns, Aidan Clarke, Niall Devlin, Richard Donnelly, Nathan McCarron, Kieran McGeary, Michael McGleenan, Cathal McShane, Sean O’Donnell, Niall Sludden.
Galway (SFC v Mayo): Connor Gleeson, John McGrath, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn, Cian Hernon, John Daly, Cillian McDaid, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney, Ian Burke, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Subs: Bernard Power, Seán Fitzgerald, Sean Mulkerrin, Billy Mannion, Dylan McHugh, Paul Kelly, Niall Daly, Cathal Sweeney, Robert Finnerty, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Tomo Culhane.
Mayo (SFC v Galway): Colm Reape, Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Pádraig O’Hora, Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan, Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea, James Carr, Ryan O’Donoghue. Subs: Rory Byrne, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Enda Hession, Fionn McDonagh, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Eoghan McLaughlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Cillian O’Connor, Bob Tuohy.
Clare (SHC v Dublin): Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan, Rory Hayes, Seadna Morey, Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney, Cathal Malone, David Fitzgerald, Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Ryan Taylor, Ian Galvin, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers. Subs: Eamonn Foudy, David Reidy, Darragh Lohan, Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher, Patrick Crotty, Paul Flanagan, Cian Nolan, Cian Galvin, David Conroy, Paddy Donnellan.
Dublin (SHC v Clare): Seán Brennan, John Bellew, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Paddy Doyle, Conor Burke, Daire Gray, Mark Grogan, Chris O’Leary, Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Cian Boland, Sean Currie, Cian O’Sullivan, Darragh Power. Subs: Eddie Gibbons, Conor Donohoe, James Madden, Andy Dunphy, Joe Flanagan, Aidan Mellett, Paul Crummey, Fergal Whitely, Alex Considine, Dara Purcell, Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing.
Galway (SHC v Tipperary): Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Gearóid McInerney, Darren Morrissey, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney, Seán Linnane, Cathal Mannion, Brian Concannon, Cianan Fahy, Tom Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Kevin Cooney, Evan Niland. Subs: Darach Fahy, TJ Brennan, Fintan Burke, Shane Cooney, Ronan Glennon, Adrian Tuohey, Tiernan Killeen, Conor Cooney, Jason Flynn, Liam Collins, Declan McLoughlin.
Tipperary (SHC v Galway): Rhys Shelly, Cathal Barrett, Michael Breen, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O Mara, Ronan Maher, Dan McCormack, Conor Stakelum, Noel McGrath, Alan Tynan, Jason Forde, Seamus Kennedy, Jake Morris, Seamus Callanan, Mark Kehoe. Subs: Barry Hogan, Conor Bowe, John Campion, Pauric Campion, Enda Heffernan, John McGrath, Gearod O’Connor, Niall O’Meara, Jack Ryan, Johnny Ryan, Sean Ryan.
Meath (Tailteann Cup v Antrim): Seán Brennan, Adam O’Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O’Higgins, Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Seán Coffey, Ronan Jones, Conor Gray, Daithí McGowan, James McEntee, Jack O’Connor, Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Harry Hogan, Ciarán Caulfield, Cillian O’Sullivan, Cathal Hickey, Jack Flynn, Eoghan Frayne, Michael Flood, Donal Lenihan, Diarmuid Moriarty, Michael Murphy, Keith Curtis.
Antrim (Tailteann Cup v Meath): Michael Byrne, Patrick McCormick, Peter Healy, Eoghan McCabe, Dermot McAleese, Declan Lynch, Marc Jordan, Eunan Quinn, Cathal Hynds, Patrick McBride, Adam Loughran, Ruairí McCann, Ronan Boyle, Ruairi McCann, Dominic McEnhill, Subs: Luke Mulholland, Cormac McGettigan, James McAuley, Barry McCormick, Gerard Walsh, Colm McLarnon, Conor Hand, Joseph Finnegan, Conhuir Johnston, Odhran Eastwood, Calum Higgins.
Down (Tailteann Cup v Laois): Niall Kane, Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty, Miceal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty, Patrick Branagan, Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock, Liam Kerr, Donach McAleenan, Danny Magill, Eugene Branagan, Pat Havern, Ryan Johnston. Subs: John O’Hare, Shane Annett, Shealan Johnston, Rory Mason, Ross Carr, Ryan McEvoy, Gerard Collins, Andrew Gilmore, Conor Poland, Conor Francis, Ruairi O Hare.
Laois (Tailteann Cup v Down): Killian Roche, Sean Greene, Alex Mohan, Robert Pigott, Padraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O’Sullivan, Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin, Colm Murphy, Paul Kingston, James Finn, Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Eoin Lowry. Subs: Scott Osborne, Seamus Lacey, Trevor Collins, Sean O’Flynn, Kevin Swayne, Ciaran Burke, Dylan Kavanagh, Damien O’Connor, Niall Corbet, Brian Daly, Cathal Doyle.
