GAA weekend preview: Galway and Armagh renew acquaintances as National Football League kicks off

Croke Park hosts All-Ireland Club Junior and Intermediate Football finals

Division One's opener will be a rematch of last year's All-Ireland Senior Football Final as Galway welcome Armagh to Salthill. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Division One's opener will be a rematch of last year's All-Ireland Senior Football Final as Galway welcome Armagh to Salthill. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Saturday
All-Ireland Club JFC final

Naomh Pádraig, Muff (Donegal) v An Cheathrú Rua (Galway), Croke Park, 3.10pm (Live, Sport TG4) – The Galway side arrested the decline that took them from senior to junior in a couple of seasons and face youthful but resilient opponents, who reached the final on penalties. Verdict: An Cheathrú Rua

National Football League
Division One

Galway v Armagh, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 5.15pm (Live, TG4) – The Connacht champions looked well set for the new rules with a free scoring challenge win in Kildare, featuring a barrage of two-pointers from FOTY Paul Conroy. Armagh have their long-distance marksman in Rian O’Neill but he’s not playing today. No guarantee that this will be particularly prolific given last year’s All-Ireland. Persecuted by injury in last year’s competition, Pádraic Joyce will hope to have better luck this season. The home team will have motivation after July’s narrow defeat and will be more settled than the champions, who have had the various distractions of success. Verdict: Galway

Tyrone v Derry, O’Neill’s Healy Park, Omagh, 6pm (Live, BBC iPlayer and GAAGO) – Tables turned with Tyrone buoyant from Malachy O’Rourke’s appointment and Errigal Ciarán registering a first senior club final, whereas Derry, on most lips going into last year’s championship, have watched that boulder roll all the way back down the hill, but new manager Paddy Tally has been well received with players anxious to put last year behind them. One effect of the late managerial appointment was a shortage of arranged challenge matches. The home side won’t be at full strength given Errigal’s involvement last week but they may just have the edge. Verdict: Tyrone

Old foes Dublin and Mayo meet at Croke Park on Saturday, but both sides will be without key players. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Old foes Dublin and Mayo meet at Croke Park on Saturday, but both sides will be without key players. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, 7.30pm (Live, TG4) – Big changes in Dublin bring up the first genuine year of transition since 2010. The departure of an entire All-Ireland winning centrefield sums up the challenge for Dessie Farrell, who must also wait on the return of the victorious Cuala contingent as well as word from a couple of others who may well retire. It will be interesting to see if James Madden can re-enter the footballing atmosphere as successfully as Ciarán Kilkenny all those years ago. Mayo have no long-term injuries but are a couple of weeks off a full-strength panel – Tommy Conroy, Paddy Durcan, Aidan O’Shea etc. Verdict: Mayo

READ MORE
Division Two

Cork v Meath, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm – Last year had its moments for Cork but the league turned into a real slog. A number of players have moved on in the meantime and others are injured so it’s a challenging start for John Cleary’s team, who need to establish consistency. Meath are under new management and Robbie Brennan faces a steep progression curve after a demoralising year. Verdict: Cork

Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni, 6pm – A comparatively rare league meeting between the counties now that Monaghan have lost their spot in the top flight. Rebuilding is the order of the day for the visitors, who have lost the exceptional Conor McManus to retirement. Cavan will fancy their chances of a first league win over the neighbours for 12 years. Verdict: Cavan

Division Three

Kildare v Fermanagh, Cedral St Conleth’s, Newbridge, 5pm – Kildare have the strongest panel of players in this division. After a terrible league campaign last year, when they lost all seven games in Division Two and suffered relegation, the Lilywhites should get their promotion push off to a winning start against Fermanagh, who were also relegated last year. Verdict: Kildare

Kildare's Darragh Kirwan during last season's Division Two clash against Cavan at Cullen Park. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Kildare's Darragh Kirwan during last season's Division Two clash against Cavan at Cullen Park. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Division Four

Carlow v Tipperary, Netwatch Cullen Park, 6pm – New Carlow manager Shane Curran has enticed Seán Murphy and Lee Walker back to the fold, while new Tipperary boss Philly Ryan enters the season without 15 players from last year’s squad. It is a significant turnover that leaves Ryan facing a difficult task. Verdict: Carlow

Wexford v London, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 7pm – Having gone so close to securing promotion last season – only losing out to Leitrim on the head-to-head basis – Wexford will be determined to go one step further this year. John Hegarty’s men should have the measure of London, but the Exiles arrive to Wexford as an unknown entity. Verdict: Wexford

Sunday
All-Ireland Club IFC final

Ballinderry (Derry) v Crossmolina (Mayo), Croke Park, 1.30pm (Live, Sport TG4) – Two former senior champions meet in the final, delayed after the sad events in Crossmolina.

Allianz Football League
Division Two

Roscommon v Down, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm – By virtue of their attacking strength, Roscommon are favourites to yo-yo back up to Division One – they have shifted divisions seven times in eight years. Down are Tailteann holders, which eases the championship pressures of the division. Verdict: Roscommon

Westmeath v Louth, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm – Two counties with a consistent Sam Maguire presence in recent years. Westmeath were competitive in a group with both All-Ireland finalists but didn’t win a match. They must cope without talisman John Heslin, who has retired. Louth have established themselves as the second-best team in Leinster and will look to build on that in the league. Verdict: Louth

Division Three

Antrim v Clare, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 1pm – Former Kerry boss Peter Keane begins life as Clare manager with a trip to Belfast. Corrigan Park wasn’t quite a fortress for Antrim in last year’s league – winning two and losing two – and in 2023 they picked up just one win from three home games. Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton have returned to the Clare panel. Verdict: Clare

Former Kerry manager Peter Keane will take charge of Clare as they seek promotion from Division Three. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Former Kerry manager Peter Keane will take charge of Clare as they seek promotion from Division Three. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Offaly v Sligo, Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 2pm – This marks Mickey Harte’s first competitive outing since linking up with Offaly as joint manager alongside Declan Kelly. Sligo have made steady progress during Tony McEntee’s four years at the helm and they were very competitive in this division last year. Verdict: Draw

Leitrim v Laois, Páirc Seán Uí Eslín, Ballinamore, 2.0pm – Both sides have lost a host of players since contesting last year’s Division Four final. Leitrim are without nine starters from that decider, while Laois have lost several key forwards ahead of this campaign – including the injured Evan O’Carroll. The loser here might struggle to stay up. Verdict: Laois

Division Four

Wicklow v Waterford, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm – Wicklow’s spell in Division Three only lasted one season, but the Garden County did show well in the Leinster SFC last year and will be eyeing a promotion challenge in this league. Waterford pulled off a surprise win over Tipperary in last year’s Munster SFC, but they failed to win a single game in the 2024 league. Verdict: Wicklow

Longford v Limerick, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm – There are 16 players from Limerick’s panel last year not involved this term. Longford have lost some key players as well – including leaders in Mickey Quinn and Darren Gallagher – but new manager Mike Solan will be hoping to bring an early season bounce. Verdict: Longford