Mickey Harte and Pádraic Joyce shake hands following Derry's Allianz Football League win over Galway in February. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile
Saturday May 18
Group One
Galway v Derry, Pearse Stadium, 5.30pm, GAAGO
This promises to be a lively encounter in Salthill. Galway, following a stirring finish in the Connacht SFC Final, face Derry, who will be eager to respond following a harrowing loss to Donegal.
That goal laden Donegal success hurt Derry significantly, but Mickey Harte's charges will relish the opportunity to respond. The fact they are placed in a demanding group merely adds to the drama.
Throughout the Allianz Football League, Galway were forced to field depleted teams, but now the majority of their key players are becoming available once again.
Damien Comer starred in the provincial decider win over Mayo, while Shane Walsh and Matthew Tierney made noteworthy contributions as substitutes.
Derry's panel is sprinkled with class. Any team featuring Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Conor Glass, and Shane McGuigan will be confident of delivering in the All-Ireland series.
Galway have won the four previous championship meetings between the counties, including three All-Ireland semi-final triumphs in 1998, 2001, and 2022.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, Seán Kelly; Johnny Heaney, John Maher, Céin Darcy; Rob Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Conor Flaherty, Seán Ó Maolchiaráin, Eoghan Kelly, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Patrick Egan, Kieran Molloy, Liam Ó Conghaile, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Matthew Tierney, Cillian McDaid.
Derry: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Chrissy McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker; Conor Doherty, Eoin McEvoy, Gareth McKinless; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Ciarán McFaul, Paul Cassidy; Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.
Subs: Ryan Scullion, Emmett Bradley, Martin Bradley, Declan Cassidy, Mark Doherty, Shea Downey, Ruairi Forbes, Donncha Gilmore, Danny McDermott, Cahir McMonagle, Eunan Mulholland.
Group Two
Mayo v Cavan, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 5pm
A first championship meeting involving Mayo and Cavan since 2007 beckons in Castlebar. Back then Mayo prevailed on a 1-19 to 3-7 scoreline.
Mayo were caught out by a storming Galway comeback in the dying embers of the Connacht SFC Final.
Conceding three points deep into additional time hurt Mayo deeply, but Kevin McStay's outfit will be anxious to summon an instant response.
Ryan O'Donoghue has been effective in the three championship outings so far in 2024 for Mayo, landing 1-26.
Tommy Conroy was a threat against Galway too, while Mattie Ruane scampered forward to nail three points from play.
Cavan overcame neighbours Monaghan before losing to Tyrone after extra-time.
Paddy Lynch is a significant loss, but Padraig Faulkner supplies leadership and experience in defence.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Donnacha McHugh; Stephen Coen, Sam Callinan, Eoghan McLaughlin; Mattie Ruane, Diarmuid O'Connor; Jack Carney, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Tommy Conroy, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Rob Hennelly, Fergal Boland, Rory Brickenden, Paddy Durcan, Enda Hession, Conor Loftus, Conor McStay, Cillian O'Connor, Padraig O'Hora, Paul Towey, Bob Tuohy.
Cavan: Gary O'Rourke; Cian Reilly, Killian Brady, Brian O'Connell; Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Conor Brady; James Smith, Oisín Kiernan; Ciarán Brady, Gerard Smith, Oisin Kiernan; Oisín Brady, Cormac O'Reilly, Caoimhín O'Reilly.
Subs: Liam Brady, Mark Magee, Luke Fortune, Paddy Meade, Killian Clarke, Ryan Brady, Conor Rehill, Jason McLoughlin, Tiarnan Madden, Cian Madden, Darragh Lovett.
Group Three
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 6pm
Another vital match takes place in Ennis on Saturday evening.
Clare, under Mark Fitzgerald, have enjoyed many productive moments in 2024.
A gutsy display against Kerry augurs well, but Cork were also highly competitive when losing to the Munster standard bearers.
Aaron Griffin and Ciarán Downes have been effective for Clare, while Ikem Ugwueru struck a fine goal in the Kerry loss.
John Cleary spoke about the importance of this game during the week and the value of making a positive start in the group stages.
Matty Taylor will thunder forward at every available opportunity to support an attack which continues to be inspired by Brian Hurley and Chris Óg Jones.
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Alan Sweeney, Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugweru; Darragh Bohannon, Brian McNamara; Daniel Walsh, Dermot Coughlan, Gavin Murray; Emmet McMahon, Aaron Griffin, Ciarán Downes.
Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Micheál Garry, Darren Nagle, Mark McInerney, Cormac Murray, Éinne O'Connor, Cian Burke, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Joe McGann, Jamie Stack, Tom McDonald.
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O'Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Rory Maguire, Tommy Walsh, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Seán Powter, Brian O'Driscoll; Chris Óg Jones, Conor Corbett, Brian Hurley.
Subs: Mícheál Aodh Martin, Neil Lordan, Darragh Cashman, Thomas Clancy, John O'Rourke, David Buckley, Killian O'Hanlon, Eoghan McSweeney, Ruairi Deane, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock.
Group Four
Kerry v Monaghan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3pm, GAAGO
Parity prevailed the last time these two counties met in the championship in 2018.
David Clifford's first year at senior inter-county level included a sweet goal in that Clones clash.
Kerry overcame Cork and Clare in Munster with the Clifford brothers and Seán O'Shea prominent. Tony Brosnan also made an impact in the Clare success, clipping three points from play for Jack O'Connor's team.
Monaghan endured a bitterly disappointing Ulster SFC defeat against Cavan.
That 3-12 to 1-12 reversal was a real setback for Monaghan, who suffered relegation in the Allianz Football League earlier in the year too.
Vinny Corey will be demanding a response with Conor McManus and Jack McCarron supplying plenty of forward guile.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaíoch,Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O'Connor, Joe O'Connor; Tony Brosnan, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan; David Clifford, Seán O'Shea, Paul Geaney.
Subs: Shane Murphy, Cillian Burke, Seán O'Brien, Adrian Spillane, Barry Dan O'Sulivan, Dylan Casey, Stephen O'Brien, Mike Breen, Killian Spillane, Darragh Roche, Armin Heinrich.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Ryan O'Toole; Karl O'Connell, Killian Lavelle, Conor McCarthy; Gary Mohan, Micheál McCarville; Stephen O'Hanlon, Micheál Bannigan, Michael Hamill; Ciarán McNulty, Seán Jones, Conor McManus.
Subs: Darren McDonnell, Jack McCarron, Stephen Mooney, Dessie Ward, Ryan McAnespie, David Garland, Jason Irwin, Andrew Woods, Barry McBennett, Joel Wilson, Thomas McPhillips.
