Ethan Doherty, Derry, and Ryan McHugh, Donegal, in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Munster Senior Football Championship
Saturday April 5
Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium, 6pm
Instilling belief and generating momentum is precisely what Philly Ryan and Paul Shankey want to achieve with their respective teams.
Waterford benefited considerably from the 2024 Munster Championship win over Tipperary, adding another success against Longford in the Tailteann Cup.
In Waterford's final Allianz Football League Division Four fixture over London last month, Jason Curry scored 0-11, illustrating his craft.
At the opposite end of the field on Saturday evening, Seánie O'Connor carries a potent threat for Tipperary, who notched two victories and a draw in Division Four.
Clare await the winners at the penultimate stage in Munster.
Tipperary: Shane Ryan; Jason Madigan, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney; Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Luke Boland; Mark Russell, Kieran Costello; Ben Comerford, Mikie O'Shea, Micheál Freaney; Cian Smith, Steven O'Brien, Darragh Brennan.
Subs: Cian Sheedy, Michael Barlow, Cathal Deeley, Conor Fahey, Jack Harney, Michéal Lowry, Jack Nevin, Billy O'Connor, Rory O'Dowd, Jack O'Neill, Liam Fahey.
Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Caoimhín Walsh, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell; William Beresford, Brian Everard, Dermot Ryan; Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong; Conor Murray, James Power, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Michael O'Brien, Jason Curry, Alan Dunwoody.
Subs: Aaron Beresford, Jamie Power, Adam Crawford, Colin Foley, Billy Hynes, Donie Fitzgerald, James Walsh, Dylan Guiry, Tommy Martin, Joe Booth, Ciaran Walsh.
Cork v Limerick, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 6pm
This could be a lively encounter, especially following Limerick's stirring Allianz Football League Division Four triumph.
Iain Corbett, Tommie Childs, and the razor sharp James Naughton were all important contributors for Limerick, who finished the league strongly.
Despite the advancements, Limerick haven't beaten Cork in the Championship since 2003.
It was a mixed Division Two bag for Cork, who won four and lost three games. Chris Óg Jones was prominent, while Ian Maguire is still leading by example.
Allianz Football League Division One winners Kerry await the victors in the Munster SFC Semi-Final on April 19.
Limerick: Josh Ryan; Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney, Darren O'Doherty; Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Mark McCarthy; Emmet Rigter, Tommie Childs; Paul Maher, James Naughton, Seán Clancy; Darragh Ó Síochrú, Peter Nash, Cillian Fahy.
Subs: Jeffrey Alfred, Ruadhan O'Connor, Diarmaid Buckley, Rob Childs, Darragh O'Hagan, Killian Ryan, Tadhg Ó Síochrú, Andrew Meade, Darragh Murray, Jamie Baynham, Danny Neville.
Cork: Mícheál Aodh Martin; Seán Brady, Daniel O'Mahony, Neil Lordan; Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, Seán McDonnell; Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones.
Subs: Patrick Doyle, Briain Murphy, Maurice Shanley, Darragh Cashman, Seán Powter, Tommy Walsh, Seán Walsh, Conor Cahalane, Ruairi Deane, Cathail O'Mahony, Hugh O'Connor.
Leinster Senior Football Championship
Saturday April 5
Wexford v Laois, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 6pm
Wexford, who recently secured promotion from Division Four of the Allianz Football League, are without a Championship win over Laois since 2008.
In the intervening decade and a half Laois have secured four wins over Wexford, but some of those matches were tight and tense encounters.
It promises to be similarly lively on Saturday because Wexford have made real progress under John Hegarty.
Martin O'Connor's availability is vital for Wexford this year, while goalkeeper Darragh Brooks is a capable custodian, who can drill scores from distance.
Laois' Killian Roche is similarly effective, while Brian Byrne is also a talented footballer.
Despite retirements and a number of important players being away travelling, Justin McNulty deserves credit and respect for the manner in which Laois have developed during his latest tenure.
Wexford: Darragh Brooks; Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O'Connor; Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan, Páiric Hughes; Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes; Tom Byrne, Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter; Kevin O'Grady, Graeme Cullen, Ben Brosnan.
Subs: Colum Feeney, Sean Barden, Philip Dempsey, Dylan Furlong, Cathal Walsh, Conor Carty, Michael Kinsella, Rian Fitzpatrick, Sean Ryan, Cian Hughes, Robbie Brooks.
Laois: Killian Roche; Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Patrick O'Sullivan; Pa Kirwan, Simon Fingleton, Aaron McEvoy; Conor Heffernan, Séamus Lacey; Kevin Swayne, Mark Barry, Daniel O'Reilly; Niall Corbet, Brian Byrne, Ronan Coffey.
Subs: Conor Brown, Ryan Brady, Benny Carroll, Josh Hogan, Fionn Holland, Jonah Kelly, Liam Knowles, Damon Larkin, Cathal Lee, Brendan McDonald, Seán O'Neill.
Sunday April 6
Meath v Carlow, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm
Both camps were disrupted with managerial or coaching departures in recent weeks.
Nonetheless, Meath will be intent on building on a respectable Allianz Football League Division Two campaign, even though promotion wasn't attained.
Eoghan Frayne has been prolific in attack and will need to maintain good form, especially considering Jordan Morris' unfortunate injury.
Bryan Menton's return supplies guile and experience with Donal Keogan still going strong for Robbie Brennan's Royals.
Mikey Bambrick continues to impress for Carlow, who now have the highly regarded Joe Murphy in charge.
Ross Dunphy is a key performer for Carlow, who will be hoping to cause a surprise in Navan by defeating Meath for the first time in Championship fare.
Meath: Billy Hogan; Séamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O'Halloran; Eoin Harkin, Donal Keogan, Ciarán Caulfield; Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Cathal Hickey; Keith Curtis, Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne.
Subs: Seán Brennan, Ronan Ryan, Seán Ryan, Michael Murphy, Jack Kinlough, Aaron Lynch, Shane Walsh, Cillian O'Sullivan, Thomas O'Reilly, Diarmuid Moriarty, Jason Scully.
Carlow: Johnny Furey; Paddy Regan, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; Shane Clarke, Mikey Bambrick, John Murphy; Ciaran Moran, Liam Brennan; Paddy McDonnell, Ross Dunphy, Conor Doyle; Aaron Amond, Kevin Murphy, Conor Crowley.
Subs: Stephen Scallan, Lee Moore, Mark Mullen, Niall Hickey, Ian Atkinson, Kyle Nolan, Cormac Lomax, Seán Murphy, Liam Gavin, John Phiri, Josh Egan.
Longford v Wicklow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3.30pm
These counties met two years ago in the Tailteann Cup when Longford prevailed on a 3-17 to 2-9 scoreline.
The last Championship meeting in Leinster as back in 2013 when Wicklow won 1-15 to 0-16.
A draw with Limerick in the closing stages of the Allianz Football League, was a setback for Wicklow, who believed that promotion could be attained.
Dean Healy and Kevin Quinn remain key performers for Oisín McConville's team, who won four out of seven games in the league.
Longford only registered two victories, but manager Mike Solan will still believe that the midlanders can generate momentum in the remaining months of the campaign.
Paddy Collum and Paddy Fox are the vastly experienced players in a panel that includes plenty of emerging talent which offers a source of optimism for the future.
Longford: Mícheál Hughes; Paddy Fox, Oisín O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Cian Brady, Ryan Moffett, James Moran; Dessie Reynolds, Dáire Duggan; Jayson Matthews, Dylan Farrell, Aaron Farrell; Matthew Carey, Cathal McCabe, Oran Kenny.
Subs: Paddy Collum, Seán O'Sullivan, Ruairi Harkin, Shane Campbell, Seán Morgan, Keelin McGann, Darragh O'Connell, Fionn Hourican, Jamie Brady Hynes, Caolán Lynch, Darragh Finlass.
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald; Tom Moran, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O'Keane, Matt Nolan; Dean Healy, Liam O'Neill; John Paul Nolan, Padraig O'Toole, Mark Kenny; Oisín McGraynor, Kevin Quinn, Eoin D'Arcy.
Subs: Mark Jackson, Jacques McCall, Andy Maher, Gavin Fogarty, Cathal Baker, Conor Fee, Darragh Fee, Adam Arslan, Lorcan Smith, Christopher O'Brien, Brian Bohan.
Ulster Senior Football Championship
Sunday April 6
Donegal v Derry, Páirc Seán MacCumhaill, 2pm, RTE
A familiar Championship pairing, having met in the last four years.
Donegal triumphed in 2021 and 2024, while Derry eked out victories in 2022 and 2023.
In the Allianz Football League, Jim McGuinness' charges demonstrated glimpses of their considerable potential, while Derry endured a disappointing relegation.
Injuries have significantly disturbed Derry too this year, but Paddy Tally's outfit will be primed for this Ballybofey encounter.
Shane McGuigan is an accomplished forward, while Ethan Doherty's industry matters deeply to Derry.
Doherty and Derry, though, will be fully aware of Donegal's runners from deep with Ryan McHugh and Daire Ó Baoill key performers.
Michael Murphy's return, Paddy McBrearty's class, and Oisín Gallen's excellence ensure a real sense of optimism accompanies Donegal into the 2025 Ulster campaign.
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Ciarán Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Daire Ó Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Niall O'Donnell, Conor O'Donnell, Aaron Doherty.
Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Stephen McMenamin, Kevin McGettigan, Jamie Brennan, Jeaic MacCeallabhuí, Michael Murphy, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Oisín Gallen, Paddy McBrearty, Jason McGee.
Derry: Neil McNicholl; Diarmuid Baker, Brendan Rogers, Martin Bradley; Conor Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Eoin McEvoy; Conor Glass, Dan Higgins; Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciarán McFaul; Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.
Subs: Ben McKinless, Niall Louhglin, Patrick McGurk, Declan Cassidy, Ben McCarron, Mark Doherty, Caolan Devlin, Cahir McMonagle, Ryan Mulholland, Charlie Diamond, Kevin Quinn.
Galway senior football team manager Pádraic Joyce. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Connacht Senior Football Championship
Saturday April 5
London v Roscommon, McGovern Park, 2.30pm, GAA+
Roscommon were beaten in last Saturday's Allianz Football League Division Two decider by Monaghan, but the promotion mission was accomplished.
The fact that Roscommon earned a top two finish, while also affording more than 30 players valuable minutes on the pitch pleased manager Davy Burke.
Inevitably, the Smiths and Murtaghs remain influential figures for Roscommon, who have assembled a strong panel in 2025.
Michael Maher's work with London is hugely respectable, perfectly illustrated by a couple of wins in Division Four.
Indeed, London were unlucky not to glean more points in that competitive environment with homegrown players such as Shay Rafter and Josh Obahor involved.
Nathan McElwaine and Ciaran Diver have been relevant for London in recent years too, and they will want to impress in Ruislip.
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Seán Taylor, Nathan McElwaine; Eoin Walsh, Matt Moyniham, Aidan McLoughlin; Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher; Josh Obahor, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy; Seán Tucker, Shay Rafter, Ruairi Rafferty.
Subs: Conor Redican, Conor McKelvey, Fiontan Eastwood, Conor Cox, Oran Hilley, Conal Gallagher, Josh Crowley Holland, Ciaran McCarrick, Marc Friel, Conor Doral, Ciaran Diver.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, John McManus, David Murray; Ruaidhri Fallon, Colm Neary, Dylan Ruane; Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle; Ultan Harney, Enda Smith, Ben O'Carroll; Diarmuid Murtagh, Cian McKeon, Ciaráin Murtagh.
Subs: Aaron Brady, Niall Higgins, Ronan Daly, Shane Killoran, Declan Kenny, Conor Hand, Shane Cunnane, Cathal Heneghan, Senan Lambe, Conor Cox, Donie Smith.
Sunday April 6
Mayo v Sligo, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3.30pm, GAA+
Sligo emergence as a respected force in the underage grades out west ensures hope is attached to the county again.
Still, this will be a very difficult assignment for Tony McEntee's emerging team against Mayo in Castlebar.
In the closing stages of the league Sligo improved dramatically to avoid dropping into Division Three with Niall Murphy impressing.
Luke Towey and Paul McNamara are other important players for Sligo, who will be hoping to secure a first Championship win over Mayo since 2010.
Kevin McStay was disappointed with Mayo's Allianz Football League Division One Final display against Kerry.
Aidan O'Shea was effective for Mayo, supplying three points, while Ryan O'Donoghue was prominent throughout the league.
Donnacha McHugh and David McBrien have established themselves as central figures for Mayo, who want to make an impact in the west.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Stephen Coen; Jack Carney, Matthew Ruane; Davitt Neary, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Frank Irwin, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Adrian Phillips, Conor Reid, Diarmuid O'Connor, Dylan Thornton, Eoghan McLaughlin, Fergal Boland, Fenton Kelly, Niall Coggins, Paul Towey, Seán Morahan, Shairoze Akram.
Sligo: Daniel Lyons; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Nathan Mullen, Luke Towey; Canice Mulligan, Patrick O'Connor; Ross Doherty, David Quinn, Alan Reilly; Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Pat Spillane.
Subs: Aidan Devaney, Cian Lally, Mark Walsh, Mikey Gordon, Lee Deignan, Luke Casserly, Paul Kilcoyne, Oisín Flynn, Shane Deignan, Jack Lavin, Peter Laffey.
New York v Galway, Gaelic Park, 3pm (8pm Irish time), GAA+
Having reached All-Ireland SFC Finals in 2022 and 2024, Padraic Joyce's Galway outfit are operating at a high level.
The Allianz Football League brought some encouraging moments, including flashes of Shane Walsh's skill and finishing ability.
John Maher and Paul Conroy remain key performers, while Johnny McGrath has developed into one of the top corner backs in the game.
New York will relish the opportunity to play against a team with such class and ability.
Tyrone's Ronan McGinley is in charge of New York, who will want to produce a defiant display, especially after the progress shown in recent Connacht and Tailteann Cup fixtures.
New York: Joey Grace; Cian O'Dea, Seán Wilson, Noel Hatton; Donal Hunt, Rob Wharton, James Walsh; Eoghan McElliott, Kieran Murphy; Tiernan Mathers, Frank O'Reilly, Shane Brosnan; Jack Robinson, Adam Loughlin Stones, Bobby O'Regan.
Subs: Ryan Corrigan, Jamie Boyle, Tadgh O'Riordan, Matthew Queenan, Seán Horan, Michael McCarthy, Michael Argue, Joe Hagan, Jack Reilly, Mikey Brosnan, Killian Butle.
Galway: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Kieran Molloy, Seán Kelly, Cian Hernon; Matthew Tierney, John Maher; Matthew Thompson, Cillian McDaid, Daniel O'Flaherty; Brian Mannion, Rob Finnerty, Finnian Ó Laoi.
Subs: Connor Gleeson, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Billy Mannion, Jack O'Neill, Diarmuid Kilcommons, Paul Conroy, Céin D'Arcy, Liam Ó Conghaile, Cathal Sweeney, Patrick Egan, Sam O'Neill
