1.30pm – Connacht senior football quarter-final: St Brigid’s (Roscommon) v St Mary’s (Sligo) – King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park
HAVING COME SO close to All-Ireland glory twice in the past three seasons, this is all about going one better for St Brigid’s.
On paper, they are hefty favourites to get up and running here against St Mary’s. The one note of caution is that it was then Sligo kingpins Coolera-Strandhill who won the other Connacht title in the past three years.
Mary’s, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, won three Connacht titles in their early years. This year, they took down Coolera amid a four-game series of knockout contests which were each decided by no more than two points.
The Mark Breheny-managed side are battle-hardened and carry the experience of former Leitrim forward Emlyn Mulligan on their bench. Still, they must limit a Brigid’s attack which, led by Ben O’Carroll and Conor Hand, raised 4-15, 3-22, and 1-25 (after extra-time) to win the Roscommon title.
****
7.15pm – Ulster senior football quarter-final: Gowna (Cavan) v Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) – Kingspan Breffni, Cavan – RTÉ 2
A Cavan club has never won Ulster. Crossmaglen, with 11 titles, have won more than twice as many as the next most successful club.
Gowna captain Conor Brady lifts the Cavan SFC trophy. james lawlor photos
james lawlor photos
Yet it’s been 11 years since their last Séamus McFerran Cup, in which time no Armagh club has made it back to the final. Even Cross are on a four-game losing streak in Ulster, falling to Gaoth Dobhair, Clontibret, Ballybay, and Trillick.
The Cavan champions have been on a longer losing streak over nine years, albeit they have been creeping closer to taking a scalp. Kingscourt Stars lost after extra-time to Erne Gaels last year. In 2024, Crosserlough were brandished three black cards and a mistaken red in a two-point loss to Kilcoo. In 2023, Gowna were foiled by a last-gasp Naomh Conaill goal. In 2022, Gowna lost on penalties to Enniskillen Gaels.
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This time, can Gowna finally get over the line?
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Sunday 8 November
1.15pm – Munster senior football quarter-final: Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Loughmore-Castleiney (Tipperary) – Páirc Uí Rinn
“Who cares if you win the county if you don’t back it up in two weeks’ time?” said Mark Cronin after Nemo Rangers reclaimed their Cork throne.
Mark Cronin in action for Nemo Rangers in the Cork SFC final. DAVID RIBEIRO
DAVID RIBEIRO
They have significant pedigree in that regard, converting their previous 23 titles into 17 Munster triumphs and seven All-Irelands.
Last time out, in 2022, Clonmel Commercials came down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and eliminated Nemo live on RTÉ 2. It was an outcome which “tainted” their county silverware, said Cronin.
Perennial dual contenders Loughmore-Castleiney beat Commercials in the Tipperary decider. They will lean on the improvements from their unprecedented nine weeks of football-only training.
“The players now are up to speed,” said goalkeeper Shane Hennessy, who was player-manager in 2024 when they reached the Munster football final. “That five or ten yards (kicking distance) is coming back into it. We’re kicking two-pointers. There’s more and more lads able to do that now compared to the start of the championship.”
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1.30pm – Ulster senior football quarter-final: Scotstown (Monaghan) v O’Donovan Rossa Magherafelt (Derry) – St Tiernach’s Park, Clones – TG4
Having fought so long for their Ulster breakthrough, Scotstown won’t be keen to relinquish their title. They came through a semi-final abandonment, three sets of extra-time in four games, and a penalty shoot-out to finally get the job done.
Scotstown's Rory Beggan and Mark McPhillips celebrate winning the Ulster SFC title. Dan Clohessy / INPHO
Dan Clohessy / INPHO / INPHO
Their epic semi-final shoot-out was against then Derry champions Newbridge, whose Oak Leaf title was taken from them in the final against Magherafelt last month.
Magherafelt have suffered, like Scotstown did in Ulster, a sequence of final disappointments, with three defeats since their 2019 breakthrough, but Enda Muldoon’s charges will feel there’s more left in them. After all, it’s less than three years since their county colleagues Glen were crowned national champions.
But Scotstown are a tough nut to crack and any fouls will be punished severely, with Rory Beggan’s 0-11 from last year’s final a warning to all opponents.
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3.30pm – Leinster senior hurling quarter-final: Naas (Kildare) v Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly) – Cedral St Conleth’s, Newbridge – TG4
The four quarter-final favourites in Leinster must all travel away from home and Kilcormac-Killoughey face the sternest task.
Naas’s Jack Sheridan celebrates scoring a goal against Shinrone in 2022. Tommy Grealy / INPHO
Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO
An eight-in-a-row of Kildare titles means Naas are well familiarised with the demands of competing in the province, winning an All-Ireland intermediate in February 2022 and stepping up for what’s now their fifth crack at the senior crown.
They hammered then Offaly champions Shinrone on their competition debut the following November and have made the semi-finals in three of the past four seasons, although last year’s exit was a disappointing 10-point defeat to St Martin’s.
Kilcormac-Killoughey are building their own dynasty with a fourth successive Faithful title. They won a Leinster in 2012 and reached the All-Ireland final, so players will be well attuned to the potential of claiming even greater silverware.
Whoever wins will face Lough Lene Gaels or Shelmaliers in the semi-final, as the Kilkenny and Dublin champions are on a collision course on the other side of the draw.
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Action hots up in all four provinces as All-Ireland contenders get underway
Saturday 7 November
HAVING COME SO close to All-Ireland glory twice in the past three seasons, this is all about going one better for St Brigid’s.
On paper, they are hefty favourites to get up and running here against St Mary’s. The one note of caution is that it was then Sligo kingpins Coolera-Strandhill who won the other Connacht title in the past three years.
Mary’s, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, won three Connacht titles in their early years. This year, they took down Coolera amid a four-game series of knockout contests which were each decided by no more than two points.
The Mark Breheny-managed side are battle-hardened and carry the experience of former Leitrim forward Emlyn Mulligan on their bench. Still, they must limit a Brigid’s attack which, led by Ben O’Carroll and Conor Hand, raised 4-15, 3-22, and 1-25 (after extra-time) to win the Roscommon title.
****
A Cavan club has never won Ulster. Crossmaglen, with 11 titles, have won more than twice as many as the next most successful club.
Yet it’s been 11 years since their last Séamus McFerran Cup, in which time no Armagh club has made it back to the final. Even Cross are on a four-game losing streak in Ulster, falling to Gaoth Dobhair, Clontibret, Ballybay, and Trillick.
The Cavan champions have been on a longer losing streak over nine years, albeit they have been creeping closer to taking a scalp. Kingscourt Stars lost after extra-time to Erne Gaels last year. In 2024, Crosserlough were brandished three black cards and a mistaken red in a two-point loss to Kilcoo. In 2023, Gowna were foiled by a last-gasp Naomh Conaill goal. In 2022, Gowna lost on penalties to Enniskillen Gaels.
This time, can Gowna finally get over the line?
****
Sunday 8 November
“Who cares if you win the county if you don’t back it up in two weeks’ time?” said Mark Cronin after Nemo Rangers reclaimed their Cork throne.
They have significant pedigree in that regard, converting their previous 23 titles into 17 Munster triumphs and seven All-Irelands.
Last time out, in 2022, Clonmel Commercials came down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and eliminated Nemo live on RTÉ 2. It was an outcome which “tainted” their county silverware, said Cronin.
Perennial dual contenders Loughmore-Castleiney beat Commercials in the Tipperary decider. They will lean on the improvements from their unprecedented nine weeks of football-only training.
“The players now are up to speed,” said goalkeeper Shane Hennessy, who was player-manager in 2024 when they reached the Munster football final. “That five or ten yards (kicking distance) is coming back into it. We’re kicking two-pointers. There’s more and more lads able to do that now compared to the start of the championship.”
****
Having fought so long for their Ulster breakthrough, Scotstown won’t be keen to relinquish their title. They came through a semi-final abandonment, three sets of extra-time in four games, and a penalty shoot-out to finally get the job done.
Their epic semi-final shoot-out was against then Derry champions Newbridge, whose Oak Leaf title was taken from them in the final against Magherafelt last month.
Magherafelt have suffered, like Scotstown did in Ulster, a sequence of final disappointments, with three defeats since their 2019 breakthrough, but Enda Muldoon’s charges will feel there’s more left in them. After all, it’s less than three years since their county colleagues Glen were crowned national champions.
But Scotstown are a tough nut to crack and any fouls will be punished severely, with Rory Beggan’s 0-11 from last year’s final a warning to all opponents.
****
The four quarter-final favourites in Leinster must all travel away from home and Kilcormac-Killoughey face the sternest task.
An eight-in-a-row of Kildare titles means Naas are well familiarised with the demands of competing in the province, winning an All-Ireland intermediate in February 2022 and stepping up for what’s now their fifth crack at the senior crown.
They hammered then Offaly champions Shinrone on their competition debut the following November and have made the semi-finals in three of the past four seasons, although last year’s exit was a disappointing 10-point defeat to St Martin’s.
Kilcormac-Killoughey are building their own dynasty with a fourth successive Faithful title. They won a Leinster in 2012 and reached the All-Ireland final, so players will be well attuned to the potential of claiming even greater silverware.
Whoever wins will face Lough Lene Gaels or Shelmaliers in the semi-final, as the Kilkenny and Dublin champions are on a collision course on the other side of the draw.
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Armagh GAA Cavan GAA Club Previews Connacht Club SFC Cork GAA Crossmaglen Rangers Derry GAA GAA Gaelic Football gowna Hurling Kilcormac-Killoughey Kildare GAA Leinster club SHC Loughmore-Castleiney Magherafelt Monaghan GAA Munster Club SFC Naas Nemo Rangers Offaly GAA Roscommon GAA Scotstown Sligo GAA St Mary's St. Brigid's Tipperary GAA Ulster Club SFC