THE EXPECTED VICTORIES for Galway and Kerry, both by margins of 14 points, in today’s Connacht and Munster football finals, has confirmed the opening group games in the new All-Ireland senior football format.
The opening weekend of action on 20-21 May will see Kerry at home to Mayo and Galway host Tyrone in two blockbuster ties.
Connacht finalists Sligo entertain Kildare, a novel fixture with the counties also meeting in next weekend’s All-Ireland U20 football final, while Clare will host Donegal.
Today’s outcomes confirm three of the four teams in each group with the remainder to be finalised after next Sunday’s Leinster final involving Dublin against Louth and the Ulster final meeting of Derry and Armagh.
Group 1 will include Kerry, Mayo and Cork, while Group 2 will feature Galway, Tyrone and Westmeath. Then it’s Roscommon, Sligo and Kildare as confirmed participants in Group 3, before finally Clare, Donegal and Monaghan are Group 4 rivals.
Here’s the updated fixtures list.
Sam Maguire Cup 2023
Round 1 (first named team at home)
Weekend 20/21 May
- Group 1: Kerry v Mayo
- Group 2: Galway v Tyrone
- Group 3: Sligo v Kildare
- Group 4: Clare v Donegal
Weekend 27/28 May
- Group 1: Leinster runner-up (Dublin/Louth) v Cork
- Group 2: Ulster runner-up (Derry/Armagh) v Westmeath
- Group 3: Leinster champions (Dublin/Louth) v Roscommon
- Group 4: Ulster champions (Derry/Armagh) v Monaghan
Round 2 (first named team at home)
Weekend 3/4 June
Group 1
- Mayo v Leinster runner-up (Dublin/Louth)
- Cork v Kerry
Group 2
- Tyrone v Ulster runner-up (Derry/Armagh)
- Westmeath v Galway
Group 3
- Roscommon v Sligo
- Kildare v Leinster winner (Dublin/Louth)
Group 4
- Monaghan v Clare
- Donegal v Ulster winner (Derry/Armagh)
Round 3 (neutral venues)
Weekend 17/18 June
Group 1
- Kerry v Leinster runner-up (Dublin/Louth)
- Mayo v Cork
Group 2
- Galway v Ulster runner-up (Derry/Armagh)
- Tyrone v Westmeath
Group 3
- Leinster winner (Dublin/Louth) v Sligo
- Roscommon v Kildare
Group 4
- Ulster winner (Derry/Armagh) v Clare
- Monaghan v Donegal
