THE MAYO GAA public will get to witness their All-Ireland heroes back in action this weekend as the county football championships kick into gear.
Manager Andy Moran has expressed some concern for his players’ injury risks after a week of celebrations, while saying that each individual will have to make their own decisions on their readiness for action.
In a competition where few clubs have managed to stitch titles together, Ballina Stephenites are bidding to become the first team since the 1950s to complete four in a row. Their defence begins at home to Garrymore on Saturday at 4.30pm.
Sam Callinan was the only Ballina man on the matchday 26 for the All-Ireland final, but they also possess extended panellists in Liam Golden, Dylan Thornton, and Frank Irwin.
Garrymore boast two of Callinan’s defensive colleagues in Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession.
The action opens on Friday evening (7pm throw-in) with Footballer of the Year frontrunner, Ryan O’Donoghue, expected to lead his Belmullet side on a visit to Knockmore in a repeat of the 2021 final, won by Knockmore.
It's a huge weekend of action with 2️⃣2️⃣ games taking place accross the Senior, Intermediate and Juniors championships. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance.
At the same time, a Castlebar Mitchels side starring Donnacha McHugh, Bob Tuohy, Paddy Durcan, John MacMonagle, and Seán Morahan travels to play Balla.
The other game in Group 4, styled the ‘group of death’, features Breaffy welcoming Moran’s home club of Ballaghaderreen on Sunday at 2pm.
Having contributed to Mayo’s famine-ending success, Jack Livingstone, Aidan O’Shea, and Matthew Ruane will hope to take inspiration for Breaffy’s breakthrough, after five final defeats since 2013. David McBrien lines up on the opposite side.
Last year’s defeated finalists Westport, who were pipped in a replay by Ballina, open at home to Charlestown Sarsfields (Saturday, 4.30pm). Rory Brickenden and Conal Dawson line out alongside 2016 Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan, while Paul Towey will lead Charlestown’s challenge.
Two All-Ireland final stars will face off in Kilmeena (Saturday, 7pm), where Jack Carney’s club will host Darragh Beirne’s Claremorris.
Crossmolina Deel Rovers might be down Aussie Rules recruit Kobe McDonald, but they still include Jordan Flynn and Conor Loftus as they welcome Ballintubber, who are spearheaded by Diarmuid and Cillian O’Connor (Saturday, 6.45pm).
Crossmolina Deel Rovers trio Conor Loftus, Jordan Flynn, and Kobe McDonald celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
All-Ireland-winning captain Jack Coyne will be hoping to lead a Ballyhaunis rebound following senior relegation as they travel to Ballinrobe for their intermediate opener (Sunday, 12.30pm).
Meanwhile, those in the Kingdom will be seeking some diversion as the Kerry club championships get underway.
All-Ireland senior club champions Dingle open against Rathmore at Austin Stack Park (Saturday, 7.30pm).
They will be hoping Paul Geaney and Tom O’Sullivan are closer to full fitness, while Rathmore will have similar wishes for Shane Ryan. Dingle can also call upon Barry Dan O’Sullivan, who missed last season, and Dylan Geaney, with Paul Murphy a key man-marker for Rathmore.
Their Slea Head neighbours, An Ghaeltacht, who were crowned All-Ireland intermediate champions in January, begin their senior return away to Milltown-Castlemaine (Friday, 7pm). Brian Ó Beaglaoich stars there.
Dr Crokes won last year’s club championship, which precedes the blue-riband county championship, and they can pick from Shane Murphy, Gavin White, Mark O’Shea, Micheál Burns, Evan Looney, Charlie Keating, and Tony Brosnan, who missed the All-Ireland final through injury. They start with a Killarney derby against Spa at Fitzgerald Stadium (Friday, 7pm).
The other round 1 fixture sees Austin Stacks, who have Joe O’Connor, Dylan Casey, and Armin Heinrich, host Templenoe (Sunday, 4pm).
As ever, much interest will surround David Clifford and older brother Paudie. Fossa have got the big stage of Fitzgerald Stadium for their intermediate championship opener against Gneeveguilla (Sunday, 2pm).
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Mayo heroes return to action this weekend; Kerry club championship also set for throw-in
THE MAYO GAA public will get to witness their All-Ireland heroes back in action this weekend as the county football championships kick into gear.
Manager Andy Moran has expressed some concern for his players’ injury risks after a week of celebrations, while saying that each individual will have to make their own decisions on their readiness for action.
In a competition where few clubs have managed to stitch titles together, Ballina Stephenites are bidding to become the first team since the 1950s to complete four in a row. Their defence begins at home to Garrymore on Saturday at 4.30pm.
Sam Callinan was the only Ballina man on the matchday 26 for the All-Ireland final, but they also possess extended panellists in Liam Golden, Dylan Thornton, and Frank Irwin.
Garrymore boast two of Callinan’s defensive colleagues in Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession.
The action opens on Friday evening (7pm throw-in) with Footballer of the Year frontrunner, Ryan O’Donoghue, expected to lead his Belmullet side on a visit to Knockmore in a repeat of the 2021 final, won by Knockmore.
At the same time, a Castlebar Mitchels side starring Donnacha McHugh, Bob Tuohy, Paddy Durcan, John MacMonagle, and Seán Morahan travels to play Balla.
The other game in Group 4, styled the ‘group of death’, features Breaffy welcoming Moran’s home club of Ballaghaderreen on Sunday at 2pm.
Having contributed to Mayo’s famine-ending success, Jack Livingstone, Aidan O’Shea, and Matthew Ruane will hope to take inspiration for Breaffy’s breakthrough, after five final defeats since 2013. David McBrien lines up on the opposite side.
Last year’s defeated finalists Westport, who were pipped in a replay by Ballina, open at home to Charlestown Sarsfields (Saturday, 4.30pm). Rory Brickenden and Conal Dawson line out alongside 2016 Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan, while Paul Towey will lead Charlestown’s challenge.
Two All-Ireland final stars will face off in Kilmeena (Saturday, 7pm), where Jack Carney’s club will host Darragh Beirne’s Claremorris.
Crossmolina Deel Rovers might be down Aussie Rules recruit Kobe McDonald, but they still include Jordan Flynn and Conor Loftus as they welcome Ballintubber, who are spearheaded by Diarmuid and Cillian O’Connor (Saturday, 6.45pm).
All-Ireland-winning captain Jack Coyne will be hoping to lead a Ballyhaunis rebound following senior relegation as they travel to Ballinrobe for their intermediate opener (Sunday, 12.30pm).
Meanwhile, those in the Kingdom will be seeking some diversion as the Kerry club championships get underway.
All-Ireland senior club champions Dingle open against Rathmore at Austin Stack Park (Saturday, 7.30pm).
They will be hoping Paul Geaney and Tom O’Sullivan are closer to full fitness, while Rathmore will have similar wishes for Shane Ryan. Dingle can also call upon Barry Dan O’Sullivan, who missed last season, and Dylan Geaney, with Paul Murphy a key man-marker for Rathmore.
Their Slea Head neighbours, An Ghaeltacht, who were crowned All-Ireland intermediate champions in January, begin their senior return away to Milltown-Castlemaine (Friday, 7pm). Brian Ó Beaglaoich stars there.
Dr Crokes won last year’s club championship, which precedes the blue-riband county championship, and they can pick from Shane Murphy, Gavin White, Mark O’Shea, Micheál Burns, Evan Looney, Charlie Keating, and Tony Brosnan, who missed the All-Ireland final through injury. They start with a Killarney derby against Spa at Fitzgerald Stadium (Friday, 7pm).
The other round 1 fixture sees Austin Stacks, who have Joe O’Connor, Dylan Casey, and Armin Heinrich, host Templenoe (Sunday, 4pm).
As ever, much interest will surround David Clifford and older brother Paudie. Fossa have got the big stage of Fitzgerald Stadium for their intermediate championship opener against Gneeveguilla (Sunday, 2pm).
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