The first weekend of the year and it's a packed GAA schedule. Here's all you need to know
READY TO ROAR: Darragh Murray is lifted by Scotstown teammate Killian McKenna after their dramatic Ulster CLub SFC final win over Kilcoo. Now can they go all the way? Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
An opportunity for both Ephie Fitzgerald, returning for a second stint with Waterford, and Clare boss Paul Madden to get a competitive game under their belts.
Niall Fitzgerald's first competitive lineup as Tipperary manager is a youthful one. Limerick are without the retired Iain Corbett and injured duo Josh Ryan and Darragh O'Hagan. Ian Ryan has joined the management.
A dress rehearsal of sorts for their Ulster SFC opener. Daniel Magee at centre-back and Fergal O'Brien up front are interesting inclusions in a strong Armagh team.
SATURDAY.Â
Athenry picked the lock at Croke Park last month and broke out of jail, coming from six points down with four minutes of regulation time left to snatch a draw. St Finbarrs will place a premium on finishing strongly this time as being reeled back in late in games has become a costly habit. Hopefully another head-to-head between Dervla Higgins and Barrs/Cork star Orlaith Cahalane awaits. Hopefully Athenry's Olwen Rabbitte, due for cruciate surgery, makes it through another game too. And hopefully, for Athenry's sake, they can extract just one more terrific performance from Therese Donohoe (nee Maher). At 44, the mother of three was the standout in the stalemate. A first title is still there for the Barrs who led for the majority of the pre-Christmas summit but they must grab it with both hands this time.
: St FinbarrsÂ
Padraig Corcoran, the son of a Dingle mother, grew up playing with Ballyboden St Enda's before relocating to Kerry. If he does nothing more with his adopted club, a first Kerry SFC title since 1948 and a maiden provincial triumph is already plenty. Mark O'Connor's apparent availability is a major boost. Fulsome performances from the Geaneys and more Tom O'Sullivan exocet bursts from defence will be required too. It's a strong Ballyboden team with former Kerry senior Pa Warren part of a defence that includes ex-Antrim captain Peter Healy and Mayo man Ryan Baynes. Galway star Cein D'Arcy has thrived in the middle third. Former Kerry U20 Michael O'Gara could see game time. Colm Basquel is their inspirational creator, Daire Sweeney their finisher. Whilst Dingle had a slightly schizophrenic provincial campaign, demolishing Mungret and pinching victory from St Finbarr's, 2016 champions 'Boden were largely at their ease in Leinster.
: Ballyboden St Enda'sÂ
Former Derry forward Eoin Bradley's impact as a sub has been a highlight of Glenullin's campaign. The 42-year-old ex-Irish League player has consistently been the first player brought on, clinching the county title for them with a brilliant late two-pointer in the final and hitting 1-3 in the Ulster final win over Cavan's Cuchulainn's. Neil and Ryan McNicholl have given huge performances too. No Roscommon club has ever won this competition. St Croan's (2015) and Michael Glaveys (2018) were defeated finalists. Strokestown's Connacht final win over Kilmeena, when they registered 4-11 in Castlebar, was arguably their best performance of the season. So perhaps they are coming good at the right time. A golden ticket to next weekend's final at Croke Park is the prize.
: Glenullin.
Â
Exactly where Colm Dalton picked up his hamstring injury has been debated locally. Was it in pre-season training with Kildare or on club duty? Either way, the injury is an issue as his substitution and subsequent reintroduction in the Leinster final win over Tubberclair highlighted. Sallins have had a brilliant season, winning all of their championship games by at least seven points, and most by double digit margins, but centre-forward Dalton is central to it all. The knock suffered by midfielder Paul Farrelly in the Leinster final is significant too. Three weeks on, will both be fit to feature? Brian O Beaglaoich will try to hurt Sallins like he did Fossa in the county final. The wins over Corofin and Aghabullogue in Munster showed they have various ways of picking teams apart. Between Aidan Walsh's steadying influence, Tomas O Se and the impact of the four other O Beaglaoichs, Sallins will have their hands full. An Ghaeltacht, even allowing for the two-hour journey, may feel the venue suits them more too.
: An Ghaeltacht.
Both have been through the ringer in their provinces. Kiltimagh needed penalties to defeat Roscommon's St Croan's in the Connacht semi-final. Tyrone's Clogher went to extra time with the Fermanagh representatives at the same stage in Ulster. After that, Clogher beat Emyvale by a point in the final and London's Tara by the same margin in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Their management reported 'a lot of injuries' after that game which could prove significant. Kiltimagh manager Mick Regan was also in charge when they reached the final of this competition in 2010.
: Clogher Eire Og
Ballymacelligott opened up with some of their best football in Munster, hitting a combined 7-24 in the wins over Clonmel Og and Buttevant. They'd existed in a pressure cooker for several seasons, coming up agonisingly short within Kerry before eventually falling over the line with a dramatic final win over St Senan's, on penalties. It can't be easy for a set of players still grieving the sad passing of club minor Luke Silles after an accident last summer. Opponents Grangenolvin racked up four big wins in Leinster, including a semi-final hammering of Barcelona Gaels and a four-point final win over a strong Fighting Cocks side from Carlow. Fionn Bergin, top scorer in the county championship, along with Conall and Oran Bergin have shared much of the provincial scoring between them.
: Ballymacelligott.
An experimental Tipp side with just four starters from the All-Ireland final though still a solid lineup. Bryan O'Mara is captain. Barry Hogan is in goals with Brian Hogan back on the bench. Mark Fitzgerald captains Waterford.
A sell-out, on the third day of the year. Clearly there's no rivalry like a local one. All eyes will be on Limerick goalkeeper Colin Ryan, the Poc Fada champion. Opportunity also knocks for Darragh Mangan, Dylan O'Shea, Ethan Hurley and John English.
Ger Brennan has gone with Dublin's development squad for his first competitive game. Niall O'Callaghan, Con's brother, is the only starter who featured in 2025. A third O'Callaghan, Eoghan, starts in defence.
Â
Another opportunity for Tailteann Cup holders Kildare to assess their panel having already faced Kerry before Christmas.
Injuries are a problem for Offaly. John Furlong is the latest with a knee injury suffered in Tullamore's Leinster club campaign. Ciaran Murphy of Skerries Harps in Dublin has joined Offaly.
Last season's All-Ireland semi-finalists Meath could assess their reserves this time after a series of testing challenge games, including against Mayo.
Mark McHugh's first steps in inter-county management will be made on Longford soil. Longford are title holders.
Dermot McCabe's first outing as Cavan manager. Monaghan are without retired trio Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy and Karl O'Connell and 11 more from last season's panel due to injuries, travel and Scotstown's All-Ireland involvement.
An interesting test for new Sligo managers Eamonn O'Hara and Dessie Sloyan - two competitive games in 24 hours, presumably to accommodate London's involvement across Saturday and Sunday. It's Andy Moran's first competitive game as Mayo boss too though he's had a training camp in Portugal and two challenge matches.
Padraic Joyce has named a new look Galway team with only Jack Glynn and Sean Fitzgerald from the lineup against Meath last summer.
Â
This generation of Scotstown players were desperate to win an Ulster title, to match the club's famous teams of the 1970s and 1980s. Now that they've done it, will they feel fulfilled or want more? The club never won an All-Ireland so goalkeeper Rory Beggan, fresh off his remarkable 11-point haul and clean sheet in the Ulster final defeat of Kilcoo, along with experienced stars like the Hughes brothers can etch their own names in history. Ryan O'Toole and Conor McCarthy, just back from injuries, will have benefited from the Christmas break. Former Corofin manager Kevin O'Brien's knowledge on the opposition has to help too. And yet St Brigid's are still favourites! Anthony Cunningham's side were finalists two years ago and took out both the Mayo and Galway champions in Connacht. Scotstown will have spent Christmas wondering how to keep tabs on Ben O'Carroll and Conor Hand. Ryan O'Toole and Darragh Murray will probably be assigned man-marking duties.
: Scotstown.
An interesting taster of what awaits in 2026 for Kildare who will play Division 1B and MacCarthy Cup hurling this year.
Kevin O'Brien's first game as Westmeath manager. Tommy Doyle and Robbie Greville have retired. Darragh Clinton, Niall Mitchell, Aaron Craig and Galway man Davy Glennon aren't involved either.
A tricky first test for new Carlow manager Pat Bennett.
A quarter-final against Carlow or Dublin next Thursday is the prize on offer.
This could be a rare opportunity for an Offaly win in 2025 ahead of a devilishly difficult National League campaign.
A repeat of the 2024 final, which Derry won. Luke Barrett should have plenty of inside info for new Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh as he was a selector with last summer's All-Ireland finalists Donegal.
Mark Dowd's first competitive steps as Roscommon manager will begin in Elphin. The holders are without the Strokestown and St Brigid's players. They played Sligo in a recent challenge.
A second game in 24 hours for both counties, testing their panel depth.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
