Fitzmaurice and Galway to face Kerry in 2027 league opener

Meanwhile, the Cork footballers are at home to Meath and the hurlers head to Tipperary in Round 1

Seán O'Shea of Kerry in action against Liam Silke of Galway in 2024. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

New Galway manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice is set to face his native Kerry in a Division 1 opener in January.

According to the draft 2027 National League fixtures released to counties this week, Fitzmaurice will share the sideline with his former colleague Jack O’Connor in Pearse Stadium on Saturday, January 23.

Fitzmaurice was selector and coach to O’Connor when he managed Kerry to an All-Ireland title in 2009. Fitzmaurice took over from the 2013 season and guided the county to their next capturing of the Sam Maguire Cup the following year.

On Sunday, January 24, newly-promoted Cork are due to host Meath who also gained promotion from Division 2 earlier this year.

The other two top-flight games - provincial winners Armagh and Roscommon in Box-It Athletic Grounds and 2026 All-Ireland champions Mayo v Donegal in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park - are scheduled for Saturday.

That same weekend, Dublin will begin their quest to make a swift return to Division 2 with an away fixture against All-Ireland semi-finalists Louth. The Wee County’s new stadium in Dundalk is due to open next year.

Dublin manager Ger Brennan is suspended for the county’s first two league matches arising from his sending off against Galway in the final round league game earlier this year.

In the penultimate round in March, Cork and Kerry will lock horns for the first time in the Division 1 in 11 years. John Cleary’s side will have home advantage. This year’s All-Ireland finalists Mayo and Kerry will face off in the final round in Castlebar.

All-Ireland SHC and Division 1A champions Limerick are expected to begin their 2027 season in earnest away to Kilkenny in January. The game will mark Henry Shefflin’s first league outing as Cats manager since replacing Derek Lyng.

That same opening weekend (January 23/24), 2025 Division 1A victors Cork are set to travel to Tipperary as promoted sides Dublin and Clare face off in the capital. Leinster champions Galway have a bye weekend in Round 1.

This year’s Munster finalists Cork and Limerick are in line to meet in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Round 4 on Saturday, February 20.

Eight days later, Galway and Limerick clash in a repeat of this past season’s All-Ireland final in Salthill.

Counties have been issued their respective provisional fixtures by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee. The counties are requested to provide feedback or proposed changes before the dates are confirmed as part for the GAA master fixtures list.