SATURDAY 24 MAY
All-Ireland SFC
Group 1
Meath v Cork, Páirc Tailteann, 3pm
Group 3
Louth v Monaghan, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 4.45pm
Group 4
Armagh v Derry, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm
Group 1
Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey, 7pm
ONLINE
Live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Live streaming of Louth-Monaghan and Donegal-Tyrone on GAA+. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game (9.30pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 and Spórt an tSathairn, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHER
Saturday: A rather wet and breezy day with outbreaks of rain spreading from the west, turning heavy at times later. Feeling humid with highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in fresh southwest winds. For more go to met.ie.
Old foes and Ulster derbies
And onwards we go. More tales of the unexpected? Well, if the opening series of games is anything to go by, who knows what will be in store. Last weekend, we saw the Dubs cause a 'mild' surprise when pipping Galway and then Cavan, and don't let the final score fool you, proved too good for Mayo. Despite Roscommon starting well, Kerry would find their groove, comfortably winning on home soil. Down impressed the most, swatting Clare aside with ease.
Lee Keegan: Mayo no longer contenders after Castlebar doomsday
The vanquished now have work to do to salvage their All-Ireland race. Yes, three from four in each group advance and one will ask 'where is the jeopardy?'. But there is every possibility that those with lofty ambitions will have exited before the longest day. It's the final year for this round-robin and yes the format has its critics, but a run of two-pointers in the final round could bring about much fluctuation and heartbreak for some.
That juncture is three weeks away, though. Before that eight teams enter the fray. First up is the clash of Meath-Cork. Remember the days when much spite was in the air when this pair collided. Seán Boylan and Billy Morgan were at the helm in an era where the counties shared Sam Maguire spoils across four seasons. It was the late 1980s; the Dublin-Kerry stranglehold was broken.
Meath, under Boylan, had an aura about them, an edge, a defiance. The Rebels were somewhat under the Royal thumb early on, but soon imposed themselves. It was a question of having to.
That was then. Meath's win over Dublin in the Leinster semi-final was a reminder of them in their pomp. Supporters will hope it's the start of a journey that will herald a new aura where silverware will be won. How they respond to their Leinster final loss will be key in the coming weeks.
As for Cork, there are no doubt pangs of regret after running Kerry so close in the Munster semi. That game was five weeks ago, more than enough time for the soul-searching that followed and to prepare for the Kingdom again on the last day of the month.
And so the battles in Ulster.
Donegal, still provincial kingpins after prevailing in that thriller against Armagh, now welcome Tyrone, as was the case in Round 1 last year, to MacCumhaill Park. A Red Hand team that were just edged out by the Orchard in a gripping semi-final, a contest where they showed great resolve to haul themselves back into contention late on, only for Rory Grugan to slot over a post-hooter winner for the All-Ireland champions.
*Neither of last year's championship clashes between Donegal and Tyrone produced a goal. Goals have been scarce in this rivalry in recent times with only two scored in their last four championship meetings. Donegal conceded only one goal (v Derry) in their four Ulster games this year; Tyrone conceded no goals against Cavan or Armagh
If there is a dark horse in the race for Sam, Tyrone are getting the most mentions.
As for Jimmy's men, well they have been touted as genuine contenders to land the big prize for some time now. They will expect to top a section that also includes Cavan and Mayo. Many critics will point to the fact that they don't kick the ball enough but they've done enough so far to get it crucially to the likes of Langan, McBrearty, Murphy and Gallen.
Armagh play host to Derry. Since winning the league last year, the Oak Leaf county have fallen off a cliff, though they haven't quite hit the bottom. Paddy Tally was brought in as manager, this after a period working with Kerry, helping them to be more solid at the back.
Nigel Dunne: Case study should be sought on Derry's demise
Such solidity is not evident so far in Tally's tenure with Derry, with the side alarmingly leaking goals towards the end of their league campaign.
Their Ulster opener saw them lose by ten points against Donegal. The latter led by seven at half-time and even though Derry cut the lead to two early in the second, the home side surged ahead again and never looked in trouble in the final quarter.
Seven weeks have passed since that encounter. Much then for Tally and co to work on, though the manager did take some positives from that reverse by the banks of the Finn.
*Derry have had very difficult time since winning the Allianz League Division 1 title last year. They have played 14 league and championship games since then, winning two, drawing one and losing 11
"When we're playing well and we're on our game, we're very good, " he told derrynow.com.
"We've proved that today. Especially in the early stages of the first half and the early stages of the second half, we can match anybody."
"The position we're in with our squad, we have to get stronger. This is an opportunity for us now to get work done and we have no excuses coming to the group stages."
Vinny Corry and Seán Cavanagh highlight how Donegal and Armagh used their kick-outs to tip the scales in the Ulster final
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 10, 2025
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For Armagh, they are now well used to Ulster final heartache in May. Again, it all came down to small margins, with the width of the post denying them on a few occasions. The fact that they kept Donegal scoreless for key periods will please them to some degree; their failure to put more scores on the board themselves during that time a cause for concern.
Leinster champions Louth, words that still have that nice ring about it for their band of supporters, have a 'home' game against Monaghan at Cedral St Conleth's Park.
Some will ask whether Louth can kick on after what was a notable achievement but this is an outfit who have been around the block a while, a collective who did not let the departure of Mickey Harte derail them. Ger Brennan's arrival saw more upward trajectory, as evidenced by running Dublin close in last year's Leinster final and then reaching the last eight of the All-Ireland race.
HT: Meath 0-13 Louth 3-03
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025
Just as Meath were getting a grip of the game, Louth got a third goal of the first half
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Against Meath, their ability to get goals and not drop their heads when the Royals appeared to be pulling away just after the break, were key. Also, conceding a green flag after Sam Mulroy lost possession out the field with minutes left, prompted the desired response. A two-point free (a controversial award) converted by Mulroy and a Craig Lennon white flag saw Louth over the line.
Being involved in the success was a "privilege" for Brennan, as he outlined to RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"What a bunch of players to be able to find a way just to dig it out," he said.
"Meath had momentum in both halves but our lads they just managed to find a way. They never give up, they never give in and that resolve is just incredible and these lads have it in spades.
"I'm just delighted for the clubs, schools, development squad managers, even previous management, all the work that's gone into developing these boys.
"To be part of it here today with the management team, the a backroom team, it's a privilege."
As for the challenges ahead, the Dubliner honed in on where his side could improve, when saying: "I wish we could grow in the games a bit quicker as we did in Inniskeen in [NFL, against Meath] round seven but look, we'll keep working on it. It's something to work on."
*Louth meet Monaghan in the All-Ireland championship for a second successive year – it finished level in Clones last year (2-10 each)
Monaghan, after gaining promotion back to Division 1, then fell just short against Donegal in the Ulster quarter-final. Two points in at the end, this after the Farney through Dessie Ward, sub Jack McCarron, Ryan McAnespie, Michael Bannigan and Stephen O'Hanlon led the scoring charge in the second period.
In his column on these pages, Lee Keegan expects Monaghan to "bring Louth back down to earth a tad". It's probably 50-50, and you'd expect the pair to reach the knockout phase and more than likely grace Croke Park come the end of the June.
