The championship gets underway with a little bit excitement in the air, than the previous few years.
New rules and the new acceptance of the pre-Easter Sunday championship games are responsible for the new outlook.
Will it change the layout of the stale championship concluding stages, or will the new rules exaggerate the gaps between the sides? The summer awaits!
Connacht Championship
London v Roscommon
The excitement has built around Roscommon as they travel to London for a first championship game in 10 years. The excitement must surely be for the trip rather than the actual game.
London are no great shakes. Roscommon were promoted to division one. The Rossies have questions over their match fitness with big drop off’s in the final quarter in their last two games.
That won’t matter much. Verdict: Roscommon to win by 10!
London: Andrew Walsh, Daire Rooney, Sean Taylor, Nathan McElwaine, Eoin Walsh, Matt Moynahan, Aidan McLoughlin, Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher, Joshua Obahor, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy, Sean Tucker, Shay Rafter, Ruairi Rafferty.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll, Pearse Frost, John McManus, David Murray, Ruaidhrí Fallon, Colm Neary, Dylan Ruane, Eddie Nolan, Keith Doyle, Ultan Harney, Enda Smith, Ben O'Carroll, Diarmuid Murtagh, Cian Mckeon, Ciaráin Murtagh
Sligo v Mayo
The championship gets underway for these two at half-three on Sunday. It will be over for Sligo by four.
It’s hard to believe that at a stage last Sunday week, Mayo were headed for division two, yet ended up in the league final. Questions were thrown at Kevin McStay for Mayo’s performance in the league final. The real stuff is next week said many.
Sligo survived in division three after a final day push over win against Leitrim. Sligo barely had to make a push. Yet there’s only one winner here! Verdict: Mayo by 10.
Mayo: Colm Reape, Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession, Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Stephen Coen, Jack Carney, Matthew Ruane, Davitt Neary, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea, Frank Irwin , Ryan O’Donoghue
Sligo: Daniel Lyons, Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Nathan Mullen, Luke Towey, Canice Mulligan, Patrick O'Connor, Ross Doherty, David Quinn, Alan Reilly, Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Pat Spillane
New York v Galway
New York caused a shock two years ago, catching out Andy Moran’s Leitrim, having nearly knocked out Leitirm in 2018.
There isn’t any chance of a shock here. Verdict: Galway by 20
New York: Joey Grace, Cian O'Dea, Sean Wilson, Noel Hatton, Donal Hunt, Rob Wharton, James Walsh, Eoghan McElliott, Kieran Murphy, Tiarnan Mathers, Frank O Reilly, Shane Brosnan, Jack Robinson, Adam Loughlin Stones, Bobby O'Regan
Galway: Conor Flaherty, Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn, Kieran Molloy, Sean Kelly, Cian Hernon, Matthew Tierney, John Maher, Matthew Thompson, Cillian McDaid, Daniel Ó Flaherty, Brian Mannion, Robert Finnerty, Finnian Ó Laoi.
Leinster Championship
Longford v Wicklow
The race begins for the Leinster championship silver medals and a place in the All-Ireland championship.
This is an interesting one. Wicklow missed out on a return to division three. Longford never threatened promotion, but showed some green shoots at time.
On the line are two hardened championship warriors in Mike Solan and Oisin McConville. Indeed, Solan needs this a lot more and Longford are at home. Verdict: Longford
Longford: Mícheál Hughes, Patrick Fox , Oisín O'Toole, Bryan Masterson, Cian Brady, Ryan Moffett, James Moran, Dessie Reynolds, Dáire Duggan, Jayson Matthews, Dylan Farrell, Aaron Farrell, Matthew Carey, Cathal McCabe, Oran Kenny.
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald, Tom Moran, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone, Joe Prendergast, Patrick O Keane, Matt Nolan, Dean Healy, Liam O Neill, John Paul Nolan, Padraig O Toole, Mark Kenny, Oisin McGraynor, Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy.
Wexford v Laois
Wexford had a great league campaign, minus the league final. Seven wins from seven makes them the form team in the country.
Laois finished sixth in division three, one place above relegation. A tight one to call here. Could go either way. Verdict: Wexford
Wexford: Darragh Brooks, Michael Furlong, Gavin Sheehan, Liam O'Connor, Eoin Porter, Eoghan Nolan, Páiric Hughes, Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes, Tom Byrne, Shane Pettit, Mark Rossiter, Kevin O'Grady, Graeme Cullen, Ben Brosnan
Laois: Killian Roche, Ben Dempsey, Trevor Collins, Patrick O'Sullivan, Pa Kirwan, Simon Fingleton, Aaron McEvoy, Conor Heffernan, Seamus Lacey, Kevin Swayne, Mark Barry, Daniel O'Reilly, Niall Corbet, Brian Byrne, Ronan Coffey.
Meath v Carlow
Meath flattered to deceive with a couple of league results. They're a big aggressive team in the 80/90’s Sean Boylan side. However, they lack the guile of Boylan’s teams.
On the other hand, Carlow aren’t up to much and Shane Curran had walked, with the players not happy. Only one winner. Verdict: Meath
Meath: Billy Hogan, Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O'Halloran, Eoin Harkin, Donal Keogan, Ciarán Caulfield, Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton, Conor Duke, Ruairí Kinsella, Cathal Hickey, Keith Curtis, Mathew Costello, Eoghan Frayne
Carlow: Johnny Furey, Paddy Regan, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne, Shane Clarke, Mikey Bambrick, John Murphy, Ciaran Moran, Liam Brennan, Paddy McDonnell, Ross Dunphy, Conor Doyle, Aaron Amond, Kevin Murphy, Conor Crowley
Munster Championship
Limerick v Cork
If the race is on for silver in Leinster, it’s most definitely the same story in Munster.
A surprise bright day arrived for Limerick football in Croke Park Saturday as they landed the division four title. However, that’s all she’ll write. Verdict: Cork.
Limerick: Josh Ryan, Cormac Woulfe, Colm McSweeney, Darren O'Doherty, Barry Coleman, Iain Corbett, Mark McCarthy, Emmett Rigter, Tommie Childs, Paul Maher, James Naughton, Sean Clancy, Darragh Ó Siochrú, Peter Nash, Cillian Fahy
Cork: Míchéal Aodh Martin, Seán Brady, Daniel O'Mahony, Neil Lordan, Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor, Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan, Paul Walsh, Eoghan McSweeney, Sean McDonnell, Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones.
Tipperary v Waterford
Waterford stunned everyone last year with a five point win over Tipperary at this stage of the championship. Tipperary are not in a great place. Can lighting strike twice? Verdict: Tipperary
Tipperary: Shane Ryan, Jason Madigan, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney, Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Luke Boland, Mark Russell, Kieran Costello, Ben Comerford, Mikie O'Shea, Michéal Freaney, Cian Smith, Steven O'Brien, Darragh Brennan.
Waterford: Paudie Hunt, Caoimhín Walsh, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell, William Beresford, Brian Everard, Dermot Ryan, Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong, Conor Murray, James Power, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Michael O'Brien, Jason Curry, Alan Dunwoody.
Ulster Championship
Donegal v Derry
Stop everything! Donegal have a championship game this Sunday against Derry and Jim McGuinness in the boss. There can be only one winner and with that Donegal will be All-Ireland champions.
That will be the headline on Monday morning. Derry are in a bad place, missing a lot of names. Whereas, McGuinness has lost just one from 17 Ulster championship games. Verdict: Donegal
Donegal: Shaun Patton, Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan Mc Cole, Ciaran Moore, Ryan Mc Hugh, Caolan Mc Gonagle, Peadar Mogan, Hugh Mc Fadden, Michael Langan, Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O'Donnell, Niall O'Donnell, Conor O'Donnell, Aaron Doherty.
Derry: Neil McNicholl, Diarmuid Baker, Brendan Rogers, Martin Bradley, Conor Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Eoin McEvoy, Conor Glass, Dan Higgins, Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul, Niall Toner, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray
