Any shocks brewing on opening weekend?
Fergal O'Donnell will be hoping that Boyle can make a winning start against Clann na nGael. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Once again, St. Brigid’s are in a straightforward group from their perspective, meaning they won’t need to hit top form until the latter end of the championship.
New manager Damien Mulligan will have been reminded how Glaveys shocked Brigid’s in the final game of the group stages in Lisnamult last season. With the Heneghan brothers and cousins alongside Dylan Ruane, they can’t be completely ruled out of repeating the trick.
But St. Brigid’s will be anxious to show that there is no hangover from January’s All-Ireland club final defeat. Outside of Eddie Nolan, all their main players will be reintegrated into the fold over the coming weeks.
It’s hard to see them slipping up here.
Surely, there will come a time when Western Gaels won’t be immersed in a relegation battle, and despite the familiarity of their opponents in this group, Gerard Nolan’s side will earmark this game as the one to get the ball rolling.
Last season, Western Gaels didn’t fire at home to Michael Glaveys, and that proved to be their downfall.
Strokestown will be anxious to mark their return to the senior ranks with a victory, and given their opponents’ poor championship record at home, this is a glorious chance for Pearse McGinley’s charges to get up and running.
Two teams with plenty to prove in a group where every team will need to try and start at full throttle.
Minus Seán Canning and Conor Ryan through injury, new Pearses manager Niall Murray has been hamstrung but he still has enough talent available to him to make a winning start.
Roscommon Gaels parted with their manager midway through the league, so the new man at the helm, Decie Hoare, will want to get a tune out of his side.
At home, Pearses get the nod.
Both teams will be wary about the importance of bagging early points, given what’s to come.
As O’Rourke Cup champions, Boyle are favourites, albeit there was little between the teams when they met in the league.
Both teams will welcome back their county players with open arms, but Boyle’s consistency so far this term gets them the vote.
Shane Walsh is a big loss to Oran but they’ll still be confident of making a winning start, especially in Rockfield.
Once again, Pat Regan’s side dished up another solid league campaign but Oran know that it’s the knockout stages of the championship where they’ll be judged.
Elphin won the O’Gara Cup handily. Shane Killoran and Gavan Murray were excellent during their stroll against St. Faithleach’s, but this will be a step-up in class.
Castlerea St. Kevin’s have flattered to deceive since their return to the senior ranks but there are encouraging signs for Dara Bruen’s charges.
Two Division One minor football titles on the bounce indicate that the club’s conveyor belt is in good shape, and a decent league campaign offered further evidence that Castlerea are going in the right direction.
St. Faithleach’s looked disinterested during their recent O’Gara Cup final defeat against Elphin. They’ll be better with the Murtagh brothers in situ on Sunday evening, but Castlerea look well poised to spring a surprise.
A heavyweight clash to get things motoring in Group A.
After winning the O’Gara Cup last season, Tulsk played like a team that put the cart before the horse when bowing out tamely against Fuerty at the quarter-final stage.
After being relegated last season, Dominic’s will target an immediate return, but they couldn’t have asked for a tougher start.
Last season was a tough one for St. Barry’s, having lost so many players from their Junior A triumph the year before.
One presumes they’re more settled this season, but getting St. Brigid’s second string, at home, in the first round, might be too arduous to overcome.
If St. Michael’s have designs on pushing on from last year’s semi-final appearance, then this is the sort of game they need to be winning.
What the lie of the land is with Pearses’ first team will determine how strong they are here, so the visitors should make their long journey south a fruitful one.
Once the rugby season finished up, it was noticeable that Creggs pulled a few notable results out of the bag in the O’Gara Cup.
That confidence should serve them well here as they look to make a winning start.
But Shannon Gaels are always a tough nut to crack at home, and that might mean stalemate.
Once again, Fuerty and Éire Óg will cross paths in the championship for what seems like the umpteenth time.
Last season, Conor Cox’s delightful necklace of two-pointers was the difference in Loughglynn.
Fuerty tend to be slow starters, and Brendan Greene’s side — where it’s a case of “now or never” in terms of championship ambitions — should take full advantage.
With their grounds out of action, Kilmore have been forced to pitch up their home tent in Croghan, welcoming last year’s Junior A champions St. Croan’s.
Not getting out of the Tansey Cup is probably a sign of where the North Roscommon side are at right now.
Given that context, St. Croan’s should have enough firepower to mark their return to the intermediate ranks with a win.
Four of the games in the opening round of this year’s Junior A Football Championship take place on Sunday, which, unfortunately, will be in direct competition with the Roscommon intermediate ladies’ footballers’ big game in Croke Park.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Ballinameen, will be expected to earn the local bragging rights against neighbours Boyle at Davonna Park, while Kilbride, Kilglass Gaels, and Tansey Cup champions, St. Aidan’s, will be expected to account for Roscommon Gaels, Western Gaels and St. Dominic’s second teams.
The game of the weekend could be in Kilteevan on Saturday evening where St. Joseph’s will fancy their chances of getting the better of a St. Ronan’s side that have been struggling for good results this season.
The local derby between Clann na nGael B and St. Brigid’s C has been moved to Johnstown on Wednesday, August 5th, where the home side will be expected to prevail.
