Weekend GAA fixtures: Who is playing and where to watch
Another full programme of league matches this weekend sees some top-level contests in both codes, with one of the highlights being the Croke Park evening match between Dublin and Derry. The teams contested the League final last year, with some suggesting the intensity of that competition impacted on their Championship form in later months.
With both teams getting used to the new rules, Dublin is on a high from their satisfying win in Kerry last week, recouping a massive half-time deficit with the aid of the Tralee wind.
Meanwhile, Mayo will be happy to have secured a win against Tyrone in dismal conditions last weekend and with the return of stalwarts Aidan O’Shea, Jordan Flynn and Jack Coyne Kevin McStay’s team will be hoping to build on that and secure enough points to stay put in the division.
Sunday sees arguably the headline match of the league so far, with Galway v Donegal, two unbeaten teams facing a rematch of last year's All-Ireland semi-final. Donegal have looked the more impressive, but Galway have been equally blessed with the new rules, with Shane Walsh the top scorer in the division and giving the men from the West an edge in their opening games.
In hurling, Dublin v Offaly is a game with a lot at stake, because the winner should advance to the divisional final and claim one of the two promotion spots, while the televised meeting of Tipperary V Cork in Thurles revisiting one of the big summer events of last year, as Cork delivered on the promise of their win over Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a powerful display.
On Sunday, Nowlan Park is the place to be for Kilkenny v Limerick, though the game is televised on TG4. Limerick have started the league very positively and navigated an exciting visit from Tipp in their last outing.
Saturday
Football
Division One
Dublin v Derry, Croke Park, 7.30pm (Live on BBC iPlayer & GAAGo)
Armagh v Mayo, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh, 5pm
Division Two
Monaghan v Cork, Inniskeen, 2.30pm (game switched from Sunday)
Division Three
Antrim v Leitrim, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 2.30pm
Kildare v Laois, Cedral St Conleth’s, Newbridge, 7pm
Division Four
Tipperary v London, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles, 5pm
Carlow v Limerick, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 6pm
Hurling
Division 1A: Tipperary v Cork, FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles, 7.30pm [Live on RTÉ 2]
Division 1B: Dublin v Offaly, Croke Park, 5.15pm
Division 2: Derry v Kildare, Celtic Park, 3.0
Division 3: Mayo v London, Connacht Centre of Excellence, 6.0
Division 4: Longford v Lancashire, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2.0; Monaghan v Warwickshire, Clones, 2.0.
Sunday
Football
Division One
Galway v Donegal, Pearse Stadium, Salthill 3.45pm (Live on TG4)
Tyrone v Kerry, O’Neill’s Healy Park, Omagh 1.45pm (Deferred, TG4)
Division Two
Meath v Roscommon, Páirc Tailteann, Navan 2.45pm
Louth v Down, DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee 2.30pm
Westmeath v Cavan, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar 2pm
Division Three
Sligo v Clare, Markievicz Park, Sligo, 1.30pm
Fermanagh v Offaly, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 2pm
Division Four
Longford v Waterford, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm
Wexford v Wicklow, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
Hurling
Division 1A: Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, Ennis 1.45pm
Division 1A: Kilkenny v Limerick, UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny 1.45 [Live on TG4]
Division 1B: Antrim v Waterford, Corrigan Park, 1.30 (Live on BBC iPlayer & GAAGo)
Division 1B: Laois v Carlow, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 2pm
Division 2: Meath v Down, Trim 1.15; Donegal v Kerry, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny 1pm
Division 3: Cavan v Armagh, Kingspan Breffni, Cavan 2.0; Wicklow v Roscommon, Echelon Park, Aughrim 2pm
Division 4: Louth v Leitrim, Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdallshill 1.15pm
