All-Ireland SFC weekend: All you need to know

SATURDAY 23 MAY

All-Ireland SFC Round 1

Kerry v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3pm

Cork v Meath, Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.30pm

Galway v Kildare, Pearse Stadium, 7.30pm

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

Offaly v Down, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 6pm

London v Laois, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 2pm

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Wicklow v Limerick, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 4pm

Clare v Longford, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis, 5pm

Leitrim v Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon, 5.30pm

SUNDAY 24 MAY

All-Ireland SFC Round 1

Roscommon v Tyrone, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Tailteann Cup Round 2A

Fermanagh v Wexford, Brewster Park, 1pm

Antrim v Tipperary, Corrigan Park, 3.15pm

Tailteann Cup Round 2B

Waterford v Sligo, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, 1pm

ONLINE

Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport.

TV

Galway v Kildare live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7.20pm. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Kerry v Donegal, Cork v Meath, Roscommon v Tyrone and Fermanagh v Wexford streamed live on GAA+.

RADIO

Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport as well as Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

WEATHER

Saturday: Saturday looks set to be a mostly dry day with warm sunny spells developing for most and just the chance of an odd shower in Atlantic coastal parts. Highest temperatures of 17-21C generally, a little cooler in coastal fringes, in light southerly or variable breezes.

Sunday: A dry, warm and sunny day for most, although mist and fog may linger in some coastal areas. Some thicker cloud and patchy rain or drizzle could affect the northwest. Highest temperatures of 18-22C in light south-east or variable breezes.

A venture into the unknown as familiar foes renew acquaintances

After the Division 1 final, the expectation was that Kerry and Donegal would face off again at the business end of the All-Ireland series. To quote Vera Lynn: 'But I know we'll meet again some sunny day' - and that benign backdrop we thought was coming in July.

If the weather forecasters are to be believed, however, this Saturday afternoon may yield glorious sunshine for the latest renewal of Jack and Jim pitting wits. It has the potential to be a blockbuster, with the prospect for a sequel not happening before the All-Ireland semi-final. The emphatic nature of Donegal's mauling of the Kingdom at the end of March didn't quite shift the narrative as to destination Sam Maguire, with much said and written that 'Kerry will be a different animal' later on.

Munster success for the green and gold was achieved with a degree of comfort that blew against the notion that Cork would be competitive. Kerry won pulling up in Killarney, winning the second half 1-13 to 1-02. Still down a few key players and with Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford and Seán O'Brien doubts for the visit of the league champions, there remains a degree of caution on what the season will eventually throw up for Kerry.

They remain All-Ireland favourites, though; but defeat on Saturday afternoon won't necessarily define their season. O'Connor's men in the past have taken both the direct and scenic routes in their quest for Sam. What awaits them now is a side who have been plotting for a while in the long grass or even in the many sand dunes in the land of Tir Chonaill.

Donegal's loss to Down was a shock to their system, with Michael Langan's absence not helping their cause. The Mourne County's desire was stronger, even when it looked nervy for them going down the stretch. Conor Laverty's men won with a bit to spare, emptying the tank, so much so that reserves were in short supply when subsequently facing Armagh.

With the possible return of Langan and with Ciarán Moore and Oisín Gallen having had game time against Down after their absences, Donegal should be close to full strength. Gallen, alongside Conor O'Donnell up front, give them real potency, while Michael Murphy, as always, will need watching, with Kerry folk not forgetting what he did to Dylan Geaney (below) in the league decider.

It goes without saying that winning restarts is crucial in the modern game and that's where Donegal enjoyed much success at the end of March, a dominance that led to telling raids on a creaking rearguard.

The Ulster side through the likes of Caolán McGonagle, Max Campbell and Jason McGee will again seek an upper hand there, while also hoping to repeat the nullification of David Clifford; the Fossa man only registered two scores at the end of March.

So where are we at? Kerry still short their strongest hand, but pay no heed to what team may be announced in advance. Gavin White, however, should start at wing-back. Donegal's best-laid plans may need a few tweaks in advance of throw-in then.

Defeat should not derail either here, and the extra game could be a welcome road-test to prepare for facing another big gun at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.

More boats in need of refloating

With what Westmeath have done since, their victory over Meath on 19 April is not so jaw-dropping now. The Royals were turned over far too easily and conceded four goals. They were second best throughout, even though they sought to mirror Meath teams of old in snatching victory in a game where defeat always looked likely to be their lot.

Manager Robbie Brennan summed it up, telling RTÉ Sport: "There was great fight from the lads and all credit to them in being able to do that on a day where we haven't played well. On another day we could have sneaked it but it would not have been deserved."

And now Brennan and his troops must head south to take on a Cork side who will feel they did not do themselves justice in the Munster final.

Rebels boss John Cleary highlighted "cheap turnovers" on the day, while adding "poor shot selection" and an opponent who were "far more efficient" as factors to why his side failed to raise a significant gallop.

Ahead of the game at Páirc Uí Rinn, Cleary confirmed that Dara Sheedy (hamstring) and Brian Hurley (groin) will again be absent after missing the Munster final.

It's game three this year involving Cork and Meath, with the league clash at the old Flower Lodge seeing the hosts prevail before Meath turned the tables in the Division 2 final.

Both are capable of hitting high scores, with Cork hoping that Steven Sherlock can be more accurate than he was the last day.

Galway failed to make it five Connacht titles on the spin, though you would have fancied them late on when they built up a six-point lead against Roscommon. They could not deal, however, with the Rossies' power surge as the clock ticked toward 70 on what was a carnival day at the Hyde.

A positive stat in Galway's favour is that they remain the only county to have hit the 20-point mark in every league and championship outing this year

Tribe boss Pádraic Joyce said his team were "awfully" disappointed to lose what was a brilliant game of football.

"We had chances to win the game and we probably let it slip," he told RTÉ Sport. "It's not like us, we were four up with five minutes to go.

"In years gone by, we would have seen that out but we didn't today. Fair play to Roscommon, they stuck at it. It was a brilliant game of football, I felt overall. Normally 2-22 would win most games for you, but in the current rules, no, it wasn't enough."

In spite of those words, Joyce did not have the look of a man who was too downcast and would have been pleased with Damien Comer's contribution off the bench.

A bigger prize is still there to be won.

"We know the longer-term picture in Galway was to win the All-Ireland," he added. "So, we're still in the hunt to do that.

"We have to regroup now and pull ourselves together and see where we can tweak a few things. Get a little bit sharper up top and we'll go from there."

Kildare are the visitors to Salthill. Their inclusion at the stage of the season guaranteed on the back of winning the Tailteann Cup in 2025. They brought Westmeath to extra-time in the Leinster semi and heading into those two ten-minute periods looked liked the side who had more in the tank.

They couldn't bring it home, however, much to the disappointment of a loyal support who crave a return to the big time.

And so to the only Round 1 game on Sunday: Roscommon v Tyrone. The Connacht county still basking in the glory of taking down Mayo and Galway en route to provincial glory.

Led by goalscoring hero Darragh Heneghan, captain Diarmuid Murtagh and orange flags courtesy of Conor Ryan and substitutes Daire Cregg and Paul Carey, Mark Dowd's side head into a fixture against Tyrone at the Hyde full of momentum.

The graph, all year, has been pointing upwards for the primrose and blue, a team that enjoys playing on the front foot, one that relishes going for the score, if it's on, rather than periods of recycling around the arc.

Dowd insists the decision to go direct is down to each individual player rather than a directive from management.

"We back them to do it, but they have got to be smart about it and read the situation," he told RTÉ.

"If they feel that they are able to take on the one-on-one, by all means go for it, but if they have the doubt, the smart move is to control the play."

There has been talk in some quarters about Roscommon now being in the All-Ireland mix. Their fervent supporters will believe and the dash and verve they bring to their game will be well suited to Croke Park.

The Red Hand have had six-week break since pushing Armagh to extra-time in their Ulster opener. There were signs that their appetite for battle had returned at the Athletic Grounds. A potential dangerous opponent for a side on a high.

Season will be over for some as Tailteann enters knockout stage

Rounds 2A and 2B, with the latter featuring those in the last-chance saloon.

In 2A, competition favourites Down visit an Offaly side who got a real injection of life following their win away to Clare

Antrim, who prevailed after an extra-time thriller against Carlow, now welcome Tipperary to Corrigan Park. The Premier, in what was a mild surprise, accounted for Sligo the last day.

Fermanagh v Wexford at Brewster Park should be close and don't be surprised if London will make life difficult for Laois in Ruislip.

The four winners here advance to the quarter-finals. The losers will next face the victors from 2B, where it's Wicklow v Limerick, Clare v Longford, Leitrim v Carlow and Waterford v Sligo.

Wicklow, Clare, Leitrim (just about) and Sligo get the nod.

Watch Galway v Kildare in the All-Ireland Football Championship first round on Saturday from 7.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

Watch a provincial hurling double-header, Dublin v Kilkenny (2pm) and Cork v Clare (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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