Gaelic Games

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Galway's Shane Walsh says he and his team-mates "know all about Down" as they prepare to hit the road for Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship preliminary quarter-final in Newry.

The Tribesmen were forced to dig deep at the weekend to edge past Armagh and seal third-place in Group Four, a result which saw them through the knockout phase.

Walsh was in inspirational form with nine points, including the winner at the death, to earn himself the nod for Footballer of the Week.

Being drawn against Down means it is Ulster opposition for the third game in a row for Galway, having drawn in Derry before getting the better of the All-Ireland champions last weekend.

Walsh is expecting a hostile reception in Pairc Esler on Sunday, and is anticipating the Mournemen will be fired up with a place in the last eight on the line, but says he relishes such occasions.

"I know Down manager Conor Laverty is a gent off the field, but when it comes to football, he's very serious about winning. You know exactly what way he is going to create his atmosphere in Down this weekend," Walsh said.

"You embrace that because the more hostile environments - and it tends to be that way when you go across the border with the crowd involved a lot more - makes for a better atmosphere.

"When the game is in the melting pot, you can hear every breath from every supporter."

Walsh has experienced mixed fortunes at the Newry venue in the past, having been part of the Galway team that won a Division Two contest against Down in 2022, but then suffered All-Ireland Club semi-final heartbreak with Kilmacud Crokes against Glen two years later.

The 32-year-old is delighted to still in the championship as at half-time against Armagh, the exit door was staring Galway in the face.

Padraic Joyce's men rallied from eight down to claim an invaluable win and although their third-place finish means they are away from home this week, it is a scenario last year's beaten finalists are more than comfortable with.

"It's great to be here and that was the aim at the start of the game, to still be in the championship," said Walsh, an All-Star recipient in 2022.

"It didn't look good at half-time, but Padraic got behind us and demanded a bit more from us.

"We came out firing in the second half and thankfully so, because if things had stayed the same, we wouldn't be here today."

Image source, Inpho

The draw has been made for the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.

Kerry v Cavan (Saturday 21 June - 1530 BST)

Dublin v Cork (Saturday 21 June - 1830 BST)

Down v Galway (Sunday 22 June - 1345 BST)

Donegal v Louth (Sunday 22 June - 1600 BST)

Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan and Meath have already qualified for the last eight, with those games scheduled to be played on 28/29 June.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness challenged his players "not to let the supporters down" when they return to Ballybofey for their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship preliminary quarter-final this weekend.

The Ulster champions will have home advantage against Lough after finishing second in their group.

Ideally, Donegal would have preferred to have topped Group One and move straight into the quarter-finals, but their last-gasp one-point win over Mayo in Roscommon on Sunday was only good enough for second.

That was due to their defeat at home by Tyrone in the opening round, meaning the Red Hands topped the group and will enjoy the week off due to the head-to-head tiebreaker as both finished with four points from their three games.

McGuinness suffered his first loss as Donegal manager at MacCumhaill Park in league or championship in that game and he is keen to ensure the same doesn't happen this week.

"We're happy, it's one game, we have another one next Sunday and hopefully the Sunday after that," he said.

"We know what is coming down the line. We know if we want to be where we want to be, we had to win this weekend. We did that and we have another game coming.

"The fact that it's at home is brilliant. The last time we were at home we let our supporters down, so we're hoping to not do that this time around and put in as big a performance as we can."

Image source, Inpho

It was a thrilling afternoon in Roscommon which culminated in Ciaran Moore's winning point after the hooter had sounded.

Just seconds prior, Mayo thought they had snatched a draw and a lifeline to stay in the championship when Fergal Boland slung over an equaliser, but Donegal's will to win shone through, even though a draw would not have made any difference to their second-place finish in the group.

McGuinness said he was unaware of that situation during the game and had not been paying attention to the updates from Enniskillen where Tyrone were beating Cavan, but insists all he and his players were concerned about was putting two wins back-to-back.

"Absolutely delighted - it always is a tough battle when you face Mayo," he reflected.

"We had to go to the wire and they did that very well. We had no ears or eyes on the other game, we were focussed on ourselves. We spoke about that in the hotel this morning: bring our own performance levels and we're delighted with that.

"They're playing games in training and there's a final phase called. They have to go do something in that final phase so Ciaran Moore, brilliant for him to step up and the way he went at Mayo's defence and mixed a score under serious pressure was a lot of class.

"The squad is huge and you have to have everyone prepared to step in and do the right thing for the team in clutch moments."

Image source, Inpho

The draw has been made for the Tailteann Cup semi-finals:

Wicklow v Limerick (1400 BST)

Fermanagh v Kildare (1600 BST)

The games will be played on Sunday, 22 June at Croke Park with the final scheduled for Saturday, 12 July.

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone forward Conor Meyler said he was "emotional" after making his first appearance for his county in almost two years.

Meyler came off the bench to help the Red Hands to a 0-31 to 0-18 win against Cavan which secured top spot Group Four progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

The 30-year-old's last appearance before Sunday came against Kerry at Croke Park in the last-eight of the All-Ireland in 2023 and he admitted it was a tough journey back after various knee and other injuries.

"It's been nearly two years so it's a long stint and a rocky road, but I'm delighted to get back out there and to get a win too more importantly," he told BBC Sport NI's Odhran Crumley.

"It was emotional, it is a lonely road when you're injured, it's a long process and when you're on the road there are a few bumps and there are a lot of people I'm grateful for.

"My family believed in me when I probably doubted myself, so to get back in a Tyrone jersey is class, it's hard to replicate those moments anywhere else."

Meyler conceded that he had moments when he thought a return to the inter-county scene appeared unlikely, but that his return made him glad he kept persevering to get back.

"It was very realistic [not playing for Tyrone again] with a couple of injuries and big surgeries and medically, it was a big task," he added.

"You have to keep believing even if you do fall short, I'd rather have got to the end of the year throwing everything at it rather than wondering what if, so, it's great the hard work paid off and the boys and the management backed me to play."

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke praised his side's efficiency in their 0-31 to 0-18 win over Cavan which booked their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

The Red Hands bounced back well from defeat against Mayo last time out as they swept away Cavan at Brewster Park.

They had 11 different scorers as Darren McCurry top scored with 0-9 while Darragh Canavan finished with 0-5 and O'Rourke was content with their attacking display.

"We are delighted, I thought we were efficient up front when we did get the chances, we took a lot of them and I think in the first half our shot to score ratio was maybe 80% which was really high, so very pleased with that," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I thought early on we were conceding a bit of space, and they could have been closer to us but as the game went on, we got a stranglehold round the middle we won a lot of breaking ball, and we used the ball really well going forward."

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone finished top of Group Four with the win, beating Donegal on the head-to-head rule and it means they go straight through to the last eight.

That gives them an extra week's rest over their opponent, who will play in the preliminary quarter-finals next weekend.

O'Rourke hopes they can use the additional week's rest to their advantage, although he admitted they may be without forward Michael McKernan for their next game after he went off holding his left arm just two minutes into the Cavan game.

"We were disappointed with the Mayo defeat, so we wanted to make sure we had a better performance today to give us our best chance of topping the group and getting through to the quarter-final so delighted with that and it's a case of recovering and focusing on what's ahead," he added.

"There's no doubt after high intensity games like these boys will be sore, so it gives you a bit of time to recover.

"Unfortunately, Michael McKernan picked up a bad injury, he's away to hospital we don't know exactly what it is but we're hoping it is not as serious as it might be, and he'll have a chance to be there in two weeks' time."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at Dr Hyde Park

Image source, Inpho

Ciaran Moore popped up with a dramatic last-gasp winner to secure a 0-19 to 1-15 victory for Donegal in Dr Hyde Park and send Mayo crashing out of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Mayo substitute Fergal Boland thought he had rescued a point with a late score, which would have been enough for the Connacht side to move into third spot in the Group One standings and eliminate Cavan.

However, Moore's winner meant Mayo came up empty-handed and finish bottom on head-to-head with the Breffnimen, who beat them in Castlebar on the opening weekend.

Given how delicately the group was poised prior to the game, there was a guarantee of drama and the 18,731 in attendance certainly got bang for their buck.

It was tense at times, brilliant at others as this game hung in the balance right until the final kick, which was enough for a Donegal win, but not enough to finish top of the pile due to their own opening day defeat to the Red Hands, who had the head-to-head advantage.

The game began with a bang as Peadar Mogan and Darren McHale swapped early points, but Mayo were fortunate not to be punished with a goal as an Aidan O'Shea slip saw a lightning Donegal counter with Mogan put in, but he thumped high.

After Caolan McColgan added another, Mogan was black carded for a trip in the ninth minute and while he was away, Mayo hit three points as Ryan O'Donoghue's frees sandwiched McHale's second of the day.

It was a tense opening period with both sides defending well and giving little away cheaply, but the advantage swung back to Donegal following a two-point free converted by Michael Murphy.

While the Ulster champions outscored Mayo by four to two heading into the break to lead 0-9 to 0-6, it seemed the game was now beginning to open up a little.

Mayo upped their game early in the second period with points from Jack Carney and O'Donoghue, but Donegal always seemed to have an answer when Mayo got to within one as the point-for-point run ended as Conor O'Donnell and Moore hit back-to-back points.

Mayo got it back to one again and it seemed they had taken a huge step towards victory when O'Shea laid off a delicate pass to Jack Carney, who played in David McBrien to swivel and find the net via the post.

But the Donegal reply was excellent as substitute Daire O Baoill kicked an outrageous two-pointer to level, whilst points from Murphy and O'Donnell would follow.

After Flynn pulled one back, Donegal had their chance to put it away as Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape was caught outfield from a restart and Patrick McBrearty was through and seemingly certain to bury with two minutes to play, but Reape somehow recovered to get a block out for a 45 that Murphy converted.

Mayo were then denied a goal of their own with Carney snuffed out, but after an O'Donoghue free, Mayo got on the attack in the final minute and Boland kicked over the leveller.

However, there were still about five seconds until the hooter when Moore got on the ball and found the reserves to gallop forward and sling over the winner which sent the Donegal support into raptures and broke Mayo hearts.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Brewster Park

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone cruised into the last-eight of the All-Ireland series by beating Cavan by 0-31 to 0-18 to top Group Four at Brewster Park.

The Red Hands were rampant in attack and gave a resounding reaction to their defeat by Mayo at Healy Park a fortnight ago with 11 different scorers.

Darren McCurry top scored with 0-9 while Darragh Canavan finished with 0-5.

Tyrone finish top of the group beating Donegal on the head to head rule after the Tir Chonaill beat Mayo in Roscommon, and it means they go straight through to the quarter-finals.

Malachy O'Rourke's side led 0-18 to 0-7 at the break and hit seven unanswered points in a row including two, two pointers, first from Niall Morgan from a free before Peter Harte raised an orange flag to establish a seven point lead.

Rory Brennan and Paddy Lynch who finished with nine points of his own traded two pointers but it was the speed and flair of the Red Hand attack that really was the story of the half despite seeming to struggle early on with their own kick-out as Cavan brought a physicality that was lacking in their Ulster defeat to the same opposition in April.

The one blemish on the Tyrone first-half was losing Michael McKernan to injury after just two minutes with the Coalisland attacker exiting the field holding his left arm.

Raymond Galligan's side needed a spark in the second half and got it through another Lynch two pointer.

McCurry and Cormac O'Reilly traded scores before Tyrone hit six unanswered scores to lead 0-24 to 0-12 with twenty left to play.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Conor Meyler, who returned to be play for Tyrone for the first time in almost two years after a horrific run with injury. His last appearance came against Kerry at Croke Park in the last-eight of the All-Ireland in 2023.

The Red Hands finished with a flourish as McCurry landed another two pointer while Under 20 footballer of the year Eoin McElholm came off the bench to put the icing on the cake and seal a thirteen point win for his county.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan (0-2 2ptf); Cormac Quinn, Padraig Hampsey, Niall Devlin (0-1); Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan (0-3 1 2pt), Kieran McGeary (0-2); Brian Kennedy, Peter Teague; Seanie O'Donnell (0-1), Conn Kilpatrick, Ciaran Daly (0-1); Darren McCurry (0-9 3f, 1 2ptf), Mattie Donnelly (0-4), Darragh Canavan (0-5 1f).

Subs: Peter Harte (0-2) for M McKernan (3), Aidan Clarke for N Devlin (30), Eoin McElholm (0-1) for M Donnelly (47), Ben McDonnell for C Kilpatrick (67)

Cavan: Liam Brady; Niall Carolan, Killian Brady, Cian Reilly; Brian O'Connell, Ciaran Brady, Padraig Faulkner; Oisin Kiernan, Evan Crowe; Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Oisin Brady (0-1); Cormac O'Reilly (0-4), Paddy Lynch (0-9 1 45 3f 2 2ptf), Cian Madden.

Subs: Sean McEvoy (0-1) for K Brady (32), Ryan O'Neill (0-2 1 2pt) for O Brady (50), Ruairi Curran (0-1) for O Kiernan (54), Killian Clarke for C Brady (61), Luke Fortune for C Reilly (66)

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Image source, Inpho

Jack McCarron's second-half goal helped Monaghan defeat Down by 2-27 to 1-26 to secure an All-Ireland quarter-final spot.

It was a winner-takes-all shootout in Group Three in Armagh as the sides were level on four points heading into the final fixture.

Down held a narrow 1-15 to 1-14 lead at the break as John McGeough and Michael Bannigan exchanged first-half goals.

There was little to split the sides throughout the contest, but McCarron's goal was crucial as Monaghan moved clear in the final quarter to book their place in the last eight.

Down will go into the preliminary quarter-final after the defeat, and they will be joined by Leinster champions Louth, who defeated Clare by 2-17 to 2-14 to progress.

Monaghan held a three-point lead in the early stages but Down drew level when McGeough netted after being found by Ryan McEvoy.

In a role reversal, Down edged into a three-point lead after a flurry of points before Bannigan struck in the 31st minute to level the contest.

Down again moved three points clear as the clock ticked towards half-time, but Rory Beggan's two-pointer reduced the lead at the interval.

The end-to-end nature continued before Pat Havern's 11th point of the game moved Conor Laverty's side four points clear.

However, Monaghan grabbed their second goal 14 minutes into the second half in scrappy circumstances when Conor McCarthy was denied by Ronan Burns, Bannigan hit the post from the rebound but the ball fell kindly to McCarron, who was able to fire into the unguarded net.

Neither side could find clear daylight until McCarron, Bannigan, Ryan O'Toole and Beggan's two-pointer moved Gabriel Bannigan's side five points clear heading into injury-time, which was enough to help Monaghan over the line and into the last eight.

Image source, Inpho

Paddy Tally believes his Derry side are "not that far away" from beating the top teams despite exiting the All-Ireland in the group stages.

Saturday's 0-22 to 0-20 defeat by Dublin left Tally's side bottom of a hotly-contested Group Four.

Their sole point came from a draw with Galway, but Tally believes the narrow defeat in Newry by Dublin shows his side are on the right track.

"We didn't plan this to be the last day of the season," Tally told BBC Sport NI.

"The team were starting to go really well and we looked in better shape than we've been in for a while, but we hit a good Dublin team today."

Group Four had been billed as the 'group of death' with reigning All-Ireland champions Armagh, beaten finalists Galway and 2023 winners Dublin drawn with the Oak Leafers.

Derry were also pitted against eventual winners Donegal in the preliminary quarter-final of the Ulster Championship.

Tally admits that made for a "difficult" first year in charge, but says the strong performances against Division One opposition will only fuel the belief his team belong at the top table of gaelic football.

"Everything that fell for us was really difficult this year, but that will build character.

"These boys will understand it, not that it will help because they believe they are good enough and they are good enough.

"I think they have realised that we're not that far away. It's going to take a really big effort to get back up there next season again."

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Derry's championship season came to an end with a 0-22 to 0-20 defeat to Dublin in their Group Four finale at Pairc Esler.

The Oak Leafers failed to win a league or championship match across their 11 outings in 2025, mustering just two draws from that period but despite that fact, they entered Saturday's clash with a chance of reaching the last 12.

The Dubs also entered their meeting with the Ulster county needing a win to progress and they did just that to secure passage from the 'Group of Death' alongside Armagh and Galway.

Dessie Farrell's side emerged sharpest from the blocks, hitting four rapid fire scores in the opening two minutes to take an early lead, the last of those coming from the boot of Paddy Small who fired over when aiming for the back of the net.

The Oak Leafers eventually settled with their first score on six minutes from captain Conor Glass.

Despite a desperate start, Derry led midway through the half mainly thanks to two two point frees from Shane McGuigan.

The sides were locked at 13 points each after a breathless end to the half with Cormac Costello and McGuigan trading two pointed efforts.

Like the first, Dublin hit the ground running when play restarted, Con O'Callaghan firing over just 15 seconds after the restart.

Killian McGinnis, John Small and Sean Bugler were amongst the scores as the Dubs outscored Derry 0-5 to 0-1 in seven minutes midway through the half, the second four point burst which probably tipped the scale in Dublin's favour.

The men in blue led by four entering the final 10 minutes and with both sides' championship seasons hanging in the balance, the game grew frantic.

McGuigan kicked his 10th score of the night alongside an Ethan Doherty effort to cut the gap back to three.

Paddy Tally's side could have levelled as McGuigan slipped Brendan Rogers through on goal but his effort went right across the face of Stephen Cluxton's goal and wide of the target.

From almost the very next play of the game, Dublin broke and Bugler rounded Ben McKinless and looked destined to slot the ball into the empty net only for a spectacular goal-line clearance from Ruairi Forbes.

Niall Loughlin and Rogers added two late scores to cut the gap to two but Dessie Farrell's men would hold onto the ball for the remaining seconds and seal a home preliminary quarter-final and with it end Derry's campaign.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton (0-2 2ptf); Sean MacMahon, Theo Clancy, David Byrne; Brian Howard, John Small (0-1), Lee Gannon (0-2); Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Killian McGinnis (0-3); Ciaran Kilkenny (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-2), Niall Scully; Paddy Small (0-2), Con O'Callaghan (0-5), Cormac Costello (0-4 1 2ptf).

Subs: Cian Murphy for Clancy (49), Eoin Murchan for McGinnis (49), Ross McGarry for Scully (54), Tom Lahiff for Gannon (60), Nathan Doran for P Small (68)

Derry: Ben McKinless; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Patrick McGurk; Conor Doherty; Brendan Rogers (0-1), Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass (0-2), Dan Higgins; Ethan Doherty (0-3), Paul Cassidy (0-1), Ciaran McFaul; Shane McGuigan (0-10 3 2ptf), Niall Loughlin (0-2 1m), Niall Toner (0-1).

Subs: Lachlan Murray for Toner (45), Conor McCluskey for McGurk (49), Ryan Mullholland for McFaul (59), Ruairi Forbes for Cassidy (62), Cahir McMonagle for Loughlin (68)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

Image source, Inpho

Fermanagh repelled a late Sligo comeback to win 0-21 to 1-16 at Brewster Park on Saturday and reach the semi-finals of the Tailteann Cup for the first time.

The sides traded points early on, before Niall Murphy's 16th-minute goal put Sligo ahead at 1-5 to 0-4, Murphy having earlier contributed a two-pointer.

Fermanagh fought back however and a Garvan Jones free on 26 put the Erne county in front by a margin of 0-10 to 1-6.

Jones and Ronan McCaffrey did most of the damage as their side went in 0-14 to 1-6 to the good at the break.

Sligo began the second half strongly to move to within one of the Ulster side, David Quinn contributing a two-pointer.

Scores from Josh Largo Elis, Joe McDade, Fionan O'Brien and Declan McCusker extended the lead to 0-18 to 1-10, before Lee Cullen was shown a yellow card.

Sligo put in a late rally as a two-pointer from play from Pat Spillane, and a point from the same player drew them to within two by the conclusion of the match.

Kieran Donnelly's side will now contest next weekend's Tailteann semi-finals at Croke Park.

Sligo manager Tony McEntee stood down from his position after his side's defeat.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Former Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue believes his county will go into Saturday's crunch Group Four game against Dublin with "full belief" despite their winless 2025.

Derry, Dublin and Galway (who take on Armagh with the All-Ireland champions having already booked their quarter-final spot) all enter this weekend with a chance of progressing to the last 12 of the All-Ireland series.

The Oak Leafers have struggled throughout the 2025 season and have only been able to muster two draws from their 11 league and championship games to date.

"It's time to win again, there's no question, and it'll be some time to win in terms of igniting their season," McKaigue told BBC Sport NI.

"But it's a group that's used to winning, it's a group that's used to winning with their clubs and they've won their fair share with Derry too

"So I don't think they'll be overly fazed by the streak they've gone through, although it's clearly not desirable. They'll go in this weekend having full belief they're capable of beating Dublin."

McKaigue, who was part of the Derry side that beat the Dubs in last year's Division One final at Croke Park, believes good memories from the fixture can be of benefit to Paddy Tally's side.

He added: "I think when you go in with that belief that you're able to beat this Dublin side, it goes and stands a long way because there are many teams who go out against Dublin and they feel that they're beaten before they go out and that's not the case with this Derry group."

The game will take place at Pairc Esler in Newry and the former Ulster winning captain believes the venue will suit Derry better as Dublin move away from the comforts of Croke Park and into an Ulster provincial arena.

"That helps Derry, it has to you would think, but Dublin have shown and you would see that they don't like being categorised as a team that can't play outside Croke Park.

"Derry need a performance this weekend and more than that they need to find a way to win ugly if required because the only currency that really matters in championship football is victory and Dublin will be aware of that, Derry will be aware of that.

"You don't get through to the next round after a good performance and not having won the game. Winning is all that really matters in Championship football and that's why it's set up for such a good game because the stakes are so high and it's a proper knockout game."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Inpho

Despite falling to defeat to Mayo last time out, Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke has opted to stick with the same starting team for Sunday's crunch Group One clash with Cavan in the All-Ireland SFC.

Both teams head into Sunday's showdown in Enniskillen with their fate firmly in their own hands in terms of progression from the group phase with all four teams locked on two points.

Despite their disappointing display against Mayo in Omagh a fortnight back, O'Rourke has opted to keep the faith with the starting line-up, but there is good news amongst the subs with Padraig Hampsey and Brian Kennedy part of the squad after missing out two weeks ago through injury.

Also named on the bench for the Red Hands is Eoin McElholm who this week was selected as the U20 Player of the Year, following Tyrone's All-Ireland success at the grade.

For Cavan, manager Raymond Galligan makes two changes to the team that was swept aside by Donegal in their second outing of the competition.

Oisin Brady comes into the half-forward line with Oisin Kiernan dropping out, prompting a number of positional switches, while Paddy Lynch has also been given the nod this week with Sean McEvoy forced to content himself with a place on the bench.

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Peter Teague, Niall Devlin; Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary; Ben McDonnell, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Mattie Donnelly, Ciaran Daly; Darren McCurry, Mark Bradley, Darragh Canavan.

Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Aidan Clarke, Padraig Hampsey, Frank Burns, Michael O'Neill, Brian Kennedy, Cathal Donaghy, Peter Harte, Conor Meyler, Eoin McElholm, Ruairi Canavan.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Niall Carolan, Killian Brady, Cian Reilly; Brian O'Connell, Ciaran Brady, Padraig Faulkner; Ryan Donohoe, Evan Crowe; Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Oisin Brady; Cormac O'Reilly, Paddy Lynch, Cian Madden.

Subs: Gary O'Rourke, Luke Fortune, Killian Clarke, Oisin Kiernan, Jason McLoughlin, Ruairi Curran, Luke Molloy, Gearoid McKiernan, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O'Neill, Sean McEvoy.

Patton back between the posts for Donegal

Image source, Inpho

The other game in Group One between Donegal and Mayo hosts equal jeopardy with the very real prospect of one of the pair's ambitions of All-Ireland glory ending by Sunday night.

Both enter this game off the back of morale-boosting wins over Cavan and Tyrone respectively and Donegal boss Jim McGuinness makes some changes from the team that swept past the Breffnimen.

There is a huge boost between the posts with Shaun Patton back in goal this week, while there are two outfield changes as Daire O Baoill and Oisin Gallen come in for Caolan McColgan and team captain, Patrick McBrearty.

Mayo also ring the changes for this key clash in Roscommon with Dylan Thornton and Jordan Flynn replacing Sean Morahan and Bob Tuohy.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Ciaran Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Subs: Danny Rodgers, Stephen McMenamin, Odhran McFadden-Ferry, Mark Curran, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Patrick McBrearty, Jamie Brennan, Eoin McHugh, Caolan McColgan, Jason McGee

Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Paddy Durcan; Dylan Thornton, Matthew Ruane; Conal Dawson, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Darren McHale, Ryan O'Donoghue.

Subs: Adrian Phillips, Bob Tuohy, Davitt Neary, Diarmuid O'Connor, Donnacha McHugh, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Paul Towey, Sam Callinan, Sean Morahan.

O'Callaghan makes the Dublin bench for Derry clash

Both Derry and Dublin make one change ahead of their crucial Group Four clash in Newry on Saturday evening.

Oak Leaf manager Paddy Tally has Odhran Lynch back in goals in place of Ben McKinless in what is their only change to the XV which started in the draw against Galway two weeks ago.

There is a boost amongst the subs with Conor McClusky available once again having recovered from a groin injury.

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell also makes a change from the team which lost to Armagh as John Small comes in to replace Colm Basquel, but like Derry, there is a major boost on the bench with Con O'Callaghan back in the matchday 26.

Derry: Odhran Lynch; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Patrick McGurk; Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Dan Higgins; Ethan Doherty, Paul Cassidy, Ciaran McFaul; Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin, Niall Toner.

Subs: Ben McKinless, Conor McCluskey, Ryan Mulholland, Danny McDermott, Tommy Rogers, Anton Tohill, Ruairi Forbes, Lachlan Murray, Cahir McMonagle, Caolan Devlin, Ben McCarron

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Sean MacMahon, Theo Clancy, David Byrne; Brian Howard, John Small, Alex Gavin; Peadar O'Cofaigh-Byrne, Killian McGinnis; Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean Bugler, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Lorcan O'Dell, Cormac Costello.

Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Nathan Doran, Lee Gannon, Tom Lahiff, Greg McEnaney, Ross McGarry, Eoin Murchan, Cian Murphy, Con O'Callaghan, Eoghan O'Donnell.

McGeeney makes changes for Galway clash

Armagh head into Saturday's Group Four fixture against Galway safe in the knowledge they have an All-Ireland quarter-final to look forward to and manager Kieran McGeeney has opted to make a couple of switches from the team that downed the Dubs two weeks ago.

Niall Grimley comes into the midfield in place of Ben Crealey, while in attack, Stefan Campbell replaces Rory Grugan. There is also a place on the bench for Aaron McKay who found the net when the counties met in last year's All-Ireland final.

Galway head into this game with real pressure as they seek to reach the preliminary quarter-final stage and manager Padraig Joyce has opted to go with Sean Fitzgerald at full-back in place of Sean Mulkerrin, while Cein Darcy comes into the attack and Damien Comer is also fit for a place on the bench.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane; Ross McQuillan, Tiernan Kelly, Jarlath Og Burns; Jason Duffy, Niall Grimley; Darragh McMullan, Rian O'Neill, Oisin Conaty; Stefan Campbell, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt.

Subs: Blaine Hughes, Tomas McCormack, Greg McCabe, Connaire Mackin, Aaron McKay, Joe McElroy, Cian McConville, Callum O'Neill, Aidan Forker, Shane McPartlan, Jemar Hall.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cillian McDaid, Robert Finnerty, Cein Darcy; Matthew Tierney, Shane Walsh, Matthew Thompson.

Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cathan Sweeney, Kieran Molloy, Sean O Maoilchiaran, Peter Cooke, John Daly, Cian Hernon, Johnny Heaney, Tomo Culhane, Damien Comer.

Guinness returns for Down

Image source, Inpho

Top spot and a straight path into the All-Ireland quarter-finals is on offer in Armagh as Ulster rivals Monaghan and Down meet in a top-of-the-table clash in Group Three.

Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan has been forced into a switch with the injured Gary Mohan replaced by Gavin McPhillips, while Killian Lavelle is also missing an in his comes Andrew Woods.

Down manager Conor Laverty is handed a boost as Daniel Guinness, who missed out on the win over Louth due to injury, is back into the starting team

Down: Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough.

Subs: John O'Hare, Finn McElroy, Aaron McClements, Donal Scullion, Shay Millar, Adam Crimmins, Oisin Savage, Caolan Mooney, Finn Murdock, Patrick Brooks, Conor McCrickard.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Ryan O'Toole, Dessie Ward, Conor McCarthy; Micheal McCarville, Gavin McPhillips; Stephen O'Hanlon, Micheal Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie; Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, Ronan Boyle, Louis Kelly, Darren Hughes, Aaron Carey, Ciaran McNulty, Barry McBennett, Killian Lavelle, Jason Irwin, David Garland, Karl O'Connell

Cullen back for Fermanagh's Tailteann tilt

Fermanagh host Sligo in a Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final on Saturday and back into the defence comes Che Cullen who sat out the group win over Wexford, meaning Luke Flanagan drops to the bench.

For Sligo manager Tony McEntee, it's as you were as he sticks with the same team that began their loss against Kildare which ensured they must take the scenic route to the latter stages.

Fermanagh: Sean McNally; Che Cullen, Lee Cullen, Oisin Smyth; Shane McGullion, Declan McCusker, Fionan O'Brien; Joe McDade, Darragh McGurn; Conor McGee, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey; Josh Largo Ellis, Garvan Jones, Conor Love.

Subs: Ross Bogue, Luke Flanagan, Sean Cassidy, Diarmuid Owens, Glenn Treacy, Aogan Kelm, Jack Largo Ellis, Oisin Murphy, Jonathan Cassidy, Brandon Horan, Paul Breen.

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Mikey Gordon, Jack Lavin, Luke Towey; Canice Mulligan, Patrick O'Connor; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Cian Lally; Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Shane Deignan.

Subs: Daniel Lyons, Ross Doherty, Lee Deignan, Dylan Walsh, Paul Kilcoyne, Eoghan Smith, Donal Conlon, Pat Spillane, Brian Cox, Peter Laffey, Oisin Flynn.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Eoin McElholm says Tyrone "should always be pushing" for All-Ireland titles but insists manager Malachy O'Rourke is keeping the team grounded ahead of Sunday's pivotal Group One game against Cavan (16:15 BST).

Tyrone, Cavan, Donegal and Mayo all enter the final round of the round-robin stage locked on two points after two games.

The Red Hands have been talked about as All-Ireland contenders after securing an impressive win over Ulster champions Donegal in Ballybofey, but McElholm says the players are paying no heed to outside noise.

"That's what Malachy's good at, keeping us grounded," said McElholm, who is fresh off being named the Under-20 Footballer of the Year after helping his county secure back-to-back All-Ireland crowns at the grade.

"Obviously Tyrone always should be All-Ireland contenders, just for such a good footballing county and the amount of quality in the team.

"We should always be pushing for an All-Ireland and people are going to say we're all All-Ireland contenders, but Malachy has pushed us right down to Earth and says 'you're as good as your last game', so hopefully we can put up a good performance on Sunday.

In between the All-Ireland Under-20 semi-final and final, McElholm featured for the Tyrone seniors in the opening round-robin win over Donegal.

He did not feature in the defeat by Mayo last time out, but was introduced in Tyrone's Ulster quarter-final win over Cavan in Omagh in April.

Tyrone will top the group and advance to the quarter-finals if they beat Cavan and Donegal beat Mayo on Sunday.

O'Rourke's side will also finish top if they win and Donegal and Mayo play out a draw, which would knock Cavan out. Second place would earn Tyrone a home preliminary quarter-final, while third would mean an away game.

"We just need to go in and boost our performance from the last day," added McElholm.

"If we win, we win, but we just need a good performance from everyone and good energy from the whole team."

All of this weekend's round-robin games will be played at neutral venues, with Tyrone and Cavan meeting at Brewster Park in Enniskillen, where McElholm won an Ulster Minor title with the Red Hands in 2021.

"The venue should be irrelevant and it's the same for every player on the pitch whether you like it or not," he said.

"I have good memories there, I played in an Ulster Minor final at Brewster and beat Donegal in it so personally I like Brewster.

"Other players might not have good memories there but it's about coming together and getting through it."

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone's Eoin McElholm says being named the GAA's Under-20 Footballer of the Year is "unreal".

McElholm starred as the Red Hands secured back-to-back All-Ireland titles, his 6-24 championship haul including 2-4 in the victory over Louth in last month's final.

The Loughmacrory forward was one of six Tyrone players, alongside Conan McGarvey, Joey Clarke, Caolan Donnelly, Callum Daly and Ruairi McCullagh, named in the under-20 team of the year, with Donegal's Kevin Muldoon and Seanan Carr also selected.

"It's something I dreamed of when I started playing under-20s," McElholm told BBC Sport NI.

"To win the All-Ireland and win this as well is unreal."

McElholm has also featured for the Tyrone seniors this year, coming off the bench in last month's All-Ireland round-robin win over Donegal in Ballybofey.

"I've balanced it well," he added.

"Malachy [O'Rourke, senior manager] and Paul [Devlin, under-20 boss] have definitely communicated well. If I needed to be at senior training I'd be there and if I needed to go to under-20s training I'd be there so it's worked out well and I got the best out of it."

McElholm also highlighted the importance of the under-20 grade for young players hoping to break through into senior football.

"It's a stepping stone but it's also a competition in itself that will be remembered for years by the boys that won it.

"It's an unbelievable reward, winning the Under-20 and especially a few boys in the team, including me, won it back-to-back."

Under-20 Team of the Year: Conan McGarvey (Tyrone); Padraic Tinnelly (Louth), Joey Clarke (Tyrone), Caolan Donnelly (Tyrone); Tadhg McDonnell (Louth), Callum Daly (Tyrone), Hugh O'Loughlin (Mayo); Sean Callaghan (Louth), James Maguire (Louth); Kevin Muldoon (Donegal), Eoin McElholm (Tyrone), Seanan Carr (Donegal); Ruairi McCullagh (Tyrone), Tomas Kennedy (Kerry), Darragh Beirne (Mayo)

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Getty Images

GAA president Jarlath Burns has welcomed the government's "important and significant" contribution for the redevelopment of Casement Park, but added it is not the "final piece of the jigsaw".

A £50m commitment for the west Belfast stadium project was confirmed as part of chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review on Wednesday.

Rebuilding the stadium, which has been derelict since 2013, will cost approximately £260m, of which £120m was already in place from the Stormont Executive (£62.5m), the Irish government (about £43m) and the GAA (£15m).

That still leaves a shortfall of around £90m, although the GAA previously acknowledged it will need to increase its commitment.

In its statement, the GAA said Wednesday's announcement was a "crucial milestone that will be a key catalyst" in redeveloping the 34,500-capacity stadium.

"From taking office, the secretary of state (Hilary Benn) has been clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered," said Burns.

"He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society, dating back to the Maze Long Kesh project, and more recently offering Casement Park as a Euro 2028 Championship venue.

"His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society."

Burns added: "We know, however, that this is not the final piece of [the] jigsaw and there is much more work to do. The GAA will engage directly, with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need."

Ulster GAA president Michael Geoghegan said: "With this announcement there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer.

"We look forward to the project getting started and hosting some of the largest, most exciting and significant games on the island of Ireland while also significantly adding to economic recovery and regeneration in Belfast and beyond."

Casement Park: All you need to know about the stadium soap opera

Image source, Getty Images

GAA president Jarlath Burns says the All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling finals could be pushed back to August from 2027.

While the two showpieces games were traditionally played in September, they have been staged in July since 2022 as part of the split-season model.

Earlier this year, Burns said the finals would not be moved to August in 2026, but a proposal to tweak the calendars could now be considered at Special Congress in October.

Speaking at the launch of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship on Tuesday, Burns said: "Croke Park operates with regard to its priorities and how it does its business a year in advance. So, already, because we hadn't made a decision on that, August 2026 is taken up. That puts August 2027 into the mix.

"I'm around the country all the time, in clubs and counties every single day of the week, and the thing that I get most debate on are the timings of the All-Ireland finals.

"And there is a school of thought that is saying that first and third weeks in August, leaving everything as it is, okay, first and third weeks in August."

Burns, whose term as president ends in February 2027, also said he favours provincial finals being decided by replays.

Cork beat Limerick on penalties in last weekend's Munster Hurling decider while Burns' native Armagh lost Ulster Football final shootouts in 2023 and 2024.

"I suppose that brings that into focus as well," added Burns.

"There are people who are very favourable towards the preliminary quarter-finals, but we will always be led by what the counties want. We decided that we would hold that particular one back.

"You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've (Armagh) lost three now, two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible."