We preview the weekend GAA matches and we have all the starting teams.
Galway, Roscommon, Kerry and Donegal are through to the GAA football provincial finals and will be joined by four others next weekend when Leinster stage their two semi-finals while Munster and Ulster have one each.
The line-up is as follows:
SATURDAY
Munster semi-final: Tipperary v Limerick, FBD Semple Stadium, 7.0 SUNDAY
Ulster semi-final: Derry v Monaghan, Athletic Grounds, 4.0 Leinster semi-finals: Kildare v Westmeath, Croke Park, 2.15; Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 4.30
KILDARE v WESTMEATH
They meet in the Leinster semi-final for a second successive year, with Kildare having won by two points last year. Kildare beat Louth (2-22 to 0-12) and Westmeath beat Longford (4-13 to 0-12) in this year’s quarter-finals.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2021: Kildare 2-14 Westmeath 0-18 (Leinster semi-final) 2016: Westmeath 1-12 Kildare 1-11 (Leinster semi-final) 2005: Kildare 0-14 Westmeath 0-11 (Leinster quarter-final) 1992: Kildare 4-11 Westmeath 2-5 (Leinster semi-final) 1975: Kildare 1-15 Westmeath 1-8 (Leinster quarter-final) *Kildare are bidding for a place in the final for a second successive year. Westmeath were last there in 2016.
*Kildare and Westmeath have met ten times in the championship with the Lilywhites winning eight to Westmeath’s two. *Jack Cooney is in his fourth season as Westmeath manager, with a championship record of: Played 8; Won 4, Lost 4. Glenn Ryan is in his first season as Kildare boss.
*John Heslin was Westmeath’s top scorer on 1-5 (0-4 frees) in the quarter-final win over Longford. He was also their top scorer in the Allianz League on 2-34 (0-23 frees, 1-0 pen). It took him to third place behind Sam Mulroy (Louth) and Sean Quigley (Fermanagh) in the Division 3 scoring charts.
*Darragh Kirwan on 1-3 (0-1 free) and Jimmy Hyland on 0-5 (0-1 free) were Kildare’s top scorers in the quarter-final win over Louth.
DUBLIN v MEATH
They meet in the Leinster championship for a fourth successive year. Dublin beat Wexford (1-24 to 0-4) and Meath beat Wicklow 4-13 to 1-12 to reach Sunday’s semi-final.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2021: Dublin 2-16 Meath 1-13 (Leinster semi-final)
2020: Dublin 3-21 Meath 0-9 (Leinster final)
2019: Dublin 1-17 Meath 0-4 (Leinster final)
2016: Dublin 0-21 Meath 0-10 (Leinster final)
2014: Dublin 3-20 Meath 1-10 (Leinster final)
*They have met 65 times in the championship with Dublin winning 38 to Meath’s 19. There were eight draws.
*Meath have beaten Dublin only once (2010) in their last ten championship games.
*Dublin are seeking their 35th successive win in the Leinster championship, with their last defeat coming against Meath in the 2010 semi-final.
*Dessie Farrell is in his third season as Dublin manager, with a championship record as follows: Played 10, Won 9, Drew 0, Lost 1.
*Andy McEntee is in his sixth season as Meath manager, with a championship record over the last five years as follows: Played 18; Won 8; Lost 10
*Meath’s last championship win over Dublin in the 2010 Leinster semi-final. They have met seven times since then with Dublin winning all seven by an average of 12 points.
*Con O’Callaghan was Dublin scored on 1-6 in the quarter-final win over Wexford. Jack O’Connor on 1-3 (0-2 frees) was Meath’s top scorer in the win over Wicklow.
DERRY v MONAGHAN
They meet in the championship for the first time since 2009 when Derry won both the Ulster quarter-final tie and All-Ireland qualifier. Derry beat Tyrone (1-18 to 0-10) and Monaghan beat Down (0-23 to 2-7) to reach this year’s semi-final.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2009: Derry 3-16 Monaghan 0-20 (All-Ireland qualifier) 2009: Derry 1-10 Monaghan 0-10 (Ulster quarter-final) 2008: Monaghan 1-13 Derry 1-12 (Ulster quarter-final) 2007: Monaghan 0-14 Derry 1-9 (Ulster semi-final)
2005: Derry 1-17 Monaghan 2-8 (Ulster quarter-final)
*Derry are attempting to reach the Ulster final for the first time since 2011 when they lost to Donegal. Prior to that, they hadn’t been in the final since 2000.
*Monaghan are bidding to reach the Ulster final for a second successive year.
*Jack McCarron on 0-7 (0-2 frees, 0-1 mark) was Monaghan’s top scorer in the quarter-final win over Down. Niall Loughlin on 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ‘45’) and Shane McGuigan on 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees) were Derry’s top scorers in the win over Tyrone.
*The winners will play Donegal in the Ulster final on May 29.
LIMERICK v TIPPERARY
Limerick beat Clare on penalties after extra-time in the quarter-final; Tipperary beat Waterford by eight points.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2019: Limerick 3-11 Tipperary 1-10 (Munster quarter-final) 2014: Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-11 (Munster quarter-final) 2009: Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9 (Munster quarter-final) 2008: Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-5 (Munster quarter-final) 2004: Limerick 0-16 Tipperary 3-5 (Munster quarter-final) *Both enjoyed very good Allianz League campaigns. Tipperary were promoted from Division 4 while Limerick were promoted from Division 3.
*Tipperary last reached the Munster final in 2016; Limerick were last there in 2010.
* Billy Lee is in his sixth season as Limerick manager; David Power is in his third season as Tipperary boss.
*Conor Sweeney was Tipperary’s top scorer in the quarter-final win over Waterford on 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees. John Ryan on 0-6 (0-5 frees) was Limerick’s top scorer against Clare.
GAA FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 CONNACHT
Quarter-finals: Leitrim 3-12 London 2-11; Sligo 1-16 New York 0-15; Galway 1-14 Mayo 0-16.
Semi-finals: Roscommon 0-23 Sligo 0-11; Galway 4-20 Leitrim 0-9. Final: May 29: Galway v Roscommon
LEINSTER
First round: April 24: Louth 5-10 Carlow 0-10; Wicklow 5-15 Laois 4- 12; Wexford 1-15 Offaly 1-12.
Quarter-finals: Dublin 1-24 Wexford 0-4; Westmeath 3-13 Longford 0-14; Meath 4-13 Wicklow 1-12; Kildare 2-22 Louth 0-12; Semi-finals: May 15: Kildare v Westmeath; Dublin v Meath May 28: Final
MUNSTER
Quarter-finals: Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 1-8; Limerick 2-16 Clare 1- 19 aet (Limerick win 4-1 on penalties).
Semi-finals: Kerry 0-23 Cork 0-11; May 14: Limerick v Tipperary. Final: May 28
ULSTER
First round: Tyrone 2-17 Fermanagh 2-10
Quarter-finals: Cavan 1-20 Antrim 0-10; Donegal 1-16 Armagh 0-12; Monaghan 0-23 Down 2-7; Derry 1-18 Tyrone 0-10.
Semi-finals: Donegal 2-16 Cavan 0-16; May 15: Monaghan v Derry Final: May 29: Donegal v Derry/Monaghan
ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP
June 4/5: All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 1
June 11/12: All-Ireland qualifiers – Round 2
June 25/26: All-Ireland quarter-finals
July 9/10: All-Ireland semi-finals
July 24: All-Ireland final
TAILTEANN CUP
May 21/22: Preliminary Round (if required)
May 28/29: Round 1
June 4/5 Quarter-finals
June 19: Semi-finals
July 9: Final
EXCITEMENT GATHERING AS ‘ROUND ROBINS’ HEAD FOR SECOND LAST WEEKEND
It’s coming close to big decision time in the Leinster and Munster hurling ‘round robin’ series, with both provinces staging their second last rounds next weekend.
The line-up is as follows:
SATURDAY
LEINSTER
Laois v Galway, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 5.0
Westmeath v Wexford, TEG Cusack Park, 6.30
Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 7.0
SUNDAY
MUNSTER
Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park, 2.0
Clare v Limerick, Ennis, 4.0
DUBLIN v KILKENNY
Dublin (six points) lead the ‘round robin’ table on six points after three wins over Laois, Wexford, Westmeath. Kilkenny (four points) beat Westmeath and Laois and lost to Galway.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2021: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-19 (Leinster final)
2020: Kilkenny 3-20 Dublin 2-22 (Leinster semi-final) 2019: Kilkenny 2-23 Dublin 1-21 (Leinster ‘round robin’) 2018: Kilkenny 1-24 Dublin 3-16 (Leinster ‘round robin) 2016: Kilkenny 1-25 Dublin 0-16 (Leinster semi-final)
*Dublin wins over the Cats in the championship have been rare – only one in the last 79 years. Their sole success in that period came in 2013 when they won a Leinster semi-final replay by three points. They later went on to win the Leinster title for the first time since 1961.
*Dublin’s top scorers in the opening three games of the Leinster ‘round robin ‘were as follows:
Donal Burke……0-36 (0-23 frees)
Rian McBride….0-8
Chris Crummey.0-5
*Kilkenny’s top scorers in their first three games:
TJ Reid………….1-17 (0-11 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
Walter Walsh…1-9
Austin Murphy..0-12 (0-10 frees)
*Kilkenny beat Dublin by 2-23 to 0-16 in this year’s Allianz League in March.
*Brian Cody has come up against Dublin 15 times in the championship since taking over as Kilkenny manager at the start of the 1999 season. They have won thirteen, drawn one and lost one. Kilkenny’s only defeat was in the 2013 Leinster semi-final replay, their first setback against Dublin in the championship since 1942. *Mattie Kenny is in his fourth season as Dublin manager. *Dublin play Galway in Pearse Stadium in the final round on Saturday week; Kilkenny will be at home to Wexford in UPMC Nowlan Park on the same day.
LAOIS v GALWAY
Galway (five points) have beaten Westmeath and Kilkenny and drew with Wexford. Laois lost to Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford. LAST FIVE CHAMPINSHIP MEETINGS
2015: Galway 3-28 Laois 1-14 (Leinster semi-final)
2014: Galway 1-22 Laois 0-23 (Leinster quarter-final) 2013: Galway 2-17 Laois 1-13 (Leinster semi-final)
2009: Galway 5-29 Laois 0-17 (Leinster quarter-final) 2008: Galway 1-26 Laois 0-9 (All-Ireland qualifiers)
*Laois have beaten Galway only once in championship history, winning the 1949 All-Ireland semi-final by 4-6 to 3-5 in Croke Park. Top Scorers 2022 Round Robin – GALWAY
Conor Cooney……1-21 (0-15 frees, 1-0 pen, 0-2 ‘65s’) Joseph Cooney……1-11
Brian Concannon…. 1-7
Top Scorers 2022 Round Robin – LAOIS
PJ Scully………….0-20 (0-17 frees)
Enda Rowland…1-3 (frees)
Paddy Purcell…..1-2
*Galway will be at home to Dublin in Pearse Stadium in the final round on Saturday week; Laois will host Westmeath in MW Hire O’Moore Park on the same day.
WESTMEATH v WEXFORD
Wexford have three points after drawing with Galway, losing to Dublin and beating Laois. Westmeath has lost all three games to Kilkenny, Galway and Dublin.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2018: Wexford 2-21 Westmeath 0-16 (All-Ireland preliminary Q-final) 2015: Wexford 1-26 Westmeath 1-24 (Leinster quarter-final) 2012: Wexford 3-22 Westmeath 2-9 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 1995: Wexford 6-23 Westmeath 1-7 (Leinster first round) 1983: Wexford 7-18 Westmeath 1-13 (Leinster first round)
*Westmeath are seeking their first championship win over Wexford since 1940 when they won a Leinster quarter-final by 2-15 t o2-4. Wexford’s top scorers in 2022 ‘round robin’:
Lee Chin……………….0-19 (0-13 frees, 0-3 ‘65s’)
Conor McDonald……2-5
Rory O’Connor ……..1-8 (0-4 frees)
Westmeath’s top scorers in 2022 ‘round robin’:
Killian Doyle…….0-39 (0-34 frees, 0-1 frees)
Niall O’Brien………1-4
*Both will be ‘away’ in the final round on Saturday week. Wexford play Kilkenny in UPMC Nowlan Park; Westmeath play Laois in MW Hire O’Moore Park.
WATERFORD v CORK
Waterford beat Tipperary and lost to Limerick in their opening two games; Cork lost to Limerick and Clare.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2020: Waterford 1-28 Cork 1-24 (Munster semi-final) 2019: Cork 2-30 Waterford 2-17 (Munster ‘round robin’) 2018: Cork 1-23 Waterford 1-20 (Munster ‘round robin’) 2017: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20 (All-Ireland semi-final) 2017: Cork 0-23 Waterford 1-15 (Munster semi-final)
*They meet in a big game for the second time in six weeks, with Waterford having won the Allianz Hurling League final by 4-20 to 1- 23 in early April.
*Cork v Waterford has been a very busy rivalry over the past 22 years, in particular, with the sides having met on 21 occasions in the championship in that period. Cork have won ten times (1999-2003- 2005 (twice)-2006-2012-2014-2017-2018- 2019; Waterford have won eight (2002-2004-2007 (twice), 2010-2015-2017-2020) while the sides drew in 2007-2010-2014).
*This will be the 69th championship clash between the counties. It’s 47-15 in Cork’s favour with six draws. Cork also had a walkover when Waterford failed to field in 1890.
*Stephen Bennett scored 2-11 (0-9 from frees) in Waterford’s Allianz League final win over Cork last month. He scored 1-17 (0-16 frees, 0- 1 ‘65’) in the first two Munster games against Tipperary and Limerick. Dessie Hutchinson (1-8) and Austin Gleeson (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 s/l were next highest scorers for Waterford.
*Patrick Horgan on 0-19 (0-14 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) was Cork’s highest scorer in the opening two Munster games, followed by Robbie O’Flynn on 0-5 and Shane Kingston on 1-2.
*Waterford will be away to Clare in Ennis in the final round on Sunday week; Tipperary will be at home to Cork in FBD Semple Stadium.
CLARE v LIMERICK
Limerick top the Munster table on six points from three games; Clare have four points from their opening two games.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2020: Limerick 0-26 Clare 1-23 (Munster quarter-final 2019: Limerick 1-28 Clare 0-13 (Munster ‘round robin) 2018: Clare 0-26 Limerick 0-15 (Munster ‘round robin) 2017: Clare 3-17 Limerick 2-16 (Munster semi-final)
2016: Clare 0-19 Limerick 0-15 (All-Ireland qualifiers)
*This will be the 59th championship game between the counties. Limerick won 37 to Clare’s 20 with one draw, from the previous 58. The draw was in 1970.
*The sides met in this year’s Allianz League when it finished level (0- 18 each) in Ennis in early March.
*Limerick’s last defeat in the championship was in the 2019 All Ireland semi-final when they lost to Kilkenny (1-21 to 2-17).
Clare’s top scorers (Round robin 2022)
Tony Kelly………1-17 (0-9 frees, 1-0 pen, 0-2 ‘65s’)
Peter Duggan…..1-5
Ian Galvin…………1-4
Limerick’s top scorers (Round robin 2022)
Aaron Gillane……….3-22 (0-13 frees)
Diarmaid Byrnes…..0-15 (0-10 frees, 0-1 ‘65’))
Cathal O’Neill………..0-7
Tom Morrissey……….0-7
*Limerick complete their ‘round robin’ programme on Sunday; Clare will host Waterford in Ennis on Sunday week.
GAA HURLING ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 LEINSTER
Round 1: Wexford 1-19 Galway 1-19; Kilkenny 5-23 Westmeath 1-19; Dublin 1-20 Laois 2-15.
Round 2: Galway 3-36 Westmeath 1-17; Kilkenny 2-34 Laois 1-14; Dublin 0-24 Wexford 0-23.
Round 3: Wexford 6-21 Laois 0-12; Galway 1-24 Kilkenny 3-17; Dublin 0-27 Westmeath 1-16
Round 4: May 14: Dublin v Kilkenny; Laois v Galway; Westmeath v Wexford.
Round 5: May 21: Kilkenny v Wexford; Galway v Dublin; Laois v Westmeath
Final: June 4
MUNSTER
Round 1: April 17: Waterford 2-24 Tipperary 2-20; Limerick 2-25 Cork 1-17.
Round 2: Limerick 0-30 Waterford 2-21; Clare 3-21 Tipperary 2-16 Round 3: Clare 0-28 Cork 2-20; Limerick 3-21Tipperary 0-23. Round 4: May 15: Clare v Limerick; Waterford v Cork. Round 5: May 22: Tipperary v Cork; Clare v Waterford. Final: June 5
JOE McDONAGH CUP
Round 1: Antrim 3-22 Offaly 2-24; Down 1-19 Kerry 0-18; Carlow 4- 30 Meath 0-17.
Round 2: Kerry 3-21 Carlow 0-15; Offaly 2-22 Meath 0-19; Antrim 6- 22 Down 3-16.
Round 3: Kerry 6-25 Meath 0-13; Antrim 2-22 Carlow 1-22; Offaly 1- 26 Down 2-18
Round 4: May 14: Carlow v Down; Kerry v Offaly; May 15: Meath v Antrim
Round 5: May 21: Antrim v Kerry; Offaly v Carlow; Down v Meath. June 4: Final
ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
June 11/12: Preliminary quarter-finals: Joe McDonagh Cup winners v 3rd Munster; Joe McDonagh Cup runners-up v 3rd Leinster. July 18: Quarter-finals
July 2/3: Semi-finals
July 17: Final
CHRISTY RING CUP
Round 1: London 0-26 Sligo 0-21; Derry 1-21 Wicklow 1-8; Kildare 5- 26 Mayo 0-11
Round 2: Derry 2-20 Sligo 0-11; Mayo 0-26 Wicklow 2-10; Kildare 3- 35 London 3-14.
Round 3: Mayo 1-22 London 2-13; Kildare 1-24 Derry 0-12; Sligo 4-24 Wicklow 1-14.
Round 4: Kildare 5-25 Wicklow 3-10; Mayo 2-25 Sligo 1-20; Derry 3- 14 London 1-14.
Round 5: May 14: Kildare v Sligo; London v Wicklow; Mayo v Derry.
NICKEY RACKARD CUP
Round 1: Tyrone 7-18 Warwickshire 2-11; Roscommon 5-19 Armagh 2-7; Donegal 1-21 Fermanagh 2-13
Round 2: Donegal 1-22 Armagh 2-14; Roscommon 3-26 Warwickshire 1-14; Tyrone 1-18 Fermanagh 1-14.
Round 3: Donegal 1-22 Roscommon 3-16; Tyrone 3-17 Armagh 1-15; Fermanagh 2-31 Warwickshire 2-5.
Round 4: Donegal 0-35 Warwickshire 0-10; Roscommon 3-24 Tyrone 0-21; Armagh 3-18 Fermanagh 2-19.
Round 5: May 14: Tyrone v Donegal; Fermanagh v Roscommon; Warwickshire v Armagh.
LORY MEAGHER CUP
Round 1: Louth 2-27 Lancashire 1-10; Leitrim 4-9 Longford 0-20; Monaghan 3-9 Cavan 2-9
Round 2: Monaghan 5-12 Louth 3-11; Leitrim 4-16 Cavan 1-10; Longford 0-17 Lancashire 1-12.
Round 3: Monaghan 2-18 Leitrim 1-16; Lancashire 0-17 Cavan 1-13; Longford 1-16 Louth 1-15.
Round 4: Longford 2-15 Monaghan 1-16; Louth 2-26 Cavan 1-8; Leitrim 2-20 Lancashire 1-8.
Round 5: May 14: Cavan v Longford; Leitrim v Louth; Monaghan v Lancashire.