Dust has settled for Donegal and Kerry after Round 1 flashpoints<\/p>\n
It seems a while since that fractious encounter at Fitzgerald Stadium<\/a> and the possibility that Jim McGuinness could have been handed a suspension. The Donegal boss appeared to shove Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor as tempers flared amid scuffles on the pitch.<\/p>\n Matters on the day were, to the satisfaction of the CCCC, dealt with by match referee Sean Hurson, so McGuinness, David Clifford, Miche\u00e1l Burns or any others who were central to the melee, had no case to answer.<\/p>\n Donegal’s season got back on track with their emphatic victory in the Kingdom, their task made easier following Miche\u00e1l Burns’ dismissal. The All-Ireland champions not quite themselves yet, and still not having their strongest hand to play with.<\/p>\n Should we read too much into the margin of victory for McGuinness’s men or is there much to take from Kerry’s line that chasing a riled-up Donegal with 14 men was never going to yield a positive outcome. Take the beating and move on.<\/p>\n Kildare are next in line for the Kingdom. Jack O’Connor returns to a place where his stewardship brought about respectability in those Covid years: Division 1 football and a Leinster final appearance. The Lilies, in spite of recent underage success, still have that work-in-progress feel. Their Tailteann win last year ensured their place at the top table, but they were well off it against Galway <\/a>on 23 May.<\/p>\n Jack Robinson’s (above) introduction late on the only shining light; his enterprise and willingness and indication of what Kildare could be. The tight confines of Newbridge should add their cause and they will be supported.<\/p>\n Kerry will view this assignment as the gentlest of what was possible. A nice game to get things motoring on, even if a few star names are absent. The road back starts here for Jack’s man. In previous campaigns they’ve taken a similar trek and come away with the big prize. This weekend may not give us an indication whether a similar outcome is in the offing now.<\/p>\n It’s a meeting of opposite ends in Ballybofey, with MacCumhaill Park back in operation again, as Cork make the long trip north. As tough a draw the Rebels could have got? Yes. But all is not lost. With a full-forward line of Mark Cronin, Chris \u00d3g Jones and Steven Sherlock, plus a tenacity that evident in their stirring comeback against Meath, they’ll be more than confident that they can trouble the hosts.<\/p>\n Cork have made progress this year and this is another opportunity to test themselves. If it’s case of Donegal again reaching the levels that crushed Kerry, then the task is harder. But can the hosts scale those heights again when faced by red jerseys and not the green and gold colours they have lowered on three occasions so far this year.<\/p>\n It’s two years since Donegal and Cork last met in the championship, with the latter coming out victorious by two points in a Sam Maguire group game at P\u00e1irc U\u00ed Rinn.<\/p>\n We don’t need blockbusters, plot lines aplenty<\/p>\n When you’ve reached this point of the season and the last-chance saloon is fully lit, there is no point lamenting on what could have been with regard to star billings. There is enough in this draw to warrant much attention. Nothing is a gimme really and Kerry will tread carefully en route to Newbridge, while Dublin, the 2026 version, know that Cavan in Breffni can’t be discounted.<\/p>\n Monaghan v Roscommon in recent times has been one of those hard-to-call encounters, though the Farney did have a bit to spare in last year’s Division 2 league final. On what they’ve shown so far, you would go with the Rossies, but Monaghan’s powers of recovery is a plot twist that has the heightened the drama in three consecutive games.<\/p>\n They’ve come up short in the latter two: the tank ran dry against Armagh during extra-time, while the clock was their enemy in their gallant quest in clawing back a 12-point deficit versus Mayo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bobby McCaul, a star in the making, sustained a cruciate ligament injury the last day. A cruel blow but we look forward to seeing him back and flying in 2027.<\/p>\n Roscommon’s gallop was stymied somewhat in their loss to Tyrone. Perhaps it was no surprise given the euphoria of their Connacht win, or is that too simplistic? There was much talk of getting that ‘big’ win beyond the province and while the bare minimum separated the sides at the Hyde, the hosts played in bits and starts early on and Conor Carroll had difficulty picking the right man with his kickouts.<\/p>\n A stray restart near the end from Carroll would prove costly, though the Rossies custodian does not have too many off days. Heading to Clones, they will again look for a statement win beyond those home comforts.<\/p>\n A good spread of scoring options serves both counties well here, with added focus on Monaghan if they are quicker out of the blocks. Expect more than a few orange flags to be raised.<\/p>\n For either Derry or Meath, the prospect of an earlier-than-expected exit from the championship looms. With good justification, based on Derry rediscovering their groove under the returning Ciar\u00e1n Meenagh (below) and Meath’s potential after last year’s run to an All-Ireland semi-final, both would have been targeting a last-eight berth. It may yet happen for one.<\/p>\n So the Celtic Park clash could be the springboard, the lift-off required to push on.<\/p>\n For Derry, their best-laid plans for the campaign ahead were severely jolted by that loss to Monaghan and in the truth they never laid much of a glove on Armagh<\/a> thereafter. A black card for Armagh’s Jason Duffy and the deficit cut to three points as the game entered the final stretch was not the catalyst for Derry to seize the initiative. Meenagh admitted afterwards that his side did not “put enough pressure” on Armagh.<\/p>\n A simple summation, but the manager feels there is a kick left in charges left. Telling reporters after the Athletic Grounds clash: “We’ve had some great days and some not so great in recent weeks but I believe in the quality of players there there’s serious quality in the changing room and on the bench.<\/p>\n “It’s just a matter of getting one big result or scalp but we’re running out of time and if we don’t get it right over the next two weeks our season will be over.”<\/p>\n \n Meath also possess quality in their ranks but that Royal County trait of old in winning tight games at the death was not on view in their loss to Cork<\/a>. Added to that was letting a decent lead slip away. That said, there was a lot to like about Meath’s approach at P\u00e1irc U\u00ed Rinn and it could be said that they are in a slightly better head space heading to Foyleside.<\/p>\n However Tuesday’s news that Ruair\u00ed Kinsella has suffered an ACL injury his a blow. The half-forward has been in excellent both this season and last.<\/p>\n As Louth await the completion of their new stadium in Dundalk, it’s back to Inniskeen and a meeting with Armagh. It was very much a case of the Wee County roaring back against the Dubs<\/a> a fortnight ago, in what was a marked improvement on their efforts against the same opposition some four weeks previous. Aside form that blip in Portlaoise where they sat in a low block for much of the game, Louth’s trajectory has been going one way and they’ll be aiming another for Croke Park date at the end of the month.<\/p>\n Sub Ciar\u00e1n Byrne’s second-half performance the last day a snapshot of a team in full flow as they powered on against a creaking Dubs late on.<\/p>\n Armagh now await. A genuine Sam Maguire contender. A better version than the one that scaled the heights two years ago. Derry could have been an awkward test but McGeeney’s men always had control, always composed<\/a>.<\/p>\n A trip to Inniskeen, where Armagh have been denied permission to train on the pitch in advance, is another tricky assignment. Champions, however, are expected to safely navigate such tests.<\/p>\n On paper, Tyrone v Mayo could be the game of the weekend. A repeat of their clash from a year ago when the westerners, somewhat against the head, came to Omagh and prevailed. That was a Mayo team who were two-pointer shot-shy. It’s a different case now, with the addition of Kobe McDonald adding to their options and the Crossmolina youngster is certainly playing his part, all before he heads Down Under.<\/p>\n Tyrone, after six weeks of reflection and then planning as best they could, overcame Roscommon in a Hyde Park thriller<\/a>. At times they stymied the hosts’ flamboyancy and then when the game appeared lost late on, they struck with telling effect, with Mattie Donnelly netting.<\/p>\n Eoin McElholm (below) and Ethan Jordan caught the eye with their scores as the Red Hand again went into bat without Darragh Canavan.<\/p>\n A Connacht trimming by the Rossies sent Mayo crash-landing. The salvage operation that began in Clones a fortnight ago<\/a> was, for the most part, a successful endeavour.<\/p>\n Monaghan’s by-now expected second-half surge left them only point in arrears at the end, with Mayo also thankful that goalkeeper Jack Livingstone pulled off some fine saves.<\/p>\n At Pearse Stadium, Galway welcome Westmeath. Exactly 20 years ago, the Lake County got the better of their hosts in an All-Ireland qualifier in Salthill. It finished 1-08 to 0-10, not a game to live long in the memory. Galway’s stock was on the way down back then.<\/p>\n A marked contrast to now with P\u00e1draic Joyce having close to a full squad to pick from. Despite their loss to Roscommon in the Connacht final, Joyce did not seem too put out afterwards, accentuating the positives. And the manager would equally have picked out many good aspects from the win over Kildare<\/a>; a side going through the gears effortlessly on a night where Rob Finnerty was outstanding.<\/p>\n Westmeath and Mark McHugh are on a crest of a wave. An unexpected Leinster title after the heartache of just missing out on promotion to Division 2. A huge crowd then turned out a Cusack Park to see them play Cavan. A game where defeat looked likely in that extra-period period but where the Lake County’s fortitude shone as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat<\/a>. And now their toughest assignment this year awaits.<\/p>\n And finally Cavan play host to Dublin at Kingspan Breffni.<\/p>\n Ger Brennan will be back on the sidelines, he has served his time, 12 weeks it was. Will his presence ensure the Dubs will see at least one more game this summer? Time will tell, but he will no doubt be addressing the defensive woes that cost the Dubs dearly against Louth<\/a> at Croker, as well as their restarts. On the positive side, there was much to like when his charges were on the front foot at GAA HQ, with Cormac Costello and Con O’Callaghan leading the line well.<\/p>\n \u00c9amonn Fitzmaurice, speaking on the RT\u00c9 GAA Podcast, feels a game away from Croke Park will suit them<\/a>. “They can’t seem to win games there,” he said, while not offering much hope they can turn things around now, when saying: “They aren’t the force of old, but to be losing as many games as they are, I definitely wouldn’t have expected that.<\/p>\n “It still is fixable. They still have great players in their ranks, but it seems a long way back for them.”<\/p>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247d1e-614.jpg\"\/)
\nRyan McHugh of Donegal, left, points towards an injury in Killarney<\/p>\n![\"23](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00246961-614.jpg\"\/)
\nCiar\u00e1n Moore with Donegal’s first goal against Kerry<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247d17-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/002469f1-614.jpg\"\/)
\nSteven Sherlock kicked 0-14 against Meath in Round 1<\/p>\n![\"Bobby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247dcb-614.jpg\"\/)
\nBobby McCaul shoots under pressure from Conor Loftus during the recent Clones clash<\/p>\n![\"24](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/00246abc-614.jpg\"\/)
\nRoscommon ace Darmuid Murtagh kicking a point against the Red Hand<\/p>\n![\"Derry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247dd1-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Ciar\u00e1n](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0024748c-614.jpg\"\/)
\nDelight for Ciar\u00e1n Byrne after a late score against Dublin<\/p>\n![\"Kobe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247dcd-614.jpg\"\/)
\nKobe McDonald celebrating a two-point score in the win over Monaghan<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00247dd4-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00205c1e-614.jpg\"\/)
\nShane Walsh with a crucial goal as Galway got the better of Westmeath in a 2024 All-Ireland series game<\/p>\n![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0023df9d-614.jpg\"\/)
\nDublin boost as Ger Brennan returns<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0020974e-614.jpg\"\/)