They must not have thought much of Nowlan Park or Netwatch Park last Sunday. Shur lets just play every game in Croker and be done with it.
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Mickey Harte will have Tyrone in Derry in a second round league fixture.
Derry in Kerry for their opening round.
Where can i find the full set of fixtures across both codes?
You can’t be just giving us bits of information like this.
Are you not familiar with the GAA yet by now?
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Have we had another breakdown in communication between Fergal McGill and Alan Milton?
Milton still trying to work out how to use Windows.
Fergal used to always run a fantastic ship on the Fixtures side of things until the split season came along.
24 for 2024: The Gaelic football starlets ready to make senior breakthrough this season
For some, like Cork’s Cathal Maguire and Galway defender Sean Mulkerrin, the new year may bring a second coming. For others, the question is whether they can make the step up from under-age big hope to fully-fledged inter-county senior.
POWERHOUSE: Kerry will be hoping that Milltown-Castlemaine’s Cillian Burke (No 8 here) can bring his rampaging style to the senior grade in 2024. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho
MON, 01 JAN, 2024 - 22:04
Conor Brady (Cavan).
The Gowna man has been a go-to man-marker for his club and county. He is comfortable on the ball and a powerful player who operated predominately as a midfielder for the Cavan U20s. Brady missed the run to the 2022 Ulster final due to injury. He was his side’s top-scorer in the Ulster quarter-final defeat to Naomh Conaill with 1-1. Raymond Galligan will be acutely aware of the increasing plaudits Brady has received in recent months.
Cillian Burke (Kerry).
One of several Kerry U20s the natives are hoping can make the step up in 2024. Burke’s brilliance was on full display in the thrilling Kerry IFC final for Milltown-Castlemaine against Fossa. Sitting in the stand, Jack O’Connor had several reasons for joy. His son was Man of the Match and a thoroughbred put his hand up for a middle third spot. The Milltown/Castlemaine prospect, wearing 14 but floating out the field routinely, showed all of his leadership in the second half as he dominated kick-outs and broke lines, creating a crucial goal late on. Burke’s father is 2012 All-Ireland Intermediate-winning midfielder Mike.
Mid Kerry’s Cillian Burke may have lost the Kerry SFC decider to East Kerry but there was ample consolation in the Kerry IFC final where Milltown-Castlemaine edged Fossa.
Ryan Burke (Kildare).
An extremely fast and tight-marking defender who also demonstrated with his club Caragh in the Kildare IFC that he can get forward and score. Glenn Ryan has already begun the process of blooding that gifted All-Ireland winning U20 cohort, with captain Harry O’Neill coming on against Roscommon in this year’s championship.
WINNER: Kildare’s Ryan Burke is already an All-Ireland U20 winner with the Lilywhites under Brian Flanagan last year.
Seanán Carr (Donegal).
Jim McGuinness’ track record suggests he knows if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. He famously made his championship debut as Donegal senior manager with a six-point win over Antrim. That day a 17-year-old Paddy McBrearty came on a substitute having lined out at full forward in the minor curtain-raiser.
McGuinness was back on the sideline for a North-West Hospice charity match against Roscommon earlier this month. During that six-point victory, Seanán Carr was introduced for his first outing with the senior side. The Donegal U20 lit up the Ulster minor club championship for Four Masters last season while also excelling with Abbey Vocational School.
Darragh Cashman (Cork).
In his short tenure as Cork manager, John Cleary has succeeded in bringing through a nice crop of capable, dynamic, and go-forward half-backs.The likes of Luke Fahy and Tommy Walsh. Darragh Cashman’s involvement in the recent Teddy McCarthy fixture against Meath means he is the latest to be earmarked for inclusion on that emerging list. The Millstreet youngster won an All-Ireland minor medal in 2019 and was joint captain of the county U20s last year. 2023 saw his progression continue. It was the half-back’s injury-time point for UL that brought the Sigerson Cup final to extra-time. And while UL ultimately left empty-handed from Carriganore, Cashman wound up at centre-back on the Sigerson Cup team of the year. He’ll maraud forward in red in the months ahead.
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Brian Cooney (Westmeath).
Back in 2018, when he was still only 14, Brian Cooney achieved a remarkable feat when winning a fourth Westmeath Féile Peil na nÓg medal in-a-row with Coralstown/Kinnegad. Plenty of exceptional young players have struggled to carry that form, hunger and desire into their adult careers but there is little doubt that Cooney will. Outstanding for the Westmeath U20s last year, Cooney is still underage this year and is also on the senior squad. After being plagued with injuries when he was younger, Cooney has grown and developed into a big, strong player who can move, while his skill and class was obvious this year as Coralstown-Kinnegad reached the senior final, which they narrowly lost to St Loman’s. Cooney has pedigree too – he’s a son of Jack Cooney, the former Westmeath player and manager.
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24 for 2024: Hurling’s bright young things looking to make the breakthrough next season
Conor Cush (Tyrone).
Over a quarter of a century after the surnames Canavan and Cush were striking fear into defences, they are set to do so again as Adrian’s son Conor is expected to make the senior breakthrough and join Peter’s boys Darragh and Ruairà in the next season or two. Conor has been part of the Brian Dooher-Feargal Logan group but the Donaghmore starlet hasn’t made his championship bow yet. Like the Canavans, he is a baller but has the engine to work the wing too.
DETERMINED: Conor Cush on the drive with the Tyrone Under 20’s against Kildare.
Diarmuid Duffy (Mayo).
In 2022, Diarmuid Duffy achieved a remarkable double. On a Saturday, he won silver in the senior boys javelin for Ballinrobe Community School at the National Schools Track and Field Championships. The following Monday, he captained Mayo to the Connacht minor football championship. This year the athletic wing-forward helped his native Ballinrobe to the Mayo intermediate football final where they lost out to Kilmeena. He is a leading candidate for league minutes this spring.
Luke Feeney (Mayo).
It seemed like the days of 17-year-olds producing man-of-the-match displays in senior county finals were a thing of the past before Feeney delivered what he did for Ballina Stephenites in October. A Leaving Cert student in St Muredach’s College, he turns 18 later this month and is likely to be more in U20 manager Peadar Gardiner’s plans than Kevin McStay’s in the new year especially after being hit by injuries for most of this past year. There’s no denying he’s a gem, though.
Alex Gavin (Dublin).
Seeing him break tackles time after time in the Dublin SFC for Ballyboden St Enda’s, there doesn’t seem to be any question that Gavin has the physical presence for senior inter-county football. So far, he has been hitting all the milestones, leading DCU as captain to a freshers All-Ireland last year and an assuring presence in Dublin U20s’ half-back line this past season. A powerful runner, he should see action in the Allianz League.
FLYER: Alex Gavin of Ballyboden St Endas
Caelim Keogh (Roscommon).
What’s another Padraig Pearses clubman challenging for game-time in the Roscommon defence when half the current rearguard - the Daly brothers and David Murray - hail from the home of the 2021 county champions.
Caelim Keogh is the latest uncompromising defender to emerge from the club that straddles the Roscommon-Galway border just outside Ballinasloe. Full-back for the Roscommon U20s in 2023 and centre-back the season previous, Keogh is comfortable in the one-on-one situations that come with the number three shirt and the more crowded environment associated with number six.
He was a teenage corner-back when Pearses fell to Kilmacud Crokes in the All-Ireland semi-final this time two years ago, and that is where Davy Burke might be interested in trialing him.
Cathal Maguire (Cork).
This one comes with a hint of recency bias. And Maguire certainly doesn’t fall into the category of promising young footballer just graduated from U20 level. That was a category he fell into ahead of the 2019 season. He turns 26 in 2024.
It was reported around Christmas of 2022 that Maguire had been called into the Cork set-up. It was a call-up that did not materialise into game minutes. His form for newly-crowned Munster club champions Castlehaven, though, in particular the four points he kicked during the provincial final win over Dingle, has fed chatter that he’s worth a look. His Haven teammate and former Cork forward Michael Hurley certainly thinks so: “He got a bit of a shout last year with Cork. I think this year he deserves more of a shout with them.”
Dara McDonnell (Louth).
A HEFTY hit in the semi-final ruled midfielder McDonnell out of this year’s Louth final and given Naomh Mairtin lost to Ardee by a single point, his presence maybe would have swung the tie back towards the Jocks.
New Louth boss Ger Brennan will get a good look at him with the seniors and U20s set to train together, and there are hopes that his athleticism and eye for a score will prove a valuable asset in the not too distant future.
Conor Love (Fermanagh)
OPPORTUNITY knocks for young Fermanagh forward Conor Love, especially after the unexpected departure of fellow attackers Seán Quigley and Conall Jones. A key player as St Michael’s, Enniskillen claimed their first Hogan Cup in 2019 – Conor Laverty was helping on the coaching side – he has all the tools to be their go-to forward next season.
Has racked up huge tallies for Enniskillen Gaels – including 2-2 in the 2022 county final – and is set to make his mark on the county scene now.
Cian McBride (Meath)
The St Ultan’s man joined AFL outfit Essendon in 2019 as an international rookie before being released last August. Much is expected of the 22-year-old who was at midfield when Meath won the Leinster minor championship in 2018. He briefly joined the Meath senior panel in 2020 for the winter-time Championship when Andy McEntee was in charge but an injury prevented him from playing any part. A terrific athlete with a powerful engine, he finally played for the Meath seniors in their recent win over the Regional All-Stars selection and looks primed for a big 2024.
BIG ENGINE: much is expected of Meath’s Cian McBride
Darragh McMullen (Armagh)
THE Armagh attack may be already stacked and Oisin Conaty looked good in championship cameos last season, but Madden’s Darragh McMullen is another forward that senior Orchard players are excited about.
His finishing certainly has room for improvement, but his on-field intelligence belies his age and manager Kieran McGeeney has no issue giving youth a chance.
Spent two years in the Armagh U20 attack with manager Barry O’Hagan massively impressed with his speed, athleticism and comfort on the ball.
Sean Mulkerrin (Galway)
The Aran Islands native is hardly a newcomer having debuted in 2018 but he is one to keep an eye on with a big 2024 anticipated. Mulkerrin was developing into a top inter-county defender when he shattered his kneecap in a Sigerson Cup game for University of Galway at the start of 2022. His only action to date for Galway was a couple of minutes at the end of the All-Ireland group stage win over Westmeath. Mulkerrin’s former University of Galway manager Maurice Sheridan said: “He’s played very well for his club, I saw them play a few times over the summer. He’s back to his best form.”
SECOND COMING: Sean Mulkerrin may not be unheralded but if he recovers fully from a knee injury he may allow Sean Kelly’s release from the Galway full-back line.
Canice Mulligan (Sligo)
In his acceptance speech after last year’s Connacht U20 final win against Galway in Tuam Stadium, Sligo captain Canice Mulligan created a nice stir on social media with one of his lines from the podium live on TV. “We’d a tough road to the final. Three away games, all the big dogs. But Sligo are now a f***ing big dog.” Those words may have got Mulligan’s name some serious traction on line but it didn’t cloud his immense contribution to Sligo’s success; he was later named Connacht U20 Player-of-the-Year. Strong, powerful, forceful, with loads of ability, Mulligan injury absence in the All-Ireland U20 final against Kildare – after damaging his shoulder in the semi-final win against Kerry - was critical in their narrow defeat. Has all the attributes to make a mark at senior in 2024.
LEADER: Sligo’s Canice Mulligan leads his team out for the All-Ireland U20 FC semi final victory over Kerry in 2023. Pic: Evan Logan, Inpho
Rioghan Murphy (Laois).
After Rioghan Murphy scored 2-2 from play against Palatine in last year’s Leinster senior club championship, the Portarlington manager Martin Murphy said that the then 19-year old “is a star in the making”. By that stage, Murphy already had three Laois senior medals, winning the man-of-the-match award in the delayed 2020 final when still only 18. Murphy didn’t lose a senior championship match with Port until this year. An energetic, hard-working wing-forward with an eye for a score, Murphy has committed to Laois in 2024 for the first time. He’s also a very talented basketball player on a college scholarship with UL. When the UL Wolves Men’s Freshers Basketball team bridged an 11-year gap in 2022 to win the Freshers Cup, Murphy was named MVP of the tournament, scoring 20 points in the final against NUIG.
Dan O’Brien (Dublin).
The corner-back continues to be one of the unsung heroes of Kilmacud Crokes’ all-conquering defence. O’Brien’s tight man-marking and surging runs upfield were a feature of their latest Leinster success. O’Brien, 25, has some senior county experience, starting two league games in 2020. Interestingly, he played in attack when Dublin won the 2017 All-Ireland U-20 championship. According to Crokes captain Shane Cunningham: “Dan was in with the Dubs this year, personally I was surprised at his lack of game time.”
Sean O’Brien (Kerry).
Kerry’s scarcity of midfield options needs no regurgitation. Jack O’Connor is blue in the face from hearing the repeated commentary regarding the lack of outstanding options he has for the number eight and nine jerseys. With Jack Barry stepping down under, Sean O’Brien stepped up during the recent county championship. The Beaufort club man is already a member of the Kerry panel but failed to secure game-time in 2023. His midfield performances for Mid Kerry in their latest run to the county final should see that stat quickly corrected in the opening pages of 2024. He will be one of many would-be partners for Diarmuid O’Connor, no more than Cillian Burke listed above, auditioned during the spring.
Sam O’Neill (Galway).
The St James’ midfielder was a driving force in the Galway SFC as they bounced back from flirting with relegation in 2022 to the cusp of a spot in the 2023 final four. O’Neill suffered a knee injury early in their quarter-final clash with Mountbellew and they just came up short. A rangy and athletic presence, O’Neill was also invited to the AFL trials in Dublin last year.
Pádraic Joyce called O’Neill into the senior squad after their U20 campaign had concluded and midfield is a position they require more depth in.
Brendan Rouine (Clare).
Captain of the Clare minors in 2020, Rouine saw league action under Colm Collins earlier this year and was a championship sub on occasions in 2022 but should be propelled into a more prominent role by new manager Mark Fitzgerald. The Ennistymon footballer is the younger brother of senior mainstay Cillian and son of his namesake Brendan, the 1992 Munster SFC winner. More conditioning should complement his aerial ability and he has a fine boot on him too.
John Phiri (Carlow)
THE Asca man really caught the Carlow senior management’s eye with his performances for the county’s U20s in Leinster. Only 18, he was excellent in the middle of the park and Niall Carew seems ready to take a chance on Phiri, who is also a talented hurler.
Blessed with lightning pace and a real ability to compete in the air, Phiri has an eye for a score too as demonstrated with his 1-1 tally for Asca in their 2023 Junior B final win over Éire Óg.
*Analysis by Eoghan Cormican, Christy O’Connor, Maurice Brosnan, John Fogarty, Tony Leen and Paul Keane.
Anyone ever done a League game in Ruislip?
The Championship over there is meant to be like EP/Ploughling Match/Kinsale 7’s all rolled in to one, but what’s it like on a grey February Sunday?
Went to see Wexford LOSE to London a few years ago
I think clubhouse was closed for renovations at the time.
Stayed in a Ramada chain hotel about 10 minutes walk away from ground, hotel was close to tube station
Doesn’t seem much to do in Ruislip, but of course a train/tube will get you into dear old London Town handy enough
Was always curious to go. I’d say on a nice summer evening it’s a nice spot.
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You meet some great GAA people in it for a league game but it’s just an afternoon event and fairly tame. When the marquee goes up for the championship it’s some spot - there were more in the ground at 10pm the last time I was there than there was for the game, and as I was leaving there were still people streaming in.
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I’d say you’d get a serious class of person there for a League game alright.
I’m due a trip to London in the spring to visit a few people anyway so Tipp playing in Ruislip seems the week to go.
I know a few who were at the Sligo game last year in Championship and it looked unreal.
Tis a mighty pilgrimage, makes Division 4 worth it. Did it for the hurling once too. Hugely recommend.
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I’ve the flights booked.
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We hardly left the bar for the games 
I’ve barely attended a League match in either code in about 7 years and have no time for non- knockout sport but I’m an oppertunist/ideas man if nothing else, and am willing to make an exception for Ruislip.
A friend of mine from Laois was over there last year in Ruislip. The same day Laois scored a rather unusual 6-6. The bar in the complex looked like great craic anyway.
There’s something very endearing about Irish people who went to London back in the 1980’s busting themselves building roads during the week and drinking in the Galteemór at the weekend.
Them lads would all be pushing 70 now and a day out in Ruislip is probably their only way to keep in touch with eachother and keep their Irishness alive.
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They passed on the tradition to their gasúns as well, it’s a tremendous family environment but also a wonderful day of supping.
I’d love an aul trip to New York some day too. Not ruling it out either.
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The championship marquee is filled almost entirely with people who have an English accent, the children and grandchildren of emigrants.
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