New beginnings this weekend on GAA+

Mike Finnerty | 3 April 2024

Championship 2025 throws in this weekend.

A new look for New York

Two years on from their historic penalty shoot-out victory over Leitrim, a new-look New York squad return to Gaelic Park on Sunday to test themselves against last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

New manager Ronan McGinley can call on a handful of the team that made headlines in 2023, including Jamie Boyle, Rob Wharton and team captain Shane Brosnan, but it’s players with previous inter-county experience like Clare’s Cian O’Dea, Cavan’s Michael Argue and Kildare’s Jack Robinson who will really be needed when the going gets tough.

This is going to be a massive test for the Exiles.

Galway going all guns blazing

The Tribesmen may be travelling to New York for a Connacht championship match for the first time in a decade, but Padraic Joyce has his eyes firmly fixed on taking care of business in the Big Apple.

The Galway manager is bringing all 41 members of his squad and says he intends to make the most of the experience.

Having won three Connacht titles in a row, and contested two of the last three All-Ireland finals, Joyce will feel that this is a make-or-break season for the team he has been building.

A win on Sunday will set up a semi-final showdown with Roscommon.

History and odds against Sligo

It’s 50 years since a Sligo team beat their neighbours in a championship match in Castlebar.

So the weight of history is very much against the Yeats County upsetting the odds on Sunday.

But Tony McEntee will be reminding his players of how they almost ambushed Galway 12 months ago, and of how they can make the most of their underdog’s tag.

The former Mayo selector will have an excellent insight into the opposition, while the presence of ex-Mayo forward, Kevin McLoughlin, in his coaching team is also a help.

It will take something special though to emulate the team of 1975.

Mayo must bounce back quickly

Another disappointing day at Croke Park last weekend isn’t the ideal way for Mayo to arrive at the start line for the Connacht championship, especially when they have just seven days to reset to face Sligo.

But that’s the scenario facing Kevin McStay as he chases his first Nestor Cup success this summer after coming up short against Roscommon and Galway respectively in recent seasons.

Remarkably, Aidan O’Shea is the only member of the current Mayo squad who was also around in 2011 when a Connacht title win sparked a hugely successful decade.

A win this weekend is all Mayo want at this stage.

London looking to celebrate

This weekend marks a significant milestone for London GAA as they celebrate 50 years of competing in the Connacht senior championship.

During that time they have won three matches, including two wins against Sligo and Leitrim in 2013 that catapulted the Exiles into their first (and only) provincial final against Mayo.

This Saturday they welcome Roscommon to Ruislip after a Division 4 league campaign where they picked up just two victories — against Wicklow and Carlow.

Manager Michael Maher will be looking to the likes of captain Eoin Walsh, Liam Gallagher, Ciaran Diver and Shay Rafter to make sure they remain competitive.