Weekend previews: Expect Kerry sides to continue All-Ireland hunt
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Four big wins in Leinster brought provincial glory for Caragh who are aiming to become the first Kildare team to reach the All-Ireland intermediate final. Breaking at least even with key Crossmolina duo Conor Loftus and Jordan Flynn will be crucial. Former All-Ireland senior winners Cross' fell over the line in the Connacht final against Elphin.
Crossmolina
If Billy Lee's men pick up where they left off in the second-half of the Munster final - they scored six goals against Aherlow in that 30 minutes - they'll be hard to beat. Kerry's Joe O'Connor is their driving force whilst Paddy Lane is a special young talent inside. Ballinderry, traditionally a senior heavyweight in Derry and beyond, won their Ulster semi-final and final games by a single point. Gareth McKinless is their talisman centre-back.
Austin Stacks
A fundraiser for the Friends of Brian Greene and Waterford Hospice. Also a first outing for new Deise manager Peter Queally. Austin Gleeson is back for 2025 but isn't listed in a squad captained by full-back Iarlaith Daly. Jamie and Tom Barron both start too. Cork have seven starters from last July's All-Ireland final loss to Clare in their lineup, including new captain Robert Downey. Darragh O'Sullivan, Micheal Mullins and Ben Cunningham will hope to seize opportunities while Jack Cahalane, a Cork footballer in 2024, is on the bench.
An experimental lineup for the All-Ireland holders. Darragh Lohan, Cian Galvin, Aron Shanagher and Robin Mounsey - all impact subs against Cork last July - are the only players who featured in that final to start this time. Tipp have five of the 15 that lined out in their last Munster game of 2024, also against Clare. Sam O'Farrell, Kieran Cummins, Josh Keller and Conor Martin have opportunities to impress. All proceeds go to Mary's Meals.
A first outing for Galway since the All-Ireland final loss to Armagh, 160 days ago. Coach Cian O'Neill has since left for Kerry. New Kildare manager Brian Flanagan has recalled former captain David Hyland for 2025, along with Brian McLoughlin and Mark Dempsey. David Gough will ref this game under the new rules. Kildare will play Down next weekend.
Opportunity knocks for Mayo squad members with Cillian O'Connor, Rob Hennelly and Padraig O'Hora stepping away. Injury issues will keep captain Paddy Durcan, Aidan O'Shea and Tommy Conroy out for another few weeks. It's Monaghan's first game under new boss Gabriel Bannigan who has Mayo great Andy Moran alongside him.
Cuala deserve to be favourites but so did Ballina (Mayo) and Padraig Pearses (Roscommon) previously - and both lost to the back-to-back Sligo champions. Niall Murphy is Coolera's gifted scorer but captain Peter Laffey has been terrific too, as has ex-Dublin dual player Ross O'Carroll. Austin O'Malley's Cuala mix the silk of Con O'Callaghan with a steely overall approach, winning three tight games in Leinster.
Cuala
Errigal Ciaran overcame Kilcoo after an Ulster final arm wrestle. Hopefully this will be more open because in the Canavans, Peter Harte and Joe Oguz, the Dunmoyle outfit have uniquely talented players. Still, Dr Crokes made such short work of Loughmore Castleiney the same day in the Munster final, and blitzed everyone in 2024 to such an extent that they will be fancied again. They have huge experience, and threats, in all lines of the pitch.
Dr Crokes
Former Offaly U-20 star Morgan Tynan was a handful in Ballinagar's surprise Leinster final win over Dunsany. Captain Geordie O'Meara was excellent that day too and both will be marked men. Big wins over the Mayo and Sligo champions have left Carraroe as the bookies favourites.
Ballinagar
Kilmurry, the Cork Premier Junior and Munster champions, will face the winners of this one. Tara are British junior champions and this game was initially a victim of Storm Darragh on December 7. The visitors expect over 100 to travel from north Donegal to London.
Naomh Padraig, Muff
Free entry to this one in Askeaton as new Clare manager Peter Keane gets a first opportunity to assess his squad. The Banner are boosted this year by the return of former captain Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton. Clare open their NFL Division 3 account on January 26 away to Antrim. Limerick will travel to Longford the same day in Division 4.