Derry face make or break Mayo test this weekend
Derry will make the trip to Machale Park on Saturday evening with the throw in fixed for 6.30pm in what’s set to be the standout game of the weekend’s football.
Mayo are slight favourites against a diminished Derry side who’ve suffered rampant defeats to Donegal and Armagh and fell short to Galway so far in the championship but may have reignited their season with a four-point win over Westmeath in their final game of the group stage.
Mayo’s championship performances have been more convincing to date; they started the group stage strong by comfortably beating Cavan by eight points, a game they came into after being pipped by Galway right at the end in the Connacht Final.
They overcame Roscommon by two points in their next match in what was a tight contest but after thirty minutes, it became a game the Rossies were always chasing. On Sunday, it appeared a 72nd minute Ryan O’Donoghue free would be enough to see Mayo top the group, advancing straight to the quarter finals and it would be Dublin Derry would face this weekend but thirty-five seconds later Cormac Costello managed to fist the ball over the bar to snatch a draw and send Mayo to the preliminary quarter finals.
Derry will have Gareth McKinless available again after suspension which is a huge boost. They’ll hope to call on injured players versus Westmeath, Conor Doherty and Niall Toner to also bolster their hopes while Niall Loughlin could make a return from injury.
With everything on the line for both teams, it’s expected to be an exciting spectacle.
Earlier on Saturday, Galway face a deflated Monaghan team who’ll be expected to come out second best against the Connacht champions. However, morale in Galway will be low knowing that they’d numerous chances to see off Armagh to secure their place in the quarter finals but they managed to let them back into it to get a draw. Meanwhile, a dominant spell after half time by Monaghan against Meath helped them get a much-needed win, their first since beating Dublin in the league all the way back in January. Obviously, Galway are massive favourites, but this match could be a lot tighter than people think as Monaghan were in the exact same situation this time last year and they ended up making an All-Ireland semi-final.
Two teams going into this weekend on a high are Tyrone and Roscommon. Roscommon saw off a late Cavan surge in what was an enthralling encounter with Diarmuid Murtagh contributing 1-6 to a tally of 3-20. Tyrone managed to beat the in-form Cork which could be a sign that this talented Tyrone team are clicking at the right time.
Both teams are understrength with injury lists that include Ben O’Carroll for Roscommon and Conor Meyler for Tyrone, on top of that the fancied Tyrone will be without the suspended Conn Kilpatrick which could hand an advantage to Roscommon who’ve a strong midfield cohort consisting of AFL prospect Daire Cregg and the fresh Ultan Harney who’s recently returned from a year’s break.
On Sunday, Louth will seek to continue their fairytale season as it’s definitely too soon for them to say farewell with a quarter final appearance likely a reasonable target for them. The rebels will look to call upon captain Brian Hurley to increase their chance of winning, who missed the Tyrone game through injury but even without him Cork may have enough in their locker to beat Louth.
The winners of the weekend’s games will have to make a quick turnaround in preparation for the threat Armagh, Dublin, Donegal and Kerry will pose to them the following weekend.
All Ireland Senior Football Championship Preliminary Quarter Finals
Saturday 22nd June
Galway v Monaghan, 4pm, Pearse Stadium, GAAGO
Tyrone v Roscommon, 5pm, Healy Park, GAAGO
Mayo v Derry, 6.30pm, Machale Park, GAAGO
Sunday 23rd June
Louth v Cork, 3pm, Grattan Park, Inniskeen, GAAGO