Derry host Galway as Down face Meath in BBC match

BBC News

14-02-2025

After the rather late cruel home defeat by Kerry two weeks ago, it may not get any easier for Derry when they are back at Celtic Park for Saturday's crunch Allianz Football League Division One game against Galway (17:00 GMT).Judging on their League form thus far, the Tribesmen have recovered from the trauma of last July's All-Ireland Final heartbreak against Armagh. After beating Armagh in the opener at Salthill, Shane Walsh utilised the new rules brilliantly in the 10-point hammering of Mayo in Castlebar last time out as his 0-9 tally included four successful kicks from outside the 40-metre arc.Cillian O Curraoin also notched three two-point scores and with Paul Conroy capable of pointing from range, it may be a case of Derry 'be warned'.Galway make two changes from a fortnight ago with John Daly replacing Daniel O'Flaherty in defence and Matthew Tierney in for Cillian McDaid, who is not named in the matchday squad. Paddy Tally was entitled to take positives from the Kerry game as they controlled much of the contest but conceding five goals is never going to work at any level, let alone inter-county football, so Derry's defending will need to be a lot more assured on Saturday. As present only Mayo's heavy home by Galway is keeping Derry off bottom spot in Division One.
BBC Sport NI's streamed offering over the weekend is Saturday evening's Division Two contest between Down and Meath at Pairc Esler (18:00 BST). Down regrouped stoutly from their late collapse in Roscommon to snatch a dramatic 1-19 to 2-15 home win over Cork after trailing by seven at half-time. Meath may not be the force of old but are showing some early promising signs under Robbie Brennan. The Royal did lose their opener against Cork on a 2-19 to 0-21 scoreline but missed a hatful of goal chances and then did comfortably account for Cavan 3-21 to 0-20 two weeks ago.Like seemingly all teams since the introduction of the new rules, both sides have been scoring heavily so the BBC viewers will hopefully be in for an entertaining watch on Saturday evening.
From an Ulster perspective, big game of the day on Sunday will be the meeting of the Ulster and All-Ireland champions at Ballybofey as Donegal take on Armagh (15:45). It will be their first meeting since last May's dramatic Ulster Final when Donegal rapturously celebrated a penalty shootout triumph as Armagh looked utterly crestfallen.But on the final Sunday of July, it was Armagh doing the celebrating as they held on to win their arm wrestle with Galway as Donegal were not involved following their agonising All-Ireland semi-final defeat by the Tribesmen.While Donegal have been motoring in an ominously efficient fashion thus far in their wins over Dublin and Kerry, once more the big question surrounding them going into Sunday's game will be whether Michael Murphy is going to be involved.So far, Jim McGuinness has resisted the temptation to pitch him back into the inter-county fray but he can't delay that forever and it won't be a surprise to see the Glenswilly named on the bench for the MacCumhaill Park all-Ulster battle.With Rian O'Neill again not named in the Armagh squad, their only change from the starting line-up against Tyrone two weeks ago is the return of Niall Grimley after his one-match ban as Rory Grugan drops out of the matchday squad.
Canavans to return for Tyrone in Mayo?
Tyrone's report card thus far under Malachy O'Rourke has been mixed with a promising opening home win over Derry rather blotted by the defeat by Armagh when they trailed 1-14 to 0-3 at half-time, before rallying somewhat to lose 1-23 to 0-18.The Red Hands could be boosted for Sunday's game against struggling Mayo in Castlebar (13:45) by the return of the Canavan brothers Darragh and Ruairi plus other Errigal Ciaran players Joe Oguz and Cormac Quinn.Like Derry, Mayo badly need a win but while they appear at a low ebb, Mayo teams can never be written off.So while it appears to be a good opportunity for Tyrone to secure another two league points, O'Rourke will surely be warning his squad to expect a response from the wounded men from the west.Aidan O'Shea and Jordan Flynn could be among experienced campaigners back in the Mayo side after they missed the Galway mauling.
Sunday's Division Two action includes the top-of-the-table clash between Roscommon and Monaghan at Dr Hyde Park (14:00) and a vital game from Cavan's perspective as they aim to get off the mark by hosting Louth (14:00).The words 'Tailteann' and 'Cup' could start to loom large in the thoughts of Cavan supporters if they succumb to Ger Brennan's very useful Louth side at Kingspan Breffni. In Division Three meanwhile, Antrim travel to Tullamore to take on an Offaly side (14:00) jointly managed by Mickey Harte while Fermanagh will hope to build on their win over the Saffrons two weeks ago when they face Clare in Ennis (13:30).After a Division Three campaign a year ago which culminated in a home defeat by London, Offaly have made an encouraging start under the Tyrone maestro and his fellow joint-manager Declan Kelly with an opening seven-point home win over Sligo followed by a five-point away success in Laois.Suffice to say, the Saffrons look to be up against it.