It’s an Easter weekend take-off for the GAA Football provincial senior championships which feature three games in both Connacht and Leinster, two in Munster and one in Ulster on Saturday and Sunday.
Stretching from New York to London, Castlebar to Aughrim, Armagh to Thurles, it’s a hectic nine-game programme that is certain to attract large crowds.
A highly competitive Allianz League campaign has whetted the appetite for what promises to be exciting provincial campaigns, prior to the new-look All-Ireland series and the Tailteann Cup.
SATURDAY
Connacht quarter-finals: London v Sligo, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 3.0; New York v Leitrim, Gaelic Park, New
York, 11.0pm Irish time.
Ulster preliminary round: Armagh v Antrim, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5.0
SUNDAY
Connacht quarter-final: Mayo v Roscommon, Hastings Insurance Mac Hale Park, 4.0
Leinster first round: Wicklow v Carlow, Echelon Park Aughrim, 2.30: Longford v Offaly, Glennon Brothers
Pearse Park, 3.0; Laois v Wexford, Laos Hire O’Moore Park, 3.30.
Munster quarter-finals: Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium, 2.0; Clare v Cork, Ennis, 2.0.
LONDON v SLIGO
They last met in the Connacht championship in 2018 when Sligo won by ten points. Five years earlier London recorded their first championship success over Sligo, winning by a point. They later beat Leitrim to qualify for the Connacht final for the first time, losing to Mayo.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2018: Sligo 1-21 London 1-11 (Connacht quarter-final)
• 2013: London 1-12 Sligo 0-14 (Connacht quarter-final)
• 2008: Sligo 2-17 London 0-7 (Connacht quarter-final)
• 2003: Sligo 3-11 London 1-9 (Connacht quarter-final)
• 1998: Sligo 0-14 London 1-7 (Connacht quarter-final)
*Sligo were promoted as Division 4 champions this season, having won seven of eight games. Their only defeat was against Laois in Round 1. They beat London by seven points in Round 4.
*London lost all seven games in Division 4. Sligo beat them by seven points in Round 4.
*The winners will play Leitrim or New York in the Connacht semi-final.
NEW YORK v LEITRIM
Leitrim had a very close call in their last championship clash with New York five years ago, winning by a point in extra-time in Gaelic Park.
Previous Championship Meetings:
• 2018: Leitrim 0-19 New York 1-15 aet (Connacht quarter-final)
• 2013: Leitrim 4-19 New York 0-7
• 2008: Leitrim 0-17 New York 0-12
• 2003: Leitrim 0-14 New York 0-12
*Leitrim finished third behind Sligo and Wicklow in Division 4 this season, winning four and losing three of their seven games.
*The winners will play Sligo or London in the Connacht semi-final.
ARMAGH v ANTRIM
They last met in the Ulster championship in 2021 when Armagh won by 13 points in the Athletic Grounds on a day when Riain O’Neill, Rory Grugan and Conor Turbitt scored 3-8 between them for the winners.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2021: Armagh 4-15 Antrim 0-14 (Ulster quarter-final)
• 2003: Armagh 0-15 Antrim 0-12 (Qualifier)
• 1982: Armagh 1-20 Antrim 1-6 (Ulster semi-final)
• 1981: Armagh 4-7 Antrim 1-3 (Ulster semi-final)
• 1964: Antrim 2-6 Armagh 1-8 (Ulster quarter-final)
*Armagh were relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz League last month after winning two, drawing one
and losing four games.
*Antrim finished sixth in Division 3, winning two and losing five of their seven games.
*Antrim last beat Armagh in the Ulster championship 1964, winning a semi-final by a point.
*The winners will play Cavan in the Ulster quarter-final.
MAYO v ROSCOMMON
After their win over Galway in the Allianz League Division 1 final on Sunday, Mayo head straight into Connacht championship action against Roscommon.
They last met in the Connacht championship in 2020 when Mayo won a semi-final by six points. Roscommon won their previous championship meetings by a point in 2019.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2020: Mayo 1-16 Roscommon 0-13 (Connacht semi-final)
• 2019: Roscommon 2-12 Mayo 0-17 (Connacht semi-final)
• 2017: Mayo 4-19 Roscommon 0-9 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Replay
• 2017: Mayo 1-12 Roscommon 2-9 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Draw
• 2014: Mayo 0-13 Roscommon 1-9 (Connacht semi-final)
*Mayo took the Division 1 title this year, having won five, drawn two and lost one (v Monaghan) of their eight games
*Roscommon finished third in Division 1 this season, winning four and losing three games.
*Mayo beat Roscommon by two points (1-16 to 2-11) in this year’s League.
*It’s 17 wins to two for Mayo, with one draw from their last twenty championship meetings with Roscommon.
*The winners will play Galway in the Connacht semi-final.
WICKLOW v CARLOW
They meet in the championship for the first time since 2016 when Carlow won a qualifier tie by five points.
Their last Leinster championship meetings was 13 years ago when Wicklow win by ten points.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2016: Carlow 1-17 Wicklow 1-12 (Qualifier) June 18
• 2010: Wicklow 3-13 Carlow 0-12 (Leinster first round)
• 2006: Carlow 4-9 Wicklow 0-12 (Leinster first round)
• 2001: Carlow 0-9 Wicklow 0-8 (Leinster first round replay)
• 2001: Carlow 1-9 Wicklow 2-6 (Leinster first round)
*Wicklow have been promoted from Division 4, winning four, drawing two and losing one of their seven group games before losing the final to Sligo by two points last weekend.
*Carlow won two, drew one and lost four of their seven Division 4 games.
*Carlow and Wicklow drew (2-10 each) in the first round of the League in late January.
*The winners will play Kildare in the Leinster quarter-final.
LONGFORD v OFFALY
They last met in the Leinster championship in 2016 when Offaly won a first round game by eight points in Tullamore.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2016: Offaly 2-21 Longford 2-13 May 15 (Leinster first round)
• 2015: Longford 0-16 Carlow 0-13 (Leinster first round)
• 2014: Longford 0-19 Offaly 0-15 (Leinster first round)
• 1997: Offaly 5-17 Longford 0-13 (Leinster first round)
• 1993: Offaly 0-22 Longford 0-10 (Leinster first round)
*Longford were relegated from Division 3 this year after finishing seventh. They won one, drew one and lost five of their seven games.
*Offaly finished fifth on the Division 3 table, winning four and losing three games.
*Offaly beat Longford by a point in their League clash last month.
*The winners play Meath in the Leinster quarter-final.
LAOIS v WEXFORD
They last met in the championship in 2018 when Laois won a first round tie by six points after extra-time.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2018: Laois 2-21 Wexford 1-18 aet (Leinster first round)
• 2014: Laois 0-18 Wexford 0-17 (Qualifier)
• 2013: Laois 0-16 Wexford 2-8 (Qualifier)
• 2008: Wexford 0-18 Laois 0-12 (Leinster semi-final)
• 2007: Laois 1-13 Wexford 0-13 (Leinster semi-final)
*Laois finished third in Division 4 this year, winning five and losing two of seven games.
*Wexford finished fourth in Division 4, winning three, drawing two and losing two of seven games.
*Laois beat Wexford by five points in this year’s League.
*The winners will play Dublin in the Leinster quarter-final.
TIPPERARY v WATERFORD
They meet for a second successive year in the Munster championship. Tipperary won by eight points last year. Tipperary have won their last ten championship ties with Waterford who haven’t beaten Tipp since 1988.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2022: Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 1-8 (Munster quarter-final)
• 2018: Tipperary 0-20 Waterford 0-9 (Munster quarter-final)
• 2016: Tipperary 1-15 Waterford 1-7 (Munster quarter-final)
• 2015: Tipperary 1-24 Waterford 0-5 (Munster quarter-final)
• 2003: Tipperary 0-18 Waterford 1-12 (Munster quarter-final)
*Tipperary were relegated from Division 3 this year, having finished last after losing six and drawing one of seven games.
*Waterford finished seventh in Division 4, winning one and losing six of seven games. Their only win came against London.
*The winners will play Kerry in the Munster semi-final.
CLARE v CORK
They meet in the Munster championship for the first time in eight years, with Clare seeking their first championship win over Cork for 26 years.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
• 2015: Cork 1-20 Clare 1-8 (Munster semi-final)
• 2013: Cork 1-20 Clare 1-11 (Munster semi-final)
• 2012: Cork 3-16 Clare 0-13 (Munster final)
• 2011: Cork 1-23 Clare 0-11 (Munster quarter-final)
2005: Cork 0-18 Clare 0-6 (Munster semi-final)
*Cork finished fourth in Division 2 this year, winning three, losing three and drawing one of seven games.
*Clare were relegated from Division 2, winning two and losing five of their seven games.
*Clare are seeking only their second win over Cork in the championship since 1941. Their sole success in that period came in 1997.
*The winners will play Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
GAA FOOTBALL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
CONNACHT
Quarter-finals: April 8: London v Sligo; New York v Leitrim; April 9: Mayo v Roscommon, Mac Hale Park.
Semi-finals: April 22: London/Sligo v New York/Leitrim, Venue TBC; April 23: Galway v Mayo/Roscommon,
Pearse Stadium or Dr. Hyde Park.
Final: May 7
LEINSTER
First Round: April 9: Wicklow v Carlow, Aughrim; Longford v Offaly, Pearse Park; Laois v Wexford,
O’Moore Park.
Quarter-finals: April 23: Kildare v Carlow/Wicklow, Portlaoise; Dublin v Laois/Wexford, Portlaoise or Wexford Park; Meath v Longford/Offaly, Pearse Park or O’Connor Park; Louth v Westmeath, Pairc Tailteann
or Tullamore.
Semi-finals: April 30: Dublin/Laois/Wexford v Carlow/Wicklow/Kildare, Croke Park; Longford/Offaly/
Meath v Louth/Westmeath, Croke Park.
Final: May 4, Croke Park.
MUNSTER
Quarter-finals: April 9: Tipperary v Waterford, Semple Stadium; Clare v Cork, Ennis.
Semi-finals: April 22: Kerry v Tipperary/Waterford, Fitzgerald Stadium or Fraher Field; Limerick v Cork/Clare, Pairc Ui Chaoimh r Gaelic Grounds.
Final: May 7.
ULSTER
Preliminary Round: April 8: Armagh v Antrim, Athletic Grounds.
Quarter-finals: April 15: Fermanagh v Derry, Brewster Park; April 16: Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh; April 22: Cavan v Armagh/Antrim, Benue TBC; April 23: Down v Donegal, Newry.
Semi-finals: April 29: Fermanagh/Derry v Tyrone/Monaghan; April 30: Down/Donegal v Cavan/Antrim/
Armagh.
Final: May 14
