Football previews: All-Ireland SFC gets underway
April 29, 2016
The much coveted Sam Maguire Cup
Here are our previews for this weekend's two football championship fixtures.
Saturday, April 30th
All-Ireland U21FC final
Cork v Mayo, Cusack Park, Ennis, 6pm
Ennis is the place to be for football fans on Saturday as Cork and Mayo collide for the All-Ireland U21 championship title. The Rebel County enter Sunday's decider as 8/11 favourites off the back of their two-point semi-final win over Monaghan in Tullamore, where all six starting forwards were on the score-sheet for the Munster champions. Senior star Peter Kelleher and Ryan Harkin got the goals that day for Sean Hayes' team and they'll be no doubt looked to again as the Leesiders bid for their first title since 2009's triumph over Down. Incidentally, Mayo's last success in the competition was against Cork in 2006, securing the Clarke Cup on a 1-13 to 1-11 score-line, and after their semi-final win over Dublin some neutrals are predicting an upset in this re-match. Conor Loftus got the late point to deny the Dubs last time out and the westerners will be looking to the likes of him, along with 'Young Footballer of the Year' Diarmuid O'Connor and speedster Liam Irwin, to derail Cork's bid for what would be a record-setting 12th crown.
Verdict: Cork
Sunday, May 1st
Connacht SFC preliminary round
New York v Roscommon, Gaelic Park, 4pm (9pm Irish time)
The summer begins on Sunday for football fanatics as the All-Ireland senior championship officially gets underway in 'The Big Apple' between New York and Roscommon. The home side are priced as 25/1 outsiders to cause the Rossies an upset in the Bronx and those odds are understandable when you take into account some of the form the latter displayed in the top tier of the National League. Kevin McStay and Fergal O'Donnell have certainly hit the ground running in their first season in charge together and the obvious objective for their team looks to be the JJ Nestor Cup. While they'll be mindful of other big guns out west, first thing will be first for Roscommon on Sunday.
Verdict: Roscommon
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