A High Scoring Start to 2025 Gaelic Football Championships

New rules, new managers and new expectations all greeted the start of the 2025 All-Ireland Football Championships, as the Provincial action kicked off what is expected to be one of the most competitive football Championships in many years. All four provinces began their competitions, with heavy hitters such as Donegal, Mayo and Galway all making their bows in this year’s Championship.

Leinster Throw-In

In the Leinster Championship, 6 counties began their Provincial journey for 2025. Wexford enjoyed a fine Division 4 League campaign winning all 7 of their League games before losing to Limerick in the Final. They hosted Justin McNulty’s Laois side, fresh from a Division 3 campaign. Laois never really looked like losing in Wexford Park however, and buoyed by two 1st half goals, ran out convincing winners, on a scoreline of 2-21 – 2-11. They move on to face Louth in the Quarter-Final, while for Wexford a Tailteann Cup campaign awaits. Wicklow v Wexford had the makings of the most competitive match of the weekend, and so it proved. Both sides had played in Division 4 of the League and after a close fought contest in normal time, which saw a late Wicklow leveller bring it to extra time, Oisin McConville’s Wicklow side pulled away in the added 20 minutes to win by 6 points, 2-23 – 1-20 and set up a clash with Dublin, in Aughrim, in the Quarter-Final.

The final Leinster game of the weekend resulted in a comfortable win for home side Meath, against Carlow at Pairc Tailteann. Both sides had come into the match under somewhat of a cloud, with Carlow being managed by interim boss Joe Murphy, after Shane Curran’s Pre-Championship exit. Meath for their part, had lost highly rated coaching duo Joe McMahon and Martin Corey in mysterious circumstances a week out from the match, but it did not stop Robbie Brennan’s men from comfortably moving onto the next Round. They will next face an in-form Offaly, fresh from winning Division 3 of the National League.

Mayo and Galway Advance in Connacht

Provincial big hitters, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon all made it through to the last 4 in Connacht, after their respective opening weekend fixtures. Galway had the glamourous away trip to New York this year, their first time visiting the Big Apple in 10 years, due to Covid in 2020. A tougher than imagined trip saw Padraig Joyce’s team struggle for much of the first half, before pulling away in the second 35 minutes to win comfortably in the end, 3-28 – 0-20. Roscommon also had an overseas start to their 2025 Connacht Championship, travelling to London to open the 2025 Championship against the Exiles. Similarly to Galway, a clinical 2nd half from Davy Burke’s team resulted in a convincing 19-point win after 70 minutes in Ruislip. The game also saw the first ever 2 pointer scored in Championship football, by London’s Liam Gallagher.

Mayo on paper had the toughest task of the three Connacht big hitters for their opening match of the 2025 Championship, and so it proved, as they welcomed Sligo to Castlebar. It can be argued that the scoreline probably flattered Sligo by the end, but Mayo will not have enjoyed the Yeats County getting to within a one score game after 70 minutes. The final score in McHale Park was Mayo 2-20, Sligo 2-17, with Kevin McStay’s team moving on to face Leitrim in their Connacht Semi-Final on April 19th. Roscommon will play Galway in the other Connacht Semi-Final on April 20th.

Munster Begins

Two Munster Championship fixtures took place over the opening weekend, with Tipperary facing Waterford and Cork playing Limerick, in Limerick. Tipp and Waterford, much like Wicklow v Longford saw Division 4 sides going at it, with Tipperary just edging it in the end 1-22 – 1-19. They advance to take on Clare in the Munster Semi-Final, with a place in the All-Ireland Series on offer if they can get through that into the Munster Final. In the other game, Cork easily saw off Limerick on a scoreline of 0-24 – 0-13, with Limerick’s tally particularly disappointing given the new rules. Cork now advance to face Kerry in the Munster Semi-Final on April 19th.

Donegal Justify Favouritism in Ulster

In what, on paper looked the best game of the opening weekend, Donegal powered through Derry to set up an Ulster Quarter-Final against Monaghan on April 20th. Jim McGuinness’ team are many people’s favourites for Sam this year, and they certainly lay down a marker to their rivals with their 1-25 – 1-15 win in Ballybofey.

Conclusion

The opening weekend of this year’s Championship brought excitement and high scoring to Gaelic Football, a welcome change from the turgid game fans have seen for too long. That is evidenced in the scores that many of the opening weekend’s losing sides kicked in their matches. Sligo, Longford, Waterford, New York, Carlow and Derry kicked 2-17, 1-23, 1-19, 0-20, 0-19 and 1-15, respectively, scorelines that would have won a lot of matches over recent years.

If that is a sign of things to come, then bring it on!

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