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The road to Croke Park in September starts here Cathal Noonan/INPHO

The 6 opening round GAA games we can't wait for this summer

Here are the big fixtures we’ll be keeping a close eye on

1. Donegal v Tyrone – Ulster SFC

Out of all of the first round fixtures in football and hurling, this epic Ulster derby stands tallest.

One of Gaelic Football’s superpowers will bite the bullet in their province at the very first hurdle, with a long qualifier path awaiting the losers.

All roads lead to Ballybofey on May 17 as Rory Gallagher leads a Donegal team into championship battle for the first time, pitting his wits against wily Tyrone boss Mickey Harte.

The consequences of defeat are dire but the winners will still have a long road ahead of them in the Ulster championship, with Armagh awaiting the winners in the quarter-finals.

Eamonn McGee and Sean Cavannagh Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh (left) and Donegal's Eamon McGee will renew acquaintances Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO / Russell Pritchard/INPHO

2. Clare v Limerick – Munster SHC

The storied Munster senior hurling kicks off on May 24 with an absolute cracker at Semple Stadium – and both teams have questions to answer after poor League campaigns.

Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare were relegated to Division 1B and their campaign was overshadowed by highly-publicised player defections.

Limerick failed once again to gain promotion to the top flight before being hosed by Dublin at Croke Park.

The prize for the winners is a crack at Tipperary in the Munster SHC semi-final on June 21 and while the losers will head for the back door, there’s a real knockout feel to this local derby.

The counties last met in championship fare in the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final, which Clare won before claiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup in September.

Donal O'Grady and John Conlon Clare and Limerick's last championship clash was the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

3. Cork v Waterford – Munster SHC

Waterford have already captured Allianz Hurling League Division 1 glory but the big question now is can they repeat that stunning success against Cork when the sides meet again next month.

Cork won last year’s provincial quarter-final replay by 14 points but a ten-point League final win for Waterford represents a 24-point turnaround in the space of a year.

On all known form this year, Cork have a lot of work to do to become a potent summer force and Derek McGrath’s well-drilled charges are well primed to deliver a serious early blow.

Waterford are the undoubted hurling story of the year so far, conceding just five goals throughout the entire League campaign while also averaging over 26 points per game at the other end of the field.

Serious flaws were exposed in the Cork set-up when the sides last met in competitive fare and a number of positions are up for debate in the Leeside line-up.

Cormac Murphy and Michael Walsh Waterford got the better of Cork in the Allianz Hurling League final James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

4. Dublin v Galway – Leinster SHC

Dublin were tipped as relegation fodder before the start of the Allianz League campaign but there was a freshness about the Sky Blues under new boss Ger Cunningham, who took over the reins from Anthony Daly last year.

Dublin enjoyed a productive campaign but they should not have blown a 12-point lead against Cork in the Nowlan Park semi-final.

That capitulation hints at a brittleness in Dublin when they are attacked but the positives from 2015 should far outweigh the negatives.

Prolific Mark Schutte emerged as a forward of real potency but the challenge now is to deliver in the white heat of championship.

As for Galway, who knows what team will turn up at Croke Park on May 31? The Tribesmen’s maddening inconsistency has been a recurring theme for the last number of years and they remain heavily reliant on ace score-getter Joe Canning for inspiration.

John McCaffrey raises the O'Keeffe cup Dublin beat Galway to win the 2013 Leinster hurling final Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

5. Offaly v Longford – Leinster SFC

Familiarity may well breed contempt when Offaly and Longford lock horns at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on May 16.

The two sides are already well used to each other, having clashed in two League fixtures this year.

Longford won by three points at the end of March on home soil but when the counties collided again at Croke Park in the Division 4 decider, it was Offaly who won by 13 points, rattling four goals past Jack Sheedy’s men in the process.

Offaly have made steady progress under Pat Flanagan and will start as favourites with home advantage.

The rather dubious reward for the winners is a May 31 showdown with the Dublin juggernaut at Croke Park but a championship victory of any kind is not to be sniffed at.

Paul McConway lifts the cup Offaly have already enjoyed success over Longford this year Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

6. Tipperary v Waterford – Munster SFC

Tipperary endured a mixed bag of an Allianz League campaign, winning four and losing three of their Division 3 fixtures.

But the recent march to an All-Ireland U21 final has heightened expectations that the Premier County can emerge as a serious force to challenge the old established order in Munster.

Tipp ran Cork desperately close at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year and a little bit more composure would have seen them claim a famous victory.

Peter Creedon’s men recovered to reach round 4 of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers and a successful season saw them finish in the top 12.

They will start as hot favourites to see off Waterford on home soil as the Déise, who captured the McGrath Cup, won just one of their seven Division 4 fixtures in a largely forgettable League campaign.

Tom McGlinchey Tom McGlinchey's Waterford have struggled to build on their McGrath Cup success Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

– First published 19.48, 13 May

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    Mute Marcus Suridius
    Favourite Marcus Suridius
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    May 21st 2022, 12:16 PM

    Not surprised Frank is giving him high praise because he’s indispensable to that team,so many just go on about him getting slower but that natural. His leadership on and off the pitch is what makes him so important.

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    Mute Damien Leen
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    May 21st 2022, 2:02 PM

    @Marcus Suridius: emmmmm…love the guy but at times this season he was woeful,like a lot of the time… any Everton supporter will tell you that. Delighted he turned it around though.

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    Mute A$AP Ragnick
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    May 21st 2022, 3:31 PM

    Lampard like some fella getting emotional on the second day of a stag.

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    Mute #JUSTICE4NOEL
    Favourite #JUSTICE4NOEL
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    May 21st 2022, 4:36 PM

    @A$AP Ragnick: Like a lad you’ve met at an afters at 4:30 in the morning

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    Mute Edmund Orlando
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    May 21st 2022, 6:46 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: that guy!

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    Mute Sean McCarthy
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    May 21st 2022, 4:32 PM

    His form might not have been up to scratch this season but his leadership is without question. An absolute role model and ideal professional. The characteristics Seamus has are indispensable in todays professional game.

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    Mute Tricksy
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    May 21st 2022, 4:36 PM

    A steal from Sligo rovers .

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    Mute Charmaine ☘ Irish
    Favourite Charmaine ☘ Irish
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    May 21st 2022, 5:33 PM

    John Terry will be on the phone to frank giving out that he doesn’t say that to him anymore..

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    Mute John Mcmahon
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    May 21st 2022, 6:08 PM

    @Charmaine ☘ Irish: or his say it his missus

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    Mute Charmaine ☘ Irish
    Favourite Charmaine ☘ Irish
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    May 21st 2022, 8:35 PM

    @John Mcmahon: or he maybe spouted the same line to Wayne Bridge, because he was the bigger man not to retaliate against his brother John..

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    Mute Everything Arsenal
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    May 21st 2022, 4:18 PM

    Might all be for nothing if the case taken against Everton by Leeds & Burnley has any legs.

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    Mute Fergus O'Connor
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    May 21st 2022, 5:10 PM

    @Everything Arsenal: It doesn’t. Enjoy your weekend.

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    Mute colm connolly
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    May 21st 2022, 11:49 PM

    @Everything Arsenal: those legs will take years

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