Fixture details allow Mayo fans to plan for 2023 inter-county season
Mayo GAA fans can start planning their 2023 season with the release of the fixtures diary by Croke Park today.
The Allianz National Football League commences on the last weekend in January, with Kevin McStay in for a baptism of fire as his Mayo team host fierce rivals and 2022 All-Ireland finalists Galway. That contest will throw-in at 7.30 p.m. in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Saturday, January 28.
Mayo's Division 1 league campaign continues up until at least March 26, with the final, should they reach it, scheduled for the weekend of April 1/2.
The fixtures are as follows: round one – Mayo v Galway (details above); round two – Armagh v Mayo (Athletic Grounds, Armagh, February 5, 3.30 p.m.); round three – Mayo v Kerry (Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, February 18, 7.30 p.m.); round four – Mayo v Tyrone (Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, February 25, 7 p.m.); round five – Roscommon v Mayo (Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon, March 5, 2.45 p.m.); round six – Donegal v Mayo (MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, March 19, 3.45 p.m.); round seven – Mayo v Monaghan (Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, March 26, 1.45 p.m.).
Following the seven rounds of the league, the top two teams will qualify for the final.
There's precious little rest thereafter as the championships commences a week later, with Mayo hosting Roscommon in their Connacht quarterfinal on Sunday, April 9. The winners will travel to Galway for the semi-final on Sunday, April 23, with the final scheduled for Sunday, May 7.
The All-Ireland senior championship will run from May 20/21 up to the final on July 30 (with a replay on August 12 if necessary). The Tailteann Cup, meanwhile, commences on May 13/14 and continues until the final on July 15.
Meanwhile, Mayo's hurlers will have five regular rounds of Allianz National League Division 3A action, commencing at home to Roscommon on Saturday, February 4, at 2 p.m. in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.
The remaining fixtures are: Fermanagh v Mayo on Sunday, February 12 (2 p.m. in Brewster Park, Enniskillen); Armagh v Mayo on Sunday, February 26 (2 p.m. in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh); Mayo v Monaghan on Sunday, March 12 (2 p.m. in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar); and Louth v Mayo on Saturday, March 18 (2 p.m. in Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver).
The Division 3A semi-finals are fixed for the weekend of March 25/26, with the final to follow a week later on April 1/2
Meanwhile, Mayo's Christy Ring Cup schedule is as follows: round one – Meath v Mayo on April 15/16; Mayo v Tyrone on April 22/23; Mayo v London on April 29/30; Sligo v Mayo on May 13/14; and Derry v Mayo on May 20/21. The Christy Ring Cup final is to be played over the weekend of June 3/4.
Elsewhere, Mayo will also be playing in the 2023 Leo Murphy Cup, a GAA Under 20 football development competition.
There are two groups of four teams, with Mayo's opponents being Derry, Donegal and Sligo. The second group features Antrim, Down, Meath and Tyrone.
There will be three ordinary rounds, with the top team in each group qualifying for the final. The games are scheduled for February 11 (Sligo v Mayo) and 18 (Mayo v Derry) and March 4 (Mayo v Donegal), with the final to be played on March 11 (all Saturdays).