Roscommon to host Offaly minors' clash with Mayo

By Kieran Galvin & Kevin Egan

As expected, Roscommon GAA headquarters has been confirmed as the venue for the All-Ireland minor football quarter-final between Offaly and Mayo. The eagerly awaited match will take place on Sunday week, June 8 at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, throw-in 3pm.

Offaly claimed a hugely memorable victory over Louth in the Leinster final last Monday week in Newbridge, 2-20 to 3-14.

The Offaly goals were scored by Tony Furey (who finished with a tally of 1-6) and player of the match award winner Dylan Dunne. Not for the first time, Doon goalkeeper Jack Ryan stole the show, contributing eight points from four two-pointer frees.

As Leinster champions, Offaly will now meet a defeated provincial finalist in their All-Ireland quarter-final, with Leinster and Munster linked up in this year's championship.

Mayo lost out to Roscommon in the Connacht final on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-15. In what was an exciting provincial decider played in Castlebar, Tony Carey emerged as Mayo's top scorer with a tally of 1-4, but it was the Rossies who triumphed thanks to a late goal.

The other three All-Ireland quarter-finals will take place on Saturday, June 7, with two of them forming a double header in Portlaoise (see fixtures below). The winner of the Kerry vs Cavan encounter will meet Offaly or Mayo in the last four.

Meanwhile, Offaly native Paul Rouse, a respected Gaelic games pundit as well as an acclaimed historian, has paid tribute to Roger Ryan for the way he has guided the county to Leinster success.

“Three years ago nobody in Offaly wanted this job, he (Roger) took it on late in the year and took them to a Leinster semi-final. Last year they had a difficult year and people were giving out, talking nonsense, but this is their answer,” said Rouse, looking out at the hordes of delirious supporters on the field.

Rouse was on duty for TG4 in his role as match analyst and he knows more than most about this group, as his own son Joe would have been part of the panel but for difficulties surrounding his transfer to Offaly as a member of the St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh club in Dublin.

Like every player that was part of this success story, a story which began long before the 2025 Offaly minor football panel began training last winter, Joe Rouse is likely to have many bigger days ahead as an Offaly footballer, but the significance of this milestone along the way wasn’t lost on his father.

“Every time there’s a final there to be won, and when we’re close in the last few minutes, there’s a huge chance we’re going to win,” said Paul, ag labhairt as Gaeilge.

“What was on show there at the end was the spirit that this management team have instilled in them and the work that they’ve done to develop them, and it’s unbelievable,” he added.

All-Ireland Minor Football Championship quarter-finals

Saturday, June 7

Kerry v Cavan, 1pm, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Tyrone v Cork, 3pm, Laois Hire O'Moore Park.

Roscommon v Louth, 7pm, Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan.

Sunday, June 8

Offaly v Mayo, 3pm, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon.