Roscommon’s Ben O’Carroll celebrates after scoring a goal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match versus Tyrone at Dr Hyde Park in January 2023. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Roscommon to face Tyrone in league opener once again

Roscommon will open their 2024 Allianz Football League Division 1 programme of fixtures with a trip to Omagh to play Tyrone on Sunday, January 28.

It will be the second year in a row for the Rossies to face Tyrone in their opening league assignment.

In 2023, Roscommon claimed a 3-11 to 1-12 victory over the 2021 All-Ireland champions at Dr Hyde Park. On a day when Ben O’Carroll produced an outstanding display, it was a result that made people sit up and take notice of Roscommon’s capabilities.

The upcoming clash with Tyrone will be followed by a rematch of the 2023 Connacht semi-final against Galway at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday, February 4. Roscommon beat Galway in the 2023 league but the Tribesmen won the Connacht semi-final clash.

All-Ireland champions Dublin await the Rossies in the third round, with Croke Park the venue for a Saturday evening game on February 17. Roscommon drew with the Dubs in the group stages of the 2023 All-Ireland SFC.

Davy Burke’s charges will host Monaghan in the fourth round, before a renewal of rivalry with Kevin McStay’s Mayo side on March 2. The clash with Mayo will be a Saturday night fixture at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

The Rossies will welcome 2023 All-Ireland finalists Kerry to the Hyde in the penultimate round on St Patrick’s Day (March 17).

Roscommon’s programme of seven games will end with a clash away to Ulster champions Derry, who are now managed by former Tyrone supremo Mickey Harte.

The Rossies started the 2023 Division 1 campaign in highly impressive fashion and finished in the top three behind Connacht rivals Mayo and Galway.

But with four away games and three at home in next year’s league, Roscommon are facing into another demanding set of tests before attention turns to the Connacht SFC and All-Ireland series.

Meanwhile, Kevin Sammon’s first league game in charge of the Roscommon hurlers will be a home game in Division 2B against London on February 4. The venue is listed as Athleague, throw-in 12.30pm.

2024 Allianz Football League Division 1 - Roscommon's fixtures

Round 1 - Sunday, January 28: Tyrone v Roscommon, O’Neill’s Healy Park, Omagh, 3.45pm.

Round 2 - Sunday, February 4: Roscommon v Galway, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm.

Round 3 - Saturday, February 17: Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park, 5pm.

Round 4 - Sunday, February 25: Roscommon v Monaghan, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm.

Round 5 - Saturday, March 2: Mayo v Roscommon, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 7.30pm.

Round 6 - Sunday, March 17: Roscommon v Kerry, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm.

Round 7 - Sunday, March 24: Derry v Roscommon, Celtic Park, 1.45pm.