Roscommon to visit the Kingdom in opening national league fixture
An opening round Allianz National Football League Division 1 fixture against reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry awaits new Roscommon senior football manager Mark Dowd when the national competition starts in January.
Appointed to the role in August, Dowd faces the daunting prospect of a trip to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney on Sunday, January 25, as Roscommon aim for a positive start to their top tier league campaign.
The Kingdom fixture is the first of seven games Roscommon will play during their Division 1 game, four of which will take place at King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park.
Dowd's charges will host Monaghan, who were promoted from Division 2 alongside Roscommon, in King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park on Sunday, February 1, at 2pm, with 2024 All-Ireland senior football champions Armagh then visiting the Roscommon venue on Sunday, February 15, for a 2pm throw-in.
The first of two Connacht league derbies takes place on Saturday, February 21, when Roscommon travel to Pearse Stadium Salthill to play Galway at 2pm.
Recently appointed Dublin senior football manager Ger Brennan will bring the Metropolitans to the King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park on Sunday, March 1 for a 2pm throw-in, before Donegal visit the same venue two weeks later, on Sunday, March 15, for a fixture which will throw-in at 1.30pm.
Roscommon complete their Division 1 campaign with a second Connacht derby against Mayo, the primrose and blue travelling to Hastings Insurance McHale Park to play the hosts on Sunday, March 22, at 3pm.
Should Roscommon secure a place in the top two places of Division 1 they will contest a national league final on the weekend of March 28/29.
Roscommon's presence in the top tier of league football will suitably prepare them for the Connacht senior football championship which will start in April.
For the first time in ten years Roscommon travel to Gaelic Park in New York where they will be expected to overcome the hosts in a quarter-final contest.
Roscommon will then place the winners of the London/Mayo quarter-final fixture in a provincial semi-final on the weekend of April 25.
The Connacht senior football final takes place on the weekend of May 9/10.