Mayo v Cavan: Time, TV, and ticket details

Exactly one year on from last year’s All-Ireland opener, history is repeating itself as Mayo and Cavan lock horns in the first game of the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

There’s no doubt about it, the Connacht Final loss to Galway would have stung, but that will have to be parked, and Kevin McStay’s men will need to be ready for the Breffni boys' trip to the West.

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We’ll have updates from every inch of the action here, as well as in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.

Where and when is the game?

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group One Round One game between Mayo and Cavan takes place in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday, May 18, at 2.30 pm.

Is the game on TV?

As of yet, there are no plans to televise the game.

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Where can I get tickets?

Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets for the main stand are €25 for adults, €20 for students and OAPs, and €5 for juveniles, while the unreserved seats are €20 for adults and €5 for juveniles.

What happened the last two times these sides met?

Exactly one year ago to the day, the Green and Red put in an assured performance as they ran out handy enough victors in MacHale Park.

For Mayo, Cillian O’Connor and Ryan O’Donoghue shone, while Oisín Brady was top scorer for Raymond Galligan’s men.

What do Cavan bring to the table?

Cavan will be hoping to put a better fist of things than last year, when they were Group Two’s bottom side.

That might prove difficult, given their inability to land a serious blow on either Mayo, whom they played last season, or Tyrone, who sent them out of the race for the Anglo Celt.

If we’re talking danger men, look no further than Gearóid McKiernan. The veteran may have been kept quiet against Tyrone, but looked impressive as Cavan nearly made it to Division One early in 2025, notching 1-31 across the seven games.

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Who is refereeing the game?

Down man Paul Faloon had been appointed to take the reins in this one. Faloon was at the centre of some controversy in his native county following the fiasco where he was replaced as the man in the middle for the 2023 Down SFC final between Kilcoo and Burren.

Sunday’s referee has also taken charge of the All-Ireland Under-20 final in recent seasons, and is well-renowned in national refereeing circles.