Saturday evening will be an exciting one at Gaelic Park with the return of ladies football. Saturday evening is actually a very good time to bring spectators as it is perfect to get the games in, and then go for a celebratory drink or drown the sorrows.

A time to bring husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend or indeed an acquaintance to the Mecca. It is a huge addition to have a repeat of the ladies final of 2011 as one of the contests on schedule, with Cavan and Na Fianna facing off at 8 p.m. The evening kicks off with Kerry/Donegal and Fermanagh facing each other at 6:30 p.m.

Na Fianna and Cavan were the winners last weekend in Rockland, and the unbeaten title will surely fall for one of them in the early going.

On Sunday the juniors and intermediate footballers start the season. The highlight of the afternoon will be Monaghan and Kerry at 3:30 p.m. Last year’s junior champions have been working hard for three years now, with Dan Scott and his selectors putting a very good squad on the field.

Success came with the junior title in 2011, but they will have no fears heading into this against one of the premier sides in the intermediate division.

Former Astoria players Sean Munnelly, Sean Kelly, Pa Ryan and Shane Sweeney face off two on each side.