Preview: Weekend’s Allianz Football League action:
Allianz Football League Division 1
Saturday 15th February
Derry v Galway in Celtic Park, Derry at 5pm – TG4
Galway are one of the form teams in Division 1 with two wins on the spin over Armagh and Mayo.
Pádraic Joyce’s team seem well-suited to the new FRC rule enhancements because they are so athletic in the middle third and have a range of players capable of kicking two-pointers from outside the arc.
Another big positive for the Tribesmen is the early season form shown in attack by Cillian Ó Curraoin.
They make two changes to the team that beat Mayo last time out, with John Daly and Matthew Tierney coming in for Daniel O’Flaherty and Cillian McDaid, who is absent from the match day 26.
Derry lost their two opening matches of the League campaign but they will still be satisfied with elements of their play in both of those defeats to Tyrone and Kerry, particularly the latter game.
Paddy Tally’s defensive options are considerably weakened by injury at the moment and that could tell against them once more in this fixture.
Kerry v Dublin in Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 7.30pm – RTE
Both of these teams were beaten in their last match by Donegal and so will be keen to bounce back here and get some upward momentum again.
A Dublin team already in transition will have to give more fresh faces a chance to impress after hamstring injuries to Davy Byrne, Colm Basquel, and James Madden in their reverse to Donegal.
Players like Greg McEneaney and Luke Breathnach have impressed in the first rounds of the League and it will be interesting to watch their progress in the coming weeks.
Having scored five goals against Derry in Round 5, Kerry looked blunt in attack against Donegal last weekend and that won’t be helped by the continued absence of David Clifford due to an ankle injury.
Forwards like Dylan Geaney, Donal O’Sullivan, and Conor Geaney do have lots of talent, and may need more exposure in the League his year to develop it.
Sunday, 16th February
Donegal v Armagh in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey at 3.45pm – TG4
Donegal have started their League campaign in impressive form with two wins from two.
They’ve been defensively very disciplined as you would expect from a Jim McGuinness team, and players like Oisín Gallen, Daire Ó Baoill, Conor O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell, and Patrick McBrearty have looked sharp in a hard-working attack.
Armagh were beaten in the first-round by Galway but looked much more comfortable with the new rules when blitzing Tyrone last time out.
Roving goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty kicked five points, including two two-pointers, in that game and it’ll be interesting to see how Donegal cope with him here.
It’s been very competitive when these two teams have played each other in recent times and this should be another dinger.
Mayo v Tyrone in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park at 1.45pm – TG4
Mayo have struggled so far in the League with consecutive defeats to Dublin and Galway.
What will concern their supporters most is that their team doesn’t seem to have gotten to grips with the new rules just as yet, with just a two two-pointers kicked in those two defeats.
Tyrone started their campaign with a good win over Derry but didn’t look so sharp in Round 2 against Armagh. The return of their Errigal Ciarán contingent should give hem a stronger deck to deal from in the coming weeks.
Mayo’s need for a win is stronger here, but Tyrone’s form-graph is more convincing.
Monaghan and Roscommon face off in a top of the table clash in Division Two.
Monaghan and Roscommon face off in a top of the table clash in Division Two.
Allianz Football League Division 2
Saturday 15th February
Down v Meath in Páirc Esler, Newry at 6pm
Both of these teams lost their opening round fixtures but then scored morale-boosting wins in Round 2.
Down, especially, will take a lot of heart from their victory over Cork considering they trailed the Rebels by 10 points at one stage before mounting a spectacular comeback.
Conor Laverty’s team have scored an impressive 2-39 in two matches, but they still haven’t quite gotten the balance right between defence and attack because they’re conceding big numbers too.
The same is true for Meath so this match is primed to be a shoot-out. The Royals will feel like they should have beaten Cork in Round 1 but made no mistake in Round 2 by putting Cavan to the sword in impressive style.
Whichever team has managed to tighten the more bolts at the back since their last game should come out on top here.
Cork v Westmeath in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 5pm
Cork will still be stinging after letting a ten-point lead slip against Down in Round 2. A win there would have had them in great shape with two wins from two.
The Rebels have lost a lot of players since last year and are in something of a period of transition so inconsistency is a clear and present danger.
Westmeath too have suffered a significant talent drain from their panel and so far at least don’t look quite so well equipped as Cork to rebuild after two defeats from two.
Sunday 16th February
Cavan v Louth in Kingspan Breffni, Cavan at 2pm
Cavan are in dire need of a win here after two defeats from two that saw them concede a combined total of 5-43.
If they can’t tighten things up defensively, they’re going to find themselves in a relegation battle.
This won’t be an easy game to turn things around in. Despite being without some key players Louth have had an encouraging enough start to the League, beating Westmeath and pushing an in-form Roscommon all the way last time out.
That form graph suggests a Wee County win is the more likely outcome here.
Roscommon v Monaghan in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park at 2pm – TG4 App/deferred
This top of the table clash should be a cracker.
Both teams have shown very impressive form and both have already gotten a very good grip of the new rules.
Rory Beggan is thriving as the extra man when he’s allowed roam into the opposition half, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Roscommon’s high press will be able to curtail him.
Roscommon have arguably played better opposition so far than Monaghan, so their form-line is that bit more convincing at this juncture of the campaign.
Allianz Football League Division 3
Sunday 16th February
Leitrim v Kildare in Ballinamore at 2pm
No team has scored more in the Division after two matches than Kildare and no team has conceded more than Leitrim. On current form, anything other than a win for the Lilywhites would be a surprise.
Offaly v Antrim in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore at 2pm
Offaly have started the season very strongly with two wins from two. The fact that those victories were over teams with promotion hopes of their own – Sligo and Laois – makes them all the more impressive.
They’re moving especially well in attack, with 11 different scorers on the mark against Laois including goalkeeper Paddy Dunican who scored a cracking goal.
Antrim started their campaign well with a win over Clare but some poor finishing cost them in Round 2 when they fell to Fermanagh by a point. Offaly’s greater cutting edge makes them favourites here.
Clare v Fermanagh in Cusack Park, Ennis at 1.30pm
Both of these teams have one win from two and both have them have played Antrim.
Clare lost that match by three points whereas Fermanagh won their game against the Saffrons by one. That form line makes the Ernesiders slight favourites here.
Laois v Sligo in Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 1pm
Sligo have lost their first two matches of the campaign but they came against the two form teams in the division so far – Offaly and Kildare.
Laois have one win from two – a big victory over Leitrim followed by a loss to Offaly – and have shown a keen edge in attack.
Hard to split these two, it’ll be a match of very fine margins.
Allianz Football League Division 4
Saturday 15th February
Wexford v Carlow in Chadwicks Wexford Park at 7pm
Both team are unbeaten so far in the campaign but Wexford have shown the better form with two wins from two by an average of 12 points each.
Waterford v Tipperary in Fraher Field, Dungarvan at 6.30pm
A new-look Tipperary team have impressed so far with a win and a draw from two games. That’s a more convincing form-line that a Waterford side that has suffered two defeats on the bounce.
Sunday 16th February
Wicklow v Longford in Echelon Park, Aughrim at 2pm
Both teams have struggled to find some early season rhythm so no clear favourite here. Home advantage should benefit Wicklow.
London v Limerick in McGovern Park, Ruislip at 12:30pm
London will have their tails up after beating Wicklow in McGovern Park in Round 2 and that momentum could be difficult to resist for Limerick.