Preview: Weekend’s Allianz Football League action:
Allianz Football League Division 1
Saturday 1st March
Armagh v Dublin in BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh at 7.35pm (RTE)
Armagh have had a very inconsistent League campaign so it’s hard to know what to expect form the All-Ireland champions here.
Well beaten by Galway in Round 1, very convincing victors over Tyrone in Round 2, well-beaten again by Donegal in Round 3, and then a draw last time out against Mayo must all add up to a somewhat confusing picture for their supporters.
This is a watershed game because if they win it they’ll keep their hopes for reaching a League Final alive, but if they lose it then relegation becomes a very real worry.
Dublin’s form coming into this game has been much more convincing with three ones and just one defeat. That’s all the more impressive considering they’re in a period of transition with lots of inexperienced faces getting a chance to impress
Players like Greg McEneaney, Luke Breathnach, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrrell, and Alex Gavin are already looking comfortable at this level.
Armagh are always a tough nut to crack in the Athletic Grounds, but Dublin’s form graph is a more convincing one.
Mayo v Kerry in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park at 3pm
After a poor start to their league campaign that saw Mayo lose to Dublin and Galway, they’ve generated some much-needed momentum with a win over Tyrone and a come from behind draw with Armagh.
Their attack was blunt-edged in those first two matches but is now finding some form. It’ll be very interesting to see if David Neary can build on his fine display against Armagh because he showed some great touches in that game and Mayo are crying out for clinical finishers close to goal.
Kerry’s League form has also been a bit up and down but they’ll take a lot of encouragement from last weekend’s victory away to Tyrone.
The returning David Clifford scored three goals that day and looks set to really prosper under the new FRC rules.
Mayo have a happy knack of producing big performances against Kerry and this is likely to be a tight match, but the Clifford factor could be decisive.
Sunday 2nd March
Donegal v Derry in Ballyshannon at 1:45pm (TG4)
It’ll be interesting to see how Donegal react to their first defeat to the campaign last time out against Galway.
Jim McGuinness rested some key players for that game, but they’re back in harness this weekend and you’d expect a strong response.
So far this year they’ve struck a much better balance between defence and attack than a Derry side that has conceded an average of 24 points per match.
Paddy Tally’s side have just one point from four games and improving that statistic away to their neighbours and rivals looks like a tall order.
Galway v Tyrone in Tuam Stadium at 1:45pm
The Tribesmen have enjoyed a fine start to the season with three wins and a draw from four matches played in the League.
They’ve gotten to grips with the new rule enhancements more quickly than any other team, especially the value of kicking two-pointers from outside the arc.
It hasn’t been nearly so seamless a transition for Tyrone who won their first match of the League against Derry but have since fallen to defeats to Armagh, Mayo, and Kerry.
That leaves them second from bottom and another defeat here would really put them in the relegation mire.
Darragh Canavan’s impressive return to action gives the Ulster county a chance of arresting that slide here, but Galway’s form is too good to ignore.
Allianz Football League Division 2
Saturday 1st March
Cork v Roscommon in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm
Division Two is shaping up to be a real pot-boiler and this contest has the potential to bubble too.
Roscommon looked really good when winning their first three matches on the bounce but were brought down to earth last time out by Meath.
They’re probably feeling a bit better about themselves though than a Cork side that was well-beaten last time out by Monaghan.
Cork are conceding a lot and Roscommon are scoring a lot. That math favours the Connacht side.
Cavan v Down in Kingspan Breffni, Cavan at 6pm
After defeats to Monaghan and Meath in Rounds 1 and 2, Cavan have recovered nicely with back to back wins over Louth and Westmeath.
This match against Down will determine whether they can push themselves into the promotion picture or whether avoiding relegation will be their priority for the rest of the campaign.
Down have only won one of their four matches but were very competitive in all those defeats against Roscommon, Meath, and Louth. This is a results business though and they badly need to get some points on the board or else relegation will be a real worry for them too.
Home advantage and recent form favours Cavan, but this game is too close to call.
Sunday 2nd March
Louth v Monaghan in DEFY Pairc Mhuire, Ardee at 2pm
Division Two is coming to the boil nicely and this game could be a vital one in terms of the promotion picture.
Monaghan are top of the table with three wins from four games. Louth, on two wins from four games, will reignite their own hopes of a place in the final if they can come out on top here.
Monaghan’s greater cutting edge in attack could prove to be the difference. They’ve scored an average of 27 points per match so far, which is seven more than Louth’s average.
Westmeath v Meath in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar at 2pm
Westmeath can perhaps count themselves somewhat unfortunate to be rooted to the bottom of Division four after four defeats on the trot because they’ve been competitive in all of those matches.
They’d love nothing more than to finally get off the mark by beating their neighbours here, but Meath have been very impressive in recent weeks.
Their victory over Roscommon last weekend was arguably the best performance from a Meath team in years, and if they can replicate it they should make it four wins from five matches.
Allianz Football League Division 3
Saturday 1st March
Fermanagh v Sligo in Brewster Park, Enniskillen at 6pm
Fermanagh thrust themselves back into the promotion picture with a victory last weekend over previously unbeaten Offaly so bring good momentum into this match.
They now sit on four points from four matches, whereas Sligo are pointless after three and in desperate need of a victory.
They’ve lost to three of the best teams in the Division – Offaly, Kildare, and Laois – so it would be unwise to dismiss their chances of staying up just yet.
Laois v Antrim in Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 5pm
Both teams are on four points after four matches so this is a watershed game for both. Win it and you’re in the conversation for promotion, lose it and you’ll have relegation concerns.
If momentum is going to be the defining factor then Antrim should have more of it. They had a big win over Leitrim last weekend whereas Laois fell to a heavy defeat to Kildare.
The Midlanders have home advantage though and have been putting up bigger scores than the Saffrons.
Sunday 2nd March
Clare v Kildare in Cusack Park, Ennis at 2pm
Kildare have been the best team in Division 3 so far this year winning four matches from four by an average of 14 points each.
Clare haven’t been quite so spectacular but solid wins over Leitrim and Fermanagh mean they’ve still in the promotion picture themselves.
They’re always a tough nut to crack in Cusack Park, but this Kildare team have built up a serious head of steam.
Leitrim v Offaly in Ballinamore at 2pm
Offaly suffered a narrow first loss of the campaign last weekend against Fermanagh but are fancied to bounce back here against a Leitrim team that has lost four matches in a row by an average of 18 points each.
Allianz Football League Division 4
Saturday 1st March
Limerick v Tipperary in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 6:30pm
Limerick look like they’re coming into some form after consecutive wins away to London and Carlow.
Tipperary started the campaign well but have lost a lot of momentum after defeat last time out at home to London.
Waterford v Wexford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan at 6:30pm
Wexford have been the form team in the division with three wins from three by an average of 11 points each.
Waterford have lost all four of their matches so the form line strongly favours the Slaneysiders.
Sunday 2nd March
Wicklow v Carlow in Echelon Park, Aughrim at 2pm
Wicklow’s form – two wins from three matches – has been more convincing so far this year than Carlow’s who were well-beaten last weekend by Limerick.
London v Longford in McGovern Park, Ruislip at 12.30pm
London will have significant wind in their sails after last weekend’s dramatic win away to Tipperary. Longford’s only win of the campaign was over bottom of the table Waterford.