WEEKEND PREVIEWS
TODAY ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 KERRY V DERRY Austin Stack Park, 5.30
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan) David Clifford’s brilliance was the difference between these teams last July and the Fossa great will not be togging out here, which is likely to be defining in itself. Derry will be close to full strength and Mickey Harte will want them to start off as they intend to keep going.
VERDICT: Derry
DUBLIN V MONAGHAN Croke Park, 7.30 Referee: P Faloon (Down)
One of these days, Monaghan will be accepted for the good team they are rather than the feel good story they are constantly sold as. This is their 10th consecutive season in the top flight and the frighteners they put on Dublin last July validated their quality. However, expect the champions to mark their return in the way that they know best.
VERDICT: Dublin
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 2 MEATH V FERMANAGH Navan, 2.30 Referee: J Henry (Mayo)
The loss of a number of key leaders has made Fermanagh’s climb to survival even steeper, while Meath head into the new season with a sense of optimism that was hard to envisage 12 months ago.
VERDICT: Meath
KILDARE V CAVAN Cullen Park, 5.00 Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin)
Cavan’s failure to deliver on their status as favorites to win the Tailteann Cup hints at a group that has already maxed out. If so, they will find playing at this level to be unforgiving, starting this evening.
VERDICT: Kildare
ARMAGH V LOUTH Athletic Grounds, 6.00 Referee: T Murphy (Galway)
Louth finished third in this division last year but much has changed – not least the departure of Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin – since and little for the better. Armagh will make this a long evening for the Wee County.
VERDICT: Armagh
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 4 LAOIS V LONGFORD
O’Moore Park, 6.00 Referee: K Eannetta (Tyrone)
VERDICT: Laois
TIPPERARY V CARLOW
Semple Stadium, 6.00 Referee: N Quinn (Clare)
VERDICT: Carlow
TOMORROW ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 GALWAY V MAYO
Pearse Stadium, 1.45 Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone) Both have been keeping their cards close to their chest during pre-season, but this rematch of last year’s preliminary quarterfinal will be fresh and sore on Galway minds. They should be stronger this year and there are few better ways to signpost their sense of well-being than beating the foe they know best.
VERDICT: Galway
TYRONE V ROSCOMMON
Healy Park, 3.45 Referee: M McNally (Monaghan) Roscommon surprised a lot of observers – given their reputation as a yo-yo county – when finishing third last year, but backing it up may be difficult.
Two wipe-out seasons since winning the Sam Maguire, Tyrone’s joint managers Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan can ill afford a third one, which should at least ensure a quick start here.
VERDICT: Tyrone
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 2 DONEGAL V CORK
Ballybofey, 1.45 Referee: N Mooney (Cavan) A potentially defining game between two genuine promotion contenders, but Cork need to kick their habit of making slow starts to the league.
And Jim McGuinness is expected to have the likes of Jason McGee, Michael Langan and Brendan McCole – all of who missed last weekend’s McKenna Cup final – which might just prove to be enough.
VERDICT: Donegal
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 3 LIMERICK V ANTRIM Rathkeale, 12.30 Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary)
Limerick manager Jimmy Lee is without 19 of last year’s squad that endured a winless campaign in Division 2, and this should signal the start of a long and difficult spring for the Treaty men.
VERDICT: Antrim
CLARE V SLIGO Cusack Park, 2.00 Referee: C Lane (Cork)
Clare are a team deep in transition while Sligo, after promotion and reaching a Connacht final, are on the up.
VERDICT: Sligo
OFFALY V WESTMEATH
O’Connor Park, 2.00 Referee: S Mulhare (Laois) The appointment of Under-20 winning manager Declan Kelly will raise expectations of a breakthrough season for Offaly, but after last summer’s performances in the Sam Maguire, Westmeath should be playing regularly at a higher level.
VERDICT: Westmeath
DOWN V WICKLOW
O’Connor Park, 2.00 Referee: A Coyne (Westmeath) Oisín McConville’s great achievement in his rookie season as manager was taking Wicklow up, but keeping them there would be an even bigger one.
VERDICT: Down
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 4 LONDON V WEXFORD McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1.00 Referee: J Ryan (Cork)
The exiles have a deserved reputation for making life hard for visiting teams but rarely too hard. If Wexford are serious about getting out of the bottom tier, nothing less than full points will do here.
VERDICT: Wexford
WATERFORD V LEITRIM Fraher Field, 2.00 Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)
After the promise of his first season, it all fell flat for Andy Moran last year but when in need of a pick-me-up result, a trip to Waterford rarely disappoints.
VERDICT: Leitrim
LADIES FOOTBALL TODAY LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 GALWAY V MAYO Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, 3.15pm – Live on TG4
The pressure is on both sides now to pick up valuable Lidl National League points, with the bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 set for relegation this year.
Mayo narrowly avoided the drop in 2023 and they’ll be anxious to ensure there are no similar worries this time, while Galway contested last year’s top flight final against Kerry.
Both sides have named unchanged starting line-ups for this Connacht derby.
TOMORROW LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 CORK V ARMAGH Páirc Uí Rinn, 1pm
Armagh look well equipped to do well on their return to the top flight, while the Leesiders will also be anxious to make an impression and push for a toptwo finish and a place in the final on Sunday, April 7, at Croke Park.
MEATH V DUBLIN Páirc Tailteann, 2pm
Meath looked good against Mayo last weekend, with the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome proving conducive to good football. Dublin manager Mick Bohan won’t be in the mood for panic but as he experiments throughout the League, he’ll be keen to avoid getting dragged into any relegation battles at the same time, with the bottom two teams in the top flight facing the drop to Division 2.
KERRY V WATERFORD Fitzgerald Stadium, 2pm
Champions Kerry got the defence of their Lidl National League Division 1 crown off to a perfect start with victory against Dublin last Saturday in the capital.
Now the Kingdom will aim to make it two wins from two outings against visitors Waterford. The sides last met in competitive football in the Munster Championship last year, a fixture won by Kerry, and Waterford will be determined to give a good account of themselves here.
LIDL NFL DIVISION 2
DONEGAL V KILDARE Letterkenny, 12pm
TYRONE V TIPPERARY
Healy Park, Omagh, 1.45pm
MONAGHAN V WESTMEATH
Castleblayney, 2pm
CAVAN V LAOIS
Knockbride, 2pm
LIDL NFL DIVISION 3 CLARE V SLIGO
Clarecastle, 12pm
DOWN V WEXFORD
Páirc Esler, Newry, 1pm
OFFALY V ANTRIM
Edenderry GAA, 2pm
ROSCOMMON V LOUTH
Kiltoom, 2pm
LIDL NFL DIVISION 4
DERRY V LEITRIM Faughanvale GAC, 2pm
FERMANAGH V WICKLOW
Donagh, 2pm
LIMERICK V KILKENNY
Feohanagh/Castlemahon, 2pm
CARLOW V LONGFORD
Cullen Park, 2pm