WEEKEND PREVIEWS
TODAY
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 MAYO v ROSCOMMON MacHale Park, 7.30pm (TG4)
The feel good factor of beating Galway and Dublin is evaporating quickly after Mayo’s awfully laboured showing against Tyrone.
Roscommon have Enda Smith in top form and Daire Cregg continuing on from his college scoring exploits so this one should go right down to the wire.
VERDICT: MAYO
DERRY v DUBLIN Celtic Park, 5pm (RTÉ)
With Con O’Callaghan back in rampaging form and on the back of the hat-trick against Kerry, Dessie Farrell’s Dublin look to have rediscovered their mojo.
Over to table-toppers Derry then and most likely Conor McCluskey to see if they can bring the All-Ireland champions back down to earth.
Derry sat way too deep early doors last year – and even then still found a way to sneak it. A bolder approach has produced seven goals so far in this year’s campaign and a win here would only copperfasten their championship credentials.
VERDICT: DERRY
DIVISION 2 CAVAN v MEATH Breffni Park, 7pm
Colm O’Rourke’s side showed a good bit of character to finish strongly and beat Kildare last time out with Darragh Campion and Eoghan Frayne impressing to this point.
But for that last sucker score against Donegal, Cavan could actually be leading the division and will fancy their chances here.
VERDICT: CAVAN
FERMANAGH v ARMAGH Brewster Park, 6pm (BBC iPlayer)
After the Donegal game turned into a bit of a tactical stalemate, Armagh have surely learned the benefits of playing on the front foot – twice already they have put up 2-16 in games.
Rory Grugan’s left boot has been a distinguishing feature and they have the scoring spread to win this Ulster derby.
VERDICT: ARMAGH
DIVISION 3 LIMERICK v CLARE Rathkeale, 6pm
Former manager Colm Collins has namechecked the good work being done by his successor Mark Fitzgerald who knows this Limerick senior team only too well.
VERDICT: CLARE
DIVISION 4 CARLOW v WEXFORD Dr Cullen Park, 7pm
Colm Hulton’s injury time goal to thieve the win against Leitrim has really put Carlow in the promotion mix and Darragh Foley has been such a bright lit too.
VERDICT: CARLOW
LAOIS v LONDON O’Moore Park, 7pm
It was that old Laois soldier Cahir Healy who earned London their only point so far against Tipperary but his native county won’t stand on sentiment here.
VERDICT: LAOIS
LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 CORK v MAYO Mallow, 2.30pm
Cork are in one of the two relegation slots and need to pick up points in the remaining three group fixtures to stay in the top flight. Mayo are not out of danger themselves though.
TOMORROW
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 KERRY v TYRONE Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.15pm (TG4)
Oh to be a fly on the wall for the video review session in Kerry this week after a systems failure against Dublin.
Flat and off-colour and under pressure all evening on their own kick-out, this is the time and place to deliver a response – even if the form of Darragh Canavan and Niall Morgan alone gives Tyrone a fighting chance.
VERDICT: KERRY
MONAGHAN v GALWAY Clones, 3.15pm (TG4)
That thrilling opening evening at Croke Park must feel like a world away now for Monaghan. Confidence in both camps has taken a battering after comprehensive defeats last weekend and while Padraic Joyce has a worrying injury list, a dubious black card to Kieran Molloy last weekend played a part in the filleting by Derry.
VERDICT: GALWAY
DIVISION 2 DONEGAL v LOUTH Ballyshannon, 2pm
Oisin Gallen continues to blossom into a real leader up front for Donegal who remain unbeaten. Louth though have been ultracompetitive so far and know that Jim McGuinness’ side won’t be content to sit back.
VERDICT: DONEGAL
CORK v KILDARE Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.30pm (TG4 Player deferred)
An injury time winning goal against Fermanagh could be crucial to Cork’s campaign. Here, John Cleary’s side meet a Kildare squad bereft of confidence and who are the only team across all four divisions not to find the net after four rounds.
VERDICT: CORK
DIVISION 3 ANTRIM v WESTMEATH Corrigan Park, 1pm
Just one goal conceded and also the lowest points total conceded in the division explains in part why Westmeath are joint top of the table.
VERDICT: WESTMEATH
DOWN v SLIGO Páirc Esler, 2pm
High-flying Down are just one reason why Ulster teams are riding the crest of a wave for the most part in this year’s competition. No other team has hit eight goals so far with Liam Kerry, Pat Havern and Ceilum Doherty leading the way.
VERDICT: DOWN
OFFALY v WICKLOW O’Connor Park, 2pm
That final quarter collapse against Clare has really put Offaly under pressure but Declan Kelly’s side have been better than the results suggest.
VERDICT: OFFALY
DIVISION 4 TIPPERARY v WATERFORD Bansha, 2pm
That surprise defeat away to London should have Tipperary well prepped to avoid another slip-up.
VERDICT: TIPPERARY
LONGFORD v LEITRIM Pearse Park, 2.30pm
But for the sucker punch of a late goal against Carlow, Andy Moran’s charges could be sitting pretty with Laois at the top of the table.
VERDICT: LEITRIM
LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 ARMAGH v KERRY Athletic Grounds, 1pm
In this top of the table clash, Armagh go in with the only 100% record in the top flight and another win here would leave the Orchard County in a very strong position. But champions Kerry, who drew with Mayo last time, are hot on their heels and just two points behind ahead of a massive tie.
WATERFORD v DUBLIN Fraher Field, 2pm
Waterford produced a sensational performance to run out very comfortable winners against Cork last time but Dublin still have a shot at a final place – they will need a win here to stay in the hunt.
GALWAY v MEATH Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, 2pm
It’s must-win territory for Galway who are rock bottom of the table with four defeats to date. Meath suffered their first defeat of the campaign against table-toppers Armagh in their previous outing and are now in third, just one point outside of the top two spots.