WEEKEND PREVIEWS
TODAY
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 TYRONE v MONAGHAN Healy Park, 7.30
Monaghan must win if they are to take their fight to protect their 10-year tenure in Division 1 to the final round. Theoretically, a draw would still keep them alive, but such is their terrible scoring differential (-40) that they would still be doomed. Avoiding another loss here feels just like too big a reach.
VERDICT: TYRONE
GALWAY v DUBLIN Pearse Stadium, 3.15
Two teams looking in opposite directions, with a win leaving Dublin in a very strong position to qualify for their first top tier league decider in four seasons, while Galway could do with a result just to make certain that they are out of harm’s way prior to their final round visit to Kerry. Whatever about respective needs, Dublin’s form makes for the more compelling case.
VERDICT: DUBLIN
DIVISION 2 ARMAGH v CAVAN Athletic Grounds, 5.0
A Cavan win would flip the promotion race on its head, ensuring in the process that Ray Galligan’s side would have the critical head-to-head advantage on the Orchard County.. However, there is a gap in class here; one that was evident in last summer’s Ulster championship, when Armagh were hardly flattered when winning by five.
VERDICT: ARMAGH
KILDARE v DONEGAL Dr Cullen Park, 5.0
Kildare may already be relegated prior to the ball being thrown in should Fermanagh beat Louth, but even if that result goes their way, it would be the height of optimism to suggest that, after five straight losses, that they can find a way to help themselves.
VERDICT: DONEGAL
LOUTH v FERMANAGH Ardee, 2.0
The biggest game of the weekend by a distance and also the hardest to call. Before a ball was kicked this spring, both were expected to fall through the Tailteann Cup trapdoor with minimum resistance but they defied those predictions with impressive performances. A Fermanagh win will secure their Division 2 status but the sense is that in giving up an injury time lead to Cork, they may have lost their chance and opened the door for Louth in the process.
VERDICT: LOUTH
MEATH v CORK Páirc Tailteann, 2.0
There was a time when this fixture invoked better times, but now it is just a staple second tier fixture. With Meath safe and Cork’s need greater – albeit their relegation worries eased by back-to-back wins – the Rebels look the more likely.
VERDICT: CORK
DIVISION 3 CLARE v ANTRIM Cusack Park, Ennis, 3.30
Given he inherited a team in the midst of a pretty brutish transitional process, the expectation was that Mark Fitzgerad would have done a good job by preventing Clare falling into the bottom tier, but a win here will keep their promotion bid alive going into the final round.
VERDICT: CLARE
WICKLOW v LIMERICK Aughrim, 3.0
Officially a relegation play-off in that the losers drop automatically, but the reality is whoever wins is only delaying the inevitable. Home advantage might offer Wicklow the illusion that they still have a chance of staying up.
VERDICT: WICKLOW
SLIGO v OFFALY Markievicz Park, 2.30
Sligo might be adrift of a promotion place right now, but win here and – should tabletoppers Down beat Westmeath – they could force themselves into a three-way race with the Lakesiders and Clare for that last slot. Thing is, Offaly’s performance against Down allied to their trimming of Wicklow last time out would suggest they have found a little Faith.
VERDICT: OFFALY
DIVISION 4 TIPPERARY v WEXFORD Templetuohy, 6.0
The queue for the remaining promotion slot, which sees four teams locked on six points, demands that whoever gets it will have to win their remaining two games while beefing up their scoring difference. Wexford to make a start on both counts.
VERDICT: WEXFORD
LAOIS v LEITRIM O’Moore Park, 4.15
Andy Moran will hope that his Leitrim team will benefit from Laois taking their foot off the pedal now that they are as good as promoted, but that is likely to represent misplaced hope.
VERDICT: LAOIS
LONGFORD v CARLOW Pearse Park, 3.0
Carlow’s poor scoring differential means that they are already behind Wexford, Leitrim and Longford in the promotion queue, and likely to fall off the cliff edge here.
VERDICT: LONGFORD
LONDON v WATERFORD Ruislip, 1.0
Football’s annual wooden spoon game, which should hand the exiles something to stir the porridge with.
VERDICT: LONDON
LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 DUBLIN v CORK DCU St Clare’s, 4.30
A repeat of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final will make for intriguing viewing. Cork are bottom of the standings on scoring difference, while Dublin are still in with a fighting chance of making the final.
Division 2: Tipperary v Monaghan, Fethard Town Park 3G, 2.0.
TOMORROW
ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 MAYO v DERRY MacHale Park, 3.45
After losing to Dublin, Derry’s margin of error in booking a place in the league final may have been reduced but it still exists. Mickey Harte may have to lean on that – his charges have a winnable final round game at home against Roscommon – given that Kevin McStay will be keen for his team to give their huge following a teaser of what is to come in the Championship.
VERDICT: MAYO
ROSCOMMON v KERRY Dr Hyde Park, 1.45
The prospects of Roscommon reverting to their yo-yo status in the league’s top tier look stronger than ever. Kerry are still not completely safe, but Jack O’Connor has made it clear that he does not want his team stressed at this stage of the season and will expect to get the business done.
VERDICT: KERRY
DIVISION 3 WESTMEATH v DOWN Cusack Park, 3.0
The winner is guaranteed to top the table and a draw will see both promoted, but the more likely outcome is that Westmeath might find they still have some work to do.
VERDICT: DOWN
LIDL NFL DIVISION 1 MAYO v ARMAGH Ballina Stephenites, 1.0
Armagh just need to avoid defeat to make the Division 1 final, but a win for Mayo will guarantee them top-flight football again in 2025.
GALWAY v WATERFORD Pearse Stadium, 3.0
A huge relegation battle as Galway and Waterford are two of three teams on three points ahead of the weekend, so the points will be crucial and victory hard won.
MEATH v KERRY Ashbourne, 3.0
Victory for holders Kerry would see them inch closer to another final. Kerry have dropped points in their last two, drawing with Mayo before losing to Armagh. Meath, too, have stuttered with back-to-back defeats against Armagh and Galway.
Division 2 (2.0 unless stated):
Laois v Westmeath, Heywood CS Ballinakill (1.0); Tyrone v Kildare, Beragh; Cavan v Donegal, Redhills.
Division 3 (2.0): Wexford v Sligo, Enniscorthy (12.0); Clare v Antrim, St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield (12.30); Down v Louth, Burren; Roscommon v Offaly, Ballyforan.