Bulletin: National Football League, February 9

Predictions that this season’s Football League would be extremely tight are so far proving right on the mark.

Only five counties, Cork (Div 1), Galway (Div 2), Armagh, Fermanagh (Div 3) and Offaly (Div 4) have won their first two games. Only six counties, Derry (Div 1), Laois, Kildare (Div 2), Sligo, Wexford (Div 3) and London (Div 4) have failed to pick up any points. Round 3 will be played on the weekend of February 28/March 1.

Cork’s away win over Monaghan in Castleblayney leaves them top of Division 1 on four points but Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone and Donegal are all just two points behind them. There’s early trouble for Derry, last year’s runners-up, who have lost their open two games to Donegal and Kerry by a total of 13 points.

Galway top Division 2, having beaten Meath and Westmeath. Cavan and Roscommon, both of whom were promoted from Division 3 at the end of last season, are tucked in behind the leaders on three points. Kildare, who dropped down from Division 1 this year, have made a bad start, losing to Down and Meath. It makes a home win over Westmeath at home in Round 3 absolutely vital if they are to launch a promotion push.

Armagh ,who dropped into Division 3 this year, have gone the right way about making a quick returns to Division 2, beating Tipperary and Wexford in the opening two rounds. Fermanagh, who beat Louth and Sligo, are also doing well.

Offaly and Longford, both of whom were relegated to Division 4 for this season, have made good starts in their bid for promotion. Offaly have won their first two games while Longford have taken three of a possible four points.

2015 ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1: RESULTS AND FIXTURES

Round 1: Mayo 2-11 Kerry 0-10; Cork 1-15 Dublin 0-16; Monaghan 1-13 Tyrone 0-9; Donegal 1-15 Derry 0-12

Round 2: Dublin 2-10 Donegal 0-11; Tyrone 1-11 Mayo 1-7; Kerry 1-17 Derry 0-13; Cork 2-14 Monaghan 1-16.

Round 3: February 28: Tyrone v Derry; March 1: Kerry v Dublin; Donegal v Cork; Mayo v Monaghan.

Round 4: March 7: Dublin v Tyrone; Cork v Kerry; Derry v Mayo; Donegal v Monaghan.

Round 5: March 14: Mayo v Dublin; March 15: Kerry v Donegal; Monaghan v Derry; Tyrone v Cork.

Round 6: March 28: Dublin v Derry; Kerry v Monaghan; Donegal v Tyrone; Cork v Mayo.

Round 7: April 5: Tyrone v Kerry; Monaghan v Dublin; Derry v Cork; Mayo v Donegal.

Semi-finals: April 12

Final: April 26

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Round 1: Galway 2-13 Meath 1-12; Down 3-13 Kildare 1-15; Westmeath 1-12 Laois 0-10; Roscommon 1-11 Cavan 0-14

Round 2: Meath 0-13 Kildare 0-11; Cavan 0-17 Laois 2-6; Roscommon 1-15 Down 1-11; Galway 2-13 Westmeath 2-12.

Round 3: February 28: Cavan v Down; March 1: Kildare v Westmeath; Roscommon v Meath; Galway v Laois.

Round 4: March 7: Meath v Westmeath; Cavan v Kildare; March 8: Laois v Kildare; Down v Galway.

Round 5: March 14: Meath v Laois; March 15: Galway v Cavan; Westmeath v Down; Kildare v Roscommon.

Round 6: March 28: Down v Meath; Cavan v Westmeath; Laois v Kildare; March 29: Roscommon v Galway.

Round 7: April 5: Westmeath v Roscommon; Down v Laois; Galway v Kildare; Meath v Cavan.

Final: April 26

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3

Round 1: Fermanagh 0-16 Louth 0-7; Clare 1-16 Wexford 0-5; Armagh 2-8 Tipperary 0-13; Limerick 0-14 Sligo 1-9

Round 2: Tipperary 1-14 Limerick 1-2; Armagh 2-13 Wexford 1-8;Fermanagh 0-14 Sligo 0-12; Louth 1-16 Clare 0-13.

Round 3: March 1: Limerick v Armagh; Louth v Wexford; Fermanagh v Tipperary; Clare v Sligo.

Round 4: March 7: Tipperary v Clare; Armagh v Fermanagh; March 8: Sligo v Louth; Wexford v Limerick.

Round 5: March 15: Louth v Tipperary; Fermanagh v Limerick; Clare v Armagh; Sligo v Wexford.

Round 6: March 28: Armagh v Louth; March 29: Wexford v Fermanagh; Limerick v Clare; Tipperary v Sligo.

Round 7: April 5: Sligo v Armagh; Louth v Limerick; Clare v Fermanagh; Tipperary v Wexford

Final: April 25

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION4

Round 1: Waterford 0-14 Wicklow 0-10; Offaly 0-9 London 1-2; Leitrim 0-15 Longford 1-12; Antrim 1-12 Carlow 0-15

Round 2: Carlow 2-9 London 0-13; Wicklow 0-11 Leitrim 0-10; Longford 0-14 Antrim 0-13; Offaly 0-13 Waterford 1-4

Round 3: February 28: London v Longford; Waterford v Carlow; March 1: Wicklow v Offaly; Leitrim v Antrim.

Round 4: March 8: Offaly v Leitrim; Antrim v London; Longford v Waterford; Carlow v Wicklow

Round 5: March 15: Wicklow v Longford; Offaly v Carlow; Waterford v Antrim; March 22: Leitrim v London.

Round 6: March 29: London v Waterford; Longford v Offaly; Carlow v Leitrim; Antrim v Wicklow.

Round 7: April 5: Wicklow v London; Leitrim v Waterford; Carlow v Longford; Offaly v Antrim.

Final: April 25