Crucial weekend in Football League action

Round 6 of the Allianz Football League beckons and by the time the action is completed on Sunday evening, some of the semi-final (Division 1), promotion and relegation issues are likely to be decided.

However, many others will remain unsettled until the final round on Sunday week.

Only four counties, Armagh and Fermanagh (Division 3), Longford and Offaly (Division 4) are unbeaten after five rounds.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1: WILL CROKE PARK TRIP END DERRY’S TERM IN TOP FLIGHT

Saturday (7.0): Div 1: Dublin v Derry, Croke Park; Sunday (3.0): Cork v Mayo, Pairc Ui Rinn; Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey; Kerry v Monaghan, Tralee.

Derry reached the Division 1 final last year, losing to Dublin, and now Jim Gavin’s men could be about to despatch them to Division 2 after two seasons in the top flight. Even if Derry, who have only one point, win, they would need Tyrone and Donegal (both on four points) to finish level to have any chance of surviving in Division 1.

Derry beat Dublin by 1-16 to 0-13 in the group game last year but lost the final by 3-19 to 1-10.

It’s very tight above Derry with only four points separating the other seven counties. Leaders, Cork host Mayo, who beat them twice last year. Mayo won the Allianz Football League clash by 4-12 to 2-14 and the All-Ireland quarter-final by 1-19 to 2-15.

Kerry and Monaghan are both on six points so their clash in Tralee will be very important in influencing the likely semi-final line-up. The counties didn’t meet in last year’s Allianz Football League as Monaghan were in Division 2.

Tyrone and Donegal (4 points each) are both in the relegation zone but the winners of their game in Ballybofey will fancy their chances of getting back in the top half in the final game. The sides didn’t clash in last year’s Allianz Football League (Donegal were in Division 2). Supporters of both sides will be keeping a very close eye on Sunday’s game as the counties are due to meet in the first round of the Ulster championship in Ballybofey on May 17.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2: DOWN AND ROSCOMMON LEAD PROMOTION DRIVE

Saturday (7.0); Down v Meath, Newry; Cavan v Westmeath, Kingspan Breffni Park; Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise; Sunday: Roscommon v Galway, Dr. Hyde Park, 1.30.

With two home games against Meath and Laois to come, Down (8 points) are well-positioned to take one of the promotion places. Jim McCorry’s men host Meath (5 points) on Saturday night, having lost to the Royals by three points in last year’s corresponding tie.

Roscommon, who were promoted from Division 3 at the end of last season, are making a bold bid to continue on the promotion trail after moving into second place with seven points.

They host Galway, who have lost their last three games after winning the first two. Cavan, Meath and Laois are all on five points, with Westmeath on four points and Kildare on two. It makes the Laois v Kildare game very interesting because if the Lilywhites lose and Westmeath or Galway take even a point from their games, Jason Ryan’s men will drop to Division 3, having been relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League for this year.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3: WILL ARMAGH AND FERMANAGH CLINCH PROMOTION?

Saturday: Armagh v Louth, Athletic Grounds, 7.0; Sunday (3.0 unless stated): Wexford v Fermanagh, Innovate Wexford Park, 1.0; Limerick v Clare, Newcastlewest; Tipperary v Sligo, Semple Stadium.

Armagh and Fermanagh (both on nine points) are within one win of guaranteeing promotion. They lead Tipperary by three points so the Munster men have to beat Sligo if they are to retain any chance of being promoted.

Armagh and Louth clashed in Division 2 last year, finishing level. Fermanagh are away to a Wexford team that has won only one of five games. Fermanagh beat Wexford by 2-20 to 3-8 last year. Limerick (2 points) are also in relegation trouble but could begin a fightback if they beat neighbours Clare (4 points) in Newcastlewest.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4: TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH THE BIG HIGHLIGHT

Sunday (3.0 unless stated): London v Waterford, Ruislip,1.0; Longford v Offaly, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park; Carlow v Leitrim, Netwatch Cullen Park; Antrim v Wicklow, Pairc Naomh Pol.

Longford and Offaly, the two counties that were relegated last year, could scarcely be closer at the top of the table as they bid to return to Division 3 at the first attempt. Both have taken nine points from five games while there’s only a single point (Longford +24; Offaly +23) between them in scoring difference.

Longford beat Offaly by 1-15 to 1-10 in last year’s Division 3 clash and repeated the success (0-19 to 0-15) in the Leinster championship. Antrim (7 points) and Carlow (6 points) are the leading duo’s closest pursuers. Antrim are at home to Wicklow, who beat them by two points last year. Carlow will also be at home to Leitrim, who beat them by 1-17 to 1-8 last year.

2015 ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE: 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: Tyrone 0-11 Derry 1-8; Kerry 0-15 Dublin 1-10; Donegal 0-12 Cork 1-8; Mayo 3-15 Monaghan 0-11

Round 4: Dublin 1-9 Tyrone 0-12; Cork 3-17 Kerry 2-9; Mayo 2-12 Derry 1-13; Monaghan 0-9 Donegal 1-4

Round 5: Dublin 2-18 Mayo 0-10; Kerry 2-13 Donegal 2-11; Monaghan 0-15 Derry 0-10; Cork 0-17 Tyrone 2-10

Round 6: March 28: Dublin v Derry; March 29: 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

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: Down 1-9 Cavan 0-8; Westmeath 0-15 Kildare 0-12; Roscommon 2-10 Meath 0-14; Laois 2-10 Galway 0-10.

Round 4: Meath 4-10 Westmeath 0-11; Kildare 2-13 Cavan 0-14; Laois 2-17 Roscommon 0-16; Down 1-17 Galway 1-16.

Round 5: Meath 0-13 Laois 0-13; Cavan 0-12 Galway 0-10; Down 2-17 Westmeath 0-10; Roscommon 0-24 Kildare 2-12.

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

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: Armagh 2-16 Limerick 1-6; Louth 1-16 Wexford 1-10; Fermanagh 2-9 Tipperary 0-11; Clare 0-22 Sligo 1-13.

Round 4: Tipperary 2-11 Clare 1-8; Armagh 1-10 Fermanagh 1-10; Sligo 2-26 Louth 2-9; Wexford 1-16 Limerick 2-12.

Round 5: Tipperary 4-16 Louth 3-11; Fermanagh 2-19 Limerick 2-10; Armagh 3-11 Clare 1-11; Sligo 2-10 Wexford 1-8.

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

DIVISION 4

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: Longford 1-18 London 0-6; Carlow 0-11 Waterford 0-9; Offaly 2-18 Wicklow 2-6; Antrim 1-18 Leitrim 1-13.

Round 4: March 8: Offaly 2-13 Leitrim 1-16; Antrim 1-12 London 1-8; Longford 1-12 Waterford 1-10; Carlow 0-9 Wicklow 0-9.

Round 5: Longford 1-16 Wicklow 1-10; Offaly 0-14 Carlow 1-10; Antrim 0-15 Waterford 0-13; Leitrim 1-18 London 0-9

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