Dubs primed for defence of Division 1 title

Thu, 29th January 2015

It’s Allianz Football League time as the 2015 season launches this weekend with action at sixteen venues across all four Divisions.

Between then and finals weekend on April 25/26, a total of 118 games will be played to decide the various Divisional winners, plus relegation and promotion issues.

It promises to be quite a campaign in a hectic period where every county is guaranteed a minimum of seven games in a true test of their staying power.

Dublin head into the first round against Cork in Páirc Uí Rinn next Sunday as two-time Division 1 champions, having completed the double for the first time in their history last year, beating Derry in the final.

Cork did even better in the preceding years, winning the treble in 2010-11-12 so Sunday’s game will be a fascinating showdown between the two most successful counties in the League over the last five years.

Lots of attention will focus too on the clash of All-Ireland champions, Kerry and Mayo in Killarney. Their two All-Ireland semi-final meetings (the replay went to extra-time) were among the highlights of last year’s championship, guaranteeing a large crowd for the launch of the new season.

It’s all-Ulster pairings in the remaining two Division 1 games on Saturday night as newly-promoted Donegal host Derry, last year’s runner-up, while Tyrone will be at home to promoted Monaghan.

Kildare and Westmeath, who were relegated last year, have home advantage against Down and Laois respectively as they begin the quest to win promotion from Division 2 while Galway and Meath, who served up a cracking contest that returned a total score of 7-29 last year, renew rivalry. The remaining Division 2 game features Roscommon v Cavan, two sides who were promoted last year and who met on three occasions in Allianz League and Championship, with the Connacht men edging it 2-1.

Armagh have unexpectedly found themselves in Division 3 and begin the attempt for a quick return to Division 2 with a home tie against newly-promoted Tipperary. Clare, who were also promoted from Division 4 last year, have home advantage against Wexford.

Longford and Offaly, who dropped out of Division 3 last year, will be away to Leitrim and London respectively in their opening games.

This weekend’s fixtures:

Division 1: Saturday (7.0); Donegal v Derry, Ballybofey; Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh; Sunday (2.0): Cork v Dublin, Pairc Ui Rinn; Kerry v Mayo, Fitzgerald Stadium.

Division 2: Sunday (2.0): Galway v Meath, Pearse Stadium; Kildare v Down, Newbridge; Roscommon v Cavan, Kiltoom; Westmeath v Laois, Mullingar.

Division 3: Saturday (7.0); Fermanagh v Louth, Brewster Park; Sunday (2.0): Armagh v Tipperary, Athletic Grounds; Limerick v Sligo, Newcastlewest; Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park.

Division 4: Saturday (7.0); Waterford v Wicklow, Fraher Field; Sunday (2.0): London v Offaly, Ruislip; Leitrim v Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon; Antrim v Carlow, Pairc Naomh Pól

On TV:

Saturday: Donegal v Derry, Setanta Ireland; Tyrone v Monaghan, Setanta 1.

Sunday: Kerry v Mayo, TG4 (live); Cork v Dublin, TG4 (deferred)