Senior footballers aim to stay on unbeaten run

This is where the tables really begin to take shape. It’s past the half-way mark in the Allianz Football League, with four of the seven rounds completed and fascinating patterns emerging across all four divisions as they head for Round 5 next weekend.

There will be no games on the following weekend, prior to the final two rounds on March 14/15 and March 22.

ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 1: DUBS HOPE TO STAY ON UNBEATEN RUN

Saturday (7.15): Tyrone v Dublin, Omagh; Mayo v Kerry, Elverys MacHale Park

Sunday: Donegal v Monaghan, Ballyshannon, 2.0; Meath v Galway, Pairc Tailteann, 2.30

Dublin, who, like Galway are on six points, will be bidding to build on their impressive record against Tyrone in recent seasons, whom they meet in Omagh. 

However, Tyrone, who conceded 2-25 against Galway on Sunday, beat Dublin (1-14 to 1-11) in last year’s Allianz League clash in Croke Park, but the Dubs gained revenge in the ‘Super 8s’ in August, winning by 1-16 to 0-13 in Omagh. 

Tyrone’s Allianz League win was their first over Dublin for six years.

Four successive defeats have left Meath in real danger of returning to Division 2 after one season in the top flight. If they lose to Galway next Sunday and Mayo and Donegal win their games, the Royals cannot avoid the drop.

It raises the stakes for Andy McEntee’s men, who have the second worst defensive record (behind Tyrone) in the group, having conceded 6-50. They will be up against a Galway team whose 7-58 total is the highest in the division.

Meath and Galway last met in the Allianz League (Division 2) in 2017 when the Royals won by 1-13 to 0-15 in Navan.

Mayo (3pts) and Kerry (5pts) met twice in last year’s Allianz League, with the Westerners winning both. They won by 1-10 to 0-11 in the group game in Tralee and completed the double in the final, winning by 3-11 to 2-10 to take the title for the first time since 2001. Kerry beat Mayo in last year’s championship (‘Super 8s’) by 1-22 to 0-15.

Monaghan lost their opening Allianz League game to Galway but have since picked up five points in three games. It’s an impressive record to take to Ballyshannon for a clash with Donegal, who are on three points. Declan Bonner’s men lost their last two games (v Galway and Dublin) by a point.

Donegal and Monaghan last met in the Allianz League in 2018 when Monaghan won by 1-16 to 1-10.

LEAGUE DIVISION 2: TOP FIVE PULLING CLEAR OF THE REST

Saturday: Laois v Kildare, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 7.0

Sunday: Roscommon v Westmeath, Dr. Hyde Park, 2.0; Fermanagh v Armagh, Brewster Park, 2.0; Cavan v Clare, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2.30.

Cavan lead the way on six points, followed by Armagh, Roscommon, Westmeath and Laois, all of whom are on five points. They have opened up a three-point gap on Kildare, Fermanagh and Clare (two points each).

Cavan lost their opening game heavily to Armagh but have recovered well, winning three times. It’s impressive form ahead of their home tie with Clare, who have lost two games by a point. Clare and Cavan last met in the Allianz League in 2018 when they drew in Ennis.

Roscommon v Westmeath could have a crucial bearing on the promotion race, with Westmeath bidding to go from Divisions 3 to 1 in successive seasons, while Roscommon are attempting to return to the top flight at the first attempt, having been relegated last year.

They last met in the League in 2015, with the Connacht men winning a Division 2 tie by 2-13 to 0-12. Laois and Kildare meet in the Allianz League for the first time since 2015 when the Lilywhites won a Division 2 game by three points.

Fermanagh meet Armagh in the League for the fourth time in three seasons. Armagh won by 1-9 to 0-6 in Division 2 last year and by 1-16 to 0-17 in the 2018 Division 3 final. The sides drew 0-7 each in the 2018 group game.

LEAGUE DIVISION 3: CORK PRIMED FOR PROMOTION SUCCESS

Sunday: Cork v Derry, Pairc Ui Chaoimh; Louth v Leitrim, Drogheda, 2.0; Longford v Tipperary, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2.30; Offaly v Down, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 2.30.

Four wins leave Cork three points ahead of their closest pursuers (Longford, Derry, Offaly, Down all on five points) and very well-placed to take one of the promotion slots. Indeed, if the Rebels beat Derry on Sunday and other results go their way they could clinch promotion with two games remaining. The last Allianz League meeting between Cork and Derry was in 2017 when the Rebels won a Division 2 game by 0-20 to 2-10.

Longford have home advantage against Tipperary as they attempt to build their promotion case against opposition who are now just above the relegation places. The last Tipperary-Longford Allianz League clash was in 2017 when Tipperary won by 3-17 to 0-18 in Division 3.

Down and Offaly are both in the promotion zone as they prepare for their clash in Tullamore. Down beat Offaly by 2-12 to 0-10 in last year’s Allianz League.

Leitrim (2pts) and Louth (0 pts) are in relegation trouble, which makes their clash in Drogheda crucial for both. Leitrim beat Louth by a point in the counties’ last Allianz League meeting (Div 4) in 2016.

LEAGUE DIVISION 4: LIMERICK SET BLISTERING PACE IN PROMOTION DRIVE

Saturday: London v Wicklow, McGovern Park Ruislip 1.0; Wexford v Sligo, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2.0; Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7.0

Sunday: Antrim v Limerick, Glenavy, 2.0

What a difference a year makes! Limerick won only two games in Division 4 (they finished second last) in 2019, but have won all four games so far this season and top the table, two points ahead of Wexford and three clear of Antrim.

Limerick make the long trip to Glenavy to take on Antrim next Sunday, knowing that a win would almost certainly be enough to secure promotion. Antrim beat Limerick by four points in last year’s Allianz League.

The last Carlow-Waterford Allianz League meeting was two years ago when Turlough O’Brien’s men won 2-12 to 2-9 in what turned out to be their promotion season.

The last Sligo-Wexford Allianz League clash was in 2018 when Sligo won by three points in Division 3. Wicklow beat London by two points in last year’s Allianz League. Wicklow beat London by two points in last year’s Allianz League.

2020 ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE: RESULTS & FIXTURES

DIVISION 1
Round 1: Dublin 1-19 Kerry 1-19; Donegal 0-19 Mayo 2-13; Galway 1-14 Monaghan 0-16; Tyrone 1-14 Meath 1-9.
Round 2: Dublin 1-11 Mayo 0-8; Kerry 1-15 Galway 2-11 Monaghan 1-12 Tyrone 0-11; Donegal 3-8 Meath 0-7.
Round 3: Dublin 1-15 Monaghan 1-15; Mayo 1-9 Meath 2-5; Galway 2-8 Donegal 2-7; Tyrone 0-14 Kerry 0-13.
Round 4: Dublin 1-15 Donegal 1-14; Kerry 1-19 Meath 2-13; Galway 2-25 Tyrone 0-12; Monaghan 2-16 Mayo 0-13.
Round 5: Feb 29: Mayo v Kerry; Tyrone v Dublin; Mar 1: Meath v Galway; Donegal v Monaghan.
Round 6: Mar 14: Donegal v Tyrone; Mar 15: Galway v Mayo; Dublin v Meath; Monaghan v Kerry.
Round 7: Mar 22: Kerry v Donegal; Galway v Dublin; Mayo v Tyrone; Monaghan v Meath.
Mar 29: Final 1 v 2

DIVISION 2
Round 1: Armagh 2-18 Cavan 1-8; Westmeath 2-9 Clare 1-11; Roscommon 2-14 Laois 2-14; Kildare 2-12 Fermanagh 0-14.
Round 2: Cavan 1-17 Westmeath 1-13; Laois 0-16 Armagh 0-10; Clare 0-11 Kildare 0-10; Fermanagh 0-13 Roscommon 0-12.
Round 3: Armagh 0-16 Kildare 0-10; Roscommon 1-8 Clare 0-4; Westmeath 0-10 Fermanagh 0-8; Cavan 3-10 Laois 1-6.
Round 4: Cavan 2-11 Fermanagh 1-11; Laois 1-12 Clare 1-11; Westmeath 3-12 Armagh 2-15; Roscommon 2-11 Kildare 0-13.
Round 5: Feb 29: Laois v Kildare; Mar 1: Fermanagh v Armagh; Roscommon v Westmeath; Cavan v Clare.
Round 6: Mar 14: Armagh v Roscommon; Mar 15: Clare v Fermanagh; Westmeath v Laois; Kildare v Cavan.
Round 7: Mar 22: Cavan v Roscommon; Clare v Armagh; Kildare v Westmeath; Fermanagh v Laois.
Mar 29: Final: 1 v 2

DIVISION 3
Round 1: Cork 0-20 Offaly 0-13; Derry 2-11 Leitrim 1-14; Tipperary 0-10 Down 0-10; Longford 0-16 Louth 1-10.
Round 2: Down 0-14 Derry 0-12: Tipperary 0-11 Louth 1-7; Cork 1-15 Leitrim 0-9; Offaly 0-10 Longford 0-10.
Round 3: Derry 0-10 Tipperary 0-6; Longford 2-14 Leitrim 1-9; Offaly 2-13 Louth 1-10; Cork 0-16 Down 1-8.
Round 4: Down 2-13 Longford 1-14; Cork 3-13 Tipperary 0-21: Derry 2-10 Louth 1-9; Offaly 2-16 Leitrim 0-14..
Round 5: Mar 1: Louth v Leitrim; Cork v Derry; Longford v Tipperary; Offaly v Down.
Round 6: Mar 15: Down v Leitrim; Cork v Louth; Derry v Longford; Tipperary v Offaly.
Round 7: Mar 22: Longford v Cork; Louth v Down; Leitrim v Tipperary; Offaly v Derry.
Mar 28: Final: 1 v 2

DIVISION 4
Round 1: Carlow 0-11 Wicklow 0-9; Limerick 1-10 Waterford 0-10; Antrim 3-10 Wexford 0-13; Sligo 5-9 London 0-11.
Round 2: Wexford 2-10 Carlow 1-6; Limerick 0-8 London 0-7; Wicklow 2-11 Waterford 1-6; Sligo 0-15 Antrim 0-14.
Round 3: Wexford 2-3 Waterford 0-8; Limerick 1-7 Carlow 0-9; Wicklow 1-15 Sligo 1-10; Antrim 0-14 London 0-10.
Round 4: Waterford 2-12 Sligo 0-16: Wexford 4-14 London1-9; Limerick 5-10 Wicklow 1-14; Antrim 0-11 Carlow 1-8.
Round 5: Feb 29: London v Wicklow; Wexford v Sligo; Waterford v Carlow; Mar 1: Antrim v Limerick.

Round 6: Mar 14: Waterford v London; Carlow v Sligo; Mar 15: Wicklow v Antrim; Limerick v Wexford.
Round 7: Mar 22: Antrim v Waterford; Wexford v Wicklow; London v Carlow; Sligo v Limerick.
Mar 28: Final: 1 v 2