Senior footballers bid for third league title in-a-row

After 114 games across four Divisions, it’s down to the last weekend of action in the Allianz Football League when Croke Park stages the four Divisional finals next Saturday and Sunday. All four provinces will be represented in the finals, which are as follows:

Saturday:

Division 4: Longford v Offaly, 5.15pm

Division 3: Armagh v Fermanagh, 7.15pm

Sunday:

Division 2: Down v Roscommon, 2pm

Division 1: Cork v Dublin, 4pm

CORK v DUBLIN

They meet in the Allianz Football League Division 1 final for the second time in five seasons, having previously clashed in 2011 when Cork, the then All-Ireland champions, won by a point. They also met in last year’s semi-final when Dublin recovered from a 10-point deficit to win by seven. Cork won this season’s Divisional game by two points in Pairc Ui Rinn in February.

This will be the fifth time the counties have met in the Allianz League final, with Cork having won the previous four in 1952-89-99-2011.

Cork completed an Allianz Football League treble in 2010-2011-2012 and Dublin are now trying to emulate them, having won the title for the last two years.

Dublin are seeking their 11^th Division 1 title while Cork are chasing their ninth.

Paths to the final

CORK

Cork 1-15 Dublin 0-16

Cork 2-14 Monaghan 1-16

Donegal 0-12 Cork 1-8

Cork 3-17 Kerry 2-9

Cork 0-17 Tyrone 2-10

Cork 2-7 Mayo 0-12

Derry 2-15 Cork 1-11

Cork 4-11 Donegal 0-19

Played 8: Won 6, Lost 2

Average For: 2-15; Average Against: 1-14

Cork scorers

Colm O Neill..............5-33 (0-24 frees, 0-1 ‘45’)

Brian Hurley.............2-12 (0-2 frees)

Donncha O’Connor..0-13 (0-9 frees)

John O’Rourke..........2-4

Mark Collins............1-4

Fintan Goold.............0-8

Conor Dorman..........0-7

Kevin O’Driscoll....0-4

Stephen O’Donoghue... 1-0

Jamie O’Sullivan......1-0

Tomas Clancy........1-0

Tom Clancy............1-0

Daniel Goulding.......0-3

Paul Kerrigan............0-3

Colm O’Driscoll.....0-3

Eoin Cadogan..........0-2

Brian O’Driscoll......0-1

Donal Og Hodnett..0-1

John Hayes..............0-1 (free)

Michael Shields.......0-1

DUBLIN

Cork 1-15 Dublin 0-16

Dublin 2-10 Donegal 0-11

Kerry 0-15 Dublin 1-10

Dublin 1-9 Tyrone 0-12

Dublin 2-18 Mayo 0-10

Dublin 0-8 Derry 0-4

Dublin 1-22 Monaghan 1-11

Dublin 0-17 Monaghan 0-16

Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 0-13

Dublin Scorers

Dean Rock ................1-42 (0-32 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’)

Bernard Brogan..........2-6 (0-1 free)

Jack McCaffrey..........1-6

Tomas Brady..............0-7

Kevin McManamon.....0-7

Brian Fenton..............1-3

Cormac Costello..........1-2

Diarmuid Connolly....0-5

Paul Flynn.................0-5

Eoghan O’Gara..........0-4

Ciaran Kilkenny.........0-4

Denis Bastick..........1-1

Emmet O Conghaile...0-4

Philip McMahon........0-4

Shane Carthy..............0-2

Davey Byrne ...........0-2

Johnny Cooper.......0-2

Philip Ryan...............0-1

Michael Deegan.......0-1

MD Macauley........0-1

Paddy Andrews........0-1

LAST CLASH

Cork - 1-15

Dublin – 0 -16

Cork squeezed to a two-point win on the opening weekend of the Allianz League season (February 1) in Pairc Ui Rinn. A goal by Jamie O’Sullivan helped Cork to a 1-7 to 0-9 lead at half-time but Dublin had a good spell in the third quarter and led by 0-15 to 1-10 after 55 minutes.

Cork upped their game and out-scored Dublin by 0-5 to 0-1 from there on.

LAST ALLIANZ LEAGUE FINAL MEETING (2011)

Cork 0-21 Dublin 2-14

Cork: K O’Halloran, R Carey, M Shields, J O’Sullivan, N O’Leary, J Miskella, P Kissane; A O’Connor, P O’Neill; P Kerrigan, P Kelly, F Goold, D Goulding, D O’Connor, C Sheehan.

Subs: F Lynch for Goold, D O’Sullivan for Miskella, D Goold for Kerrigan, N Murphy for A O’Connor

Dublin: S Cluxton, M Fitzsimons, P Brogan, P McMahon; B Cahill, G Brennan, K Nolan; D Bastick, MD Macauley; B Cullen, K McManamon P Flynn; B Brogan, D Connolly T Quinn.

Subs: D Daly for Cullen, P Burke for B Brogan, D Kelly for Connolly, P Andrews for Daly, D Lally for Cahill.

Previous Cork v Dublin Allianz League Finals

2011 – Cork 0-21 Dublin 2-14 (Croke Park)

1999 – Cork 0-12 Dublin 1-7 (Pairc Ui Chaoimh)

1989 – Cork 0-15 Dublin 0-12 (Home final), Croke Park

1952 – Cork 2-3 Dublin 1-5 (Home final), Croke Park

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROLL OF HONOUR

19 – Kerry (1928-29-31-32-59-61-63-69-71-72-73-74-77-82-84-97-2004-2006-2009)

11 – Mayo (1934-35-36-37-38-39-41-49-54-70-2001)

10 – DUBLIN (1953-55-58-76-78-87-91-93-2013-2014)

7 – Meath (1933-46-51-75-88-90-94)

8 – CORK (1952-56-80-89-99-2010-2011-2012)

5 – Derry (1947-92-95-96-2000)

4 – Down (1960-62-68-83)

4 – Galway (1940-57-65-81)

2 – Laois (1927-86)

2 – Tyrone (2002-2003)

1 – Armagh (2005)

1 – Cavan (1948)

1 – Longford (1966)

1 – Monaghan (1985)

1 – Offaly (1998)

1 – Roscommon (1979)

1 – Donegal (2007)

DOWN v ROSCOMMON

Down clinched a return to Division 1 after two seasons in Division 2, when topping the group with five wins and two defeats. They finished a point ahead of Roscommon, who won four, drew one and lost two of their seven games.

Down scored 11 goals, the highest in the top two Divisions, which was pleasing for new manager, Jim McCorry. Down won three games on the road (Kildare, Cavan, Westmeath). They beat Galway and Laois in Newry but lost to Roscommon and Meath at home.

The clash with Roscommon came in the second round on February 7, when John Evans’ men had an impressive four-point win (1-15 to 1-11). A goal by Diarmuid Murtagh helped Roscommon to a 1-9 to 0-6 lead at half-time and while Down battled back, the Connacht men finished strongly to take both points.

It was a hugely impressive win for Roscommon, who have been promoted from Divisions 3 and 2 in successive seasons.

Paths to the semi-final

DOWN

Down 3-13 Kildare 1-15

Roscommon 1-15 Down 1-11

Down 1-9 Cavan 0-8

Down 1-17 Galway 1-16

Down 2-17 Westmeath 0-10

Meath 2-11 Down 0-10

Down 3-12 Laois 1-15

Average For: 2-12; Average Against: 1-13

ROSCOMMON

Roscommon 1-11 Cavan 0-14

Roscommon 1-15 Down 1-11

Roscommon 2-10 Meath 0-14

Laois 2-17 Roscommon 0-16

Roscommon 0-24 Kildare 2-12

Galway 1-14 Roscommon 1-10

Roscommon 2-13 Westmeath 0-12

Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 1-13

ARMAGH v FERMANAGH

An all-Ulster pairing as the top two in Division 3 bid to be crowned champions. Armagh secured an immediate return to Division 2 after dropping down at the end of last season while Fermanagh improved on last year’s third place to win promotion.

Both sides won five, drew one and lost one in the seven-game programme, with the draw coming when Kieran McGeeney’s men met Peter McGrath’s squad in a Round 4 game in the Athletic Grounds on March 7.

Armagh led by 1-6 to 0-1 after 23 minutes but a goal from Ruairi Corrigan sparked a Fermanagh revival, who trailed by four points at half-time. Armagh led by 1-10 to 1-5 early in the final quarter but Fermanagh staged a great revival, scoring five points to earn a draw.

Both sides lost their final game, but they were already guaranteed promotion, having pulled clear of their pursuers, led by Tipperary.

Paths to the final

ARMAGH

Armagh 2-8 Tipperary 0-13

Armagh 2-13 Wexford 1-8

Armagh 2-16 Limerick 1-6

Armagh 1-10 Fermanagh 1-10

Armagh 3-11 Clare 1-11

Armagh 0-10 Louth 0-8

Sligo 1-19 Armagh 1-8

Average For: 2-10; Average Against: 1-10

FERMANAGH

Fermanagh 0-16 Louth 0-7

Fermanagh 0-14 Sligo 0-12

Fermanagh 2-9 Tipperary 0-11

Armagh 1-10 Fermanagh 1-10

Fermanagh 2-19 Limerick 2-10

Fermanagh 1-12 Wexford 0-7

Clare 1-14 Fermanagh 2-9

Average For: 1-13; Average Against: 1-9

LONGFORD v OFFALY

They meet for the fourth time since the start of last season, with Longford having won all three of the previous meetings. Jack Sheedy’s men won by 1-15 to 1-10 in the Division 3 meeting (both sides were later relegated) last year and by 0-19 to 0-15 in the first round of the Leinster championship. Longford maintained the edge over Offaly in this year’s Division 4 campaign, winning by 0-13 to 0-10 in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on March 29.

Offaly had three men, Paul McConway, Graham Guilfoyle and Niall Smith, sent off but it was only in the closing minutes that Longford fully exploited the numerical advantage. The counties are due to meet against in the first round of the Leinster championship on May 16.

Longford are the only unbeaten team in all four divisions after a campaign where they took 13 of a possible 14 points, ensuring a quick return to Division 3. Offaly clinched promotion in the last game against Antrim, thus ensuring that the Leinster pair spent only season in Division 4.

Paths to the final

LONGFORD

Leitrim 0-15 Longford 1-12

Longford 0-14 Antrim 0-13

Longford 1-18 London 0-6

Longford 1-12 Waterford 1-10

Longford 1-16 Wicklow 1-10

Longford 0-13 Offaly 0-10

Longford 1-18 Carlow 1-12

Played 7, Won 6, Drew 1

Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 0-12

OFFALY

Offaly 0-9 London 1-2

Offaly 0-13 Waterford 1-4

Offaly 2-18 Wicklow 2-6

Offaly 2-13 Leitrim 1-16

Offaly 0-14 Carlow 1-10

Longford 0-13 Offaly 0-10

Offaly 1-13 Antrim 1-7

Played 7, Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1

Average For: 1-12; Average Against: 1-8

2015 ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE: RESULTS AND FIXTURES

DIVISION 1

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: Dublin 0-8 Derry 0-4; Monaghan 1-11 Kerry 0-10; Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 0-6; Cork 2-7 Mayo 0-10.

Round 7: Tyrone 0-17 Kerry 1-14; Dublin 1-22 Monaghan 1-11; Derry 2-15 Cork 1-11; Mayo 0-12 Donegal 1-9.

Semi-finals: April 12 Cork 4-11 Donegal 0-19; Dublin 0-17 Monaghan 0-16

Final: April 26: Cork v Dublin

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: Meath 2-11 Down 0-10; Cavan 1-8 Westmeath 1-3; Kildare 1-12 Laois 1-9; Galway 1-14 Roscommon 1-10.

Round 7: Roscommon 2-13 Westmeath 0-12; Down 3-12 Laois 1-15; Galway 3-12 Kildare 1-12; Meath 0-14 Cavan 0-12.

April 26: Final: Down v Roscommon

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: Armagh 0-10 Louth 0-8; Fermanagh 1-12 Wexford 0-7; Limerick 2-10 Clare 1-5; Tipperary 0-15 Sligo 0-13.

Round 7: Sligo 1-19 Armagh 1-8; Limerick 2-13 Louth 2-11; Clare 1-14 Fermanagh 2-9; Wexford 2-15 Tipperary 2-12.

Final: April 25: Armagh v Fermanagh

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: London 5-6 Waterford 2-15; Longford 0-13 Offaly 0-10; Leitrim 1-12 Carlow 0-6; Antrim 1-10 Wicklow 0-12.

Round 7: London 2-8 Wicklow 0-12; Leitrim 0-15 Waterford 0-10; Longford 1-18 Carlow 1-12; Offaly 1-13 Antrim 1-7.

Final: April 25: Longford v Offaly