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SEVEN REMAIN UNBEATEN HEADING INTO ROUND FOUR OF THE FOOTBALL LEAGUES

Galway, Roscommon, Armagh, Fermanagh, Offaly, Longford and Carlow are the only unbeaten sides heading into Round 4 of the Allianz Football League.

However, Galway and Roscommon have played only two games as their fixtures (v Laois and Meath respectively) were called off last Sunday due to bad weather. There are no unbeaten teams in a highly competitive Division 1.

Laois, Kildare, Wexford, Sligo and London are the only counties without a point so far.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE - DIVISION 1: ONLY THREE POINTS SEPARATE THE EIGHT COUNTIES

Saturday (7.0): Dublin v Tyrone, Croke Park; Sunday: Cork v Kerry, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2.0; Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 2.0; Derry v Mayo, Celtic Park, 2.30.

It was always likely to be a close-run group and so it’s proving. No team has taken full points from the first three rounds, leaving only three points between top and bottom. Mayo, Cork, Kerry and Donegal are all on four points, followed by Tyrone on three, Dublin and Monaghan on two each and Derry on one. Mayo’s big win over Monaghan on Sunday has pushed their scoring difference to +16 points, 14 better than Cork, Kerry and Donegal.

Mayo face a tough assignment next Sunday, away to Derry, who picked up their first point with a battling performance against Tyrone in Omagh last Saturday. Derry and Mayo clashed twice in the last year’s League. Mayo won the Round 7 clash by 2-12 to 1-7 but the Ulster men gained revenge in the semi-final, winning by 2-15 to 1-16.

Allianz League meetings between Dublin and Tyrone have been very tight in recent years, setting the scene for what should be another fascinating contest in Croke Park on Saturday evening. A single point has separated them in their last three clashes as follows: 2014: Dublin 3-10 Tyrone 1-15; 2013: Dublin 0-18 Tyrone 0-17 (final); Tyrone 0-18 Dublin 1-14 (Round 5).

Cork v Kerry clashes always have a special appeal, all the more so when one of them are reigning All-Ireland champions. Kerry travel to Pairc Ui Rinn as All-Ireland kingpins on Sunday, having helped their cause enormously last year by thrashing Cork (0-24 to 0-12) in the Munster final. Three months earlier, Cork had easily beaten Kerry (2-18 to 1-11) in the Allianz League. Kerry won the 2013 and 2012 League clashes with Cork.

Donegal v Monaghan has developed into a really intense rivalry in recent seasons, which adds to the appeal of next Sunday’s clash. They met twice in last year’s Division 2 campaign with Donegal winning the group game by 2-11 to 0-10 while Monaghan won the final by 1-16 to 1-10. They also clashed in the last two Ulster finals, with Monaghan winning (0-13 to 0-7) in 2013 while Donegal prevailed on a 0-15 to 1-9 scoreline last year.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE - DIVISION 2: WESTMEATH SHOWING EARLY PROMISE

Saturday (2.0): Cavan v Kildare, Kingspan Breffni Park; Meath v Westmeath, Pairc Tailteann; Sunday (2.30): Laois v Roscommon, Portlaoise; Down v Galway, Pairc Esler.

The contrast between Westmeath and Kildare, the two counties relegated from Division 1 last April could scarcely be greater. Westmeath have a made an impressive start to their bid for a quick return to the top flight, beating Laois and Kildare and losing by a single point to Galway. Kildare have lost all three games so far to Down, Meath and Westmeath.

It puts Jason Ryan’s men under intense pressure as they prepare for Saturday’s clash with Cavan, who have taken three points from their opening three games. Westmeath, who head the table on scoring difference, take on neighbours, Meath, who have won one of two games.

Galway, whose game with Laois was also postponed, travel to Newry as one of two unbeaten teams (Roscommon are the other) in the group. Galway beat Down by 1-12 to 0-8 in last year’s Division 2 game. Laois are one of five counties in the entire Allianz League who have yet to take a point, which makes their home clash with Roscommon crucial. John Evans’ men have taken three points from their first two games, maintaining the impressive form that steered them out of Division 3 last year.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3: TOP TWO IN FACSCINATING SHOWDOWN

Saturday: Tipperary v Clare, Semple Stadium, 3.0; Armagh v Fermanagh, Athletic Grounds, 7.0; Sunday: Sligo v Louth, Markievicz Park, 2.0; Wexford v Limerick, Innovate Wexford Park.

Armagh and Fermanagh have been the form teams in the group so far, each winning their first three games. It adds to the attraction of their clash in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday. Armagh have a 7 points better scoring difference than Fermanagh but Peter McGrath’s men have done enough in their wins over Louth, Sligo and Tipperary to suggest that they are well-placed to maintain a strong promotion push.

Louth started badly, losing to Fermanagh in the first round, but have since won twice and are tucked in neatly behind the top two as they look ahead to the their clash with Sligo, who have lost all three games so far. Clare are also on four points as they prepare for a Saturday showdown with Tipperary. Both were promoted from Division 4 last year. Tipperary won their group clash by two points and the final by a point. Wexford, who have no points after three rounds, take on Limerick who have won one of three games so far.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4: OFFALY SET STRONG PACE

Sunday (2.0 unless stated): Antrim v London, Ballycastle, 12.45; Offaly v Leitrim, O’Connor Park; Carlow v Wicklow, Netwatch Cullen Park; Longford v Waterford, Glennon Brother Pearse Park.

Offaly and Longford, both of whom were relegated last year, have made a strong start in their bid for a quick return. Offaly have won all three games while Longford have five of six points. So too have Carlow. Offaly will have home advantage against Leitrim as they seek to stay at the head of the table. Longford and Carlow will be at home too as they attempt to keep pace with the leaders. Leitrim and London are still without a win.

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: 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

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; Postponed: 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

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: 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

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 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