Senior footballers hoping to retain NFL Division 1 title

After 114 games stretching back to late January, it’s down to the final four in the 2016 Football League as Croke Park hosts the divisional finals on Saturday and Sunday.

It promises to be quite a weekend, culminating in the GAA’s special ‘Laochra’ event to mark the 100^th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. It will take place after the Dublin v Kerry Division 1 final on Sunday.

The line-up in the finals, which features three counties each from Leinster and Ulster and two from Munster, is as follows:

SATURDAY, APRIL 23^rd

Division 4: Antrim v Louth, 4.0

Division 3, Clare v Kildare, 6.0

SUNDAY, APRIL 24^TH

Division 2: Cavan v Tyrone, 1.30

Division 1: Dublin v Kerry, 3.30

DUBLIN v KERRY

A repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final is certain to be a big attraction as Dublin bid to win the Division 1 title for a fourth successive year, a feat last achieved in 1971-74 by Kerry.

The Kingdom are seeking their first Allianz League Division 1 title since 2009.

Dublin beat Tyrone in the 2013 final, Derry in 2014 and Cork last year. A win would see them move into second place on the title table with twelve wins. Kerry lead the way with 19 titles.

Dublin and Kerry have met in 14 All-Ireland finals but this will be only their third clash in the Division 1 final. They previously met in the 1977 and 1987 finals.

HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL

KERRY
Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14
Roscommon 0-14 Kerry 1-10

Kerry 0-22 Down 0-6
Kerry 1-13 Donegal 1-8
Kerry 2-13 Mayo 0-14
Kerry 1-17 Monaghan 1-9

Kerry 0-20 Cork 1-12

Kerry 3-15 Roscommon 0-14 (semi-final)

Played 8, Won 6, Lost 2

TOP KERRY SCORERS

Colm Cooper............1-23

Barry John Keane....0-17

Darran O’Sullivan....1-14

Bryan Sheehan...........0-16

Alan Fitzgerald.........0-12

Donnchadh Walsh......2-5

DUBLIN

Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14
Dublin 0-9 Mayo 0-7
Dublin 1-14 Monaghan 0-16
Dublin 2-14 Cork 2-10
Dublin 1-15 Down 1-7
Dublin 1-10 Donegal 0-7

Dublin 1-13 Roscommon 1-12

Dublin 1-20 Donegal 0-13 (semi-final)

Played 8, Won 8

TOP DUBLIN SCORERS

Dean Rock.................1-35

Cormac Costello........1-21

Diarmuid Connolly....3-4

Paddy Andrews..........1-10

Bernard Brogan.........1-3

Kevin McManamon...0-6

LAST CLASH

Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14 (Football League Round 1, Croke Park, 30 January 2016)

Paddy Andrews scored 1-4 and Dean Rock 0-7 (0-4 frees) as Dublin opened their Allianz Football League season with a six-point win. It was level (0-7 each) at half-time). Barry John Keane (0-4 all frees) and Darran O’Sullivan (0-3) were Kerry’s top scorers.

LAST DIVISION 1 FINAL MEETING

YEAR: 1987

RESULT: Dublin 1-11 Kerry 0-11, Croke Park (Attendance: 35,181)

SUMMARY: An early goal by Kieran Duff set Dublin on their way to victory over Kerry, who had won the previous three All-Ireland titles. Dublin led by 1-5 to 0-1after 15 minutes before a Kerry fightback left them four points behind at half-time, 1-6 to 0-5. Kerry applied intense pressure in the second half but that early goal proved crucial as Dublin took the title for the first time since 1978.

DUBLIN: John O’Leary; David Carroll, Gerry Hargan (captain), Mick Kennedy; David Synnott, Glenn O’Neill, Noel McCaffrey; Declan Bolger, Jim Ronayne; Barney Rock, Joe McNally, Kieran Duff; David Delappe, Mick Galvin, Anto McCaul.

Sub: Declan Sheehan for Delappe.

KERRY: Charlie Nelligan; Paidi O Se, Tom Spillane, Mick Spillane; Stephen Stack, Tommy Doyle (captain), Ger Lynch; Jack O’Shea, Tommy O’ Dowd; John Kennedy, ‘Ogie’ Moran, Pat Spillane; Willie Maher, Mike Sheehy, Ger Power.

Subs: John Higgins for Stack; Eoin Liston for Maher.

PREVIOUS DUBLIN-KERRY LEAGUE FINALS

1987: Dublin 1-11 Kerry 0-11

1977: Kerry 1-8 Dublin 1-6

LAST FIVE CLASHES

2016: Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14 (Allianz FL)

2015: Dublin 0-12 Kerry 0-9 (All-Ireland final)

2015: Kerry 0-15 Dublin 1-10 (Allianz FL)

2014: Dublin 2-8 Kerry 1-10 (Allianz FL)

2013: Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)

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 – DUBLIN (1953-55-58-76-78-87-91-93-2013-2014-2015)

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

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)

CAVAN v TYRONE

They meet for the second time in this year’s Allianz Football League, with Tyrone having won the first clash in Round 1 in Omagh in late January. They finished two points ahead of Cavan (0-10 to 0-8) after the sides were level on 0-5 each at half-time.

HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL

CAVAN

Tyrone 0-10 Cavan 0-8

Derry 1-12 Cavan 1-11

Cavan 1-20 Meath 1-13

Cavan 3-18 Armagh 0-10

Cavan 1-12 Fermanagh 0-9

Cavan 1-17 Laois 0-15

Cavan 1-16 Galway 1-12

Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2

TOP SCORERS

Gearoid McKiernan.....1-24

Seanie Johnston............3-16

David Givney...............3-5

TYRONE

Tyrone 0-10 Cavan 0-8

Tyrone 1-11 Galway 1-9

Tyrone 1-14 Laois 0-14
Tyrone 2-15 Derry 0-12

Tyrone 1-17 Meath 1-11

Tyrone 0-13 Armagh 1-10

Fermanagh 0-12 Tyrone 1-9

Played 7, Won 5, Drew 2

TOP SCORERS

Ronan O’Neill ...1-23

Richie Donnelly...0-9

Darren McCurry...0-8

CLARE v KILDARE

This will be their second meeting in three weeks, having clashed in Round 7 of the Allianz Football League in Newbridge on April 3. Kildare won by 0-22 to 1-14.

HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL

CLARE

Clare 1-11 Sligo 0-7

Tipperary 2-7 Clare 1-7
Clare 1-14 Limerick 0-11

Clare 1-18 Westmeath 0-10

Offaly 0-15 Clare 1-11
Clare 1-20 Longford 1- 9

Kildare 0-22 Clare 1-14

Played 7, Won 4, Lost 3

TOP SCORERS

David Tubridy...1-35

Eoin Cleary........1-22

Jamie Malone....2-12

KILDARE

Kildare 2-9 Westmeath 0-11
Kildare 1-12 Offaly 1-8

Kildare 2-11 Longford 0-10

Kildare 1-11 Limerick 1-10
Sligo 2-15 Kildare 2-14

Kildare 2-13 Tipperary 1-5
Kildare 0-22 Clare 1-14

Played 7, Won 6, Lost 1

TOP SCORERS

Niall Kelly..............2-17

Eoghan O’Flaherty...1-16

Adam Tyrrell............0-9

ANTRIM v LOUTH

They meet for the second time in three weeks, having clashed in Round 7 when they finished level in Corrigan Park, Belfast.

Both were already guaranteed promotion before a game that was level at half-time and again at full-time.

HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL

ANTRIM

Antrim 1-12 Carlow 0-10

Antrim 1-8 Wexford 0-7

Antrim 2-14 Leitrim 0-10

Antrim 1-11 London 0-11

Antrim 1-16 Waterford 0-6

Antrim 2-13 Wicklow 1-12

Antrim 0-12 Louth 1-9

Played 7, Won 6, Drew 1

TOP SCORERS

Tomas McCann........2-26

Brian Neeson............2-14

Michael McCann......0-10

LOUTH

Louth 2-9 London 0-9

Louth 1-10 Waterford 1-9

Louth 0-15 Wicklow 1-2

Leitrim 0-16 Louth 2-9

Louth 2-17 Carlow 1-7
Louth 0-13 Wexford 0-11
Antrim 0-12 Louth 1-9

Played 7, Won 5, Drew1, Lost1

TOP SCORERS

Ryan Burns.......1-18

Declan Byrne.....1-11

Jim McEneaney...1-9

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2016: RESULTS & FIXTURES

DIVISION 1
Round 1: Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14: Donegal 3-15 Down 0-7; Cork 1-18 Mayo 0-12; Monaghan 2-10 Roscommon 1-9.
Round 2: Dublin 0-9 Mayo 0-7; Roscommon 0-14 Kerry 1-10; Donegal 2-14 Cork 1-7; Monaghan 0-13 Down 0-11.
Round 3: Dublin 1-14 Monaghan 0-16; Roscommon 4-25 Cork 3-10; Donegal 1-14 Mayo 1-12; Kerry 0-22 Down 0-6.
Round 4: Dublin 2-14 Cork 2-10; Roscommon 1-12 Down 0-6; Kerry 1-13 Donegal 1-8; Mayo 2-11 Monaghan 1-12.
Round 5: Dublin 1-15 Down 1-7; Cork 1-20 Monaghan 1-13; Kerry 2-13 Mayo 0-14; Roscommon 1-19 Donegal 0-17.
Round 6: Dublin 1-10 Donegal 0-7; Cork 0-12 Down 0-7; Kerry 1-17 Monaghan 1-9; Mayo 1-11 Roscommon 1-7
Round 7: Kerry 0-20 Cork 1-12; Mayo 1-19 Down 1-16; Monaghan 1-10 Donegal 1-9; Dublin 1-13 Roscommon 1-12.
Semi-finals: Kerry3-15 Roscommon 0-14; Dublin 1-20 Donegal 0-13
Final: Apr 24: Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, 3.30

DIVISION 2
Round 1: Meath 1-10 Armagh 0-8; Tyrone 0-10 Cavan 0-8; Galway 3-12 Laois 1-10; Derry 3-13 Fermanagh 1-9.
Round 2: Laois 1-13 Armagh 0-15; Derry 1-12 Cavan 1-11; Tyrone 1-11 Galway 1-9; Fermanagh 0-10 Meath 0-6.
Round 3: Armagh 1-10 Fermanagh 0-12; Galway 1-18 Derry 2-12; Cavan 1-20 Meath 1-13; Tyrone1-14 Laois 0-14.
Round 4: Cavan 3-18 Armagh 0-10; Tyrone 2-15 Derry 0-12; Galway 0-15 Meath 1-12; Fermanagh 1-17 Laois 0-10.
Round 5: Cavan 1-12 Fermanagh 0-9; Laois 1-22 Derry 5-10; Armagh 1-15 Galway 1-15; Tyrone 1-17 Meath 1-11.
Round 6: Tyrone 0-13 Armagh 1-10; Cavan 1-17 Laois 0-15; Galway 0-15 Fermanagh 0-15; Derry 2-12 Meath 2-12.

Round 7: Armagh 1-18 Derry 0-15; Cavan 1-16 Galway 1-12; Fermanagh 0-12 Tyrone 1-9; Meath 0-18 Laois 1-9.
Final: Apr 24: Tyrone v Cavan, Croke Park, 1.30

DIVISION 3
Round 1: Clare 1-11 Sligo 0-7; Limerick 1-12 Tipperary 2-9; Offaly 0-12 Longford 0-10; Kildare 2-9 Westmeath 0-11.
Round 2: Kildare 1-12 Offaly 1-8; Longford 0-13 Limerick 1-8; Sligo 1-11 Westmeath 1-10; Tipperary 2-7 Clare 1-7.
Round 3: Kildare 2-11 Longford 0-10; Offaly 1-13 Sligo 0-14; Westmeath 0-11 Tipperary 1-8; Clare 1-14 Limerick 0-11.
Round 4: Tipperary 2-11 Offaly 0-12; Clare 1-18 Westmeath 0-10; Kildare 1-11 Limerick 1-10; Longford 1-17 Sligo 2-9.
Round 5: Westmeath 3-14 Limerick 0-7; Sligo 2-15 Kildare 2-14; Longford 1-17 Tipperary1-11; Offaly 0-15 Clare 1-11.
Round 6: Clare 1-20 Longford 1-9; Sligo 3-10 Limerick 1-12; Westmeath 1-9 Offaly 0-9; Kildare 2-13 Tipperary 1-5.
Round 7: Kildare 0-22 Clare 1-14; Offaly 1-16 Westmeath 0-13; Longford 0-13 Westmeath 0-11; Sligo 0-18 Tipperary 3-9.
Final: Apr 23: Kildare v Clare, Croke Park, 6.0

DIVISION 4
Round 1: Louth 2-9 London 0-9; Antrim 1-12 Carlow 0-10; Wexford 0-14 Leitrim 1-10; Wicklow 0-13 Waterford 1-8.
Round 2: Carlow 4-4 London 1-11; Antrim 1-8 Wexford 0-7; Louth 1-10 Waterford 1-9; Wicklow 0-10 Leitrim 1-6
Round 3: Wexford 4-20 London 1-6; Antrim 2-14 Leitrim 0-10; Waterford 3-15 Carlow 0-15; Louth 0-15 Wicklow 1-2.
Round 4: Wexford 0-12 Waterford 0-11; Leitrim 0-16 Louth 2-9; Antrim 1-11 London 0-11; Carlow 0-17 Wicklow 0-14.
Round 5: Leitrim 1-16 London 1-11; Antrim 1-16 Waterford 0-6; Louth 2-17 Carlow 1-7; Wexford 4-23 Wicklow 3-14.
Round 6: London 0-13 Waterford 0-12; Carlow 0-12 Leitrim 1-4; Louth 0-13 Wexford 0-11; Antrim 2-13 Wicklow 1-12
Round 7: Antrim 0-12 Louth 1-9; Wicklow 2-10 London 1-10; Waterford 0-10 Leitrim 1-6; Wexford 2-17 Carlow 2-6.

Apr 23: Final: Antrim v Louth, Croke Park, 4.0