Senior footballers hoping to stay on course against Rossies

Setting a record for the longest unbeaten run in GAA history and taking a step closer to reaching the Allianz Football League Division 1 final for a fifth successive year are up for grabs for Dublin when they play Roscommon in Croke Park on Saturday.

The draw with Kerry in Tralee last Saturday took Dublin’s unbeaten run to 34 games, which matched the Kingdom’s record set in 1928-33.

Four teams are on seven points in Football League Division 1 but Dublin lead the way on scoring difference (+19) ahead of Donegal (+12), Tyrone (+11), Monaghan (+6).

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1: FOUR COUNTIES LEAD THE WAY IN BATTLE FOR FINAL PLACES

Saturday: Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park 7.0.

Sunday: Tyrone v Mayo, Omagh; Donegal v Monaghan, Ballyshannon 3.0; Cavan v Kerry, Kingspan Breffni Park 2.0

There’s nothing settled yet in terms of the final or relegation places but Roscommon (0 pts) are in a perilous position at the bottom of the table, needing to beat Dublin (7pts) and Cavan (3pts) to give themselves any chance of extending their stay in the top flight for a third season.

Even if Roscommon won both of their remaining games, Mayo (4pts) would need to lose against Tyrone and Donegal to give Kevin McStay’s men a chance of staying up. Roscommon have lost their last eight Allianz League games as they head for Croke Park to take on Dublin (seeking to extend their unbeaten run to 35 games). Dublin beat Roscommon by a point in last year’s Allianz League.

Dublin, Donegal, Tyrone and Monaghan are all on seven points, which makes it highly probable that the finalists will come from that quartet, although Kerry (5pts) have an outside chance.

Tyrone, who lost their first game in this Allianz Football League when going down to Donegal last Saturday, host Mayo on Sunday. Mayo beat Tyrone by a point in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final while Tyrone won the last Allianz League clash between the counties in February 2015.

Donegal and Monaghan met twice in last year’s Ulster semi-final, drawing 1-11 to 0-14 before Rory Gallagher’s men won the replay by 0-17 to 2-10. Monaghan beat Donegal by 1-10 to 1-9 in last year’s Allianz League.

Cavan’s win over Mayo last Sunday – their first in the current campaign – has boosted their prospects of survival in Allianz League Division 1 but they are still in the relegation zone so they may have to win their last two games (Kerry, Roscommon) to have a chance of achieving it.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2:ONLY FIVE POINTS SEPARATE THE EIGHT COUNTIES

Sunday: Derry v Cork, Celtic Park, 1.0; Meath v Fermanagh, Pairc Tailteann, 3.0; Down v Galway, Newry, 3.0; Kildare v Clare, Newbridge, 3.15

It always looked likely to be a tight campaign and it has turned out that way, with only five points separating leaders, Kildare (8pts) from bottom side, Derry (3ps).

Kildare will clinch promotion if they beat Clare in Newbridge this Sunday as the Bannermen and Meath are both on five points. Second-placed Galway are on seven points.

Tyrone and Clare met twice in last year’s Allianz League Division 3 campaign, with the Lilywhites winning the group game by 0-22 to 1-14. However, Clare, who were also promoted, gained revenge in the final, winning by 2-17 to 1-19.

Galway are well-placed to end their six-season stay in Allianz League Division 2 as they head to Newry to take on Down (4pts). The sides last met in the Allianz League in 2015 when Down won by 1-17 to 1-16.

Meath (5pts) can still get into the promotion zone if they beat Fermanagh (4pts) and Galway lose to Down. Fermanagh beat Meath by 0-10 to 0-6 last year.

Derry (3pts) have dropped to the bottom of the table after being hit for 5-15 by Galway last Sunday and are now in real danger of being relegated. They host Cork (4pts) on Sunday in what is a crucial clash for both counties.

Cork, who dropped into Allianz League Division 2 this year, also have relegation worries. They have won only one of five games (v Fermanagh, while picking up their two other points in draws with Galway and Meath). They lost to Clare and Kildare.

Cork and Derry last met in the Allianz Football League Division 1 in 2015 when the Ulstermen won by 2-15 to 1-11.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3:TIPPERARY, LOUTH, ARMAGH LEAD PROMOTION RACE

Saturday (7.0): Armagh v Antrim, Athletic Grounds; Laois v Longford, Portlaoise.

Sunday (3.0): Sligo v Offaly, Markievicz Park; Tipperary v Louth, Semple Stadium.

It’s very tight among the top three with Tipperary and Louth both on eight points, followed by Armagh on seven points. Sligo are on five points.

The winners of Tipperary v Louth are likely to be promoted, making their clash in Thurles the big attraction on a weekend when Leinster neighbours, Laois and Offaly will continue their battle to avoid relegation. Louth and Tipperary have lost just one game each so far. Louth’s defeat came last Sunday when going down heavily to Armagh while Tipperary lost to Sligo in Round 2.

The sides didn’t meet last year (Louth were in Allianz League Division 4) but had two clashes in 2015, with Tipperary winning both. They beat Louth by 4-16 to 3-11 in Allianz League Division 3 and by 3-21 to 0-7 in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Armagh put themselves right back in the promotion hunt when beating Louth last Sunday and will fancy their chances of building on that progress at home to Antrim on Saturday night. Antrim moved out of the relegation zone when they beat Laois last weekend.

Laois are now in relegation territory (one win from five games) while makes their clash with Longford (4pts) in Portlaoise very important for them. Defeat would almost certainly mean that they drop from Allianz Football League Division 2 to 4 in successive seasons.

Offaly, who have also won only one of five games, are also in grave danger of dropping into Allianz Football League Division 4, as they head for Markievicz Park to take on Sligo. However, they will be encouraged by last year’s clash with Sligo, which they won by two points.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4:WEXFORD SECURE PROMOTION WITH TWO ROUNDS LEFT

Saturday: Waterford v Limerick, Fraher Field Dungarvan, 7.0

Sunday: Wexford v Westmeath, Innovate Wexford Park, 1.0; Leitrim v London, Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.0 Wicklow v Carlow, Joule Aughrim Park, 3.0

Wexford are in the happy position of being guaranteed promotion after winning all five games to date, leaving them five points ahead of third-placed Carlow, who can’t catch them.

Carlow have a slim chance of overtaking second-placed Westmeath (9pts) but would need to win their last two games. Even then, they would need Tom Cribbin’s men to lose their last two games to bring it down to scoring difference to decide second place (Carlow and Westmeath drew in the first round).

Westmeath will be promoted if they take a point off Wexford on Sunday while Carlow need to beat Wicklow to have any chance of staying in the promotion chase. Carlow beat Wicklow by three points in last year’s Allianz Football League.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2017: RESULTS & FIXTURES

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
Round 1: Dublin 0-18 Cavan 0-11; Kerry 2-17 Donegal 1-17; Tyrone 0-18 Roscommon 1-9; Monaghan 1-11 Mayo 0-12.
Round 2: Mayo 0-15 Kerry 1-10; Dublin 0-10 Tyrone 1-7; Donegal 0-16 Roscommon 2-9; Monaghan 0-7 Cavan 0-7.
Round 3: Mayo 1-19 Roscommon 0-14; Donegal 2-5 Dublin 1-8; Monaghan 2-8 Kerry 1-10; Tyrone 0-19 Cavan 1-9.
Round 4: Dublin 1-16 Mayo 0-7; Donegal 1-16 Cavan 0-11; Tyrone 0-14 Monaghan 0-10; Kerry 1-19 Roscommon 1-13.
Round 5: Donegal 0-12 Tyrone 0-6; Kerry 0-13 Dublin 0-13; Cavan 1-14 Mayo 0-15; Monaghan 2-17 Roscommon 1-13.
Round 6: Mar 25: Dublin v Roscommon; Mar 26: Cavan v Kerry; Tyrone v Mayo; Donegal v Monaghan.
Round 7: Apr 2: Monaghan v Dublin; Mayo v Donegal; Kerry v Tyrone; Roscommon v Cavan.
Final: Apr 9: 1 v 2

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Round 1: Derry 0-11 Clare 1-8; Galway 0-14 Cork 1-11; Kildare 3-17 Meath 0-16; Fermanagh 1-16 Down 0-10.
Round 2: Clare 2-11 Down 0-11; Kildare 1-14 Cork 1-8; Galway 1-13 Fermanagh 0-10; Meath 3-15 Derry 0-9.
Round 3: Down 1-13 Meath 0-14; Cork 1-14 Fermanagh 0-9; Derry 1-18 Kildare 1-17; Galway 3-13 Clare 1-11.
Round 4: Mar 5: Kildare 4-14 Fermanagh 0-14; Meath 1-13 Galway 0-15; Clare 2-11 Cork 0-9; Down 1-15 Derry 1-7.
Round 5: Kildare 2-9 Down 0-10; Fermanagh 0-18 Clare 1-10; Cork 0-18 Meath 1-15; Galway 5-15 Derry 2-15.
Round 6: Mar 26: Derry v Cork; Meath v Fermanagh; Down v Galway; Kildare v Clare.
Round 7: Apr 2: Galway v Kildare; Cork v Down; Clare v Meath; Fermanagh v Derry.
Final: Apr 9: 1 v 2

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3
Round 1: Longford 1-12 Offaly 0-10; Sligo 1-14 Armagh 2-11; Tipperary 2-12 Antrim 0-13; Louth 2-16 Laois 0-10
Round 2: Sligo 2-14 Tipperary 1-16; Louth 0-11 Longford 0-10; Offaly 0-23 Antrim 1-7; Laois 2-11 Armagh 0-16.
Round 3: Tipperary 1-16 Laois 1-10; Louth 2-13 Offaly 0-14; Armagh 3-11 Longford 3-9; Antrim 0-11 Sligo 1-7.
Round 4: Tipperary 3-17 Longford 0-18; Louth 2-10 Antrim 1-11; Armagh 6-22 Offaly 0-10; Sligo 0-18 Laois 2-10.
Round 5: Antrim 1-10 Laois 0-11; Armagh 3-15 Louth 0-10; Longford 0-16 Sligo 2-7; Tipperary 2-15 Offaly 2-11.
Round 6: Mar 25: Armagh v Antrim; Laois v Longford; Mar 26; Sligo v Offaly; Tipperary v Louth.
Apr 2: Antrim v Longford; Louth v Sligo; Armagh v Tipperary; Offaly v Laois.
Final: Apr 8: Final: 1 v 2

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4
Round 1: Waterford 2-16 London 1-8; Carlow 2-10 Westmeath 2-10; Leitrim 1-17 Wicklow 0-10; Wexford 0-14 Limerick 1-8.
Round 2: Waterford 1-17 Wicklow 1-9; London 2-15 Carlow 0-16; Westmeath 1-18 Limerick 0-12; Wexford 0-16 Leitrim 0-14.
Round 3: Carlow 1-10 Limerick 0-10; Wicklow 0-17 London 2-4; Westmeath 2-18 Leitrim1-9; Wexford 1-9 Waterford 0-10.
Round 4: Limerick 1-13 London 0-12; Leitrim 2-14 Carlow 2-12; Westmeath 3-13 Waterford 2-11; Wexford 1-13 Wicklow 0-13.
Round 5: Carlow 2-10 Waterford 0-7; Wexford 0-15 London 0-9; Limerick 2-11 Leitrim 0-15; Westmeath 0-19 Wicklow 0-14.
Round 6: Mar 25: Waterford v Limerick; Mar 26: Leitrim v London; Wexford v Westmeath; Wicklow v Carlow.
Round 7: Apr 2: Westmeath v London; Leitrim v Waterford; Carlow v Wexford; Limerick v Wicklow.
Final: Apr 9