Senior footballers’ tough task against Donegal

There will still be four rounds remaining after next weekend’s Allianz Football League programme but some key trends are likely to emerge in all four divisions.

With semi-finals removed from the Allianz Football League Division 1 this year, only the top two will be in line to win the title so it’s crucial for contenders to stay in touch with the pace. Unusually, no county in the group has taken full points while only Roscommon are yet to pick up their first point. 

So too in Division 2, where only Kildare are on full points while Down remain as the sole side without a point. Louth have the only 100 per cent record in Division 3, while Waterford and Wexford are in a similarly promising position in Division 4, having each won their first two games.

DIVISION 1: CAN DONEGAL END DUBLIN’S RUN?

 Saturday: Mayo v Roscommon, Elverys MacHale Park. 7.0

Sunday: Donegal v Dublin, Ballybofey, 2.0; Kerry v Monaghan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 2.0; Tyrone v Cavan, Omagh, 2.30.

Sixteen counties have tried – sixteen counties have failed. It leaves Dublin seeking to extend their unbeaten Allianz League and All-Ireland championships run to 32 games over almost two years when they play Donegal in Ballybofey on Sunday.

Dublin have won 27, drawn four (two each against Tyrone and Mayo) of their last 31 games, which have included three clashes with Donegal. They all came last year, with Dublin winning the Division 1 group game by 1-10 to 0-7,the Allianz Football League semi-final by 1-20 to 0-13 and the All-Ireland quarter-final by 1-15 to 1-10. All three games were in Croke Park.

Like Dublin, Tyrone and Monaghan have taken three from a possible four points so far, leaving them with in a very positive mindset for their third round encounters against Cavan and Kerry respectively.

Tyrone will be at home to Cavan, who beat them once already this year in the first round of the McKenna Cup in early January. The counties clashed four times last year with Tyrone winning three (Division 2 group game and final and the Ulster semi-final replay) while there was one draw (Ulster semi-final). Monaghan lost to Kerry by eight points in last year’s Allianz Football League.

DIVISION 2: KILDARE CHASING THIRD WIN

Saturday: Down v Meath, Pairc Esler, 7.0

Sunday: Cork v Fermanagh, Pairc Ui Rinn, 1.0; Derry v Kildare, Celtic Park, 2.0; Galway v Clare, Pearse Stadium, 2.0

Having come up from the Allianz Football League Division 3 this season, Kildare have made a very impressive start to their bid for promotion in successive years, having beaten Meath and Cork in their opening two games by a combined total of 16 points. They were the only team in the group to win their first two games and now they head for Celtic Park to take on Derry who are in seventh place after taking one of a possible four points.

Galway v Clare pits two teams on three points against each other. They also have the same scoring difference (+6pts). Clare are the only team in the Division yet to concede a goal.

Down will be bidding to end a losing run which extends back to April 2015 when they host Meath on Saturday night. Having been relegated from the Allianz Football League Division 1 last year, they are now bottom of Division 2, while Meath have won one of two games so far this year.

Fermanagh make the long journey south to play Cork on Sunday in what will be the first Allianz Football League clash between the counties since 2009 when Cork won by three points. Fermanagh have won one and lost one of their opening two games this year while Cork had taken only one point from a possible four, leaving them sixth on the table.

DIVISION 3: LOUTH LEAD WAY AFTER IMPRESSIVE START

Saturday: Laois v Tipperary, O’Moore Park, 7.0

Sunday: Offaly v Louth, Tullamore; Longford v Armagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park; Antrim v Sligo, Corrigan Park, Belfast,2.0.

Just as Kildare have won their first two games in Division 2 after being promoted, Louth have done likewise in Division 3, picking up full points in their opening two games after coming up from Division 4. They head for Tullamore, hoping to maintain their 100 per cent record against Offaly, who have won one of two.

Peter Creedon (Laois) and Liam Kearns (Tipperary) will find themselves unusual position when their sides meet on Saturday night. Creedon is a former Tipperary manager while Kearns is a former Laois boss. Both have seen their sides win one of two games so far in this Allianz Football League.

Sligo (three from four points) have made a very good start and will be hoping to build on it against Antrim, who lost their opening two games by a total of 18 points. Armagh are also in early trouble after taking one point from a possible four so far, which makes their clash with Longford very important. Longford have won one of two games.

DIVISION 4: LEADERS CLASH IN WEXFORD

Saturday: Carlow v Limerick, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.0.

Sunday: Wicklow v London, Joule Park Aughrim, 1.0; Westmeath v Leitrim, TEG Cusack Park, 2.0; Wexford v Waterford, Innovate Wexford Park. 1.0

Wexford and Waterford have both won their first two games, making their clash the big attraction in this group next weekend.

Waterford picked up only four points in last year’s Allianz Football League but have already matched that total after two games this year while Wexford, now under Seamus ‘Banty’ McEaney, have also started very well. Wexford beat Waterford by a point in last year’s Allianz Football League.

Westmeath (three points) are tucked in behind the leading pair so if they beat Leitrim in Mullingar, they will move into the promotion zone. Limerick, who were relegated last year, have lost their first two games and are already well adrift in the promotion race as they prepare to take on Carlow (one win from two) on Saturday night.

Wicklow have yet to win a game in this campaign, which makes their clash with London in Aughrim crucial if they are to retain any hope of joining the promotion race. London beat Wicklow by three points last year.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2017: RESULTS & FIXTURES

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: Feb 25: Mayo v Roscommon; Feb 26: Donegal v Dublin; Kerry v Monaghan; Tyrone v Cavan.Round 4: Mar 4: Dublin v Mayo; Cavan v Donegal; Tyrone v Monaghan; Mar 5: Roscommon v Kerry
Round 5: Mar 18: Donegal v Tyrone; Kerry v Dublin; Mar 19: Mayo v Cavan; Monaghan v Roscommon.
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

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: Feb 25: Down v Meath; Feb 26: Cork v Fermanagh; Derry v Kildare; Galway v Clare.Round 4: Mar 5: Kildare v Fermanagh; Meath v Galway; Clare v Cork; Derry v Down.
Round 5: Mar 18: Down v Kildare; Mar 19: Fermanagh v Clare; Cork v Meath; Galway v Derry.
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

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: Feb 25: Laois v Tipperary; Feb 26: Offaly v Louth; Longford v Armagh; Antrim v Sligo.Round 4: Mar 5: Tipperary v Longford; Louth v Antrim; Armagh v Offaly; Sligo v Laois.
Round 5: Mar 19: Antrim v Laois; Louth v Armagh; Longford v Sligo; Offaly v Tipperary.
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

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: Feb 25: Carlow v Limerick; Feb 26: Wicklow v London; Westmeath v Leitrim; Wexford v Waterford.Round 4: Mar 4: Limerick v London; Mar 5: Leitrim v Carlow; Waterford v Westmeath; Wicklow v Wexford.
Round 5: Mar 18: Carlow v Waterford; Mar 19: Wexford v London; Limerick v Leitrim; Westmeath v Wicklow.
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