Allianz Football League Bulletin
Saturday night fever comes to Tralee next Saturday night when Kerry hosts All-Ireland champions and Allianz League champions, Dublin in a sell-out at Austin Stack Park. It promises to be quite an occasion on a weekend which features 15 other games across the various divisions for Round 5.
Depending on results, some promotion and relegation decisions could be reached although obviously the majority will remain to be settled over the concluding two rounds on March 25th/26th and April 2nd.
Saturday: Kerry v Dublin, Tralee; Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey. 7.0
Sunday: Mayo v Cavan, Elverys MacHale Park; Monaghan v Roscommon, Iniskeen. 2.0
The great Kerry-Dublin rivalry is set for another fascinating episode, with the All-Ireland champions seeking to extend their unbeaten run to 34 games. Kerry were the last team to beat Jim Gavin’s men (0-15 to 1-10, Allianz League on 1st March 2015 in Killarney) but the power balance has switched back in Dublin’s favour since then.
They beat Kerry in the 2015 All-Ireland final (0-12 to 0-9), twice in last year’s Allianz League (2-14 to 0-14 in Round 1 and 2-18 to 0-13 in the final) and again in the All-Ireland semi-final (0-22 to 2-14). Dublin also beat Kerry in the 2013 and 2011 championships as well as the 2014-2013-2011-2010 Allianz Leagues. Kerry won the 2012 Allianz League clash.
Dublin are currently second on the table on six points, one behind Tyrone, while Kerry are in fifth place with four points.
Tyrone (7 points) head for Ballybofey, attempting to remain at the head of affairs as they take on Donegal (5 points), whom they beat by two points in last year’s Ulster final. The sides did not meet in last year’s Allianz League as Tyrone were in Division 2. Donegal beat Tyrone by ten points in the 2015 Allianz League.
Mayo (4 points) and Cavan (one point) meet in the Allianz League for the first time since 2003 when the Breffni men won by 1-16 to 0-11. Cavan are seeking their first win in this year’s Allianz League, having lost to Dublin, Donegal and Tyrone, with their only point coming in a draw against Monaghan.
Roscommon are even worse off, having lost all four games (Tyrone, Donegal, Mayo, Kerry), leaving them in grave danger of relegation after two seasons in the top flight. In fact, if they lose to Monaghan and Mayo and Kerry earn even a point each, Kevin McStay’s men will be playing in Division 2 next year, irrespective of how they fare in their last two games against Dublin and Cavan.
Monaghan have won two, lost one and drawn one of four games and are currently in fourth place on the table. Monaghan beat Roscommon by 2-10 to 1-9 in last year’s Allianz League.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2: TIGHTLY BUNCHED IN VERY COMPETITIVE GROUP
Saturday: Down v Kildare, Newry. 7.0
Sunday: Fermanagh v Clare, Enniskillen; Cork v Meath, Pairc Ui Rinn; Galway v Derry, Tuam Stadium. 2.0
Four points separate top (Kildare on six points) and bottom (Fermanagh on two points) in a group that is living up to the pre-season predictions that it would be extremely tight. Leaders, Kildare head for Newry to take on a revitalised Down. A team that emerged from a long losing run to win two successive games against Meath and Derry. Having been relegated from Division 1 last year, Down are now back in promotion contention. They won the last Allianz League clash with Kildare, 3-13 to 1-15 in 2015 (Division 2).
Galway lost their unbeaten record in their last game when they were edged out by Meath but are still in second place (on scoring difference ahead of Clare) as they prepare to take on Derry (3 points) in Tuam. Galway beat Derry by 1-18 to 2-12 last year.
Cork were fancied for a quick return to Division 1 after being relegated at the end of last season but have taken only three of a possible eight points, leaving them in sixth place. They are a point adrift of Meath, who have won two and lost two games.
Clare, who were promoted from Division 3 for this year’s campaign, have done very well at the higher level, taking five of eight points, a tally they will hope to increase against bottom-of-the-table Fermanagh (2 points). The counties last clashed in the Allianz League in 2015 (Division 3) when Clare won by 1-14 to 2-9.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3: TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH IN DROGHEDA
Sunday: Antrim v Laois, Corrigan Park, Belfast; Louth v Armagh, Drogheda; Longford v Sligo, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park; Offaly v Tipperary, Tullamore. 2.0.
Louth’s Allianz League results since dropping out of Division 3 at the end of the 2015 season have been outstanding and now leaves them well-placed to go from Divisions 4 to 2 in successive seasons. They won six, drew one and lost one of their eight Division 4 games last year and have won all four games in Division 4 this season.
They host third-placed Armagh, who have won two, drawn one and lost once so far. The last Allianz League clash between the counties was in 2015 when Armagh won by 0-10 to 0-8 (Division 3).
After reaching last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, Tipperary were fancied to be strong promotion contenders this year and so is has proved.
They are in second place behind Louth on six points as they prepare to take on Offaly, who have dropped to the bottom of the table on scoring difference after losing to Armagh by 30 points in the last round. Tipperary beat Offaly by 2-11 to 0-12 in last year’s Allianz League.
Offaly’s neighbours, Laois are also in relegation trouble after losing three of four games and are now at risk of dropping from Divisions 2 to 4 in successive seasons. They play Antrim, who are also on two points but with a one-point better scoring difference. It’s Longford v Sligo in the fourth game, with the westerners on five points, three ahead of the Leinster men. Longford beat Sligo by two points in last year’s Allianz League.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4: WEXFORD COULD CLINCH PROMOTION ON SUNDAY
Saturday: Carlow v Waterford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.30.
Sunday: Wexford v London, Innovate Wexford Park, 1.0; Limerick v Leitrim, Newcastlewest; Westmeath v Wicklow, TEG Cusack Park, 2.0.
After winning all four games so far, Wexford could clinch promotion if they beat London. If they win and Waterford and Leitrim (both are on four points) fail to take full points, Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney’s men will be guaranteed promotion and a return to Division 3 after two seasons in Division 4. Wexford beat London by 4-20 to 1-6 last year.
Westmeath (7 points), who are also well-placed to return to Division 3 at the first attempt, have home advantage against Wicklow (one win from four games). Waterford and Leitrim will be hoping for wins over Carlow and Limerick respectively and for the top two to slip up. Waterford beat Carlow by 3-15 to 0-15 in last year’s League. Limerick and Leitrim did not meet as the Shannonsiders were in Division 3 last year.
ALLIANZ 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: 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
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: 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
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: 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
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: 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