Allianz Football League
DIVISION 1:
Saturday (7.0): Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park; Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh; Cavan v Donegal, Kingspan Breffni Park.
Sunday: Roscommon v Kerry, Dr. Hyde Park 2.0
They are second and third respectively on the table with four points – separated only by a one-point scoring difference – which adds further to the big interest in the Dublin-Mayo clash on Saturday night. It is one of the great modern rivalries in League and Championship, which is certain to ensure a large crowd travels to Croke Park.
This will be the fourth clash between the counties in just over a year, with Dublin winning two while there was one draw. Dublin won by 0-9 to 0-7 in last year’s League game in Castlebar; it finished level (Dublin 2-9 Mayo 0-15) in the All-Ireland final before Jim Gavin’s men took the title in the replay with a one point win.
Dublin have won one and drawn two of their three League games so far this season while Mayo have won two and lost one.
Table-toppers, Monaghan, travel to Omagh to take on Tyrone, whose game with Cavan was postponed last Sunday due to ground conditions. It has been re-fixed for March 12. Monaghan have made a great start to the campaign, beating Mayo and Kerry ‘away’ and drawing with Cavan at home.
Roscommon, the only team in the group without a point, host Kerry, who have won one of three games. The sides clashed twice in last year’s League with Roscommon winning the group game (0-14 to 1-10) but the Kingdom gained revenge in the semi-final, running out easy winners, 3-15 to 0-14.
Cavan (one win, one defeat from two games) host Donegal, (one win, one draw, one defeat).
DIVISION 2: ONLY THREE POINTS SEPARATE ALL EIGHT TEAMS
Sunday: Kildare v Fermanagh, Newbridge, 1.0; Clare v Cork, Ennis, 2.0; Meath v Galway, Pairc Tailteann, 2.0; Derry v Down, Celtic Park, 2.30.
Three points separate the eight counties after three rounds, with Galway leading on five points and Meath, Fermanagh and Down as the bottom three on two points each
Galway travel to play Meath in Navan on Sunday, hoping to build on their promotion ambitions against rivals, who have won one of three games so far.
Galway and Meath drew (0-15 to 1-12) in last year’s League, while Galway won (2-13 to 1-13) in 2015.
Second-placed Kildare (4 pts), who were caught by a late goal against Derry on Sunday host Fermanagh, who have lost two of three games so far. Clare and Cork are both on three points so their clash in Ennis is very important in the bid to stay in the promotion zone.
Clare came up from Division 3 this season while Cork dropped down from Division 1 so League meetings between the counties are pretty rare. Their last championship meeting was in 2015 when Cork won 12 points.
It’s Derry v Down in Celtic Park, where the Mourne men will be hoping to win successive League games for the first time in two years, having ended their long run without a win with a home success against Meath last Saturday.
DIVISION 3: LOUTH IN SERIOUS BID FOR DOUBLE PROMOTION
Sunday: Tipperary v Longford, Semple Stadium, 1.0; Armagh v Offaly, Athletic Grounds; Louth v Antrim, Drogheda; Sligo v Laois, Markievicz Park, 2.30.
They started last season in Division 4 but now Louth are well-placed to achieve promotion in successive seasons as they top Division 3 with full points after three rounds. It has been an impressive start by Colin Kelly’s men, who have yet to concede a goal after three games.
They face Antrim, who were also promoted this season. Louth and Antrim drew in last year’s Division 4 group game before Louth won the final by 3-12 to 1-14.
Second-placed Tipperary (4pts) will be at home to Longford (one win, two defeats). Longford won the corresponding tie by six points last year. Laois, who were relegated last year, find themselves bottom of the group (2pts) on scoring difference. They also have the worst defensive record in the group having conceded a total of 3-48 in three games. They will be away to Sligo (3pts) next Sunday.
Armagh (3pts) are a point ahead of Offaly on the table as they prepare to take on Pat Flanagan’s men, who have yet to score a goal after three games.
DIVISION 4: WEXFORD LIVING UP TO PRE-SEASON RATING
Saturday: Limerick v London, Gaelic Grounds, 7.0
Sunday (2.0) Waterford v Westmeath, Fraher Field; Leitrim v Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon; Wicklow v Wexford, Aughrim.
Wexford, under Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney were regarded as serious promotion contenders before the start of the League, a rating they have so far lived up to, having won all three games to lead the table by a point from Westmeath (5pts).
Wexford travel to Aughrim to take on Wicklow (2pts), whom they beat by 4-23 to 3-14 last year. Westmeath, who were relegated last year, are going well in their bid for promotion and will be hoping to add to that momentum against a Waterford side that suffered their first defeat of the campaign against Wexford on Sunday. Leitrim host Carlow, who beat them by five points in last year’s League.
Limerick, who were relegated last year, have yet to pick up a point, a task they will hope to complete at home to London (2pts) on Saturday.
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: Mayo 1-19 Roscommon 0-14; Donegal 2-5 Dublin 1-8; Monaghan 2-8 Kerry 1-10; Tyrone v Cavan – postponed (re-fixed for March 12)
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: 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 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: 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: 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
ROUND 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: 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
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE BULLETIN - TIPPERARY AIMING TO EXTEND WINNING RUN
Five points were enough to secure a quarter-final place in Division 1A of last year’s Allianz Hurling League so Tipperary, currently on four points, could become the first team in the group to clinch a last eight place if they beat Clare on Sunday.
At the other end of the scale, Galway faced a relegation play-off – which they lost to Cork – after picking up four points last year, something that will be noted by Kilkenny, who have lost their first two games. Brian Cody’s men host Cork in Nowlan Park.
Four points earned Wexford and Offaly quarter-final berths from 1B last year so Wexford (two wins so far) may have done enough already to reach the knock-out stages.
However, having beaten Limerick and Galway, Wexford are determined to take the sole promotion slot and return to the top flight.
DIVISION 1A: TOP v SECOND IN SEMPLE STADIUM
Saturday: Dublin v Waterford, Croke Park, 5.0
Sunday: Kilkenny v Cork, Nowlan Park, 2.0; Tipperary v Clare, Semple Stadium, 3.0.
Tipperary, who are unbeaten since losing to Clare in the Allianz Hurling League quarter-final last April, are top of the 1A table after beating Dublin and Waterford and now have their first home game of the campaign against Clare, who are second, ahead of Cork, Waterford and Dublin on scoring difference.
Tipperary have a points differential of +22, by far the best in the group. Clare, who lost to Cork and beat Kilkenny, will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s quarter-final when they beat Tipperary 2-13 to 0-18.
Kilkenny find themselves in an unusual position at the bottom of the table after losing to Waterford and Clare. They beat Cork, who have won one and lost one, by a point in last year’s League clash.
Dublin and Waterford meet in the opening game of the Croke Park double header on Saturday at 5pm (Dublin footballers play Mayo at 7pm), with both having won one and lost one of two games. Dublin beat Waterford by five points in last year’s League.
DIVISION 1B: WEXFORD IN PRIME POSITION FOR PRMOTION PUSH
Saturday: Limerick v Offaly, Gaelic Grounds, 5.0
Sunday: Galway v Laois, Pearse Stadium, 2.0; Wexford v Kerry, Innovate Wexford Park, 2.0
Having beaten Limerick and Galway, the two pre-season favourites to lead the promotion charge, Wexford are primed for a big drive towards 1A. The next step takes Davy Fitzgerald’s men up against Kerry (one win, one defeat). Wexford were easy winners over Kerry last year, winning by 2-25 to 0-8.
Galway and Limerick, second and third respectively on scoring difference, will be seeking to get back on promotion track, while hoping that Wexford are beaten, when they play home games against Laois and Offaly.
Galway’s last competitive clash with Laois was in the 2015 Leinster championship, which they won by 3-28 to 1-14. Limerick beat Offaly by eight points in last year’s League.
DIVISION 2A: KILDARE SET PACE AHEAD OF ANTRIM AND CARLOW
Sunday: Carlow v London, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1.0; Westmeath v Armagh, TEG Cusack Park,2.0; Antrim v Kildare, Ballycastle, 2.0
Joe Quaid’s Kildare have made the perfect start to the League, winning their first two games, but now face a tough ‘away’ assignment against Antrim, who are just a point behind them after a win and a draw. Antrim beat Kildare by 12 points in last year’s League.
Like Antrim, Carlow are on three points, leaving Colm Bonnar’s men well-positioned for a promotion bid. They host London (one point from four points), and will be extremely wary of the exiles, who beat them by 17 points in last year’s League.
The third game features Westmeath (two defeats) against Armagh (one defeat one draw). Westmeath are bottom of the table, which is in marked contrast to last year when they won four of five group games before beating Carlow in the final.
DIVISION 2B: LEINSTER PAIR LEAD THE WAY
Sunday: Derry v Wicklow, Celtic Park, 12.30; Roscommon v Meath, Athleague, 12.30; Mayo v Down, Elverys MacHale Park, 2.0
Leinster duo, Meath and Wicklow are both on full points after two games but both will be ‘away’ in Round 3 against Roscommon and Derry respectively.
Roscommon, who were promoted from 3A this year, have found the going tough in the higher grouping and will certainly be tested by a Royal outfit that has scored a total of 6-40 in two games.
Wicklow have scored 4-34 in their two wins while Derry, who are third on the table on scoring difference, scored 1-30 in their two opening games. Mayo, who like Roscommon have lost their first two games, host Down who have won one and lost one. Mayo beat Down by four points last year.
DIVISION 3A: MONAGHAN ZOOM TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE
Sunday: Monaghan v Louth, Iniskeen 2.0; Donegal v Tyrone, Letterkenny, 2.0
Monaghan are four points clear at the top of the table, having won all three games so far, while Louth are at the bottom, having lost all three. Monaghan beat Louth by ten points last year.
Donegal and Tyrone are both on two points but have a game in hand on the other two as their tie was called off on Sunday due to a waterlogged pitch.
DIVISION 3B: WARWICKSHIR AND LONGFORD ON FULL POINTS
Sunday: Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park, 12.30; Warwickshire v Leitrim, Pairc na hEireann, 2.0.
Warwickshire and Longford have full points after two games each, while Sligo, Leitrim and Fermanagh are still seeking their first points. Longford are not playing next weekend so Warwickshire have an opportunity to go clear at the top when they host Leitrim.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2017: RESULTS AND FIXTURES
DIVISION 1A
Round 1: Cork 0-21 Clare 1-11; Tipperary 1-24 Dublin 1-8; Waterford 1-15 Kilkenny 0-17.
Round 2: Dublin 2-19 Cork 1-14; Clare 2-19 Kilkenny 0-12; Tipperary 1-18 Waterford 0-15.
Round 3: Mar 4: Dublin v Waterford; Mar 5: Kilkenny v Cork; Tipperary v Clare.
Round 4: Mar 11: Tipperary v Kilkenny; Mar 12: Clare v Dublin; Waterford v Cork.
Round 5: Mar 26: Cork v Tipperary; Clare v Waterford; Dublin v Kilkenny
DIVISION 1B
Round 1: Kerry 3-14 Laois 0-19; Galway 6-23 Offaly 1-12; Wexford 1-14 Limerick 0-14.
Round 2: Laois 1-26 Offaly 1-20; Wexford 1-21 Galway 3-13; Limerick 6-21 Kerry 3-8.
Round 3: Mar 4: Limerick v Offaly; Mar 5: Galway v Laois; Wexford v Kerry
Round 4: Mar 11: Laois v Limerick; Mar 12: Offaly v Wexford; Kerry v Galway.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kerry v Offaly; Wexford v Laois; Limerick v Galway.
QUARTER-FINALS
Apr 1 /2: 1st 1A v 4th 1B; 2nd 1A v 3rd 1B; 3rd 1A v 2nd 1B; 4th 1A v 1st 1B
SEMI-FINALS
Apr 16
FINAL
Apr 23
DIVISION 2A
Round 1: Antrim 0-20 London 0-13; Kildare 1-18 Armagh 1-15; Carlow 1-13 Westmeath 1-11.
Round 2: Antrim 2-15 Carlow 0-21; Kildare 1-16 Westmeath 0-14; Armagh 1-13 London 1-13.
Round 3: Mar 5: Carlow v London; Westmeath v Armagh; Antrim v Kildare.
Round 4: Mar 12: Westmeath v London; Armagh v Antrim; Kildare v Carlow.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kildare v London; Antrim v Westmeath; Carlow v Armagh.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
DIVISION 2B
Round 1: Derry 1-14 Mayo 1-13; Meath 4-21 Down 1-10; Wicklow 2-17 Roscommon 0-7.
Round 2: Down 1-21 Roscommon 1-16; Meath 2-19 Derry 0-16; Wicklow 2-17 Mayo 1-17.
Round 3: Mar 5: Roscommon v Meath; Derry v Wicklow; Mayo v Down.
Round 4: Mar 12: Derry v Roscommon; Wicklow v Down; Mayo v Meath.
Round 5: Mar 26: Down v Derry; Roscommon v Mayo; Meath v Wicklow.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1s v 2nd
DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Donegal 2-23 Louth 1-14; Monaghan 3-15 Tyrone 1-11.
Round 2: Next Sunday: Monaghan 1-21Donegal 3-14; Tyrone 5-16 Louth 0-12
Round 3: Feb 26: Tyrone v Donegal postponed; Monaghan 1-10 Louth 1-8.
Round 4: Mar 5: Monaghan v Louth; Donegal v Tyrone
Round 5: Mar 12: Donegal v Monaghan; Tyrone v Louth.
Round 6: Louth v Donegal; Monaghan v Tyrone.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
DIVISION 3B
Round 1: Warwickshire 3-9 Sligo 3-8; Longford 2-13 Fermanagh 0-7
Round 2: Warwickshire 2-12 Fermanagh 1-9; Longford 2-19 Leitrim 3-13.
Round 3: Mar 5: Sligo v Fermanagh; Warwickshire v Leitrim
Round 4: Mar 12: Leitrim v Sligo; Longford v Warwickshire.
Round 5: Mar 26: Fermanagh v Leitrim; Sligo v Longford.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
