ALLIANZ 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.
ALLIANZ 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 next 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.
ALLIANZ 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.
ALLIANZ 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.
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: 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
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A: TIPP THROUGH – REMAINING FIVE HAVE ALL TO PLAY FOR
Sunday (3.0): Clare v Waterford, Ennis; Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Rinn; Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park.
Tipperary, who are three points ahead of their closest pursuers, will top the group irrespective of how they fare against Cork and qualify to meet fourth-placed (Laois, Kerry, Offaly) in the quarter-final. Cork will reach the quarter-finals if they win. A draw or defeat could leave them with a qualification chance, depending on other results. Tipperary beat Cork in last year’s Allianz Hurling League (2-27 to 2-15) and Munster championship (0-22 to 0-13).
Clare and Waterford are both on four points so the winners will reach the quarter-finals. A draw might be enough to get both through. The counties met three times last year, resulting in one win each and one draw.
They drew (0-22 each after extra-time) in the Allianz League final before Clare won the replay (1-23 to 2-19). Waterford gained revenge in the Munster semi-final, winning by 1-21 to 0-17.
Kilkenny need to win to give themselves a chance of reaching the quarter-finals and to avoid a relegation play-off while Dublin need to win to give themselves a chance of avoiding a relegation play-off. Either Kilkenny or Dublin are certain to be in the relegation play-off.
Kilkenny beat Dublin twice last year – 0-23 to 1-14 in the Allianz League and 1-25 to 0-16 in the Leinster semi-final.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B: WHO WILL TAKE LAST QUARTER-FINAL PLACE?
Sunday (3.0): Kerry v Offaly, Austin Stack Park, Tralee; Limerick v Galway, Gaelic Grounds; Wexford v Laois, Innovate Wexford Park.
Wexford, Galway and Limerick are through to the quarter-finals. Wexford will top the group irrespective of how they fare against Laois and will play the fourth-placed in the Allianz Hurling League 1A in the quarter-finals. Wexford beat Laois by 0-22 to 0-21 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Galway and Limerick are battling it out for the runners-up up spot to Wexford. They last met in the Allianz Hurling League in 2014 when Galway won a quarter-final tie by six points. The winners of Sunday’s game will play third-placed in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A in the quarter-finals, with the losers facing second-placed in 1A.
Kerry and Laois have two points each, with Offaly still to pick up a point after losing all four games to date. However, they will qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Kerry and Wexford beat Laois. A Kerry win would see them through if Laois lose to Wexford. Laois will go through if they beat Wexford and Kerry lose or draw.
In effect, Kerry, Laois and Offlay are still in contention for a quarter-final place; alternatively two of them will be in a relegation play-off.
Kerry beat Offaly by 2-18 to 2-17 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League but Offaly gained revenge in the Leinster championship ‘round robin’, winning by 3-19 to 0-20.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A: ANTRIM POISED FOR FINAL PLACE
Sunday (1.0): Kildare v London, Clane; Antrim v Westmeath, Cushendall; Carlow v Armagh, Netwatch Cullen Park.
A draw for Antrim (7 pts) against Westmeath (4pts) would be enough to earn the Ulstermen a place in the Allianz Hurling League final. Even if they lose, they are still in with a big chance of clinching a place in the final. Westmeath beat Antrim by 2-11 to 0-10 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Carlow (6pts) will clinch a place in the final if they beat Armagh but if they lose and Kildare (5pts) beat London, the Lilywhites will reach the decider. Kildare and London drew in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B: MEATH AND WICKLOW HAVE SECURED A PLACE IN THE FINAL
Sunday (3.0): Roscommon v Mayo, Athleague; Down v Derry, Ballycran; Meath v Wicklow, Trim.
Having won all four games, Meath and Wicklow have qualified for the final as they are four points ahead of Derry and Down. It leaves their clash in Trim something a ‘dead rubber’, with real test for both coming when they clash in the final in early April. Derry and Down are both on four points so the winner of their clash will finish third. Roscommon and Mayo have lost all four games.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A: MIDWEEK ACTION IN OMAGH
Wednesday (8.0): Tyrone v Donegal, Omagh.
Sunday (3.0): Monaghan v Tyrone, Iniskeen; Louth v Donegal, Darver.
There’s midweek action this week when Tyrone (4 pts) host Donegal (6pts) on Wednesday in a game postponed from March 5th. Monaghan lead the way on eight points. If Donegal beat Tyrone, they and Monaghan will be finalists, irrespective of results in the final round. However, if Tyrone win, it will be a three-way battle for the final places in the last round.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B: LONGFORD AND WARWICKSHIRE CLINCH FINAL PLACES
Sunday: Fermanagh v Leitrim, Brewster Park, Enniskillen 1.0; Sligo v Longford, Markievicz Park, 1.0
Longford (full points from three games) and Warwickshire (six points from four games) have qualified for the final as their closest pursuers, Sligo and Fermanagh are on two points ahead of the final round next weekend.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2017: RESULTS AND FIXTURES
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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: Waterford 2-19 Dublin 1-17; Kilkenny 0-22 Cork 0-15; Tipperary 0-28 Clare 0-21
Round 4: Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 3-14; Clare 0-20 Dublin 1-15; Cork 1-21 Waterford -13.
Round 5: Mar 26: Cork v Tipperary; Clare v Waterford; Dublin v Kilkenny
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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: Limerick 1-25 Offaly 3-15; Galway 3-31 Laois 1-11; Wexford 3-18 Kerry 0-12.
Round 4: Limerick 6-33 Laois 1-19; Wexford 1-17 Offaly 0-15; Galway 1-22 Kerry 0-12.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kerry v Offaly; Wexford v Laois; Limerick v Galway.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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: Carlow 3-22 London 2-7; Westmeath 3-29 Armagh 0-16; Antrim 1-16 Kildare 1-14.
Round 4: Westmeath 2-20 London 2-7; Antrim 2-18 Armagh 2-11; Kildare 2-17 Carlow 1-20.
Round 5: Mar 26: Kildare v London; Antrim v Westmeath; Carlow v Armagh.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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: Meath 2-16 Roscommon 1-16; Wicklow 1-21 Derry 1-11; Down 2-23 Mayo 0-12.
Round 4: Derry 3-16 Roscommon 0-12; Wicklow 1-18 Down 0-11; Meath 2-18 Mayo 0-15.
Round 5: Mar 26: Down v Derry; Roscommon v Mayo; Meath v Wicklow.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1s v 2nd
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Donegal 2-23 Louth 1-14; Monaghan 3-15 Tyrone 1-11.
Round 2: Monaghan 1-21Donegal 3-14; Tyrone 5-16 Louth 0-12
Round 3: Tyrone v Donegal postponed; Monaghan 1-10 Louth 1-8.
Round 4: Monaghan 2-12 Louth 2-9; Donegal 2-14 Tyrone 0-15.
Round 5: Donegal 1-21 Monaghan 2-13; Tyrone 1-23 Louth 2-10
Mar 22nd – Tyrone v Donegal; Healy Park, Omagh 8.0 (Rescheduled from Mar 5th)
Round 6: Mar 26: Louth v Donegal; Monaghan v Tyrone.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 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: Fermanagh 2-15 Sligo 1-14; Warwickshire 0-18 Leitrim 2-10
Round 4: Sligo 3-17 Leitrim 1-15; Longford 2-18 Warwickshire 2-12.
Round 5: Mar 26: Fermanagh v Leitrim; Sligo v Longford.
Final: Apr 1 /2: 1st v 2nd
