ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1: LATEST INSTALMENT IN FASCINATING DUBLIN-MAYO SAGA
Saturday (19:00): Mayo v Dublin, Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar; Monaghan v Tyrone, Castleblayney
Sunday (14:00): Donegal v Kildare, Ballyshannon
Sunday (14:30) Kerry v Galway, Tralee
The Dublin-Mayo rivalry has been one of football’s big highlights for several years and it’s all set for another fascinating instalment when the sides meet in Castlebar on Saturday night. Mayo’s last win over Dublin in Allianz Football League or Championship was in the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final (0-19 to 0-16). The sides have met twelve times since then, with Dublin winning nine while there were three draws. Their last clash was in the 2017 All-Ireland final which Dublin won by a point (1-17 to 1-16), having also won the Allianz Football League tie in March (1-16 to 0-7).
Dublin have won their first three games in this year’s Allianz Football League while Mayo have won one of three.
Galway have marked their return to Allianz Football League Division 1 with three wins but face a massive test against Kerry, whom they haven’t beaten since 2003. Kerry have won all nine games since then, the most recent coming in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final when they won by 1-18 to 0-13. This is the first time the counties have met in the Allianz Football League since 2011 when Kerry won by 0-16 to 0-8.
Kerry suffered their first defeat of this year’s campaign when losing to Monaghan last Sunday, dropping them to fourth place behind Dublin, Galway and Monaghan on the table.
Donegal v Kildare is a basement battle between the only two sides in the division who are yet to pick up a point. It will be the first time they have met in the Allianz Football League since 2013. Both sides are chasing their first win in six Allianz Football League games. Donegal drew and lost their last two games in last year’s campaign before losing their opening three to Kerry, Galway and Dublin in this year’s campaign.
Kildare lost their last two games to Galway (Round 7 and final) in Allianz Football League Division 2 last year before losing to Dublin, Monaghan and Tyrone in the top flight this year.
Tyrone (two points) and Monaghan (four points) will face each other in the Allianz Football League for the second time in 11 months. Tyrone won by four points in Omagh last year.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2: TOP TWO CLASH IN PAIRC UI CHAOIMH
Saturday (19:00): Tipperary v Meath, Semple Stadium.
Sunday (13:00): Cork v Cavan, Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Sunday (14:00): Down v Clare, Newry; Louth v Roscommon, Drogheda.
Cavan’s five-point win over Meath on Sunday took them to the top of the table on five points, one ahead of Cork and Down. Cork are in second place on scoring difference as they prepare for the visit of the Breffni men next Sunday. It will be the first Allianz Football League clash between the counties for ten years (Cavan won in 2008) while the last championship meeting was in 2010 when Cork won a qualifier tie easily en route to All-Ireland glory.
Down (four points) have a chance to move into the top two when they host Clare (two points) in Newry. Clare, who have drawn two of their opening three games, won the corresponding tie by six points last year.
Louth and Roscommon meet in the Allianz Football League for the first time since 2010 when Roscommon won by a point. Roscommon have taken three points so far while Louth have yet to pick up a point, leaving them in relegation trouble as the only side in the group without a point.
Tipperary and Meath are both on three points ahead of their meeting in Semple Stadium on Saturday night in what will be their first Allianz Football League encounter since 2010 when the Premier county men won by two points in Thurles.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3: ULSTER PAIR SETTING THE PACE
Saturday (19:00): Fermanagh v Derry, Enniskillen.
Sunday (14:00): Westmeath v Sligo, TEG Cusack Park.
Sunday (14:30): Longford v Wexford, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park; Offaly v Armagh, Bord na Mona, O’Connor Park.
Armagh and Fermanagh have both won their first three games, leaving them two points ahead of Longford and Westmeath. Armagh travel to Tullamore to take on Offaly, who are bottom of the table on zero points and a scoring difference of -24. Armagh beat Offaly by 6-22 to 0-10 in last year’s Allianz Football League.
Fermanagh (6pts) host Derry (2 pts) on Saturday, hoping for better luck than last year when they lost by a point to the Oak Leaf men in the last round of Allianz Football League Division 2 games. Despite that win, Derry were relegated with Fermanagh.
Longford (4 pts) will be hoping to stay in promotion contention when they take on Wexford, who have lost all three games after being promoted from Allianz Football League Division 4. Westmeath (4pts) host Sligo (2pts), having last met in the Allianz Football League two years ago when the Connacht men won by a point.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4: CARLOW AND LAOIS HEAD THE PROMOTION PUSH
Saturday (16:00): Waterford v Carlow, Carriganore.
Sunday (14:00): Leitrim v Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon; Wicklow v Laois, Joule Park, Aughrim.
Sunday 14:30: London v Antrim, McGovern Park, Ruislip.
Played 3 Won 3. That’s the encouraging position that Carlow and Laois take into Round 4, while Antrim are only a point behind them after two draws and a win. None of the leading trio have played each other yet; nor do they meet next weekend. Carlow (+20 points), who lead the way on scoring difference from Laois (+19 points), travel to Dungarvan on Saturday to take on Waterford who are second from bottom after picking up one of six points so far. Carlow beat Waterford by nine points in last year’s Allianz Football League.
Laois, the Division’s top scorers on 5-46 (61 points), head for Aughrim to take on Wicklow, who have yet to score a goal (0-34). The most recent clash between the counties was in last year’s All-Ireland Round 1 qualifiers when Laois won by 2-16 to 3-10 in Aughrim.
Antrim, who have the best defensive record in the group (0-27) head for Ruislip to take on London who have picked up three of a possible six points so far. The sides did not meet in last year’s Allianz Football League as Antrim were in Division 3 but in 2016 (Division 4) they beat London by three points in Ruislip.
Limerick (a draw and two defeats) and Leitrim (three defeats) have made bad starts to the Allianz Football League so both will be hoping for their first win when they meet in Carrick-on-Shannon.
They have the worst defensive records in Division 4, with Leitrim having conceded 5-42 (57 points) and Limerick 6-31 (49 points) in three games. Limerick beat Leitrim by a point in last year’s Allianz Football League.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2018: RESULTS AND FIXTURES
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
Round 1: Dublin 2-17 Kildare 2-10; Galway 1-9 Tyrone 0-8; Kerry 2-18 Donegal 3-14; Mayo 0-13 Monaghan 0-12.
Round 2: Kerry 1-15 Mayo 2-9; Dublin 2-13 Tyrone 1-11; Monaghan 1-10 Kildare 0-12; Galway 1-12 Donegal 0-14.
Round 3: Dublin 0-20 Donegal 0-15; Galway 1-13 Mayo 0-11 Tyrone 1-16 Kildare 0-18; Monaghan 1-13 Kerry 0-14.
Round 4: Feb 24: Mayo v Dublin; Monaghan v Tyrone; Feb 25: Donegal v Kildare; Kerry v Galway.
Round 5: Mar 3: Dublin v Kerry; Tyrone v Donegal; Mar 4: Galway v Monaghan; Kildare v Mayo.
Round 6: Mar 17: Kerry v Kildare; Mar 18: Galway v Dublin; Mayo v Tyrone; Monaghan v Donegal.
Round 7: Mar 25: Donegal v Mayo; Dublin v Monaghan; Kildare v Galway; Tyrone v Kerry.
Final: Apr 1
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Round 1: Clare 1-12 Cavan 2-9; Tipperary 3-16 Cork 1-16; Down 1-14 Louth 0-11; Roscommon 2-12 Meath 2-12.
Round 2: Cavan 3-17 Louth 0-14; Cork 1-13 Down 0-10; Meath 0-21 Clare 0-7; Roscommon 1-17 Tipperary 3-9.
Round 3: Clare 0-11 Tipperary 0-11; Cork 2-11 Louth 0-10; Down 0-12 Roscommon 0-7; Cavan 2-14 Meath 1-12.
Round 4: Feb 24: Tipperary v Meath; Feb 25: Cork v Cavan; Down v Clare; Louth v Roscommon.
Round 5: Mar 3: Cavan v Down; Mar 4: Clare v Roscommon; Meath v Cork; Tipperary v Louth.
Round 6: Mar 17: Cork v Clare; Mar 18: Down v Tipperary; Louth v Meath; Roscommon v Cavan.
Round 7: Mar 25: Cavan v Tipperary; Clare v Louth; Meath v Down; Roscommon v Cork.
Final: Apr 1
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3
Round 1: Armagh 2-17 Sligo 0-9; Westmeath 2-17 Derry 2-14; Fermanagh 3-7 Wexford 2-5; Longford 3-18 Offaly 1-13.
Round 2: Fermanagh 2-11 Offaly 1-6; Longford 1-13 Derry 1-6; Sligo 1-16 Wexford 1-13; Armagh 2-17 Westmeath 1-11.
Round 3: Armagh 1-11 Longford 1-10; Westmeath 0-16 Wexford 1-10; Derry 1-15 Offaly 0-13; Fermanagh 0-13 Sligo 0-8.
Round 4: Feb 24: Fermanagh v Derry; Feb 25: Longford v Wexford; Offaly v Armagh; Westmeath v Sligo.
Round 5: Mar 3: Armagh v Derry; Mar 4: Sligo v Longford; Westmeath v Fermanagh; Wexford v Offaly.
Round 6: Mar 11: Derry v Wexford; Mar 18: Fermanagh v Armagh: Longford v Westmeath; Offaly v Sligo.
Round 7: Mar 25: Longford v Fermanagh; Sligo v Derry; Westmeath v Offaly; Wexford v Armagh.
Final: Mar 31
ALLIANZ FOOTBAL LEAGUE DIVISION 4
Round 1: Carlow 2-14 London 2-9; Laois 2-12 Limerick 0-9; Antrim 0-15 Leitrim 0-5; Wicklow 0-12 Waterford 0-12.
Round 2: Laois 3-16 Leitrim 3-10; Carlow 2-11 Limerick 0-14; London 1-16 Wicklow 0-10; Antrim 2-12 Waterford 0-10.
Round 3: Laois 0-18 Waterford 1-11; Carlow 2-11 Leitrim 0-5; Antrim 0-12 Wicklow 0-12; London 2-8 Limerick 2-8.
Round 4: Feb 24: Waterford v Carlow; Feb 25: Leitrim v Limerick; Wicklow v Laois; London v Antrim.
Round 5: Mar 3: Carlow v Wicklow; London v Leitrim; Mar 4: Laois v Antrim; Limerick v Waterford.
Round 6: Mar 11: London v Laois; Mar 18: Antrim v Carlow; Waterford v Antrim; Wicklow v Limerick.
Round 7: Mar 25: Carlow v Laois; Leitrim v Wicklow; Limerick v Antrim; London v Waterford.
Final: March 31
It’s Round 4 this weekend in the Allianz Hurling League, with several fascinating contests set across a busy programme. Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League has an especially attractive series of games, which will have a major impact on the complexion of the top division ahead of the final round of fixtures.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A: DAVY FITZGERALD WELCOMES FORMER CHARGES TO WEXFORD
Sunday (14:00): Kilkenny v Tipperary, Nowlan Park; Wexford v Clare, Innovate Park.
Sunday (15:00): Cork v Waterford, Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
It was always going to be an extremely competitive group and it’s living up to expectations heading into the second last round next Sunday. Clare are the only county on full points (6) while Waterford are the only ones with no points in a six-team group where Tipperary and Wexford are on four points, with Kilkenny and Cork on two each.
The Wexford-Clare clash will be fascinating as it pits Davy Fitzgerald against many of the Banner team he led to All-Ireland glory in 2013. Ironically, it was Wexford who ended Clare’s reign as All-Ireland champions, winning a 2014 qualifier replay after extra-time in Innovate Wexford Park. The last Allianz Hurling League clash between the counties was in 2016 when Clare won a 1B tie by 0-18 to 1-11.
Kilkenny v Tipperary in Nowlan Park is expected to draw the biggest crowd of the day. Kilkenny got their first win of the campaign against Waterford last Sunday while Tipperary have beaten Waterford and Wexford and lost to Clare. The sides drew (Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 3-14) in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Cork won their first game, beating Kilkenny but have since lost to Wexford and Clare, leaving them in second last place (on scoring difference) as they prepare to host Waterford, who are bottom of the table after defeats by Wexford, Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Cork have yet to concede a goal (0-68) in this year’s Allianz Hurling League but still have the fifth highest giveaway rate, four points better off than Waterford, who have returned the lowest total score (2-42).
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B: LIMERICK, GALWAY DRIVING THE PACE
Sunday (12:30): Offaly v Laois, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park.
Sunday (14:00): Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park; Antrim v Limerick, Cushendall.
Limerick have scored more (3-75) and conceded less (0-45) than any other team in the group, leaving them 18 points better off in scoring difference than Galway, who have also won all three games.
Limerick take their unbeaten run to Cushendall where they face Antrim, who are still looking for their first win. The counties last met in the Allianz Hurling League in 2015 when Limerick won by eight points.
Dublin host Galway, who beat them by 2-28 to 1-17 in last year’s Leinster championship. Dublin beat Galway by seven points in their last Allianz Hurling League clash two years ago. Dublin, who have lost to Offaly and Limerick, are in second last place on scoring difference behind Offaly and Laois who meet in Tullamore.
Laois beat Offaly by six points in last year’s Allianz Hurling League clash in Portlaoise.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A: WESTMEATH LEAD THE WAY AFTER THREE WINS
Sunday (12:30): Kerry v Meath, Tralee; London v Westmeath, McGovern Park, Ruislip.
Sunday (14:00): Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Cullen Park.
Westmeath are setting the pace, having won all three games so far. They face London, whom they beat by 13 points in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Kerry and Carlow (both on four points) are in hot pursuit of the leaders as they prepare for home games against Meath and Kildare respectively. Kerry and Meath did not meet in last year’s Allianz Hurling League as the Royals were in Division 2B while the Kingdom were in 1B. However, the sides met in the Leinster championship ‘round robin’ when Meath won by six points.
Kildare and Carlow drew in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B: DOWN AND MAYO SETTING BRISK PACE
Sunday (14:00): Donegal v Down, Letterkenny; Derry v Armagh, Celtic Park; Mayo v
Wicklow, Elverys MacHale Park.
Down and Mayo have full points from three games, followed by Wicklow on four points. It makes the Mayo-Wicklow game in Castlebar very important for both sides as they battle to claim a place in the final. Wicklow beat Mayo by 2-17 to 1-17 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Donegal were in Division 3A last year so they didn’t play Down in the Allianz Hurling League. The Donegal men have won one of three games this year.
Derry v Armagh is battle of the bottom two, neither of whom have taken a point from their first three games.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A: ROSCOMMON AND WARWICKSHIRE REMAIN UNBEATEN
Sunday (12:30): Longford v Louth, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Sunday (13:00): Warwickshire v Monaghan, Pairc na hEireann; Tyrone v Roscommon, Omagh.
Roscommon and Warwickshire have taken five of six points and lead the way from Monaghan and Louth, both of whom are on three points. Roscommon were in Division 2B last year so they didn’t play Tyrone, who have won one of three games this year.
Warwickshire came up from Allianz Hurling League Division 3B this year and have adapted well, winning two and drawing one of three games.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B: LANCASHIRE ON FULL POINTS AFTER THREE GAMES
Saturday (12:00): Sligo v Lancashire, Markievicz Park.
Sunday (14:00): Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni Park.
Lancashire are the only unbeaten team in the group, having won all three games so far. They take on Sligo, whom they beat by a point last year. Cavan, who didn’t compete in last year’s Allianz Hurling League, and Fermanagh are both seeking their first wins.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2018: RESULTS & FIXTURES
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A
Round 1: Cork 1-24 Kilkenny 0-24; Wexford 2-20 Waterford 0-19; Clare 1-21 Tipperary 0-19.
Round 2: Tipperary 1-20 Waterford 1-11; Clare 2-18 Kilkenny 1-18; Wexford 0-21 Cork 1-14.
Round 3: Tipperary 3-21 Wexford 1-21; Clare 0-23 Cork 0-19; Kilkenny 1-20 Waterford 1-12.
Round 4: Feb 25: Kilkenny v Tipperary; Cork v Waterford; Wexford v Clare.
Round 5: Mar 4: Kilkenny v Wexford; Tipperary v Cork; Waterford v Clare.
Relegation play-off: Mar 11
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B
Round 1: Offaly 2-25 Dublin 1-15; Galway 1-19 Antrim 1-16; Limerick 1-25 Laois 0-18
Round 2: Galway 2-18 Laois 0-17; Dublin 0-23 Antrim 0-22; Limerick 1-24 Offaly 0-10.
Round 3: Laois 0-27 Antrim 2-16; Limerick 1-26 Dublin 0-17; Galway 2-19 Offaly 0-14.
Round 4: Feb 25: Antrim v Limerick; Dublin v Galway; Offaly v Laois.
Round 5: Mar 4: Galway v Limerick; Laois v Dublin; Offaly v Antrim.
Relegation play-off: Mar 11
QUARTER-FINALS
Mar 11: First 1A v Fourth 1B; Second 1A v Third 1B; Third 1A v Second 1B; Fourth 1A v First 1B.
SEMI-FINALS
Mar 18
FINAL
Mar 24
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A
Round 1: Westmeath 0-19 Carlow 0-15; Meath 1-17 Kildare 0-17; Kerry 2-30 London 1-13.
Round 2: Meath 1-24 London 1-14; Westmeath 1-20 Kildare 2-11; Carlow 1-18 Kerry 1-11.
Round 3: Feb 18: Carlow 3-23 London 0-15; Kerry 1-23 Kildare 0-10, Westmeath 1-19 Meath 1-18.
Round 4: Feb 25: London v Westmeath; Kerry v Meath; Carlow v Kildare.
Round 5: Mar 4: Westmeath v Kerry; Meath v Carlow; London v Kildare.
Final: Mar 11
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B
Round 1: Down 2-17 Derry 1-14; Mayo 2-16 Donegal 1-9; Wicklow 4-20 Armagh 1-12.
Round 2: Donegal 4-17 Derry 2-9; Down1-24 Wicklow 0-16; Mayo 3-15 Armagh 2-13.
Round 3: Wicklow 2-21 Donegal 0-21; Mayo 0-13 Derry 0-10; Down 3-15 Armagh 0-13.
Round 4: Feb 25: Derry v Armagh; Donegal v Down; Mayo v Wicklow
Round 5: Mar 4: Armagh v Donegal; Down v Mayo; Wicklow v Derry
Mar 11: Final
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Roscommon 3-17 Louth 1-6; Warwickshire 3-16 Tyrone 2-14; Monaghan 0-16 Longford 0-12.
Round 2: Warwickshire 1-14 Longford 0-11; Monaghan 0-16 Roscommon 1-13; Louth 4-12 Tyrone 0-20.
Round 3: Louth 1-16 Warwickshire 1-16; Roscommon 1-25 Longford 1-10; Tyrone 2-15 Monaghan 0-17
Round 4: Feb 25: Longford v Louth; Warwickshire v Monaghan; Tyrone v Roscommon.
Round 5: Mar 4: Roscommon v Warwickshire; Monaghan v Louth; Longford v Tyrone
Final: Mar 11
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B
Round 1: Lancashire 2-25 Fermanagh 1-11; Leitrim 1-9 Sligo 0-8
Round 2: Lancashire 0-15 Leitrim 0-14; Sligo 2-19 Cavan 0-4.
Round 3: Feb 18: Leitrim 2-12 Leitrim 1-11; Lancashire 2-18 Cavan 1-12.
Round 4: Feb 25: Sligo v Lancashire; Cavan v Fermanagh.
Round 5: Mar 4: Leitrim v Cavan; Fermanagh v Sligo
Final: Mar 11
