There are five rounds completed and two to play!
And what drama lies in store over the next two weekends across all four divisions of the Allianz Football League.
None of the places in the finals or promotion/relegation have been decided yet, but that’s likely to change – to some degree at least – next weekend.
ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 1: KERRY CLOSE TO SECURING A PLACE IN THE FINAL
Saturday: Tyrone v Mayo, Omagh, 6.45; Sunday: Armagh v Kerry, Athletic Grounds, 2.0; Kildare v Monaghan, Newbridge, 2.30; Dublin v Donegal, Croke Park, 3.45
Kerry (9 pts) will book a place in the final if they beat Armagh (7pts). Mayo is also on seven points, two clear of Donegal. Monaghan (4), Kildare, Tyrone (3 each) and Dublin (2) fill the bottom four places.
Tyrone and Mayo meet on Saturday night in what will be a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final which the Ulstermen won by five points. They also beat Mayo in last year’s Allianz League, edging home by a point. Armagh and Kerry meet in the League for the first time since 2012 when the Orchard county won by four points.
Dublin finally got off the mark on Sunday, beating Tyrone in Omagh, a win that greatly increases their chances of avoiding relegation. They take on Donegal in Croke Park, where a win could take them out of the bottom two. Donegal haven’t beaten Dublin in the League since 2007.
Their last win over Dublin was in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.
Kildare and Monaghan have relegation fears ahead of their tie in Newbridge. It will be the first clash between the counties since 2018 when Monaghan won by a point.
ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 2: GALWAY CLOSING IN ON PROMOTION
Sunday: Cork v Down, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 1.0; Derry v Galway, Owenbeg, 1.0; Clare v Meath, Ennis 2.0; Offaly v Roscommon, Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 2.0
Galway leads the way on full points (10) after five rounds but Derry (9) and Roscommon (8) are also very much in the promotion hunt after their draw on Sunday. Derry host Galway in what will be the first League clash between the counties since 2017 when Galway won a Division 2 tie by 5-15 to 2-15.
A win for Galway would ensure promotion after one season in Division 2. With the top two clashing, Roscommon has a big chance to boost their promotion prospects when they play Offaly in Tullamore.
It will be the first League clash between the counties since 2014 when Roscommon won a Division 3 tie quite easily. Derry plays Meath in the final round while Roscommon plays Galway.
Offaly (3pts) are two ahead of the bottom two, Down and Cork, who are on a point each. The latter two meet in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, with both seeking their first win. They last met in 2020 when Cork won by five points.
Clare and Meath (four points each) are in mid-table ahead of their clash in Ennis. Meath beat Clare by five points in their last League clash three years ago. Neither can catch the leading trio.
ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 3: ONLY FOUR POINTS SEPARATE TOP SEVEN
Saturday: Laois v Limerick, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 7.0
Sunday: Westmeath v Fermanagh, TEG Cusack Park, 2,0; Longford v Wicklow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2.0; Louth v Antrim, Ardee, 2.0
Antrim and Louth (7pts) lead the way, followed by Westmeath and Limerick (6 pts each) with Laois and Fermanagh on five each. The top two meet in Ardee in what is certain to be a tense affair.
This will be their first League meeting in five years, with Louth having won by two points in 2017. Westmeath’s win over Limerick last weekend has taken them right back into the promotion race and they will be hoping that home advantage against Fermanagh will further enhance their case.
They last met in the League two years ago when Westmeath won by two points in Division 2.
Laois and Limerick will be battling to stay in the promotion hunt when they meet in Portlaoise in what will be the first League clash between the counties since 2018 when the Leinster men won by nine points in Division 4.
Longford (3) and Wicklow (1) fill the relegation place heading into the final two rounds.
Wicklow needs to win to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Longford won the last clash with Wicklow (1-16 to 1-10) in Division 4 in 2015.
ALLIANZ LEAGUE DIVISION 4: TWO POINTS SEPARATING TOP FIVE
Sunday: London v Cavan, McGovern Park Ruislip, 1.0; Waterford v Sligo, Fraher Field, 2.0; Leitrim v Wexford, Avant Money Pairc Mac Diarmada, 2.30; Tipperary v Carlow, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.45.
It’s going to be tense and tight over the final two rounds with five in strong contention for the two promotion places. Cavan (8) lead the way from Tipperary (7), followed by Sligo, Leitrim, and London (all on 6).
Cavan travels to Ruislip to take on London while Tipperary will be at home to Carlow, who they beat by 16 points in their last League meeting in 2014. Leitrim beat Wexford by 13 points in their last League meeting two years ago. Waterford, who are bottom of the table on one point, beat Sligo in their last meeting two years ago.
