Top level GAA action resumes today in the Allianz National Football League with Monaghan and Kerry kicking things off.
Big rivals Dublin and Meath square off tonight in Parnell Park in Division One and in between those mouth-watering clashes there is the small matter of the All-Ireland under-20 semi-finals.
Tomorrow will see silverware handed out as hurling finals take place for Divisions 2A, 2B and 3B of the Allianz Leagues.
With every game available to view either on TV or through GAAGO, here are our verdicts on the bumper weekend.
Saturday
Allianz Football League Division 1
Monaghan v Kerry, Inniskeen, 2pm
Kerry suffered a two-point defeat on their last visit to Inniskeen in February 2018 and are often slow starters in the League. Upcoming Championship games are most important for both managers, though they’ll want to carry some form into them too.
Relegation-threatened Monaghan need the points more but Kerry’s greater scoring threat can see them through.
VERDICT: Kerry
Dublin v Meath, Parnell Park, 7pm
Dessie Farrell is probably grateful that he’s not facing one of the top division’s big hitters as Dublin resume action after losing a number of players during the shutdown and parting company with selector Paul Clarke.
It’s a free shot for Meath who are already relegated. Closing the gap ahead of a possible Leinster final meeting would be a start.
VERDICT: Dublin
Allianz Football League Division 2
Westmeath v Laois, Cusack Park, 2pm
Both counties sit on five points in mid-table, still in with a chance of promotion but also in danger of relegation. They have met frequently over the past couple of seasons with the result changing hands.
Laois came out on top in the Leinster Championship last year after losing the two previous meetings in the League. Westmeath to shut them down this time.
VERDICT: Westmeath
Armagh v Roscommon, Athletic Grounds, 5.30pm
Top of the table clash in Armagh this evening, with the two counties currently occupying the promotion positions in Division Two. The winners will be all but assured of Division One football, particularly if Cavan fail to pick up anything in Kildare.
Armagh have been disrupted by a virus outbreak but they can still maintain their upward trajectory.
VERDICT: Armagh
Allianz Football League Division 3
Cork v Louth, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 4pm
It’s been apparent for some time now that Cork would go up from this division with Louth set for the drop. Both are likely to be confirmed on Leeside today, allowing Cork to focus on Kerry.
VERDICT: Cork
Down v Leitrim, Newry, 4pm
A comfortable win over Offaly pre-lockdown put Down in pole position to go up with Cork and they’re unlikely to slip up here. Leitrim’s last outing against Tipperary is critical regardless of today’s outcome.
VERDICT: Down
Derry v Longford, Celtic Park, 4.30pm
The game goes ahead at Celtic Park despite Longford’s misgivings at playing in a virus hotspot. Derry need a couple of points to be safe from relegation and can get them here.
VERDICT: Derry
Allianz Football League Division 4
Wicklow v Antrim, Aughrim, 12.30pm
Big week for Antrim as Casement Park finally got the green light. They can keep the good news coming and move within touching distance of promotion.
VERDICT: Antrim
Carlow v Sligo, Netwatch Cullen Park, 5pm
First game in charge of Carlow for new boss Niall Carew, who has suffered some defections. Sligo have more to play for with promotion still a possibility.
VERDICT: Sligo
All-Ireland under-20 Football Championship semi-finals
Dublin v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2.30pm
Dublin made light work of their opposition in Leinster and though a sterner test is to be expected here, they’re well placed to reach a second successive final at this grade.
VERDICT: Dublin
Galway v Kerry, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Both camps have been disrupted by Covid-19 cases this week. Several Kerry players were stood down just yesterday, the proximity of the outbreak to the game possibly enough to tip the scales in Galway’s favour.
VERDICT: Galway
Sunday
Allianz Football League Division 1
Galway v Mayo, Tuam Stadium, 2pm
Galway have been in the news this week on the back of Jim McGuinness’s appearance at a training session followed by a Covid-19 outbreak in Moycullen which has robbed Padraic Joyce of players from that club. By contrast, there hasn’t been a squeak out of Mayo.
With no League finals, a certain combination of results could see Galway crowned champions this weekend.
VERDICT: Galway
Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey, 4pm
All sorts of sub-plots to this game, with the counties meeting again at the same venue in the Ulster Championship in a fortnight. Donegal have made Ballybofey into a fortress, a status that Tyrone undermined with their ‘Super 8s’ win in 2018.
They won’t want to give them another taste of victory there.
VERDICT: Donegal
Allianz Football League Division 2
Clare v Fermanagh, Cusack Park, 1pm
Who would have thought this would be the most talked about game in the build-up to the inter-county restart? The CCCC’s refusal to postpone the game may give Fermanagh something of a cause to rally behind, but there’s no getting away from how their preparations have been torn asunder.
Clare should make the most of the opportunity, with both counties in the relegation mire.
VERDICT: Clare
Kildare v Cavan, Newbridge, 2pm
Jack O’Connor will look to press the reset button after an inauspicious start to his reign as Kildare manager, with the team currently in the relegation places. They’ll likely stay there if they don’t get a victory here.
Cavan are on the shoulders of Armagh and Roscommon and a win would put them right in the promotion shake-up.
VERDICT: Kildare
Allianz FL Division 3 round 6
Tipperary v Offaly, Semple Stadium, 2pm
Offaly retain an outside chance of promotion though it’s so slim as to be insignificant. Avoiding relegation is the main concern for both sides and it may yet go down to the wire.
VERDICT: Tipperary
Allianz Football League Division 4
Limerick v Wexford, Rathkeale, 3pm
Limerick will have been more perturbed than most by March’s shutdown with promotion within touching distance, though a win tomorrow and they’re as good as up.
VERDICT: Limerick
Allianz HL Division 2A final
Antrim v Kerry, Tullamore, 1.30pm
Antrim resume action in Tullamore, having done tomorrow’s opponents Kerry an unlikely favour by snatching an unlikely draw there against Offaly in March to set up this pairing. Antrim had comfortably beaten Kerry the week before and can repeat the trick to rejoin the top flight in 2021.
VERDICT: Antrim
Allianz HL Division 2B final
Down v Derry, Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Flip a coin for this one. Derry edged Down out way back in January, but the Mourne men won four on the bounce after that to reach this decider.
VERDICT:
Allianz HL Division 3B final
Sligo v Leitrim, Bekan, 1.30pm
Given that they operated in the Christy Ring Cup, Sligo should be playing at a higher level than this.
VERDICT: Sligo
