Allianz GAA fixtures announced

All eyes will be on Killarney for the opening weekend of the Allianz National Football League with reigning All-Ireland and League champions Kerry set to open their defence against Dublin, while the opening weekend of hurling sees Tipperary meet Kilkenny.

The sky blues will be keen to avenge their unceremonious exit from the Championship last August when Kerry outclassed Dublin at Croke Park and will get that chance on Sunday, 7 February.

The opening day of action throws up some old rivalries with Derry meeting Tyrone and Mayo hosting Joe Kernan's Galway on Saturday, 6 February.

Division 2 will be no less competitive with Kildare, Donegal and Meath favourites to progress to the final stages following impressive championship form this year.

In the Allianz NHL Tipperary and Kilkenny renew acquaintances under the floodlights of Semple Stadium on Saturday, 20 February.

On Sunday, 21 February Limerick open their campaign against Galway with Cork hosting Offaly and Waterford meet an ever improving Dublin side.

Commenting on the fixtures, GAA President Christy Cooney said: 'The Allianz GAA Leagues get our inter-county season rolling and offer our counties the perfect platform to return to top level competitive action as another season dawns on us.

'It's no co-incidence that the teams who do well in the leagues quite often end up in the mix for championship silverware later in the season and we are looking forward to campaigns that will no doubt see both Kerry and Kilkenny make strong defences of the respective 2009 titles they won in style.'

Allianz GAA NFL opening fixtures

Saturday 6 February
(All games at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated)

Division I
Derry v Tyrone
Mayo v Galway

Division II
Laois v Tipperary
Meath v Armagh

Sunday 7 February
(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)

Division I
Kerry v Dublin
Monaghan v Cork

Division II
Kildare v Down
Westmeath v Donegal

Division III
Offaly v Fermanagh
Louth v Wexford
Roscommon v Cavan
Antrim v Sligo (2.00pm)

Division IV
London v Limerick
Carlow v Longford
Clare v Wicklow
Leitrim v Waterford
Kilkenny v Bye

Allianz GAA NHL opening fixtures

Saturday 20 February
Division I
Tipperary v Kilkenny (7.30pm)

Sunday 21 February
(All games at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)

Division I
Limerick v Galway
Cork v Offaly
Waterford v Dublin

Division II
Laois v Kildare
Clare v Down (1.30pm)
Westmeath v Wexford
Antrim v Carlow

Division IIIA
London v Meath
Derry v Kerry
Armagh v Mayo

Division IIIB
Louth v Sligo
Tyrone v Donegal
Fingal v Wicklow
Roscommon v BYE

Division IV
Monaghan v Fermanagh
Cavan v Leitrim
Longford v South Down