SATURDAY 4 MARCH
Allianz FL Division 1
Armagh v Donegal, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm
Allianz FL Division 2
Derry v Dublin, Celtic Park, 5pm
Allianz FL Division
Laois v Waterford, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 6pm
SUNDAY 5 MARCH
Allianz FL Division 1
Galway v Monaghan, Pearse Stadium, 12.45pm
Tyrone v Kerry, O'Neill's Healy Park, 12.45pm
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 2.45pm
Allianz FL Division 2
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm
Limerick v Meath, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
Louth v Kildare, Ardee, 2pm
Allianz FL Division 3
Fermanagh v Tipperary, Brewster Park, 1pm
Cavan v Down, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Longford v Offaly, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm
Westmeath v Antrim, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm
Allianz FL Division 4
London v Carlow, Ruislip, 1pm
Wicklow v Leitrim, Aughrim, 1.30pm
Sligo v Wexford, Markievicz Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport from 2pm; RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an tSathairn from 1.20pm, and Spórt an Lae, 12.25pm.
TV
Derry v Dublin is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 4.30pm on Saturday. That will be followed by Armagh v Donegal on TG4, with coverage beginning at 7.20pm. On Sunday, there is a live double-bill on TG4, with the build-up to Tyrone v Kerry starting at 12.15pm, and then from 2.30pm it's Roscommon v Mayo in the Connacht derby. Cavan v Down is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer from 2pm and on GAAGO.
WEATHER
Saturday: It will be another mostly dry but dull day with just light stray showers. Quite cool with highest temperatures of 5 and 7 degrees, in just light variable breezes.
Sunday: Little or no change, mainly dry but showers a little more frequent, especially in the north. Temperatures in the afternoon of 7 or 8 degrees with light to moderate northwesterly breezes. For more go to met.ie.
Much focus on tier 2
Whether this is 'moving weekend' or not is open to debate, but firm indicators could emerge if Derry continue to kick on from last year and lower the Dublin colours at Celtic Park. Kildare's spring of discontent, apart from the smash-and-grab win over Clare, could nosedive further if they lose to Louth, while Limerick will be as good as relegated if they lose to Meath and both Clare and Kildare record victories.
Apart from eking out a win over Louth, Derry have gone about their business well in Division 2. Okay, Kildare were well off the pace last Sunday, but Rory Gallagher's side displayed a ruthless efficiency in a game they could have won by 20+points.
Ulster champions in 2002, the Oakleafers will again have designs on an extended run in the championship, all that before what looks now is their return to Division 1. So far, Gallagher's side have won their four games by an average of 10 points, with the manager lavishing praise on his troops afterwards.
"Just our attitude and desire," he pointed to afterwards. "Our preparation all week, just good players playing well with and without the ball. I thought we probably left a lot of scores behind us as well but I'm very happy with everybody."
Gallagher will now demand an even greater effort against Dubs, opposition that will surely be up for this game. Both teams are looking for statement wins, with Dessie Farrell's side, after a somewhat 'disinterested' performance against Clare, also aiming to leave their calling-card on this year's league.
A lot of observers are saying that Dublin are playing like a team that know they'll escape handily enough from Division 2. That is true. For them and the likes of Kerry, they know that hitting the peak probably won't be required until the first weekend of July - the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
That said, there are questions as to the depth of Dublin's squad now.
"They haven't found any new players and really at the start of the year it was about finding that bit of depth, particularly in defence," said Ciarán Whelan on the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
"I know they are missing Eoin Murchan, and Davy Byrne hasn't been fully fit, but if you look at Dublin and write the first 15 down on paper they are still very strong, even though I've been saying for two or three years that there is a depth issue.
"Dessie has tried a lot of new players over the last 12 to 18 months and nobody really has put their hand up. Dublin have looked easy to play against in recent weeks; their defence has been exposed."
And so how will that said defence cope against an attack that are now starting to more punch more holes to what was a more restrained effort in finding that sweet spot in 2022.
Enda McGinley, also a guest on the Podcast, described Derry as being like a "machine at the minute".
That machine, according to the former Tyrone player, is working well when it's asked to produce dividends in the opposition half.
"Derry's attacking play, their transition is brilliant but their variation in whenever they're attacking, they seem to have a policy of acceleration, so whenever a forward gets on the ball, instead of being quite slow and going out around the arc, Derry will accelerate off the turn, they'll accelerate of new angles and then someone else will accelerate off them.
"They are cutting teams to ribbons at the back. Dublin have the quality to try and curtail that. But what way are they going to go about it?
One of the many question that may be answered in the Maiden City.
What's going on in Kildare? No doubt there is now a loud chorus of disapproval from within the county as to how things are shaping up in Division 2. Even if they survive in the section, there is a chance they could end up in the Tailteann Cup if they don't reach a provincial final.
Last year's performances in Division 1, despite relegation, was an indication that they were capable of dining at the top table. A year on and we wonder are they in the middle of a tough training regime? Is that leaving them so listless?
Glenn Ryan cut an exasperated figure after the humbling by Louth, stating that things are being work on on the ground but aren't being executed on the field of play.
Ciarán Whelan was quite scathing of the Lilies when discussing their woes on the GAA Podcast.
"The criticism of Kildare is that they don't look like they know what they're doing," he said.
Mickey Harte's Louth, after consecutive wins over Limerick and Meath, will no doubt relish the opportunity to ramp up the pressure and in the process go a long way to securing their own safety in the section.
The Wee County trailed by five points with just 14 minutes remaining against Meath but turned what looked increasingly like a lost cause into a memorable three-point win with a series of stunning scores.
Ciaran Downey played a key role in the fightback with three points in a row while Craig Lennon's goal, after intercepting the ball in his own half and running clear, put Louth into a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Substitute Lennon finished with 1-01 in all and was among a number of strong Louth performers.
Elsewhere, Clare after again suffering late heartache when edged out by the Dubs, welcome Cork to Ennis. Colm Collins' side are on two points, it could easily be six. Another reverse against opposition who hit Limerick for six goals could be hard to bounce back from.
The Shannonsiders are propping up the table after four defeats by an average of 12 points. Meath, after a trimming by Derry, were then reeled in late on by Louth. Not very Meathlike!
Some atonement for 2010 they are now saying in Ardee and Termonfeckin!
Colm O'Rourke's task in Meath is one that could take him the guts of his three-year term to sort out. Leinster needs a strong Royal side again.
Familiarity out west
There is the prospect that Roscommon and Mayo could meet three times between now and 9 April. The winner at the Hyde on Sunday will be well placed to reach a league final. The vanquished, if they were to win their remaining two games, could join them at Croker, just a week out before the pair would collide again in the Connacht quarter-final.
"That would be too much" I hear them saying in Boyle, Castlerea, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis.
There are those on social media who will type with some glee that Mayo are doing well in winning 'February All-Irelands'. No doubt they are few from Roscommon who are posting such.
Sean Cavanagh felt the safety net of maybe being safe from relegation in having 6 points contributed to Roscommon "not being at it" against Monaghan #rtegaa #AllianzLeagues #allianzleaguesunday pic.twitter.com/SZme67yd5P
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 26, 2023
That said, the Green and Red are progressing well under Kevin McStay and co. The improvement in Enda Hession, Jordan Flynn, James Carr and Jack Carney is there to see and overall the side look comfortable in the transition from defence to attack. It goes without saying that Aidan O'Shea is an obvious threat on the edge of the square but he still remains an important link-man out the field.
Rossies boss Davy Burke has said that one grain of solace from Sunday's defeat to Monaghan is the fact that nobody will be talking about their winning streak anymore. An expected line, you would have to say, with Seán Cavanagh on Allianz League Sunday saying the side played like a team who weren't burdened by relegation.
A championship-like atmosphere will now await the primrose and blue when the neighbours come calling at the Hyde.
Armagh v Donegal is first up in this section. With both on three points, this is a relegation four-pointer of sorts.
Kieran McGeeney's side had opportunities to get the win against Kerry. Some would argue that they were too negative in their play to seriously punch holes in the Kingdom rearguard, they they did win a lot of turnovers in a defensive. Enda McGinley's praised Armagh for the way they set up on these pages, arguing that there are other ways to skin.
Armagh's new defensive mindset could yet play dividends for them, with McGinley stating: "More significant is realising that the league represents a team's key development opportunity. For teams to win something they need to be able to play the game in a variety of ways. McGeeney knows Armagh's 'A’ game is in good shape, but titles aren’t won by playing things only on your own terms. And Armagh want titles."
They probably won't win a league title this year; an Anglo Celt Cup is one they would crave after a gap of 15 years.
Donegal dug deep to earn a draw against Galway. More doggedness will be required to get something off their Ulster rivals.
Staying in the northern province, Tyrone look like a side still searching for a bounce that catapulted them to great things in 2021. Kerry head north to Omagh. There's a spicy element whenever these two sides meet and the forward talent on view should only heighten the drama.
Galway are another team who aren't pulling up too many trees this spring. Big names are still to come back. The Tribes should be good enough to stay in the division. For Monaghan, can they build on the momentum of consecutive wins over Donegal and Roscommon?
Cavan are going along nicely in their quest for successive promotions. Up next is a home time with Down, a side that has found a new lease of life under Conor Laverty.
Fermanagh, the masters of clutching wins from the jaws of defeat in their last two games, are at home to struggling Tipperary. A real chance for the Ernseiders to enhance their promotion hopes.
Westmeath and Offaly, both on four points, can keep themselves in the mix with wins over Antrim and Longford respectively.
Things are tightening up nicely here, mainly due to Wicklow's surprise win over Laois last weekend. You would fancy Billy Sheehan's side to get back on track against Waterford at home.
The games featuring Sligo v Wexford and Wicklow v Leitrim are key. Defeat not really an option here for any of the quartet.
Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Derry v Dublin (throw-in 5pm) via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport or the RTÉ News app, alternatively watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, from 4.30pm. Highlights and reaction to all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 9.30pm. Live commentary and updates also on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport, RTÉ Radio 1.
