SATURDAY 23 MARCH
RESULTS
Allianz FL Division 2
Cavan v Fermanagh
Cork v Armagh
Donegal v Meath
Kildare v Louth
SUNDAY 24 MARCH
Allianz FL Division 1
Derry v Roscommon, Celtic Park, 1.45pm
Dublin v Tyrone, Croke Park, 1.45pm
Kerry v Galway, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.45pm
Monaghan v Mayo, Clones, 1.45pm
Allianz FL Division 3
Antrim v Wicklow, Corrigan Park, 2pm
Down v Clare, Páirc Esler, 2pm
Offaly v Limerick, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm
Sligo v Westmeath, Markievicz Park, 2pm
Allianz FL Division 4
Carlow v London, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1pm
Waterford v Laois, Fraher Field, 1pm
Wexford v Longford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1pm
Leitrim v Tipperary, Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 1pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
TV
TG4 cameras, on Sunday from 1pm, will be live for the clash of Kerry v Galway; deferred coverage of Down v Clare on the same channel from 5.35pm, with the game live on the TG4 App.
Highlights and reaction to all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport, and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Spórt an Lae.
WEATHER
Sunday: It will start out dry in most areas with just the odd shower. However, rain will develop in the southwest during the morning, spreading across Connacht, Munster and south Leinster by afternoon. Rain will then extend nationwide in the evening. Highest afternoon temperatures of 8-11C with mostly light and variable breezes at first but a freshening southerly breeze will develop later on. For more go to met.ie.
And so we are where we are with a round to go
How time has flown. It's no length since the preview pieces were written and then the action got underway. That was eight weekends ago; a time when Monaghan fans rejoiced at Croker after downing the Dubs. That was as good as it got for Vinny Corey's side in Division 1. Relegation, in the end, was their lot. No complaints after a decade-long stay in the top flight.
The Dubs started slowly, but soon found their groove. Hat-trick hero Con O'Callaghan tormenting Kerry on that night at HQ.
Derry and Mickey Harte signalling their intent from the get-go. The loss to Dublin, where a few key men were absent, the only assignment where they looked a little rudderless.
It's a case of 'Capital D' for Tyrone: Darragh Canavan and Darren McCurry, the modern-day 'terrible twins'. "Darren and Darragh whenever they're on song they are worth the entrance fee alone," Brian Dooher told the media after his side's win over Mayo.
As for the green and red, a mixed bag, notwithstanding Fergal Boland's contribution to the cause. Kevin McStay happy that his team won't be playing in a divisional final a week out from their championship bow.
Galway, shorn of high-profile names, may just have done enough to survive. The Rossies, in spite of manager Davy Burke's positive assessment of their wellbeing, are teetering on the brink.
After the concluding games on Saturday evening, it was Fermanagh who joined the Lilies in going down.
Down and Westmeath were expected to be the pacesetters in Division 3 and they have lived up to that billing. Clare, however, are hot on their heels, still in pursuit of a promotion spot.
In Division 4, Laois should top the standings. Longford, Wexford and Leitrim are chasing the remaining berth.
Division 1: Top two well placed for final showdown, Rossies in must-win territory
And so the teams that contested last year's Division 2 decider are on course for another divisional showdown. Derry and Dublin are the top scorers in the top tier, and have clearly set the standard, in spite of the Oak Leafers making a raft of changes when the sides met at Celtic Park. It took the competitiveness out of proceedings; no Conor Glass v Brian Fenton match-up in the middle.
And while much was said about Mickey Harte's approach to that game, Dublin were without James McCarthy, Stephen Cluxton, Mick Fitzsimons, Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and Colm Basquel. Of course, we would welcome an encounter where both are close to full-strength.
Whether that will be the case in a league final remains to be seen. If it does come to pass, perhaps later in the summer, Lee Keegan, speaking on a recent edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast, was in doubt as to who would have the upper hand.
"I think Dublin are too far ahead of Derry," he said.
"I really believe that. I don't know if Derry's gameplan has enough to evolve and beat Dublin. Dublin are so well equipped to deal with that running game. The way they are playing at the moment is scary in that they are playing such attacking football.
"I don't think Dublin have gotten the appreciation over the years for all their All-Irelands, some thought [their play] was quite conservative.
"They are playing now with a freedom. Even with Derry's full complement, Dublin are just too far ahead."
Derry welcome Roscommon to Celtic Park on Sunday. The latter have to win to have any chance of survival. A victory, coupled with Galway losing to Kerry, will see them stay up on scoring difference (the sides drew their Round 2 game).
The high point for the Rossies so far was their victory over an out-of-sorts Monaghan. And while Davy Burke is seeing key names return to the fray, a lack of competitiveness in a number of their games has stymied their ambition. Ben O'Carroll's absence in attack has been felt, with Burke confident he'll have his strongest side available for the Connacht championship.
Burke, however, was accentuating the positives following last weekend's loss to Kerry.
"I'd much prefer to be where we are then be sitting mid table in Division 2 or top of Division 2 - maybe not getting tested like we were today," he told RTÉ Sport.
"So we're learning every week, we're getting better every week, and I know we're very, very happy. We're disappointed with the result, but we're very, very happy that these boys are knuckling down, and look, we keep going.
Roscommon's Cathal Heneghan has received a one-game ban after Jason Foley incident
"So this stage of the league can be strange results, but we very much will be going up to Derry, very prepared to win the game. We need two points."
So the Rossies know what they have to do. A draw will be good enough for Derry to top the standings.
Dublin, who welcome Tyrone to Croke Park, know that victory should be enough to see them reach the final. Their superior scoring difference (+28) and the fact that they beat Kerry (+9) gives them the advantage, with the Kingdom then having to shoot the lights out against Galway.
There is, of course, a situation where four teams could all finish on 8 points, that's if Dublin and Kerry lose and Mayo (+5) and Tyrone (-1) both win. The Dubs' score difference would still hold sway.
Division 2: It's either Fermanagh or Louth
The bulk of the jigsaw pieces are in place here. Armagh and Donegal secured their promotion with wins over Cavan and Kildare respectively the last day. The Ulster duo played out a somewhat dour contest when they met at the Athletic Grounds in February. They may be a bit more expressive when they hit Croker on Sunday week, despite the closeness of the Ulster campaign.
Down, with a score difference of +46, have been the most eye-catching in this section. Westmeath, still missing John Heslin, have had to show their resilience, none more so than when fighting back from four points down to force a draw with the Mourne County on St Patrick's Day. The midlanders pushed hard for a winner but a draw was deemed a fair result in Mullingar.
Avoid defeat against Sligo in Markievicz Park and Westmeath should secure their promotion ticket.
Down will be favoured to join them but Clare will push them hard. Nothing a given though,
At the other end, Limerick are relegated. Wicklow above them on 2 points must prevail away to Antrim (4 points) if they are to stay up. Offaly are still in the relegation mix; a defeat at home to Limerick and Wicklow winning, would see them drop down.
Division 4: Laois expect and there's a battle thereafter
Leitrim's narrow victory over Laois last Saturday ratcheted up the final-day drama here. What it means is that four teams are now chasing the two promotion spots.
Justin McNulty's Laois still lead the standings and will be fancied to get the job done against lowly Waterford.
Wexford play host to Longford, knowing that a win may not be enough if, as one would expect, Leitrim take care of business against Tipperary in Carrick. With both teams then level on 10 points, the head-to-head would favour Andy Moran's side, this after their narrow win on 18 February.
In a game where Wexford looked to have secured the points late on, the awarding of a contentious penalty for the hosts in the final play provoked much debate. Ryan O'Rourke converted to send the home fans into delirium, while Wexford made the long trek home feeling aggrieved.
On the other hand, Longford know that a win on their travels will seal their promotion. They have the advantage in the head-to-head over Leitrim, should both finish on 10 points.
