SATURDAY 1 March
Division 1
Mayo v Kerry, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3pm
Armagh v Dublin, BOX-it Athletic Grounds, 7.35pm
Division 2
Cavan v Down, Kingspan Breffni, 6pm
Cork v Roscommon, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm
Division 3
Laois v Antrim, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 5pm
Fermanagh v Sligo, Brewster Park, 6pm
Division 4
Limerick v Tipperary, Mick Neville Park, 6.30pm
Waterford v Wexford, Fraher Field, 6.30pm
SUNDAY 2 March
Division 1
Donegal v Derry, Ballyshannon, 1.45pm
Galway v Tyrone, Tuam Stadium, 1.45pm
Division 2
Louth v Monaghan, Drogheda, 2pm
Westmeath v Meath, TEG Cusack Park, 3.15pm
Division 3
Clare v Kildare, Cusack Park, 2pm
Leitrim v Offaly, Ballinamore, 2pm
Division 4
London v Longford, McGovern Park, 1pm
Wicklow v Carlow, Echelon Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
TV
Saturday evening's Armagh-Dublin game will be screened live on RTÉ and RTÉ Player, coverage commencing at 7.20pm. On Sunday, Donegal-Derry will be broadcast live on TG4 (1.45 throw-in).
Highlights from the weekend on Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport.
WEATHER
Saturday: The rain will continue moving southeast across the rest of the country on Saturday morning, becoming lighter and patchy as it does so, and will be followed by drier and brighter weather. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees with light to moderate southerly winds, turning north westerly after the rain.
Sunday: Generally dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with light to moderate south westerly winds, fresh at times near Atlantic coasts. For more, visit met.ie.
FRC to debate tweaks
At the time of writing there is still the prospect that Round 5 could be played under slightly altered conditions, with the elders of the Football Review Committee meeting on Friday to weigh the impact and perhaps unintended consequences of their rule changes.
One tweak that looks to be on the agenda is the requirement that teams be forced to continue leaving three players in attack even after a receiving a red card and/ or a black card.
Last weekend, it fully dawned on the watching public - and the losing managers, most especially - that black and red cards were coming at minimal cost, with teams on the receiving end allowed reduce their numbers in the attacking zone, leaving no numerical disadvantage back the pitch.
'It's an unintended consequence'
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 24, 2025
Éamonn Fitzmaurice says the FRC still plans to tweak rules after some controversy over the weekend
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When in possession, there was of course no restriction on the number of players that they were able to pour into the attacking zone. Kerry and Galway were both down two men for stretches - the westerners for 20 whole minutes in the second half - and yet it barely made any appreciable difference to the game.
Elsewhere, the impact of the roving goalkeeper in creating the extra man in the opposition half - aka, the 12v11 - and prolonging the passages of patient possession play remains a sore point.
The FRC evidently thought goalies sauntering into the opposition half would be more of a highwire act than it is proving to be.
Even the era when the goalkeepers were merely acting as 'sweepers' feels quaint, with keepers these days functioning as deep-lying playmakers (How long before we hear Marty referring to Colm Reape as the 'Mayo regista'?)
On one side of this debate are the goalkeepers themselves - or at least the vocal ones. On the other side, there is nearly everyone else. The more traditionalist-inclined spectators want goalkeepers firmly put back in their box, literally and figuratively.
Niall Morgan has made clear that any attempt to tether the goalkeeper to his 21m line would be an intolerable imposition on his self-expression and has indicated that he wouldn't have much interest in playing such a role.
Some in the managerial fraternity, meanwhile, appear to be growing antsy at the new kickout regulations - including former members of the FRC itself. The likes of Malachy O'Rourke, Mickey Harte, Tony McEntee et al have complained that the new kickout rule has created too many 50/50 battles in the air and prevented them from exerting control on proceedings at key moments.
We suspect this may be a concern specific to this constituency.
Division 1: Rare meeting of last two All-Ireland champions in Armagh City
It's an amazingly rare encounter between Armagh and Dublin in recent years, the pair having only met once in a competitive game in Kieran McGeeney's long reign (though by all accounts, they've had some fairly tasty challenge matches).
The two most recent All-Ireland winners have managed to avoid each other in championship since 2010 - the day when Pat Gilroy's charges finally showed signs of improvement after some intensive surgery. And Armagh, as is well documented, spent most of Dublin's imperial phase mired in mid-table in Division 2.
Their only meeting was the league opener in 2022, when Armagh, back in the top tier for the first time in aeons, stunned Dublin in Croke Park. The Dubs famously dropped into Division 2 for 2023, and then Armagh did so for the 2024 campaign.
It's their first game in Armagh since the first ever game at the newly re-developed Athletic Grounds in 2011, a game in which the venerable Rory Grugan featured for the hosts.
They collide amid reports that Rian O'Neill is set to return to the fold in the coming weeks.
There was much chatter around his absence in the early rounds, with Kieran McGeeney seeking to quell all rumours by insisting O'Neill was "just taking a bit of time for himself".
The Armagh manager has taken a fairly sour, peevish tone on the new rules in the past month, regarding their introduction as a needless capitulation to the 'in-my-day' pundits.
He did make an exception for the two-point arc, admitting that he liked that rule (although he suggested it should be restricted to scores from play).
His roving keeper Ethan Rafferty - replacing the more conservative Blaine Hughes - has made hay from the arc, and O'Neill has the potential to cause devastation on a par with Shane Walsh.
The Crossmaglen star's two-pointers were decisive in helping Ulster to victory in October's interprovincial series.
Armagh's form has been so-so in the league thus far, a groggy effort against Galway being followed by a resounding win over Tyrone. They succumbed against Donegal in the second half at a packed Ballybofey, following Aidan Forker's comical sending off.
Last weekend, they surrendered a big half-time lead at home to Mayo, generally perceived to be struggling in the league.
Dessie Farrell's new-look Dubs have been cutting an impressive dash in recent weeks, with a rousing comeback win in Tralee and then a demolition job on poor Derry last weekend.
The season was pegged as a transitional one following high-profile retirements but the spring has reminded us that there is still a long conveyor belt of players in the capital, with the likes of Theo Clancy and Luke Breathnach breaking through. Meanwhile, Sean Bugler, assuming a leadership role, has emerged as a pivotal figure.
Earlier, Mayo host Kerry in Castlebar at the traditional English Football League starting time of 3 o'clock on Saturday. Kerry made a stodgy opening to the league. marred by the second half capitulation against the Dubs.
But they will surely have been reinvigorated by David Clifford's bravura performance in Pomeroy, reminiscent of one of his All-Ireland minor final showings.
Despite difficult conditions, Kerry's David Clifford and Tyrone's Darragh Canavan put on attacking masterclasses when their side met in Pomeroy on Sunday afternoon.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 23, 2025
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Mayo were fairly pilloried after the 10-point loss at home to Galway in Round 2, with Kevin McStay indicating they were still adjusting to the rules. However, they dogged it out to beat Tyrone in a dismal spectacle on the third weekend. Only that Colm Reape's radar was askew in the final seconds, they'd have beaten the All-Ireland champions on their own turf last weekend.
Donegal - three wins from four but yet to score a single goal - are at home to relegation-threatened Derry in Ballyshannon, in what is a warm-up for April's Ulster opener.
Paddy Tally's side had been a tad unlucky in the opening rounds, somehow conspiring to lose against Kerry and then dominating the Round 3 game against Galway only to draw in the end. However, they were overwhelmed last weekend, Neil McNicholl's struggles as a forward-turned-goalkeeper indicating Derry may need a re-think in that area.
Jim McGuinness' decision to drop Ryan McHugh and Paddy McBrearty before the start in Salthill suggested he may have declared his innings in the league after three victories and was content to coast from now on. If he does something similar this Sunday, then Derry, one point from a possible eight, could have a shot at survival.
In the wake of last weekend's two-point festival by the Atlantic coast, Galway return to their #SpiritualHomeland in Tuam for a game that will presumably proceed in more normal conditions.
For whatever reason, their home game against Tyrone tends to be designated for Tuam. Their last home league game prior to Covid, in Padraic Joyce's first campaign, was a one-sided rout of the visitors, who were down to 13 men for most of the second half.
As we saw last week, going down to 13 wouldn't have the same impact this time, barring any FRC changes. The Connacht champions, top of the table and clearly at home with the new rules, are clear favourites against a Tyrone side who have lost three in a row.
However, Darragh Canavan did make his return to the squad last week, having been laid low by a concussion in the club final, and he should be in line for his first start of the league on Sunday.
Division 2: Meath soaring
'Meath are back' is the cry coming from Division 2. ('What took them?' comes the reply from some quarters but how and ever...)
Those relying on 2024 form had them pencilled in as relegation possibles but they're re-invigorated under Robbie Brennan's management, the All-Ireland club boss now overseeing a full-on promotion push.
Last weekend offered the most compelling evidence yet of their revival, with runaway division favourites Roscommon taken down in Navan.
The new rules have played into their hands, given their height advantage in the middle, with Jack Flynn, Brian Menton and Conor Duke dominating in the air.
They should be expected to maintain the momentum this weekend, with a visit to bottom-placed Westmeath in Mullingar, who, in spite of results, have been more competitive than was predicted at the outset.
Cavan host Down in Breffni, with both sides seeking to pull themselves clear of the relegation mire. Conor Laverty's side were pipped by Louth in Drogheda last Sunday, leaving them inside the bottom two as it stands.
Pat Havern has racked up nine two-pointers across the campaign - only three behind Walsh - but Down only have the comeback victory at home to Cork to show for their efforts.
After a poor start, Cavan have won the last two against Louth and Westmeath, the latter coming after another wild second half swing in momentum, largely dictated by the wind.
Roscommon's apparently serene progression towards promotion was stalled last week and they suddenly find themselves in third on score difference. With the new rules seemingly tailor made for their ensemble forward line, they looked set fair for a fifth Division 2 title in a decade. That's thrown into doubt.
They'll seek to bounce back in a potentially tricky encounter away to Cork. Their last visit to Páirc Uí Chaoimh was their loss in the 2023 preliminary quarter-final, a mild surprise.
Monaghan, suddenly one of the most free-scoring teams around, racked up 3-16 in the win over Cork last Saturday.
If the FRC side with the purists on the keeper issue, they could be hampered. Their roving goalkeeper is the most potent of them all, needless to say, with Rory Beggan landing three two-pointers the last day.
They face Ger Brennan's Louth, who have had a mixed campaign so far, digging out narrow wins over Westmeath and Down.
Division 3: Kildare on the rampage
In the third tier, Meath's fellow 'sick man' of Leinster also seems to be back in rude health, albeit the opposition aren't as hectic.
Kildare, fairly unlikely residents of Division 3, appear set to make it a short stay. They've won four from four, by margins of 15, six, 23 (poor Leitrim) and 12 respectively.
They face into one of the more awkward games this weekend, away to Clare in Ennis. Peter Keane's side have won two from three so far, their away game in Sligo last weekend being postponed and re-fixed for 9 March.
In their last outing, Clare pipped Fermanagh by two points, Emmet McMahon landing 0-10, six coming from play.
Sligo, tipped as a promotion contender at the outset, are still pointless after three games, with McEntee seemingly miffed by the new kickout rules and their influential attacker Sean Carrabine gone for the year. Aaron Kernan - now part of their backroom team - hinted on the Smaller Fish podcast this week that finding midfield fetchers capable of winning long kickouts had been an issue.
On the plus side, they were more competitive against Kildare than anyone else, though they face another testing game in Round 5, away to Fermanagh.
Offaly, pipped in controversial fashion in Brewster Park, should make light work of Leitrim in Ballinamore.
After their chastening loss to their neighbours in Newbridge last weekend, Laois host Antrim in Portlaoise, both sides having won two from two.
Division 4: More south-east derbies
Another south-east derby in a division which is not short of them - regrettably enough for football people in the region.
After their rare Munster SFC win over Tipperary last year, Waterford have taken up their usual perch at the foot of Division 4, narrowly losing the bottom of the table clash away to Longford this weekend.
They shouldn't be much of match for Wexford in Fraher Field. John Hegarty's side are in the unusual position of topping the table with a game in hand and are generally running riot in the bottom tier after their gross misfortune at missing out on promotion in 2024.
Second plays third in Rathkeale, with Limerick leading Tipperary on score difference. The visitors had been on the promotion trail until last week's shock loss at home to London in Semple Stadium.
Liam Gallagher's late two-pointer had given the Exiles that landmark victory in Tipperary, and they now have two wins from four and could - whisper it - be in the promotion shake-up. It was three years ago when Michael Maher's side won their opening three league games, though that was as good as it got.
On the face of it, London have never had a better shot at taking down Longford. Mike Solan's depleted side - hit by the absence of Darren Gallagher in 2025 - struggled to an unimpressive win over Waterford last week.
In Aughrim, Wicklow, whose game away to Wexford was postponed last week, host Shane Curran's Carlow side, who are down in sixth place after losses to Wexford and Limerick in successive weekends.
Watch Armagh v Dublin in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 7.25pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
