SATURDAY 5 MARCH
Allianz Football League Division 3
Westmeath v Longford, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm
Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 3.30pm
SUNDAY 6 MARCH
Allianz Football League Division 2
Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Allianz Football League Division 4
Sligo v Cavan, Markievicz Park, 2pm
Wexford v Tipperary, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app.
RADIO
Live updates and commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday and Sunday Sport.
TV
Highlights of all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ Two and RTÉ Player from 9.30pm.
WEATHER
Saturday, will be a dry and sunny day. After a cold and frosty start, afternoon temperatures will range between 7 and 9 degrees as light to moderate northeast winds fall light and variable. A cloudier day on Sunday. It will stay mainly dry with light, isolated showers in the east. Afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate east or southeast winds. For more go to met.ie.
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Calmer days forecast
Storm Franklin visited our shores two weeks ago and caused the postponement of five league games in Round 3. This free football weekend allows those contests to be rescheduled - more pieces in the jigsaw to be filled in - the picture becoming a little clearer with regard to promotion and relegation in the three divisions.
With the weather set to be more benign the opportunity to boost one's scoring difference is there, to crank things up. Championship is not too far away, it's getting serious now. Ten teams are readying themselves for action, all with aspirations pointed upwards. The lie of the land is intriguing. First up is a look at the third tier.
Westmeath eye recovery after Wee loss
Limerick and Westmeath, favoured by many to book promotion tickets, both suffered recent defeats at the hands of a resurgent Louth. The race to qualify for the Sam Maguire is wide open. Westmeath will look to get back on track with a home tie against Longford.
Jack Cooney's men lost out by two points to Louth on Sunday last, with John Heslin contributing 1-10 of the Lake County's 1-13 total. It goes without saying that the former Aussie Rules player needs those around him to chip in a bit more.
Longford are facing a survival scrap if they don't take something off their neighbours. They were five points up at half time against Fermanagh the last day, but ended up losing bey seven. A somewhat harsh red card just before the break for Mickey Quinn did not help their cause.
Two second-half goals from Sean Quigley laid the foundations for the Ernesiders' victory in the midlands. They now welcome Billy Sheehan's Laois to Brewster Park. The O'Moore men could not seal deal against Antrim last Saturday, with Ryan Murray rescuing a point for the Saffrons with the very last kick of the game.
It's crunch time for both here with regard to promotion. Get the two points and you're very much in the mix.
Keeping the faith as Offaly await Tribes test
Looking at the table the race to be part of the top tier in 2023 is between Derry, Roscommon and Galway, with the latter looking to maintain their unbeaten start at home to an Offaly side who have picked up just one point from their three games so far.
Galway were involved in one of the games of the league when accounting for Cork on Leeside a week ago. Level at 1-12 apiece at the break, second-half goals from Damien Comer and Shane Walsh, who hit 2-07 in total, were crucial as the visitors eased home at the finish. The Westerners are obviously intent on securing that promotion ticket ahead of an early championship showdown with Mayo.
The feelgood factor returned to Offaly football in 2021; elevation to Division 2 was followed by an All-Ireland Under-20 title. Tomás Ó Sé was added to John Maughan's management ticket. 2022 has had a few bumps so far.
How they could have done with maximum points against Meath on their home patch. It was a hotly-disputed Joey Wallace goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time that ensured a share of the spoils for the Royals.
It was a contest that lacked quality. Offaly's clashes with Down and Cork will ultimately decide their fate.
Plot thickens in basement battle
And so to Division 4 where Sligo host table-toppers Cavan and Tipperary travel to Wexford.
Sligo's early season surge was halted by Tipp at Semple Stadium. The hosts making the most of their opportunities while the Yeats County spurned many of theirs. Three of Sligo's four remaining games are at home and a maximum return of points in the view of Benbulben may secure them promotion. But you just feel that there are more twists and turns to come here.
Cavan remain the favourites to top the section. Gearóid McKiernan scored seven points as they survived the second-half dismissal of Thomas Galligan to beat Carlow by just four points on Sunday last.
Over in Ruislip, Wexford picked up their first points when ending London's unbeaten run. Anything less than a win against Tipp will end any prospect of promotion. The stakes are high on Slaneyside.
