SATURDAY 12 MARCH
Allianz Football League Division 1
Armagh v Kildare, Athletic Grounds, 6pm
Kerry v Mayo, Austin Stack Park, 7.30pm
Allianz Football League Division 2
Down v Offaly, Páirc Esler, 5pm
Allianz Football League Division 3
Antrim v Longford, Corrigan Park, 2.30pm
Limerick v Westmeath, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7pm
SUNDAY 13 MARCH
Allianz Football League Division 1
Donegal v Monaghan, Ballybofey, 1.45pm
Tyrone v Dublin, O'Neills Healy Park, 3.45pm
Allianz Football League Division 2
Galway v Clare, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Meath v Cork, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm
Roscommon v Derry, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
Allianz Football League Division 3
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 2pm
Fermanagh v Louth, Brewster Park, 3.30pm
Allianz Football League Division 4
Sligo v London, Markievicz Park, 12pm
Carlow v Leitrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Cavan v Tipperary, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Wexford v Waterford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
ONLINE
Live blogs on Kerry v Mayo and on all of Sunday's games RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app.
RADIO
Live updates and commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday and Sunday Sport.
TV
Live coverage of Kerry v Mayo on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7.15pm. Armagh v Kildare live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website. On Sunday, TG4 cameras will be covering Donegal v Monaghan and Tyrone v Dublin, with Meath v Cork live on the TG4 App. Deferred coverage of the latter game from 5.35pm.
On GAAGO, Armagh is live for viewers worldwide, while Mayo v Kerry, Donegal v Monaghan, Meath v Cork and Tyrone v Dublin, is available to outside outside of Ireland.
Highlights of all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 9.30pm.
WEATHER
Dry on Saturday morning with a freshening southeast wind in the afternoon bringing rain northwards over the country, turning heavy at times and falling as sleet over hills and high mountains and again leading to flooding in places. Afternoon temperatures, 7 to 9 degrees with southeast winds becoming strong easterly in the early evening. Blustery with widespread thundery showers on Sunday through much of the day but more in the way of sunny spells and drier interludes developing later. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest to west winds. For more go to met.ie.
Top two collision in Tralee
The Division 1 pacesetters face off in Austin Stack Park. A possible precursor for the divisional final itself? Dare we mention it, but maybe a dress rehearsal for an even bigger prize on 24 July? Okay, we may be getting ahead ourselves but Kerry and Mayo have delivered some eye-catching performances this spring, This, after sluggish enough showings against Kildare and Donegal respectively in Round 1.
The Kingdom, with David Clifford and Sean O'Shea scoring 3-05 between them, counter-attacked with menacing intent against Monaghan a fortnight ago. What was a tricky assignment on paper in Inniskeen was in the end a mere formality for Jack O'Connor's side, who were without the likes of Paul Murphy, Mike Breen Gavin White, David Moran, Joe O’Connor, Stefan Okunbor.
O'Connor told reporters after the game that they have yet to do the "heavy metal training". There is more to come, but what is apparent already is the increased tackling and snapping at the heels from the Green and Gold. The Paddy Tally hallmarks are there.
Hungry Kerry and Mayo jockeying to fill the vacuum
O'Connor in his last stints as Kerry boss steered Kerry to two league titles. All-Irelands followed on both occasions. And while he has spoken about the advantage of having a free weekend at the start of April, a league final does offer the opportunity for more fine tuning.
The no-show that was Mayo's performance in last September's All-Ireland is well in the rear-view mirror now. So far this spring we've seen a more direct approach from Horan's side. A lot more kick passing. The bench is also a lot stronger, with James Horan calling on the likes of Brendan Harrison, Paddy Durcan and Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin and Pádraig O’Hora at various stages so far.
The partnership of Jordan Flynn and Matthew Ruane in midfield is giving off a greater aura with each passing game.
Against Armagh, Mayo showed great resolve and no little patience in reeling the Orchard - Ryan O'Donoghue their scorer-in-chief - with Aiden Orme again showing his worth in the full-forward line.
Austin Stack is set to be full to capacity for the game with all 12,000 tickets sold.
Dubs staring at the trap door
Sixteen years on and there's still the temptation to talk about the 'Battle of Omagh' when it comes to Tyrone v Dublin at Healy Park. That was an opening round game. This latest renewal has certainly more of a do-or-die look about it. The All-Ireland champions are still not themselves and will have been disappointed that they did make more of the wind advantage and the chances they made against Donegal two weeks ago.
Dublin, in going down to Kildare, also spurned a number of goal chances. No wins in four for Dessie Farrell's side. If that stat goes to five and Kildare win on their travels in Armagh, then it will be relegation for Dessie Farrell's side. Perhaps, not a disaster, given that most observers feels the Dubs will be at the required pitch come the summer. Still it fuels more talk about lack of leaders, confidence, and vulnerabilities in defence.
On the latter point, Éamonn Fitzmaurice, speaking on the latest RTÉ GAA Podcast, said: "They got their defensive structure a bit more right against Kildare. They weren't as open and as porous as they were in Croke Park against kicking teams. Healy Park won't play as fast as Croke Park at the weekend, that might help them."
There is the well-trotted out line that one win can spark a Dubs revival. If it happens in Omagh, then it's Tyrone who will be feeling the relegation heat ahead of the final two rounds.
Donegal got a boost of sorts when accounting for the Red Hand in Ballybofey. There was much more spirit on display from Declan Bonner's troops at what is a crucial point in Bonner's second coming as boss. Donegal should be doing a lot better. They will fancy taking both points at home to Monaghan, who surely will have nightmares about the goals they conceded against Kerry.
The Farney have enjoyed a long stay in Division 1. That will be under threat if they don't get something positive by the banks of the Finn.
Derry and Galway look to solidify promotion spots
Division 2 is a neatly ordered place, between those looking up and those nervously looking in the opposite direction.
Derry have been the standout turn so far. They have the look of a top-tier side about them. Where once there were whispers, the sound is now a lot more audible in terms of a genuine Ulster title push
The introduction of Gareth McKinless late in the opening half proved the turning point against Clare the last day as the Ballinderry player set up Benny Heron's opening goal before helping himself to the second as Rory Gallagher eased away from their hosts with some comfort following a tight first half.
And Derry have eased away from their rivals so far. Roscommon will present a tougher examination at the Hyde. A point dropped at home to Clare the only blemish for Anthony's Cunningham's so far. That yet could be costly if Rory Gallagher's men are too good for them.
Galway got a little more than they bargained for against Offaly on Sunday last but got the job them. They remain on track for the top tier. That said manager Padraic Joyce was unimpressed with the scores conceded when he spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards:
"It was a disappointing performance overall to be honest. We didn't play well, he said.
"We started the game OK but just drifted out of it again and let Offaly into the game.
"Our defensive play has been very good in the first couple of games. But last Saturday night and today, we've conceded 5-27 in two matches, which is an area we've got to look at."
Clare are still not out of the promotion race but will need maximum points from their trip to Salthill.
And so to the scrap at the bottom.
Down, the least impressive so far, will surely raise some sort of an effort against Offaly on their home patch. The Faithful, however, will travel with confidence after their spirited showing against Galway.
Cork and Meath in the Tailteann Cup? Well, it's a distinct possibility for one. The Rebels, despite losing to Galway last time, were part of a high-scoring thriller at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. They look to be in a better place than the Royals, who this week lost skipper Shane McEntee after he announced he was heading to Mali on an overseas mission for the Irish Defence Forces.
Louth on a Wee bit of a roll
The scramble for promotion is proving every bit as intense as was predicted pre-season, with only three points separating the top seven after four rounds. Wicklow, who are now under new management, with Alan Costello and Gary Duffy taking over from Colin Kelly, are bottom of the table on one point.
Mickey Harte's Louth, after successive wins over Limerick and Westmeath, will look to keep the run going against Fermanagh at Brewster Park. In Sam Mulroy they have one of the league's top marksmen, with the player firing over 0-11 from placed ball against Westmeath. As for the latter, their promotion charge has gone off the rails after successive defeats.
It will be extinguished altogether if they don't get something from their trip to table-toppers Limerick.
Longford got their campaign back on track with a win over Westmeath last Saturday. A confidence-booster for their date with Antrim at Corrigan Park.
Wicklow and Laois face off at Aughrim. The hosts in need of points if they are to avoid the drop, while Billy Sheehan's troops could still be in the mix for Division 2 if they get the win.
Cavan looking to seal the deal good and early
There was surprise when Cavan dropped into Division 4 at the end of last season and their form so far this year suggests they are very determined to make it a one-season stop in the bottom group.
They have won all four games so far, taking them two points clear of London and three ahead of Tipperary, who they meet on Sunday. Yes, a clash of sides who were the champions in their respective provinces in 2020.
Sligo and Leitrim are both on four points and still in the promotion mix. The Yeats County host London while Leitrim travel to Carlow. In Sunday's other game Wexford welcome Waterford to Slaneyside.
Cavan to go up, with the remaining spot not likely to be decided until the final round of games.
