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Down's Corey Quinn bagged 1-1 for the Mournemen last weekend and Paddy Tally's side face another tough battle against Offaly tomorrow
Down's Corey Quinn bagged 1-1 for the Mournemen last weekend and Paddy Tally's side face another tough battle against Offaly tomorrow Down's Corey Quinn bagged 1-1 for the Mournemen last weekend and Paddy Tally's side face another tough battle against Offaly tomorrow

Football Matchbox by Paddy Tierney

Today

Division One

Tyrone v Dublin

(Healy Park, 7pm, live on eir Sport)

WHILE there are no easy games in the top flight, Tyrone could hardly have picked a worse time to welcome the five in-a-row All-Ireland champions Dublin to Healy Park.

The Red Hands must pick themselves up following last Sunday’s harrowing 19-point defeat to Galway, but Dessie Farrell’s men are unbeaten and are likely to leave Omagh with both points tonight.

Odds: H: 3/1 D: 8/1 A: 4/11

Verdict: Dublin

Mayo v Kerry

(Elverys MacHale Park, 7pm, live on eir Sport 1 & RTE)

MAYO boss James Horan will be looking for a response from his players following last Sunday’s nine-point loss to Monaghan in Clones.

With just three points from four games, last year’s Division One champions host Kerry this evening and a typically close battle between the sides is expected.

Odds: H: 2/1 D: 7/1 A: 4/7

Verdict: Draw

Division Two

Laois v Kildare

(MW Hire O’Moore Park, 7pm)

KILDARE make the short journey to Portlaoise tonight in dire need of two points following last weekend’s home defeat to Roscommon and Jack O’Connor men might just edge this derby tie.

Odds: H: 6/4 D: 15/2 A: 8/11

Verdict: Kildare

Division Four

London v Wicklow

(Ruislip, 1pm)

IF Wicklow are to remain in the hunt for promotion from Division Four then they’ll need to defeat London and they’ll be hoping for a better showing after shipping 5-10 against Limerick last weekend.

Odds: H: 7/2 D: 9/1 A: 1 /4

Verdict

Wexford v Sligo

(Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm)

AFTER losing their opening game in Antrim, Wexford have won three on the bounce to grab second spot in Division Four.

Sligo, on the other hand, have no margin for error following a shock loss to Waterford in round four.

Odds: H: 8/15 D: 15/1 A: 15/8

Verdict: Wexford

Waterford v Carlow

(Fraher Field, 7pm)

THEY won’t gain promotion, but Waterford’s win over Sligo last weekend will be a shot in the arm for football in the county while Carlow need a minor miracle to escape the division following a draw against Antrim last Sunday.

Odds: H: 2/1 D: 7/1 A: 8/15

Verdict: Carlow

Tomorrow

Division One

Donegal v Monaghan

(Ballyshannon, 2pm)

DESPITE several impressive performances, Donegal find themselves stranded on three points ahead of a crucial Ulster derby against Monaghan tomorrow.

One-point defeats at the hands of Dublin and Galway coupled with a draw against Mayo has left Declan Bonnar’s men fighting for their Division One survival and Seamus McEnaney’s in-form Farney men may just well nick a narrow win.

Odds: H: 4/6 D: 7/1 A: 7/4

Verdict: Monaghan

Meath v Galway

(Páirc Tailtean, 2.30pm)

MEATH delivered their best performance of the league to date last weekend against Kerry, but it still wasn’t enough for the Royals to gain their first points and Division One leaders Galway ought to claim both points.

Odds: H: 11/4 D: 15/2 A: 2/5

Verdict: Galway

Division Two

Roscommon v Westmeath

(Dr Hyde Park, 2pm)

BOTH Roscommon and Westmeath are locked in a four-way tie for second in Division Two so the outcome of tomorrow’s clash in ‘The Hyde’ will be crucial for both teams and home advantage could be key in this one.

Odds: H: 4/11 D: 8/1 A: 3/1

Verdict: Roscommon

Fermanagh v Armagh

(Brewster Park, 2pm)

FERMANGH’S three-point loss to Cavan last Saturday night has left them locked in a relegation battle, but they’ll relish the chance to go head-to-head against Armagh at Brewster Park tomorrow.

Ryan McMenamin will surely have his charges fired up for this one while Armagh can ill-afford to drop any more points in close promotion battle.

Odds: H: 5/2 D: 15/2 A: 4/9

Verdict: Armagh

Cavan v Clare

(Kingspan Breffni Park, 2.30pm)

BEATEN out the gate by Armagh in their league opener, Cavan now top the Division Two standings and can move a step closer to a return to the top flight with a win over relegation-threatened Clare.

Odds: H: 2/5 D: 15/2 A: 11/4

Verdict: Cavan

Division Three

Cork v Derry

(Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm)

CORK can all, but confirm their return to Division Two and a place in the Tier 1 Championship with a home win over Derry tomorrow afternoon.

The Rebels are four from four while Derry are one of a host of teams hoping to clinch the second promotion berth, but they are unlikely to halt the in-form Munster men.

Odds: H 1/4 D: 10/1 A: 7/2

Verdict: Cork

Louth v Leitrim

(Dowdallshill, 2pm)

THE bottom two teams clash at Dowdallshill tomorrow with the losers looking set for Division Four football next season, but Terry Hyland’s men can claim their first win at the expense of the Wee County.

Odds: H: 1/2 D: 15/1 A: 2/1

Verdict: Leitrim

Longford v Tipperary

(Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2.30pm)

TIPPERAY’S 21-point haul against Cork still wasn’t enough to defeat the Rebels last weekend while Longford posted 1-14 in defeat against Down. A draw could be on the cards.

Odds: H: Evs D: 13/1 A: 11/10

Verdict: Draw

Offaly v Down

(Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, 2.30pm)

DOWN have been involved in some tense battles in Division Three this season, but promotion remains in the grasp of Paddy Tally’s men.

Substitute James Guinness plundered a crucial goal for the Mournemen last Longford last Saturday night while Liam Kerr and Corey Quinn hit 1-3 from play between them and the visitors should have too much firepower for the Faithful

Odds: H: 6/5 D: 13/2 A: 10/11

Verdict: Down

Division Four

Antrim v Limerick

(Portglenone, 2pm)

ANTRIM officials made the early call to switch this game to the firmer sod of O’Cahan Park and now the players must deliver a win over league-leaders Limerick to stay in the promotion picture. Expect Michael McCann and Odhran Eastwood to see more game time after impressive cameos against Carlow.

Odds: H: 5/6 D: 7/1 A: 5/4

Verdict: Antrim

ENDS