Football

Relegation and promotion spots up for grabs in final round of group games in the National Football League

Tyrone's win over Armagh last Saturday means they need to need to beat Monaghan in Omagh to progress to the Division One semi-finals. Pic Philip Walsh.
Tyrone's win over Armagh last Saturday means they need to need to beat Monaghan in Omagh to progress to the Division One semi-finals. Pic Philip Walsh. Tyrone's win over Armagh last Saturday means they need to need to beat Monaghan in Omagh to progress to the Division One semi-finals. Pic Philip Walsh.

Allianz NFL Division One 

Fixtures (N): Armagh v Donegal (Athletic Grounds), Tyrone v Monaghan (Healy Park); (S) Galway v Dublin (St Jarlath's Park), Roscommon v Kerry (Dr Hyde Park)

ALL four counties remain in the hunt for the two semi-final spots but they’re also at risk of finishing in the relegation play-off berths.

Donegal: Victory over Armagh will see them top the group and progress to a semi-final against the second-placed team in Division One South. A draw would also be enough but defeat will see them denied a League title challenge if Tyrone beat Monaghan in the other game.

Tyrone: Beating Monaghan will see them move to four points and progress to the semi-finals even if Armagh win (head-to-head). If Donegal beat Armagh in the other game, Tyrone will take second spot. If Monaghan and Armagh win, Tyrone will finish bottom of the group.

Armagh: Can top the group if they beat Donegal and Monaghan beat Tyrone at Healy Park. If Armagh and Tyrone record wins, they will both finish on four points and the Red Hands will top the group on head-to-head. If Armagh lose they’ll finish in the bottom two.

Monaghan: The Farney county need to win at Healy Park. If they do so and Donegal beat Armagh then Monaghan will finish second in the group on three points leaving Tyrone and the Orchardmen in the relegation zone. Victories for Monaghan and Armagh would mean Monaghan and Donegal finishing joint second on three points and, since they drew in round two, the issue would be decided on scoring difference - Donegal’s is currently +2, Monaghan’s is -4.

In Division Two South, wins for Dublin over Galway and Kerry (Roscommon) will see them progress to the semis with the Kingdom likely to take top spot. Galway can force their way into the mix if they can beat the Dubs in Tuam.

Allianz NFL Division Two 

Fixtures (N): Westmeath v Down (TEG Cusack Park), Mayo v Meath (Elverys MacHale Park); (S) Clare v Cork (Cusack Park), Laois v Kildare (MW Hire O'Moore Park)

THE only question to be decided in Division Two North is what order the counties finish in – the promotion and relegation play-off places have already been decided.

Mayo: The Westerners host Meath in Castlebar and their superior scoring difference means that a draw would see them top the group.

Meath: Two wins out of two for Andy McEntee’s men means that victory over Mayo (also relegated from the top flight last year) will see them top the group and progress to a semi-final against the second-placed team in Division Two South.

Westmeath: Admirable performances but no points has been the story of Westmeath’s campaign. The midlanders lost by a point to Meath in their opener and three to Mayo last weekend. They’ll hope to finish with a win on home soil on Sunday.

Down: There has been nothing to cheer about for Paddy Tally’s Mournemen so far. Optimism from last season’s promotion evaporated in the 13-point opening day loss to Mayo and Down were well beaten by Meath in Armagh last Sunday. Tally could opt for a pragmatic approach and rest some of his key personnel with the relegation play-offs looming, but a win in Mullingar would halt a concerning loss of form and restore some confidence.

In Division Two South, the battle of Clare and Cork in Ennis is one to keep an eye on. The Banner top the table with two wins out of two, while Cork (two points) need victory to make the semi-finals after they lost to Kildare in round one.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites travel to basement outfit Laois needing to win and hoping for a Clare victory. Two draws would see Kildare edge out Cork on the head-to-head rule.

Allianz NFL Division Three

Fixtures (N): Cavan v Derry (Kingspan Breffni), Fermanagh v Longford (Brewster Park); (S) Wicklow v Limerick (Aughrim), Offaly v Tipperary (Bord Na Mona O Connor Park)

DERRY have sprinted out of the traps like a Brandywell greyhound this year and their firepower has left them virtually assured of a semi-final berth. But who will join them in the top two?

Derry: Who said Rory Gallagher plays 14 men behind the ball? Not this season he doesn’t if the scoring stats are to be believed. Gallagher’s Oak Leafers have run riot, amassing 5-34 in two games. A draw will do but Derry travel to Ulster champions Cavan looking to rubberstamp an excellent campaign and progress to the semi-finals with full confidence.

Fermanagh: A morale-boosting win over Cavan in the opener was followed by a chastening experience at Owenbeg last week. 19 points separated the teams at the finish but the Ernemen can bounce back and take second in the group by beating basement outfit Longford on their home patch and trusting Derry to do them a favour against the Breffnimen.

Cavan: Surviving a late Longford rally to post their first win of the year keeps them in the hunt. If they can bring Derry’s run to an end they will move to four points and a Longford win in Fermanagh will see them finish second. If they and Fermanagh both win, there’ll be a three-way tie at the top of the table and that issue would be settled on scoring difference which should suit Mickey Graham’s men.

Longford: If Derry beat Cavan and Longford win at Brewster Park, the three-way tie at the bottom will be decided on scoring difference.

In Division Three South, Offaly (four points) are fancied to top the group but if they slip up against Tipperary and Limerick beat Wicklow three teams will finish on four points and it’s currently Offaly (+6), Tipperary (+1) and Limerick (0) on scoring difference.

Allianz NFL Division Four 

Fixtures (N): Antrim v Leitrim (Corrigan Park), Louth v Sligo (Haggardstown); (S) Carlow v Wexford (Netwatch Cullen Park)

ANTRIM have made a very useful habit of coming out on the right side in tight games so far this year. The winner-takes-all battle in Louth will decide who joins them in the semis.

Antrim: Paddy Cunningham’s heroics mean that Saffrons manager Enda McGinley can afford to experiment against Leitrim on Sunday. McGinley’s men beat Louth and Sligo by a point and are guaranteed to finish in the top two.

Louth: Mickey Harte registered his first competitive win as Wee County boss last weekend and he now goes head-to-head with Tony McEntee’s Sligo in Haggardstown. A draw will do for Louth.

Sligo: Louth’s superior scoring difference means that only victory will suffice for the Yeatsmen. Tony McEntee’s side won their opener against Leitrim but lost a thriller at the death in Corrigan Park last Sunday.

Leitrim: Even victory over frontrunners Antrim can’t save Terry Hyland’s men from the Division Four Shield competition.

In Division Four South, Wexford need to beat Carlow to leapfrog Waterford. A win for Carlow will see them and the Decies progress to the semi-final stage.