Football

Three games to go and a lot of questions still to be answered in engrossing National Football Leagues

Cathal McShane receives medical treatment prior to being stretchered off during the Allianz Football League Division One game against Galway
Cathal McShane receives medical treatment prior to being stretchered off during the Allianz Football League Division One game against Galway Cathal McShane receives medical treatment prior to being stretchered off during the Allianz Football League Division One game against Galway

AFTER four games of the National Football Leagues, relegation and promotion issues remain unresolved. Andy Watters, reviews the Ulster counties' performances so far...

Division One

Monaghan (third)

THEY were viewed as relegation contenders before a ball was kicked in anger but the Farneymen now look genuine candidates for a final spot. Losing their opener against Galway did not deter them and, with pre-season training paying off, Monaghan have been in terrific form since.

Beating Tyrone in round two was a confidence boost and after Dublin wriggled off the hook (Monaghan led by 10 points at one stage) to draw at Croke Park, Seamus McEneaney’s men returned to winning ways against Mayo last Sunday. Fit-again Niall Kearns has taken up where he left off in midfield, Conor McCarthy is sharing the scoring burden with Conor McManus and the defence is packed with capable, experienced personnel.

Next up is a demanding trip to Ballyshannon to face Donegal this weekend. Victory there and we can start talking about the possibility of a first National League final appearance for the Farneymen since 1985.

Remaining fixtures: Donegal (A), Kerry (H), Meath (H)

Tyrone (fifth)

MICKEY Harte will be demanding a reaction after Sunday’s chastening 19-point loss in Tuam and he’ll need one because Dublin (joint top) are coming to town on Saturday night and Dessie Farrell’s side will leave Omagh with two points or die trying.

Victory at Healy Park will put the Red Hands on six points and that should keep them out of trouble but defeat and wins for Donegal and Mayo could see them drop into the relegation zone.

With Cathal McShane probably ruled out for the rest of the campaign following his ankle injury, Kieran McGeary suspended after a red card against Galway, a scoring difference of -17 and Donegal to come before a trip to Mayo in the final round of fixtures, Harte’s men could do with a result on Saturday night to avoid some nervous moments over the last two weekends.

Remaining fixtures: Dublin (H), Donegal (H), Mayo (A)

Donegal (sixth)

IN the cut-throat top flight every point is vital and allowing a couple to slip through their fingers could come back to haunt Declan Bonner’s side.

The Tir Chonaill men are third-from-bottom and in danger of slipping into the relegation mire but five more points – one against Mayo and two against Dublin and Galway – would have left them unbeaten and top of the table.

Donegal dominated Mayo in their League opener in Ballybofey but missing a series of scoring opportunities allowed the Westerners to draw the game thanks to a last minute goal.

Beating whipping boys Meath was relatively straightforward but since then Donegal have gone down to one-point losses to the Tribesmen and, last Saturday night, the Dubs. Small margins count for a lot in the top flight and Donegal will probably need two wins from their final three games – starting with their final home game against Monaghan in Ballyshannon on Sunday – to stay out of trouble.

Remaining fixtures: Monaghan (H), Tyrone (A), Kerry (A)

Division Two

Cavan (first)

THE moral of their story so far is: Don’t panic. After Cavan were hammered by Armagh in round one and came in second best in the first half against Westmeath in round two, obituaries were being scribbled on the back of match programmes.

Fast forward three weeks and Mickey Graham’s men are now top of the pile. The Brefffni Blues rallied in the second half to beat Westmeath and since then they have won in Portlaoise and Enniskillen and made light of the losses of Cian Mackey (retired), Killian Clarke, Conor Moynagh and Dara McVeety (unavailable).

Clare visit Kingspan Breffni on Sunday and Cavan close out their campaign against Kildare and Roscommon. Two wins from those three games should see them return to Division One.

Remaining fixtures: Clare (H), Kildare (A), Roscommon (H)

Armagh (Second)

A BOX of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get. Armagh have blown hot and cold in Division Two so far, mixing impressive home wins against Cavan and Kildare with a flat 70 minutes against Laois and a flat second half against Westmeath.

Despite dropping three points, Kieran McGeeney’s men are sitting in second place and, with a scoring difference of +13, promotion is still very much a possibility.

However, the promotion favourites’ tag is not sitting particularly well with the Orchardmen. McGeeney has to be commended for giving talented youngsters a run but the flip side to that is that his side seems to lack the smarts to hang in there when things begin to go against them.

The likes of Conor Turbitt and Conor O’Neill are both in their first seasons at senior inter-county level and Rian O’Neill and Jarlath og Burns are in their second, so fans should be careful not to demand too much from them. The experience of Charlie Vernon (retired) has been missed at full-back and, without veteran Brendan Donaghy the Orchard defence has struggled to contain opposition forwards away from home.

Travelling to Brewster Park to take on Fermanagh is a difficult assignment but victory will leave Division One football within their grasp. Defeat, on the other hand, leaves Armagh facing a tricky run-in against Roscommon (at the Athletic Grounds) and then Clare in Ennis.

Remaining fixtures: Fermanagh (A), Roscommon (H), Clare (A)

Fermanagh (seventh)

THIS time last year, the Ernemen were in the promotion hunt but a loss of form down the home stretch meant Rory Gallagher’s team finished third. That was a disappointment but the wise old heads in the Fermanagh dressingroom will be well aware that everything remains up in the air with three games to go.

That said, Ryan McMenamin’s men do need to get their act together after Cavan became the first visiting team to win at Brewster Park since 2017 last weekend. His biggest problem has been up front, Ultan Kelm has scored Fermanagh’s only goal in four games and the home side kicked a dozen wides last Saturday night.

Armagh, who don’t lack for attacking firepower when they are in the groove, visit Brewster on Saturday and a defeat will leave Fermanagh in grave danger of slipping into Division Three and with it the dark spectre of the second tier of the Championship.

Remaining fixtures: Armagh (H), Clare (A), Laois (H)

Division Three

Derry (Third)

RORY Gallagher’s men currently sit above Down on scoring difference but their loss to the Mournemen in round two may prove decisive in the final reckoning.

A home draw against Leitrim was a costly early setback for Rory Gallagher’s side but since the reverse against Down, the Oak Leafers have found their form and beaten Tipperary and Louth.

Next up is a daunting trip to unbeaten Cork and at least a point will be required for Derry to make up for their poor start. A positive result on Leeside will be a massive boost for Derry ahead of the closing stages against Longford and Offaly.

Remaining fixtures: Cork (A), Longford (H), Offaly (A)

Down (fifth)

THE Mournemen do not give their faithful supporters an easy time but with five points from four games and the trip to Cork (the only team in the division with a 100 per cent record) out of the way, Down are on track for promotion.

However, with Derry, Longford and Offaly all still in the mix, one slip-up could undo all their good work. This weekend’s trip to Tullamore looks, on paper at least, to be the crucial fixture for Paddy Tally’s young side. Victory will mean that Down can leapfrog their promotion rivals and then focus on a very winnable run-in home double against Division Three strugglers Leitrim and Louth.

So far so good for Tally and Down but as he and his players will know, things looked good for them at this stage last year only for promotion to be snatched from their grasp on the final Sunday.

Remaining fixtures: Offaly (A), Leitrim (H), Louth (H)

Division Four

Antrim (third)

STILL in the hunt after battling back from six points down to clinch a draw against Carlow last Sunday and the Saffrons now need a grandstand finish to force their way out of the basement Division.

League leaders Limerick travel north this weekend and victory will see Antrim move into second place if Wexford slip up at home against Sligo.

Manager Lenny Harbinson has done well to juggle his resources after losing star forwards Matthew Fitzpatrick and Ryan Murray and Paddy Cunningham has returned from six years on the sidelines to lead the attack and keep Antrim’s promotion dream alive.

Remaining fixtures: Limerick (H), Wicklow (A), Waterford (H)