Allianz Football League Round 7: All you need to know

SUNDAY 23 MARCH

Allianz FL Division 1

Armagh v Derry, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds,3.45pm

Galway v Kerry, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm

Tyrone v Dublin, O'Neills Healy Park, 3.45pm

Mayo v Donegal, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3.45pm

Allianz FL Division 2

Cavan v Cork, Kingspan Breffni, 1.30pm

Louth v Meath, Inniskeen 1.30pm

Monaghan v Down, St. Tiernach's Park,

Westmeath v Roscommon, TEG Cusack Park, 1.30pm

Allianz FL Division 3

Clare v Offaly, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis 2pm

Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 2pm

Kildare v Antrim, Cedral St. Conleth's, Newbridge, 2pm

Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 2pm

Allianz FL Division 4

Limerick v Waterford, Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, 1pm

London v Carlow, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm

Longford v Wexford, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm

Tipperary v Wicklow, FBD Semple Stadium, 1pm

ONLINE

Live blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.

TV

From 12.45 on TG4, live coverage of Louth v Meath, followed by Tyrone v Dublin, and then a deferred showing of Clare v Offaly. On the TG4 player, you can watch Armagh v Derry, Galway v Kerry, Mayo v Donegal, Cavan v Cork, Monaghan v Down and Westmeath v Roscommon.

Highlights and reaction to all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm.

RADIO

Live commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport, and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Spórt an Lae.

WEATHER

Sunday: Patchy rain and drizzle will gradually clear eastwards with drier, brighter weather following from the west and with sunny spells developing. Eastern areas will stay mostly cloudy for much of the day. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh northerly winds. For more go to met.ie.

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Avoiding a trip to Croker on the day the clocks go forward... ah surely not

Cast you mind back 12 months and to that terrific Division 1 final between Dublin and Derry. We had extra-time and penalties. Joy in the end for the Oak Leaf County and while that was the high point of the year for Mickey Harte and co, they at least had a trophy to show for their work, with some journalists adding that the contest we had witnessed was justification for the Divisional finals to remain on the calendar.

I don't think there was ever strong likelihood that a full stop on the league would be applied after the regulation games were concluded. We're sticking with the finals was the cry from the powers that be, a way of coming up with that all-important ranking list from 1-16, and where the Sam Maguire picture takes shape. More on that later.

In the top tier, Jim McGuinness' Donegal know that a win away to Mayo will send them through to the final. That game would be a week out from their Ulster SFC opener against Derry. A scenario that is "not ideal for us" said McGuinness, when speaking to RTÉ Sport after his side assured themselves of another year in Division 1, this after defeating Derry on 2 March.

Jimmy's thoughts it would seem are now fixed on provincial matters

Jim referenced the short gap to the start of Ulster combat, realising that there is a view out there as to the merits of going full tilt for a league title when your mind is on other matters, namely going deep in your province and the All-Ireland race that follows.

"There's a number of teams that want to stay in the division, but they don't want maybe to play in a league final and put themselves under pressure," he said.

It might be different for a few teams that have an easier passage in their provinces that maybe suits them.

"I don't know if that's the way the competition should be set up. I don't think it's fair on the sponsors in particular. I think you should have a competition that everybody wants to be in and everybody wants to win. So even the fact that you're asking me this question obviously means that that conversation is going on around the country."

Niall McCoy's NFL final day permutations

Elsewhere in Division 1, Galway and Dublin are also at the summit. After missing out on the prize they crave the most in two of the last three years, the westerners could do with winning some national silverware, a nice send-off it would be as they head to New York a week later. The Tribes left more than a few scores behind them at Croker last weekend. At this stage of the season, leaving aside their first-half wastage on Jones' Road, Galway still have the look of a side who again will be involved at the business end of things come July. Damien Comer's return saw him play puck around the edge of the square. As long as he stays fit and Shane Walsh continues to have the eye in and has no off-days, Galway's stock will be that bit higher.

Greg McEneaney aiming high as Dublin ace hunts more glory

As for the Dubs, who were well off the pace in losing to Armagh, turning over Pádraic Joyce's men in has their fans purring again. A league title would do nicely thank you for a side in a transition of sorts.

Down at the bottom, Derry are already relegated, with one of Mayo (who can also reach the final), Kerry, Armagh and Tyrone to join them. The Red Hand (5pts) currently occupy the second-from-bottom berth, with Armagh also on 5, just above them on scoring difference and on the head-to-head.

Lee Keegan: Galway test vital for Kerry ahead of Munster cake walk

Armagh are home to Derry and will be expected to win, but it's a dangerous game to predict anything in a league where scoring swings are all too prevalent.

Monaghan's Stephen O'Hanlon with possession during last Sunday's clash with Meath

In Division 2, Monaghan are on the cusp a return to the top table. And they have done it in style, chalking up some big scores, 1-20 at the break against Meath the last day, a testament to their marksmanship so far.

Roscommon, Meath, Cavan and Cork (who still have relegation worries) are also in the promotion shake-up, though the Rebels have the most work to do.

Cavan have really improved as this league has progressed and the took the scalp of the Rossies in Round 6. In 2022, the Breffni were operating in Division 4.

Westmeath, who have been somewhat unlucky in their games so far, are already relegated. Most of the pressure will be on Down to survive, a loss to Monaghan in Clones will see them head straight back to the third tier.

Offaly joint managers Mickey Harte, left, and Declan Kelly

And so to Division 3. Offaly, not fancied by many to be in the promotion race, know that avoiding defeat against Clare would guarantee that they go up. They head into this concluding round on the back of a deserved win over Kildare.

The Banner would need to win by 11 points and Kildare to beat Antrim for the Faithful not to rise.

At the other end, the hope is that Leitrim will be able to field a team to take on Sligo at Markievicz Park. Tony McEntee's side, who have been improved in the last three games, will be fancied to account for their neighbours and so stay up, leaving Antrim as the other relegated side.

In Division 4, Wexford secured their promotion a fortnight ago and one of Limerick or Wicklow will join them. At home to basement side Waterford, you would have to fancy the Shannonsiders, who are a point clear of Oisín McConville's men, who are away to Tipperary.

Honing in a bit closer on things and the flow of traffic between Divisions 2 and 3.

Even if Down are relegated, as Tailteann Cup winners, they are guaranteed a spot in the Sam Maguire race.

If Clare's mission to reach Division 2 is unsuccessful, their favourable draw in Munster (not having to face Kerry) sees them well placed to reach another provincial decider - and with it a place amongst the 16 in Sam.

The likes of Offaly and Kildare may have to make do with the Tailteann Cup, despite the satisfaction of league promotion.

Winds of change, well not quite

Benign weather conditions have prevailed over the last month or so. Sunday 23 February was the last day the wind blew with any vengeance; it was also the day when Galway led Donegal by 0-17 to 0-01 at the break. Pearse Stadium again opened its door to the Atlantic howl, with Shane Walsh giving a masterclass in shooting, kicking two-pointers for fun. Elsewhere, Cavan and Louth turned around half-time deficits and used the wind to aid their recovery and with it the league points. Offaly were just shy of doing something similar against Fermanagh.

Donegal's Michael Murphy is met by the Derry reception committee

A week later and again Lazarus was called upon as Donegal hit 1-07 late on without reply to beat Derry. The latter were ahead by seven approaching the hour; a manageable lead in old money.

Fermanagh, trailing by eight after 56 minutes and then by five heading into injury time against Sligo, found the range when it mattered to earn parity. Both games were played amid a gentle breeze. A rush of two-pointers, no matter what the conditions, will keep things in the balance.

Championship days will no doubt be enlivened even more if teams have their eye on from beyond the arc coming down the stretch.

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