Mickey Harte and Jim Gavin following the 2017 All Ireland SFC Semi-Final at Croke Park.
Sunday February 4
Allianz Football League Division One
Kildare v Monaghan, Newbridge, 2pm
Having suffered defeats on the opening weekend this fixture is certainly classed in the important category.
Can Kildare recapture the dash of their first half effort against Dublin? Can the Lilywhites avoid costly lapses in concentration? There were flickers of optimism; Kevin Feely is a splendid fielder while Daniel Flynn remains a full forward of genuine substance.
Monaghan were defeated by Mayo, but there were nuggets of hope; David Garland and Niall Kearns both clipped a couple of tidy points each.
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland, Mick O'Grady; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Cian O'Donoghue; Tommy Moolick, Luke Flynn; Fergal Conway, Chris Healy, Paul Cribbin; Ben McCormack, Daniel Flynn, Cathal McNally.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Barry Kerr; Fintan Kelly, Dessie Ward, Karl O'Connell; Darren Hughes, Niall Kearns; Owen Duffy, Paraic McGuirk, Ryan McAnespie; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, David Garland.
Donegal v Galway, Letterkenny, 2.30pm
Primed for the Tyrone game Galway settled smartly with captain Damien Comer leading by example.
Donegal contributed to a mini epic against Kerry, but they still lost. Registering a victory is what Donegal intend to do in Letterkenny.
Last year in a Round 4 Qualifier at Markievicz Park Galway blitzed Donegal, but it is unlikely to be as one sided on this occasion.
Hugh McFadden, Donegal, and Cathal Sweeney, Galway, pictured ahead of the game.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Down v Cork, Pairc Esler, 1.30pm
Connaire Harrison prompted Down to a satisfactory success over Louth.
With those two points pocketed Eamonn Burns' charges host a Cork outfit that showed signs of potential against Tipperary.
The Premier County, though, were still able to pounce for three goals so Cork will need to bolt the defensive doors shut.
DOWN: Shane Harrison; Colm Flanagan, Gerard McGovern, Brendan McArdle; Darragh O'Hanlon, Niall McParland, Anthony Doherty; Conor Poland, Niall Donnelly; Caolan Mooney, Conor Maginn, Shay Millar; Sean Dornan, Connaire Harrison, Aaron Morgan.
CORK: Mark White; Sam Ryan, Jamie O'Sullivan, Michael McSweeney; Kevin Flahive, Brian O'Driscoll, Tom Clancy; Ian Maguire, Cillian O'Hanlon; Sean White, Kevin Crowley, Ruairi Deane; John O'Rourke, Colm O'Neill, Mark Collins.
Tipperary v Roscommon, Semple Stadium, 2pm
It is early in the competition, but this has the cut of a critical contest in Division Two.
Roscommon's fluctuating display against Meath showcased their promise, while also offering a reminder of how costly lapses in concentration can be.
Meath nearly stole a victory at Dr Hyde Park, but Roscommon stayed cool late in with Donie Smith converting a penalty. The spoils were divided. That point could be decisive by the end of March.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Shane O'Connell, John Meagher, Alan Campbell; Bill Maher, Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Liam Casey, Steven O'Brien; Josh Keane, Jack Kennedy, Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Liam McGrath.
Meath v Clare, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm
An interesting encounter beckons between two teams who drew in the opening round.
Clare and Meath were both left reflecting on what might have been last weekend. A youthful Cavan finished well to draw in Ennis. Meath were ailing against Roscommon before a storming rally. The Royals went ahead before being pegged back by Ros at the death.
It was that kind of topsy-turvy match, but Andy McEntee wants Meath to become a consistent force. That remains the mission.
MEATH: Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan, Brían Conlon, Brian Power, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton, Adam Flanagan; James McEntee, Padraig McKeever, Graham Reilly; Joey Wallace, Cillian O'Sullivan, Sean Tobin.
CLARE: Killian Roche; Cian O'Dea, Cillian Brennan, Gordon Kelly; Pearse Lillis, Ciaran Russell, Jamie Malone; Gary Brennan, Cathal O'Connor; Alan Sweeney, Eoin Cleary, Gearoid O'Brien; Eibhin Courtney, Keelan Sexton, Conor Finnucane.
Fermanagh forward Seamus Quigley.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Fermanagh v Offaly, Brewster Park, 2pm
A dramatic opening round win injected Fermanagh with hope and that vital League ingredient: momentum.
Offaly suffered badly against an on song Longford so Stephen Wallace will be demanding an instant response.
Seamus Quigley starred in Fermanagh's triumph and the home team know another victory would leave them in a healthy position.
OFFALY: Paddy Dunican; David Brady, Paul McConway, Sean Pender; David Dempsey, Peter Cunningham, Niall Darby; Conor McNamee, Craig Dunne; Jordan Hayes, Michael Brazil, Shane Nally; Cian Johnson, Anton Sullivan, Nigel Dunne.
Sligo v Wexford, Markievicz Park, 2pm
Both teams suffered bitterly disappointing losses last Sunday.
Armagh proved far too strong for Sligo, who need to respond quickly. Wexford were spirited in Enniskillen without truly shaking an improving Fermanagh.
WEXFORD: Pa Doyle; Michael Furlong, Mark O'Neill, Jim Rossiter; Glen Malone, Martin O'Connor, Barry O'Gorman; Daithi Waters, Syl Byrne; Tiarnan Rossiter, Ben Brosnan, Donal Shanley; Paul Curtis, Nick Doyle, Craig McCabe.
Longford v Derry, Pearse Park, 2pm
Robbie Smyth and Seanie McCormack were polished and prolific in Tullamore spearheading a Longford triumph against Offaly.
Derry were floored by a couple of early Westmeath goals and while Damian McErlain's outfit replied they still suffered a loss.
Longford's recent Championship record against Derry is good so the away side will be diligently prepared.
DERRY: Oran Hartin; Niall Keenan, Kevin Johnston, Liam McGoldrick; Michael Bateson, Conor McAtamney, Carlus McWilliams; Terence O’Brien, Emmett Bradley; Ruairí Mooney, Enda Lynn, Ciaran McFaul; Conor Doherty, Peter Hagan, Niall Toner.
Westmeath v Armagh, TEG Cusack Park, 2.30pm
Colin Kelly's Westmeath commenced brightly against Derry with Callum McCormack and John Heslin netting goals.
A fine away win was recorded, but they can expect a tough test against a direct Armagh team, who beat Sligo in convincing fashion. Whoever lands a victory in Mullingar will be nicely placed in the promotion race.
WESTMEATH: Eoin Carberry; Mark McCallon, Killian Daly, Boidu Sayeh; Noel Mulligan, Frank Boyle, James Dolan; Alan Stone, John Heslin; Kieran Martin, Ronan O'Toole, Ger Egan; Callum McCormack, Luke Loughlin, John Egan.
Carlow midfielder Brendan Murphy.
Allianz Football League Division Four
London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 1pm
With seven London born players involved Ciaran Deely's team produced a committed display against Carlow.
It wasn't enough to earn any reward last Saturday, but London will feel that they can cause Wicklow problems.
John Evans' crew drew with Waterford last Sunday.
Waterford v Antrim, Carriganore, 2pm
A gritty performance earned Tom McGlinchey's Waterford an away point against Wicklow.
At the same time Antrim, under new boss Lenny Harbinson, carved out an effective victory over Leitrim.
The distance from Belfast to Carriganore is 207 miles so Antrim will want to ensure it is a winning trip back to the north.
WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Thomas O'Gorman, Ray O'Ceallaigh; James McGrath, Shane Ryan, Aidan Trihy; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Conor Murray, Donal Breathnach, Dylan Guiry; Jason Curry, Joey Veale, Paul Whyte.
ANTRIM: Chris Kerr; Peter Healy, Patrick Gallagher, Niall Delargy; Kevin O'Boyle, Mark Sweeney, James Laverty; Sean Burke, Niall McKeever; Paddy McAleer, Stephen Beatty, Paddy McBride; Mathew Fitzpatrick, Conor Murray, Ryan Murray.
Leitrim v Laois, Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm
Gary Walsh has the power and ability to be a seriously potent forward at this level.
Walsh registered 1-6 in the win over Limerick, while Paul Kingston also contributed a major.
Despite a plucky start Leitrim were eventually soundly beaten by Antrim last weekend.
LAOIS: Graham Brody; David Holland, Shane Nerney, Ruadhri Fennell; Trevor Collins, Colm Begley, Finbarr Crowley; Danny O'Reilly, John O'Loughlin; Alan Farrell, Paul Kingston, Brian Glynn; Eoin Lowry, Gary Walsh, Evan O'Carroll.
Limerick v Carlow, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
Turlough O'Brien wants Carlow to launch a serious promotion drive and this is precisely the type of game in which two points must be earned.
Billy Lee's Limerick battled hard against Laois and they will hope Seamus O'Carroll and Jamie Lee can land sufficient scores in attack.
LIMERICK: Donal O'Sullivan; Gareth Noonan, Sean O'Dea, Brian Fanning; Daniel Daly, Paul White, Jim Liston; Darragh Treacy, David Ward; David Connolly, Cillian Fahy, Tony McCarthy; Peter Nash, Danny Neville, Jamie Lee.
