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Previews: Allianz Football League Division IV

Ruislip

Ruislip

There's a full programme of Division IV games taking place this weekend, one on Saturday and three on Sunday.


Allianz Football League Division IV Previews

Saturday, February 6

London v Carlow, Irish TV Grounds, Ruislip, 1pm

Perennial strugglers in the botton tier, neither London nor Carlow got off to a good start last weekend, London losing away to Louth and Carlow slipping up at home to Antrim. Carlow had a better than usual campaign in Division IV in 2015 and if Turlough O'Brien's side are to repeat that this year, they need to win the points in Ruislip. For London, this is very much a new era with Wexford native Ciarán Deely feeling his way into the position vacated by the long-serving Paul Coggins last year.

Sunday, February 7

Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park, Belfast, 2pm**

Antrim and Wexford are two of the favourites for promotion from Division IV this year, and both began with victory last weekend. Antrim were impressive in their 1-12 to 0-10 win over Carlow, Kevin Niblock and Michael McCann starring. Wexford were made work hard by Leitrim, but squeezed over the line in the end with Adrian Flynn and Ben Brosnan showing strong early season form. This is the counties' first competitive meeting since 2012, when Wexford defeated Antrim 0-18 to 2-9 in Division III.

Leitrim v Wicklow, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 2pm

It's been quite some time since Leitrim were promoted from Division IV, but they put up a decent effort in their opener, a one point loss away to Wexford. Cavan native Nevin O'Donnell has been a real addition for Shane Ward's side in 2016, as has the returning Emlyn Mulligan. Wicklow lost a number of experienced players to retirement in the off-season, but Johnny Magee's side made a fine start last weekend, downing Waterford on a 0-13 to 1-8 scoreline thanks to the freetaking prowess of  John McGrath and Rory Finn.

Waterford v Louth, Carriganore, 2pm

A long trip down to the Waterford IT campus beckons for Colin Kelly's Louth side this weekend, but it's a journey they will make in good spirits after beginning life in Division IV with a 2-9 to 0-9 win over London last weekend. Declan Byrne and Jim McEneaney hit 2-6 between them in that win, and will be expected to excel again this Sunday. Tom McGlinchey's Waterford lost their opener narrowly to Wicklow, and will do well to get something off Louth, with the Wee County one of the favourites to win promotion this year.