2026 Allianz Football League permutations

By John Harrington

It’s the final regulation round of the Allianz Football League across four divisions on Sunday and most teams have something worthwhile to play for, be that a place in a divisional final, promotion, or avoiding relegation.

As ever, expect many of those permutations to come down to the final few minutes and scores across a range of fixtures.

It’s worth remembering that when teams finish with equal points for qualification for finals, promotion or relegation, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Where two teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;

(ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For);

(iii) Highest Total Score For;

(iv) Highest Total Goals For;

(v) A Play-Off

The full Allianz League tables with scoring differences can be found at the following link - https://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/tables.

It’s also worth remembering that the Allianz Football League carries added significance because it impacts what teams can participate in the All-Ireland SFC.

The following 16 Counties shall be eligible to participate in GAA Football All-Ireland
Senior Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

(a) The eight Provincial Champions and Runners-Up

(b) The next eight highest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the National League

Exception to (b): The previous year’s Tailteann Cup Winners, if not already qualified as one of the teams in (a) or (b) above, shall be eligible instead of the team in (b) with the lowest National League ranking at the conclusion of that year’s National League.

It must be noted that a league final winner will be considered a higher seed than the team they defeated in the final.

The remaining 16 teams, who don't advance to the All-Ireland SFC, will compete in the Tailteann Cup.

Allianz Football League Division 1

Armagh v Kerry, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 3.30pm - GAA+ & BBC iPlayer

Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 3.30pm - TG4

Mayo v Roscommon, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3.30pm - TG4 Youtube

Monaghan v Donegal, St Tiernach's Park, 3.30pm TG4 YouTube

Table-toppers Donegal on nine-points can clinch their place in the final if they beat already relegated Monaghan in Clones.

Kerry, in second, are also on nine points, but they have a tougher looking task with a trip away to Armagh who need to win to be sure of retaining their Division 1 status.

If either Kerry or Donegal lose, then a window of opportunity opens for Mayo and Roscommon who play one another in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. A win for either in that game would secure a place in the League Final provided one of Kerry or Donegal don’t win their game.

Galway, Armagh, and Dublin are all vying to avoid being relegated along with Monaghan. Dublin are currently the team in the drop-zone and their case isn’t helped by the fact that if they alone remain on the same amount of points as Armagh they lose out on the head-to-head rule because of last weekend’s defeat to the Orchard County.

But they can be sure of survival if they beat Galway in Salthill by at least four points even if Armagh beat Kerry. In that scenario all three teams will finish on six points each but Galway would lose out on scoring difference and be relegated.

If Dublin beat Galway by less than four points and Armagh beat Kerry, then Dublin are relegated.

If Dublin win or draw with Galway and Kerry beat Armagh, then Armagh are relegated. If Galway beat Dublin and Kerry beat Armagh, Dublin are relegated.

If both matches end in a draw, Dublin are relegated.

Allianz Football League Division 2

Derry v Cavan, Celtic Park, 1.15pm - Sport TG4 Youtube

Kildare v Louth, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 1.15pm - TG4

Offaly v Meath, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1.15pm - Sport TG4 Youtube

Tyrone v Cork, O'Neills Healy Park, 1.15pm - Sport TG4 Youtube

Cork and Meath currently occupy the top two spots in Division 2 on 10 points each, ahead of Louth in third and Derry in fourth on eight points each.

A win or a draw for either team in their respective matches against Tyrone and Offaly will clinch their place in the final and the promotion to Division 1 that goes with it.

Offaly are the only team already relegated from the Division after six defeats in a row, so Meath will go into that game as hot favourites. A trip to a Tyrone team still not mathematically safe from relegation looks like a more daunting one for Cork.

If either Cork or Meath don’t win their matches, then a window for opportunity opens for Louth and Derry who play Kildare and Cavan respectively.

Louth currently sit above Derry in the table due to the head-to-head rule thanks to their win over the Oak Leaf County last weekend.

But if three or more teams finish on 10 points it will come down to scoring difference and Derry hold a sizeable advantage here on Louth, Meath, and Cork which will be a decisive factor in this scenario.

At the other end of the table Kildare need to beat Louth and hope that Derry beat Cavan if they’re to avoid relegation to Division Three along with Offaly.

If that scenario comes to pass, Cavan woulud be relegated with Offaly.

Allianz Football League Division 3

Down v Laois, Páirc Esler, 2pm

Limerick v Fermanagh, Mick Neville Park, 2pm

Sligo v Clare, Dr Markievicz Park, 2pm

Wexford v Westmeath, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm - TG4 player

Down are already promoted and assured of a place in the Final with the meeting of Westmeath and Wexford on Sunday effectively a play-off to decide which team joins them there.

A draw would suffice for Westmeath due to their superior scoring difference, whereas only a win is good enough for Wexford.

At the other end of the table Fermanagh are already relegated. Limerick currently sit in the drop zone too and the only way they’ll also avoid relegation will be if they beat Fermanagh and Clare beat Sligo.

In that scenario Sligo would be relegated along with Fermanagh.

Allianz Football League Division 4

Antrim v London, Erins Own, Cargin, 1pm

Carlow v Leitrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1pm

Longford v Wicklow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm

Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium, 1pm

There’s a whole host of permutations in this division with just two points separating seven teams who all still have a chance of promotion.

Carlow and Wicklow currently occupy the top two positions on eight points each, and the simplest scenario would see them advance to the final if they win their respective matches against Leitrim and Longford.

If Longford beat Wicklow they’ll be promoted just so long as London don’t beat Antrim and Longford and London are the only counties on nine points. In that scenario London would finish above Longford on the head-to-head rule.

Of the three teams (Antrim, Tipperary, and Leitrim) currently on six points, Antrim have the best outside chance of springing from the pack to snatch a top two position thanks to their superior scoring difference.

They would need to beat London and hope that one or both of either Carlow or Wicklow lose and for a scenario to develop where they could get promoted on scoring difference if three teams or more finish on eight points each.

There are likely to be all sorts of twists and turns on the day and it'll be fascinating to see what teams occupy the top two positions when the dust finally settles.