By Cian O'Connell

Tyrone triumph at Croke Park

Chiefly because of the standards Dublin have set in recent years every win over them carries importance for the victors.

So Tyrone left GAA headquarters on Saturday evening understandably feeling happy with themselves for a plethora of reasons.

The most prized scalp of the lot had been taken and an opportunity to earn a League Final berth exists when Tyrone host Galway at Healy Park on Sunday.

Considering how Tyrone lost against Kerry and Mayo early on in the competition it has been a dynamic and dramatic turnaround.

Mickey Harte was content that when serious questions were being posed by Dublin his Tyrone team just managed to hang on in there.

“It was a battle from start to finish and that was the good thing about it," Harte acknowledged. "We were in that battle from the start and we withstood a very goal that should have rocked us and would have in the past.

“I think that was the big thing, we didn’t let that upset us too much, we just rolled up our sleeves and fought back and I think the players got the reward they deserved because they put in a serious effort there.”

Mixing passion with purpose has been a pleasant cocktail in the Tyrone story under Harte. A spring success over Dublin won't define any campaign, but hope is firmly back in Tyrone hearts.

Things can change quickly in Mayo

Three wins on the spin had Mayo supporters believing again before two bitterly disappointing losses to Dublin and Galway hurt.

So what happens next? Mayo skip down to Tralee against an evolving Kerry outfit, who had chalked up five victories themselves, and prevail.

Not only did Mayo take the points, but they made a couple also.

Aidan O'Shea and Matthew Ruane's relevance to the game illustrated the sheer importance of hard graft.

That is what Mayo did demonstrating composure when the issue was delicately poised.

"What we are happiest with is our work-rate, our tackling, the 50-50s, the ball on the ground," Horan remarked.

“Some of those elements were very strong, and we got a deserved win. Some of our tackling, when it needed to be clean and clear, was really good."

Horan's diligent approach is all about trying to develop players and a panel for the summer assignments which are edging closer.

"We identified a number of things we knew we had to work on, knowing, if we got better at those, we’d be a very strong team," Horan added.

"That’s what the League is for us, about winning as many games as we can and develop as strong as we can. Each week we play, it’s a test of our improvement.”

Any triumph in Kerry is worth celebrating meaning Mayo are optimistic again.

Galway and Monaghan pocket important wins

Injuries and club commitments have disturbed Galway significantly this spring so the fact that four wins have been accumulated encourages Kevin Walsh.

The objective was to retain Division One status and that was confirmed by a sound success over Roscommon in Salthill.

"Since the start of the year we wanted to stay in Division One and we’ve achieved that now," Walsh stated.

Another area which pleased Walsh is how emerging footballers such as John Daly and Antaine O'Laoi have fared during this run.

"Also we wanted to get some newer players playing and we’ve achieved that as well, another game to go we’ll see what happens, we’ll take it on it’s merits, and we’ll see how it goes."

Galway's victory means next Sunday's encounter against Tyrone at Healy Park will be worth monitoring.

Monaghan also injected their survival hopes with a couple of crucial points when defeating neighbours Cavan.

Staying in the top tier is precisely what Monaghan want to do.

“We have worked very hard to get into this Division and we want to stay here if it all possible,” Malachy O'Rourke commented following the game.

The depth of the Monaghan panel has developed in O'Rourke's tenure.

"We felt we had that ability to drive on and the fellas coming in from the bench made a big impact - that was important."

Exciting Division Two conclusion beckons

Meath, Fermanagh, Donegal, and Kildare remain in the promotion race.

Clare, Tipperary, and Cork are scrambling to avoid the drop. Ultimately it ensures a crucial Sunday of action beckons.

Cork, who face Armagh, are in severe difficulty and will rely on a favourable result in Thurles when Tipperary and Clare collide.

Realistically, we’ll be going up needing to win and depending on other results, such as Tipperary to beat Clare," says Cork manager Ronan McCarthy.

That is the state of play at the bottom of the table where two Munster counties will leave the Division.

At the other end Donegal's strong finish against Cork puts them very much in the hunt to secure Division One status.

"We can only control what’s in our control, we came down here to get two points and we did that," Donegal boss Declan Bonner commented.

“Whatever happens elsewhere is out of our control. We’ll be keeping an eye on things alright and, hopefully, we’ll have a big match to play for next weekend.”

That match against Kildare promises to be interesting as the Lilywhites survived a late Tipperary fightback.

Meath, though, are on the verge of returning to Division One following an industrious win over Clare.

Andy McEntee's team have won five of their six games - the defeat against Donegal was most unfortunate - so the Royals will be hoping to complete the job when Fermanagh visit Pairc Tailteann.

Fermanagh suffered a setback when losing to Armagh so they have it all to play for in Navan on what promises to be an edgy and exciting conclusion to Division Two.

Division Three remains keenly contested

Seven of the eight teams involved have something significant to play for.

Sligo are the only team relegated following six straight losses, but they will be anxious to summon an improved performance against Offaly.

The Faithful County will also be relying on a Laois triumph over Carlow, who currently have accumulated five points.

Carlow came very close to dividing the spoils with Down on Saturday, but Paddy Tally's outfit are now on the verge of regaining Division Two status.

Down's encounter against Louth will be revealing because Wayne Kierans' charges know that a couple of wins in their remaining matches might be enough to secure promotion.

Westmeath have similar aspirations so their upcoming midlands derby tussle against Longford carries real importance in Mullingar.