Jack O'Connor's Kildare face a crucial Allianz Football League Division Two encounter against Laois.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Sunday March 1
Laois v Kildare, MW Hire O'Moore Park, 1pm
Fermanagh v Armagh, Brewster Park, 2pm
Roscommon v Westmeath, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
Cavan v Clare, Kingspan Breffni, 2.30pm
By Cian O'Connell
With severe Championship implications unsurprisingly Division Two has provided significant so far.
It is set to continue for the remainder of the Allianz Football League, but the upcoming days carry huge weight.
On Sunday at Portlaoise, Laois and Kildare both know the value of their encounter.
It has been a disappointing start for the Lilywhites, who know significant improvement is necessary following three losses in a row.
Jack O'Connor's outfit face a Laois team that showed real grit and character to eke out a win over Clare in Ennis.
That was a mission Kildare didn't accomplish and the subsequent defeats to Armagh and Roscommon hurt too.
Fermanagh are another county in trouble presently so their clash with Armagh is loaded with importance also.
Armagh, one of four teams on five points, currently sit in second place due to their decent scoring difference.
Armagh footballer Stephen Sheridan.
Kieran McGeeney's developing panel drew with Westmeath at the end of an absorbing contest in which Armagh's quality was evident.
Cavan were outfoxed on the opening weekend by Armagh, but since then Mickey Graham's charges have stitched a three match winning sequence together.
Ultimately it means Cavan sit on top of the pile, but Clare have the potential to cause them bother.
Clare's victory over Kildare confirmed what they can achieve when in the zone, but in the intervening weeks the Banner have been beaten by Roscommon and Laois.
At the Hyde it will be interesting to see how Roscommon and Westmeath fare.
Wins over Clare and Kildare have injected momentum into Roscommon's campaign, but they will afford Westmeath the utmost care and respect.
Anthony Cunningham's knowledge of the Westmeath game is deep and the work being carried out by Jack Cooney is impressive.
LAOIS (v Kildare): Niall Corbet; Trevor Collins, Mark Timmons, Gearoid Hanrahan; Sean O'Flynn, Robert Pigott, Patrick O'Sullivan; John O'Loughlin, Kieran Lillis; Sean Byrne, Eoin Lowry, Damien O'Connor; Ross Munnelly, Colm Murphy, Evan O'Carroll.
KILDARE (v Laois): Mark Donnellan; Shea Ryan, Mick O'Grady, Eoin Doyle; David Hyland, Con Kavanagh, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely, Tommy Moolick; Liam Power, Paul Cribbin, Paddy Brophy; Adam Tyrrell, Daniel Flynn, Niall Kelly.
