Mikey Sheehy, Kerry selector, Paddy McBrearty, Donegal, Damien Comer, Galway, and Cian O Neill, Kildare manager pictured at the Allianz Football League launch.
Saturday January 27
Allianz Football League Division One
Dublin v Kildare, Croke Park, 7pm
Kildare manager Cian O'Neill has acknowledged the importance of competing in Division One.
Two successive promotions brings a dollop of encouragement, but Kildare know that a seriously tough test awaits at GAA headquarters.
Jim Gavin's All Ireland champions will be eager to deliver an early win at Croke Park in what promises to be a lively encounter.
The Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cup was used an auditioning process for emerging talent in Dublin. It will be interesting to see how many are afforded a spin in the League.
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Peter Kelly, David Hyland, Mick O'Grady; Johnny Byrne, Eoin Doyle, Cian O'Donoghue; Kevin Feely, Luke Flynn; Fergal Conway, Chris Healy, Paul Cribbin; Neil Flynn, Daniel Flynn, Cathal McNally.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Clare v Cavan, Cusack Park, 2pm
Relegated last year, Cavan will be completely aware of the threat a pumped up Clare carry in Ennis.
Colm Collins' charges came close to landing the McGrath Cup with plenty of busy newcomers.
Cavan will want to be involved in the promotion mix, but this is an awkward opener for the Breffni boys.
CLARE: Killian Roche; Cian O'Dea, Cillian Brennan, Gordon Kelly; Pearse Lills, Ciaran Russell, Jamie Malone; Gary Brennan, Cathal O'Connor; Alan Sweeney, Eoin Cleary, Gearoid O'Brien; Eibhin Courtney, Keelan Sexton, Conor Finnucane.
CAVAN: Raymond Galligan; Donal Monahan, Padraig Faulkner, David Phillips; Darragh Kennedy, Ciaran Brady, Oisin Kiernan; Killian Clarke, Jack Wharton; Enda Flanagan, Dara McVeety, David Brady; Caoimhin O'Reilly, Bryan Magee, Adrian Cole.
Cork v Tipperary, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 5pm
Ronan McCarthy introduced a raft of new players in Cork's two McGrath Cup games.
Wins were posted against Waterford and Clare, but Tipperary, Division 3 champions in 2017, are primed for this match.
Cork shaded a Munster Championship clash between the teams and it could be similarly tight under the Saturday evening Pairc Ui Chaoimh lights.
CORK: Mark White; Sam Ryan, Jamie O'Sullivan, Micheal McSweeney; Kevin Flahive, Kevin Crowley, Brian O'Driscoll; Ian Maguire, Daniel O'Callaghan; Sean White, Sean Powter, Ruairi Deane; John O'Rourke, Mark Collins, Stephen Sherlock.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Shane O'Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney; Bill Maher, Alan Campbell, Robbie Kiely; Steven O'Brien, Jack Kennedy; Josh Keane, Conor Sweeney, Brian Fox; Liam Boland, Michael Quinlivan, Liam McGrath.
Allianz Football League Division Four
London v Carlow, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm
Having played every match away in the Allianz League last year, London now face seven home fixtures.
Carlow, refreshing and impressive in the 2017 Championship, want to embark on a solid League campaign. It is a sign of the strides made under Turlough O'Brien that only promotion will satisfy them.
Laois v Limerick, O'Moore Park, 7pm
Limerick have been disrupted by the retirements of the long serving Johnny McCarthy and Seanie Buckley.
McCarthy and Buckley are exactly the type of players and required to face a Laois outfit that has surprisingly dropped into the bottom tier. There is still decent talent at new manager John Sugrue's disposal.
LAOIS: Graham Brody; David Holland, Shane Nerney, Ruaidhri Fennell; Trevor Collins, Stephen Attride, Finbarr Crowley; John O'Loughlin, Daniel O'Reilly; Alan Farrell, Paul Kingston, Brian Glynn; Eoin Lowry, Gary Walsh, Aaron Dowling.
LIMERICK: Donal O'Sullivan; Gareth Noonan, Sean O'Dea, David Connolly; Paul White, Cillian Fahy, Jim Liston; Darragh Treacy, Brian Fanning; Daniel Daly, Peter Nash, Danny Neville; Tony McCarthy, Padraig Scanlon, James Lee.
Promising Kerry teenager David Clifford.
Sunday January 28
Allianz Football League Division One
Kerry v Donegal, Killarney, 2pm
Injuries and player unavailability ensures Eamonn Fitzmaurice will try to integrate some of Kerry's successful All Ireland minor winning teams.
Inevitably much of the focus will be on the gifted David Clifford as Kerry, who won this competition in 2017, are intent on being fully loaded for the summer.
Donegal enjoyed a reasonable spring last year, but the Championship brought painful losses to Tyrone and Galway.
KERRY: Shane Murphy; Cormac Coffey, Jason Foley, Shane Enright; Paul Murphy, Gavin Crowley, Ronan Shanahan; Jack Barry, Brendan O'Sullivan; Micheál Burns, Sean O Se, Stephen O'Brien; David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Barry John Keane.
Monaghan v Mayo, Clones, 2pm
At this exact stage a year ago Monaghan posted a morale boosting triumph in chilly Castlebar.
For the past number of years Mayo have stuttered in the early rounds of the League before finding form and eking out victories when their survival was threatened.
Monaghan are a consistent Division One team for several campaigns and will relish the opportunity to examine Mayo's resolve.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Conor Boyle, Barry Kerr; Fintan Kelly, Kieran Duffy, Karl O'Connell; Darren Hughes, Niall Kearns; Owen Duffy, Paraic McGuirk, Ryan McAnespie; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, David Garland.
MAYO: David Clarke; Brendan Harrison, Ger Cafferkey, Eoin O'Donoghue; Colm Boyle, Michael Hall, Paddy Durcan; Jason Gibbons, Stephen Coen; Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O'Shea, Diarmuid O'Connor; Jason Doherty, Evan Regan, Conor Loftus.
Galway v Tyrone, Tuam Stadium, 2.30pm
Galway's return to Division One for the first time since 2011 is marked with a hard assignment.
A campaign which promised so much for Tyrone in 2017 ultimately ended in bitter All Ireland Semi-Final disappointment.
That was a significant blow for Tyrone, who will want to make an impact in the League once more.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Hugh Pat McGeary; Tiarnan McCann, Padraig Hampsey, Peter Harte; Mattie Donnelly, Padraig McNulty; Conal McCann, Niall Sludden, Kieran McGeary; Darren McCurry, Cathal McShane, Connor McAliskey.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Louth v Down, Drogheda, 2pm
Pete McGrath steered Down to glory in the 1990s, but his current mission is to ensure Louth are competitive in Division Two.
A couple of hard earned promotions illustrated what a united Louth could achieve, but the Championship didn't go according to plan following the departure of some key figures.
Down did reach an Ulster Final and the last 12 in the Championship and they will want to build on that progress this term.
LOUTH: Craig Lynch; John Bingham, Emmet Conlon, James Craven; Darren Marks, Bevan Duffy, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell; Derek Maguire, Jim McEneaney, Gerard McSorley; Declan Byrne, Ryan Burns, William Woods.
DOWN: Shane Harrison; Colm Flanagan, Gerard McGovern, Brendan McArdle; Darragh O'Hanlon, Niall McPartland, Anthony Doherty; Conor Poland, Niall Donnelly; Shay Millar, Conor Maginn, Caolan Mooney; Ronan Millar, Connaire Harrison, Aaron Morgan.
Down manager Eamonn Burns.
Roscommon v Meath, Dr Hyde Park, 2.30pm
A furiously celebrated Connacht triumph captured what the game means in Roscommon.
Kevin McStay's charges, though, host Meath in what should be a full blooded affair at the Hyde.
Roscommon and Meath both fared well in the Connacht FBD League and Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cups qualifying for finals.
ROSCOMMON: Colm Lavin; David Murray, John McManus, Niall McInerney; Fergal Lennon, Sean Mullooly, Conor Devaney; Tadhg O'Rourke, Ian Kilbride; Niall Daly, Niall Kilroy, Enda Smith; Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciaran Lennon, Ciarain Murtagh.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Fermanagh v Wexford, Brewster Park, 2pm
Rory Gallagher takes charge of his native Fermanagh against Wexford, who came thundering out of Division Four last year.
Since then, though, Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney has departed and new Wexford manager Paul McLoughlin is expected to include several young players.
This should be a highly competitive Division so the value of a victory on Sunday shouldn't be underestimated.
Offaly v Longford, O'Connor Park, 2pm
Offaly and Longford were both fortunate to survive at this level in 2017.
The Faithful county are optimistic about the emergence and promise of Cian Johnson with new manager Stephen Wallace at the helm.
Denis Connerton's Longford are gritty competitors and this could be a tight tussle.
OFFALY: Alan Mulhall; David Brady, Paul McConway, Sean Pender; David Dempsey, Cian Donohue, James Lalor; Shane Nally, Craig Dunne; Jordan Hayes, Anton Sullivan, Michael Brazil; Bernard Allen, Cian Johnson, Nigel Dunne.
Armagh v Sligo, Athletic Grounds, 2pm
There was much to admire about how Armagh recovered following their Ulster Championship setback against Down.
Reaching the All Ireland Quarter-Final stage was an achievement, but the loss to Tyrone provided a stark reminder of how far more they still must travel.
A last gasp Michael Quinlivan goal denied Armagh promotion in 2017. Sligo, now managed by Cathal Corey, must plan without Mark Breheny, who exited the inter-county arena in recent weeks.
Derry v Westmeath, Celtic Park, 2.30pm
Damian McErlain and Colin Kelly will both feel that their teams can enjoy productive campaigns at this level.
Derry were in Division Two last year, while Westmeath won Division Four.
McErlain guided Derry to the All Ireland minor final in 2017 and some of that panel are likely to see action in the League.
Callum McCormack and Luke Loughlin scored heavily for Westmeath in the Bord Na Mona O'Byrne Cup.
DERRY: Ben McKinless; Niall Keenan, Kevin Johnston, Ruairi Mooney; Michael Bateson, Liam McGoldrick, Michael McEvoy; Conor McAtamney, Emmett Bradley; Enda Lynn, Benny Heron, Ciaran McFaul; Danny Tallon, Terence O'Brien, Niall Toner.
WESTMEATH: Eoin Carberry; Mark McCallon, Killian Daly, Boidu Sayeh; Noel Mulligan, Sam Duncan, James Dolan; Alan Stone, Denis Corroon; Kieran Martin, John Heslin, Ger Egan; Callum McCormack, Luke Loughlin, John Egan.
John Heslin will captain Westmeath in 2018.
Allianz Football League Division Four
Antrim v Leitrim, Corrigan Park, 2pm
Lenny Harbinson is a shrewd operator and will be anxious to ensure Antrim deliver in Division Four.
Leitrim showed some good flashes in the League in 2017, but they were inconsistent. Brendan Guckian did bring through a string of promising players. The experience gained should stand to them now.
ANTRIM: Chris Kerr; Peter Healy, Patrick Gallagher, Niall Delargy; Kevin O'Boyle, Mark Sweeney, James Laverty; Sean Burke, Niall McKeever; Stephen Beatty, Conor Murray, Patrick McBride; Matthew Fitzpatrick, Colum Duffin, Ryan Murray.
Wicklow v Waterford, Aughrim, 2pm
John Evans carried out decent work with Tipperary and Roscommon previously.
Can Evans improve Wicklow? Waterford started the League well in 2017 and came within a whisker of stunning Cork in Munster.
Tom McGlinchey's work with the Deise has been diligent, but this 70 minutes carries importance for two teams craving an injection of confidence.
WICKLOW: Robert Lambert; Ciaran Hyland, Jamie Snell, Paul Merrigan; Pat Burke, Dean Healy, Conor Healy; Rory Finn, Kevin Murphy; Padraig O'Toole, Theo Smyth, Darren Hayden; Gearoid Murphy, Seanie Furlong, Daniel Keane.
WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Thomas O'Gorman, Mark Cummins; James McGrath, Shane Ryan, Aidan Trihy; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Conor Murray, Gavin Crotty, Dylan Guiry; Jason Curry, Joey Veale, Paul Whyte.
