Saturday May 29

Allianz FL Division 3 North

Cavan v Derry, Kingspan Breffni, 3pm, TG4

Fermanagh v Longford, Brewster Park, 3pm, GAAGO

The first action of the weekend for most GAA supporters will be the visit of Derry to Kingspan Breffni Park, where Cavan will hope to pick up where they left off last weekend. The Oak Leaf County have arguably been the form team of the league so far across all divisions, and much depends on the approach they bring to this fixture – if they attack the game with the same intensity that they produced in the early rounds, the Ulster champions are in for a tough afternoon.

Mathematically, Longford can still get promotion, though they’ll need to record a landslide win and look for Derry to do them a favour in Cavan. Fermanagh will feel that while they endured a tough outing last time out, they played quite well for long stretches and it was only the flurry of goals in their third quarter that cost them, so with home advantage on their side, they’ll be confident of picking up a win and heaping the pressure on their Breffni neighbours.

Allianz FL Division 3 South

Wicklow v Limerick, Aughrim, 3pm, GAAGO

Offaly v Tipperary, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 3pm, GAAGO

Division Three South has been the tightest of the eight divisions so far, and going into the final round of games, no game has been won by more than four points and all four counties are still very much in contention for promotion and relegation.

Wicklow have the most work to do – they need to beat Limerick, look for Offaly to do them a favour in Tullamore and bridge the scoring difference gap. It was notable to see Limerick opt to kick a point with a 25 metre free at the end of their game against Offaly, with three points between the teams at the time. Manager Billy Lee confirmed afterwards that it was deliberate, he felt the point could be valuable and that the odds of engineering a goal were much lower by comparison.

Equally, Tipperary conceded a stoppage time goal in Thurles against Wicklow, which could be consequential. As a result, they have to win by at least four points against Offaly to be sure of a place in the top two – though any win or a draw could be enough if Wicklow beat Limerick.

Limerick (v Wicklow): Donal O’Sullivan; Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Michael Donovan; Robert Childs, Iain Corbett, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Adrian Enright; Danny Neville, Cillian Fahy, Hugh Bourke

Allianz FL Division 4 South

Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 5pm GAAGO

Carlow had the week off last time out, so they’ll be fresh and full of confidence after putting Waterford to the sword in the first round of games. Barring a defeat of landslide proportions, they will progress – while there is no such leeway for Wexford, who must pick up both points.

Allianz FL Division 1 North

Armagh v Donegal, Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm, Eir Sport

Tyrone v Monaghan, Healy Park, 7.30pm, GAAGO

This is another division where all four teams can reach a semi-final, and all four teams can end up in a relegation contest.

The quality of football in this group has been superb, with all four teams looking to open up and develop their attacking styles in the contests so far. Donegal suffered a heavy blow with the loss of Michael Murphy to injury last time out and they won’t have it easy in Armagh, who made a slow start and missed a penalty against Tyrone, and could arguably be top of the group otherwise.

There will be mixed feelings in Monaghan after last weekend. There’s nothing shabby about going to Ballybofey and coming away with a win, but after being so far in front and scoring four goals, a draw will feel like scant reward. Tyrone appear to have found another dangerous attacking weapon in Paul Donaghy, and they look like a side who’s capable of challenging for every honour on offer this year.

Monaghan (v Tyrone): Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie; Karl O'Connell, Karl McMenamin, Ryan McAnespie; Darren Hughes, Killian Lavelle; Stephen O'Hanlon, Aaron Mulligan, Micheál Bannigan; Conor McCarthy, Conor McManus, Sean Jones.

Sunday 30 May

Allianz FL Division 2 North

Westmeath v Down, TEG Cusack Park, 1.45pm, GAAGO

Mayo v Meath, Elverys MacHale Park, 1.45pm, GAAGO

It’s all about momentum and pride in Division Two North, as the top and bottom two slots are already locked in. Mayo and Meath looks like a great chance for the two management teams to try and bring back in some squad players that haven’t had game time, while in Mullingar, Westmeath  and Down will feel that a win would be a huge shot in the arm in advance of a relegation bout. Westmeath will feel a lot happier about the manner of their two defeats so far, while Down manager Paddy Tally seems a lot more unsure of the make up of his best team.

Allianz FL Division 2 South

Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 1.45pm, TG4

Laois v Kildare, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 1,45pm, GAAGO

March 31, 2002, was the date of Clare’s last game in Division One of the National Football League. On that occasion they lost to Kildare in Newbridge – and last Sunday, a win over the same opponents at the same venue took them one step closer to a return. On Sunday they play host to Cork, who weren’t nearly as dominant against Laois as the final score suggested. An incredibly efficient display meant that Ronan McCarthy’s side had plenty to spare, but the amount of possession that Laois were able to win will be a concern to the Rebels.

Regardless of league standing, a Laois v Kildare derby is always a big deal, particularly around the border towns of Athy, Stradbally and Monasterevan. An injury to Donie Kingston will be a big concern for Laois manager Mike Quirke, while other talented attackers like Evan O’Carroll and Paul Kingston have yet to catch fire for the O’Moore men this year.  

Cork (v Clare): Micheál Martin; Sean Powter, Daniel O'Mahony, Kevin Flahive; Tadhg Corkery, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Paul Walsh; Sean White, Rúairí Deane, Kevin O'Driscoll; John O'Rourke, Ciaran Sheehan, Luke Connolly.

Allianz FL Division 4 North

Antrim v Leitrim, Corrigan Park, 3pm, GAAGO

Louth v Sligo, Geraldines GFC, 3pm, GAAGO

The promotion ship has sailed for Leitrim, while Antrim’s two wins so far are enough to guarantee their place in the two two. Getting back to Casement Park is a long-held ambition for the Saffrons, but as long as they keep winning games in Corrigan Park, the pain of missing their spiritual home will be eased.

No safety nets in Dundalk for Louth and Sligo, where it’s ‘win and in’ for both counties. Penalties kept Sligo in the game last time out against Antrim, but under the new rules, penalties look set to be a much bigger factor in games generally. Louth have only conceded one goal in their two games so far, and if they can keep that parsimonious habit up, the county could be set for the first really big occasion of the Mickey Harte era.

Allianz FL Division 1 South

Galway v Dublin, Tuam Stadium, 3.45pm, TG4

Roscommon v Kerry, Dr. Hyde Park, 3.45pm, Spórt TG4

In sporting terms, Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns knocked the air out of Galway more than any other county. Last Sunday they won their first game for over 14 months, and looked very sharp in doing so as well. Now they need to exorcise more demons – their last outing in Tuam saw them ship an horrendous defeat to Mayo – and it’s hard to imagine a more cathartic remedy than a strong showing against All-Ireland champions Dublin at the same venue.

Roscommon could take plenty of positives from their first defeat, at home to Dublin, but the clouds were blacker and the silver linings harder to make out in Salthill. Now they have to take on an in-form Kerry team who still need a result to be sure of knockout football. Losing wouldn’t be a catastrophe for the home side, but losing heavily and suffering another blow to the confidence in advance of a relegation decider against a battle-hardened Ulster county would be a further setback.