After two years of serious disruption due to Covid-19, hopes are high that the 2022 Allianz Leagues will proceed as normal this season, starting with football which begins this weekend.

This will be the 30th season that Allianz have been title sponsors of the Allianz Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport.

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the sponsorship, Allianz is launching a new creative campaign that will run across TV and digital throughout the Allianz Leagues season. The advert will look at how the competition has grown in stature and significance over the 30 years of Allianz’ tenure to become the most fiercely contested competitions in the GAA calendar beloved by players and supporters alike.

There’s an air of excitement across all counties as the Allianz Football League returns to its usual timing and format after last year’s truncated version. The competition also didn’t begin until mid-May and unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to play finals in Divisions 1, 2 and 4.

It’s back to a January start this year, with seven rounds scheduled between this weekend and the end of March, paving the way for finals weekend on April 2/3.

CEO of Allianz Ireland, Seán McGrath said: “It is a huge source of pride that we enter into our 30th year as sponsor of the Allianz Leagues. As a longstanding partner of the GAA we have taken immense pride in witnessing the growth of this competition in terms of profile, status, and quality.

Such is the public appetite for Gaelic Games that we now enjoy extensive coverage of the Allianz Leagues and as we return to our traditional position in the GAA calendar and the return of crowds, we can all look forward to another enthralling campaign and some of the most competitive matches of the year. Best wishes to the management, players and fans who make this great competition what it is.”

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy said: “The start of the Allianz Football League is always enthusiastically welcomed by all GAA supporters. The promise of Spring is as potent as ever as teams ready themselves for the 2022 campaign.

It is particularly noteworthy that this is Allianz’ 30th year supporting these competitions. This longstanding partnership is one of the strongest in Irish sport and I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Allianz in helping us to bring our games to the widest audience possible."

Dublin and Kerry, who shared the Division 1 title last year, begin their campaigns against Armagh and Kildare respectively. Dublin host Armagh in Croke Park on Saturday night while Kerry face Kildare in Newbridge on Sunday in a game which will have a special resonance for Jack O’Connor who managed the Lilywhites in 2020-21.

He begins his third term as Kerry manager, having previously been in charge in 2004-2006 and 2009-12.

Kildare, now managed by Glenn Ryan, return to Division 1 for the first time since 2018. Mayo, who play Donegal, also return to the top-flight after one season in Division 2.

Galway and Roscommon dropped out of Division 1 at the end of last season and will begin their bid for a quick return to the top division when they play Meath and Cork respectively next Sunday.

Offaly and Derry are the newcomers to Division 2 while Antrim and Louth were promoted to Division 3.

The provincial break-up between the four provinces is as follows:

Division 1: 4 - Ulster (Armagh, Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone); 2 – Leinster (Dublin, Kildare); 1 – Connacht (Mayo); 1 – Munster (Kerry).

Division 2: 2- Connacht (Galway, Roscommon); 2 -Leinster (Meath, Offaly); 2 –Munster (Clare, Cork); 2 -Ulster (Derry, Down).

Division 3: 5 – Leinster (Laois, Longford, Louth, Westmeath, Wicklow); 2 – Ulster (Fermanagh, Antrim); 1 – Munster (Limerick)

Division 4: 2- Leinster (Carlow, Wexford); 2- Munster (Tipperary, Waterford); 2- Connacht (Leitrim, Sligo); 1 – Ulster (Cavan); London.

Key Dates

Jan 29/30: Round 1

Feb 5/6: Round 2

Feb 19/20: Round 3

Feb 26/27: Round 4

Mar 12/13: Round 5

Mar 19/20: Round 6

Mar 27: Round 7

Apr 2/3: Finals

Next weekend’s first round action is as follows:

SATURDAY

Division 1: Dublin v Armagh, Croke Park, 7.0

Division 2: Derry v Down, Owenbeg, 5.0

Division 3: Limerick v Longford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 5.0; Fermanagh v Antrim, Brewster Park, 7.0

Division 4: Carlow v London, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.0

SUNDAY

Division 1: Kildare v Kerry, Newbridge, 1.45; Mayo v Donegal, Markievicz Park, 1.45; Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh, 3.45

Division 2: Clare v Offaly, Ennis, 2.0; Galway v Meath, Pearse Stadium, 2.0; Roscommon v Cork, Dr.Hyde Park, 2.0.

Division 3: Louth v Laois, Ardee, 2.0; Westmeath v Wicklow TEG Cusack Park, 2.0

Division 4: Leitrim v Cavan, Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, 2.0; Waterford v Tipperary, Dungarvan, 2.0; Wexford v Sligo, Chadwicks Wexford Park ,2.0

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROLL OF HONOUR

22* – Kerry (1928-29-31-32-59-61-63-69-71-72-73-74-77-82-84-97-2004-2006-2009-2017-2020-2021)

14* – Dublin (1953-55-58-76-78-87-91-93-2013-2014-2015-2016-2018-2021)

12 – Mayo (1934-35-36-37-38-39-41-49-54-70-2001-2019)

7 – Meath (1933-46-51-75-88-90-94)

8 – Cork (1952-56-80-89-99-2010-2011-2012)

6 – Derry (1947-92-95-96-2000-2008)

4 – Down (1960-62-68-83)

4 – Galway (1940-57-65-81)

3 – New York (1950-64-67)

2 – Laois (1927-86)

2 – Tyrone (2002-2003)

1 – Armagh (2005)

1 – Cavan (1948)

1 – Longford (1966)

1 – Monaghan (1985)

1 – Offaly (1998)

1 – Roscommon (1979)

1 – Donegal (2007)

*Dublin and Kerry shared title 2021