There’s one other thrilling slate of fixtures within the Allianz Football League this weekend as the promotion and relegation image turns into clearer throughout the 4 divisions.
Going into this weekend, Donegal and Down stay high of Division One and Three respectively with a 100% file.
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Armagh will look to cease the rot after two defeats in a row within the high tier, Derry are again on the promotion hunt in Division Two after back-to-back victories, whereas Tyrone registered their first win in identical division on the weekend.
Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh and Antrim make up 4 of the six counties but to choose up a single level on this 12 months’s league.
McGeeney and McGuinness renew rivalry
Armagh and Donegal has turn out to be the good Ulster rivalry of current seasons, with the Tir Chonaill males having gained the final two provincial deciders.
They are additionally the final two Ulster counties to compete within the All-Ireland last. Armagh famously beat Galway within the 2024 showpiece earlier than Donegal fell to Kerry final July.
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The battle throughout the conflict will come on the sideline as Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness renew their rivalry, one which stretches again to 2011 when the previous’s Kildare facet misplaced to McGuinness’ Donegal within the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Sunday will mark the fifth league and championship assembly between the edges up to now three seasons they usually look to be on a collision course to meet on this 12 months’s Ulster semi-final.
It’s been enterprise like for Donegal thus far all through the league. Three wins from three they usually sit high of the division beating Dublin, Kerry and Mayo.
After a formidable opening day win towards Monaghan, Armagh have stuttered with back-to-back defeats towards Connacht opposition in Galway (house) and Roscommon (away).
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McGeeney and Armagh want factors extra as they battle to keep away from a relegation dogfight, whereas Donegal will look to make a push to consolidate their place.
The Athletic Grounds is bound to be a cauldron for this rivalry’s newest chapter on Sunday (15:45 GMT).
Can Derry win three in a row as Harte returns?
Mickey Harte returns to handle towards Derry on Saturday night time at Celtic Park [Getty Images]
Derry failed to win a league or championship recreation all through the whole lot of 2025, a far-cry from their spell as Division One league champions beneath Mickey Harte in 2024.
Just as successful is a behavior, shedding can turn out to be an undesirable one and after a gap day defeat by Meath, Derry lastly secured their their first win in over a 12 months by beating neighbours Tyrone at Celtic Park three weeks in the past.
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After a battling victory over Kildare in Newbridge, the Oak Leafers return to Celtic Park, however they are going to be with out captain Conor Glass, who was despatched off six minutes into the sport towards the Lilywhites.
Ciaran Meenagh’s males will likely be heavy favourites to make it three wins in a row as Offaly – joint-managed by Harte – make the journey searching for their first league factors.
Another victory would go away Derry with an actual likelihood for promotion earlier than house video games towards Cork and Cavan and a visit to Gavin Devlin’s Louth.
Tyrone’s promotion push as Canavan will get set to depart
Malachy O’Rourke’s Tyrone have been closely tipped for speedy promotion again to the highest tier this season after changing into the primary county to be relegated with seven factors in 2025.
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Throw into the combination an look in final 12 months’s All-Ireland semi-final and the inflow of a number of profitable underage groups, it appeared possible the Red Hands would make the step on the first time of asking.
But after a gap draw with Kildare and a loss to Derry, the Red Hands picked up their first Division Two win with a formidable dismantling of Cavan final day trip.
Promotion hopes are usually not lifeless and buried simply but, nevertheless it’s possible Tyrone can have to win all 4 of their remaining fixtures to have any likelihood, beginning with Sunday’s journey to Louth.
Darragh Canavan is the standout identify on the Tyrone group and kicked 9 factors of their win over Cavan, however this weekend will mark his final recreation for the county till the Ulster Championship conflict with Armagh in April due to a pre-planned vacation to Australia.
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Tyrone spherical out their marketing campaign with a house recreation towards Offaly, earlier than taking over promotion rivals Meath (Croke Park) and Cork (Healy Park).
Can Down edge nearer to Division Two?
Down are three wins from three on the high of Division Three [Getty Images]
The significance of successful Division Three is obvious for the Down supervisor Conor Laverty as he needs to give his facet the most effective likelihood of competing within the All-Ireland championship quite than the Tailteann Cup later this summer season.
The Mournemen have battled their means to three wins from three and that included a victory over promotion rivals Westmeath in Newry final day trip.
This weekend they face one other facet pushing for promotion as they head to Wexford (Sunday, 14:00 GMT), who’ve two wins from their first three video games.
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Victory for Down would put them in an actual robust place safe speedy promotion again to the second tier forward of struggling Fermanagh’s go to to Pairc Esler.
Laverty will hope for one more free-scoring show from his facet on Sunday after managing 4-52 of their opening three video games.
Monaghan, Fermanagh and Antrim search first wins
The league tables make grim studying for Monaghan, Fermanagh and Antrim supporters.
This 12 months’s Division One marketing campaign was at all times going to be robust for Monaghan after Scotstown’s run to the All-Ireland membership semi-final robbed them of their full hand within the early rounds.
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A heavy defeat by Armagh at Clones was adopted by losses on the street to two counties tipped for relegation in Roscommon and Dublin.
With Mayo visiting St Tiernach’s Park on Sunday (13:45 GMT), it is unlikely to get any simpler for Gabriel Bannigan, who can be contending with a hefty harm record.
Fermanagh are pointless and backside of Division Three forward of a visit to promotion chasing Westmeath, Antrim sit backside of the basement division forward of an away fixture towards promotion pushing Leitrim.
Allianz Football League spherical 4 fixtures (instances GMT)
Division One
Saturday 21 February
Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park (19:00)
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Galway v Roscommon, Salthill (19:00)
Sunday 22 February
Monaghan v Mayo, Clones (13:45)
Armagh v Donegal, Athletic Grounds (15:45)
Division Two
Saturday 21 February
Derry v Offaly, Celtic Park (18:00)
Sunday 22 February
Cork v Meath, Pairc Ui Rinn (14:00)
Louth v Tyrone, Ardee (14:00)
Cavan v Kildare, Breffni Park (15:00)
Division Three
Sunday 22 February
Westmeath v Fermanagh, Mullingar (13:00)
Clare v Laois, Ennis (14:00)
Sligo v Limerick, Markievicz Park (14:00)
Wexford v Down, Wexford Park (14:00)
Division Four
Saturday 21 February
Carlow v Waterford, Cullen Park (18:00)
Sunday 22 February
Wicklow v London, Aughrim (13:00)
Leitrim v Antrim, Carrick-on-Shannon (14:00)
Longford v Tipperary, Pearse Park (14:00)