Allianz Football League Round 5: All you need to know
SATURDAY
Division 2Cavan v Louth, Kingspan Breffni, 5.15pm
Tyrone v Offaly, O'Neill Park, 6pm
Kildare v Meath, St Conleth's Park, 7pm
Division 3Down v Fermanagh, Páirc Esler, 6pm
Laois v Westmeath, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 6pm
Limerick v Clare, Rathkeale, 6pm
Division 4Antrim v Wicklow, Portglenone, 5pm
SUNDAY
Division 1Kerry v Monaghan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.15pmMayo v Armagh, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 1.15pmDonegal v Galway, Ballyshannon, 1.15pm
Division 2Derry v Cork, Find Insurance Celtic Park, 1pm
Division 3Wexford v Sligo, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1pm
Division 4 London v Waterford, Ruislip, 1pm
Longford v Carlow, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm
Tipperary v Leitrim, Clonmel, 2pm
ONLINEFollow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport.
TVOn Saturday evening, the Division 2 clash between Kildare and Meath (7pm) will be broadcast on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Louth's trip to Cavan (5.15pm) will be on TG4, while the meeting of Tyrone and Offaly in Dungannon (6pm) will be broadcast by BBC iPlayer and GAA+.
On Sunday, the Division 1 clash between Donegal and Galway at Ballyshannon (1.15pm) will be broadcast by TG4, with deferred coverage of Roscommon v Dublin to follow.
Highlights and reaction to all the weekend's action on Allianz League Sunday, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm.
RADIOLive commentaries and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport as well as Spórt an tSathairn and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
WEATHERSaturday: A bright and crisp morning for most with frost patches. Cloudier further west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards through the day becoming more isolated as it clears. Scattered showers will follow in behind. Highest temperatures of 6-10C, coldest in the north in mostly moderate southerly winds, strong at times on Atlantic coasts.
Sunday: A wet and blustery start to meteorological spring with outbreaks of rain, turning heavy at times. Highest temperatures of 9-12C in fresh to strong south to southwest winds, with gales on coasts. For more, visit met.ie.
It's a statement that would have been almost inconceivable during the heydays of the Jim Gavin era, but Dublin travel to in-form Roscommon on Sunday knowing another defeat would be a hammer blow to their hopes of remaining in Division 1.
While it’s just four years since the Dubs fell through the trapdoor, at that time Dessie Farrell still had a panel laden with Celtic Cross winners, while the following year they would land another All-Ireland when some had predicted Kerry to kick on.
The outlook now is very different. Ger Brennan is dealing with a far different playing group and three defeats from four isn’t the ideal way to assess the latest crop of players coming through.
He has insisted identifying talent trumps results, but will be acutely aware that relegation will do little to improve morale and expectations heading into a competitive Leinster championship.
Conversely, the Rossies are defying the odds. Promotion, relegation, promotion has been their lot in the last three years, but Mark Dowd’s men are eyeing a league final and a date in Croke Park.
Roscommon's Enda Smith celebrates the recent win in Salthill
They were unfortunate against Kerry – a controversial late free that reignited the hooter debate – but they have reeled off three wins on the bounce since the opening round setback in Killarney.
Monaghan served up little resistance, but their attacking play at times against Armagh was sensational. Having trailed Galway at one stage by 13 points last time out, the manner of their comeback has caused more to sit up and take notice.
Speaking of the Tribesmen, the home defeat to the Rossies summed up their mixed campaign nicely.
Even allowing for weather conditions, the up-and-down nature of their in-game performances will have Padraic Joyce still searching for his strongest team, though he is still welcoming bodies back on that front.
A trip to Ballyshannon to take on an undefeated Donegal will be another stern test, especially as Jim McGuinness this season may well be of the opinion that a league final appearance could be beneficial given his side’s scheduling.
Lee Keegan’s assertion that Monaghan have been the worst team in the league is supported by the fact that the Farney men, along with Offaly, Fermanagh and Waterford are the only sides yet to pick up a win. It would take a hugely off-colour performance from the All-Ireland champions on their own turf to see anything other than a fifth defeat.
Kobe McDonald scored 1-04 from six possessions on his Mayo debut
Mayo fans will be looking for front row seats in Castlebar for the latest Kobe show.
It’s unlikely that Armagh will be as generous to the teenage prodigy as Monaghan last time out. It’s early in the spring to be critically examining Andy Moran’s impact, but the forward line has played with greater freedom on occasions.
With just one win, Armagh’s need for the two points may outweigh that of the hosts.
Derry will attempt to inflict Cork's first defeat of their Division 2 campaign. The Rebels make the long journey full of confidence and within touching distance of top-tier football for the first time since 2016.
The Oak Leaf County have responded well to the opening-round defeat, the victory away to Kildare despite the early dismissal of talisman Conor Glass one that manager Ciarán Meenagh - pictured below - will file under 'character building’.
Ciarán Meenagh rallies the troops
That is the sole Division 2 clash on Sunday, with the rest of the action coming on Saturday evening.
Promotion hopefuls Meath fell to a first defeat last time out on Leeside, with Kildare hosting the Royals in Newbridge. A home loss would effectively kill off any hopes of Brian Flanagan's side making a top-two finish.
Louth currently occupy third spot and will fancy their chances if Cavan serve up a similar display to the one that saw them continue their dreadful record against Tyrone.
Offaly’s quest to register a first win takes them to Dungannon where hosts Tyrone are very much in the relegation fight. With games against in-form Cork and Meath to follow, defeat for the Red Hand would leave them right in the thick of it.
The smart money in Division 3 is that the wildly contrasting 100% records of Down and Fermanagh will remain intact come Saturday night.
The Mourne men are four wins from four and will boast home advantage in Newry as they welcome a Fermanagh side that have lost their four matches by a combined 29 points.
Shane Annett was the match-winner for Down in round 2
Limerick, the side that have pushed Down closest – an injury-time point from Shane Annett secured a one-point win in Rathkeale – welcome Clare to Mick Neville Park.
The Treaty men sit one place behind the Banner, and are only out of the relegation zone courtesy of a superior scoring difference to Laois, with the O'Moore County hosting a Westmeath side sitting on six points and appearing in a strong position to remain in the promotion picture.
On Sunday, two sides level in the table – Wexford and Sligo – meet at Wexford Park, with defeat for either side likely to leave a huge dent in top-two ambitions.
On the face of it – four wins from four – Carlow have swept all before them in Division.
After a hugely impressive opening round win to an Antrim side that dropped down from Division 3, the Barrowsiders had to dig deep against both Wicklow and Tipperary. The facile win over neighbours Waterford was somewhat predictable given the form lines.
Carlow manager Joe Murphy
On Sunday Joe Murphy's side travel to take on a Longford side yet to win at home but very much part of the promotion picture.
The aforementioned Déise make the trip to Ruislip looking to stop the rot of results, while Tipperary and Leitrim, both on four points, would move either side right back into the promotion picture.
Antrim's struggles have surprised many, their round-four success over Leitrim badly needed after a sluggish start.
The visitors to Portglenone on Saturday evening will be a Wicklow side looking to keep the pressure on high-flying Carlow.
