BRIAN McIver’s Derry are in early relegation trouble after losing their opening two games. And the manager has called for the cavalry with Eoin Bradley, James Kielt, Dermot McBride, Carlus McWilliams and Fergal Doherty in line for their first League starts of the season against Ulster rivals Tyrone.
McIver desperately needs some reinforcements to get the Oak Leaf County’s campaign off the ground, following defeats to Donegal and Kerry. Derry could do with some real punch in attack, too, as they’ve failed to register a goal in two games, while also racking up just 0-25.
Under the Saturday night lights at Healy Park, Tyrone will be confident of enhancing their chances of a place in the knockout stages but manager Mickey Harte is calling for more consistency from his players. Tyrone were shocking against Monaghan in the second half of their opening fixture but recovered to beat Mayo in Castlebar.
Brian McIver's Derry are in desperate need of Division 1 points Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO
Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO
2. Will Kerry and Dublin whet the appetite for things to come?
The last two All-Ireland champions meet at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Holders Kerry and their predecessors Dublin are likely to attract a big crowd to the famed Killarney venue, with valuable League points at stake. Both counties are in a cluster of teams to have won one and lost one of their opening two League fixtures.
Dublin lost to Cork but bounced back to beat recent rivals Donegal last time out. Kerry began with a loss in Mayo but recovered to show some good form against basement boys Derry.
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The big question doing the rounds all week is whether or not Kerry would have beaten Dublin had the sides met in last year’s All-Ireland final. We’ll never know the answer to that but Sunday could provide some clues about what might lie in store should the two heavyweights face off again later this year.
Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice is hoping to get one over on Dublin Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO
Presseye / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO / Lorcan Doherty/INPHO
3. Can Cork maintain their 100 per cent start?
The Rebels won’t find it easy on their travels to Ballyshannon, where hosts Donegal are preparing a ‘warm’ welcome. Cork’s opening two fixtures were relatively open affairs, against Dublin and Monaghan, but now Brian Cuthbert’s men will come up against the much-vaunted Donegal defence.
Cuthbert puts a heavy emphasis on defensive solidity himself but with a player of Colm O’Neill’s calibre inside, it’s worth feeding him. O’Neill has 2-11 to his name from Cork’s opening two games, including a sensational late winner in the Monaghan game. O’Neill finished with 2-6 against the Farney men and is in a rich vein of early season form.
Donegal, fresh from their much-publicised team holiday to Dubai, will hope to bounce back from their loss to Dublin, having beaten Derry in their opening match.
Colm O'Neill has been in excellent scoring form for Cork Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
4. Will a clean slate wipe clean in Mayo?
Joint-bosses Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly took the axe to their Mayo squad earlier this week, with ex-rugby star Gavin Duffy the most notable casualty. Duffy was deemed surplus to requirements despite not tasting competitive action since he was brought on board in a blaze of glory last year.
Both Mayo and Sunday’s opponents Monaghan could do with the points at MacHale Park. Mayo began their League campaign with a bang against Kerry but some cracks were exposed by Tyrone. Monaghan, in contrast, got the better of Tyrone before losing narrowly at home to Cork.
The visitors appear to have a better formline but early-season League outings are notoriously unpredictable affairs. Following that initial cull, Mayo’s players will be desperate to impress, with another cut expected in the coming weeks.
Ex-Connacht and Ireland rugby player Gavin Duffy was axed by Mayo this week Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
5. What’s gone wrong with Kildare?
Kildare have found themselves drifting into a bad habit in recent times – letting winning positions slip in big games. Two goals in a minute saw Down come from behind to stun the Lilywhites in the first Division 2 outing of the season and Meath rallied from a losing position to beat them in the round 2 Leinster derby.
Kildare face another Leinster opponent, Westmeath, this weekend and the Lake County will provide stern opposition. Tom Cribbin’s men beat Laois before narrowly losing against top of the table Galway by a point. Cribbin appears to have Westmeath moving well and Kildare will have to work hard for a result in Newbridge.
Another defeat for Jason Ryan’s men will have alarm bells ringing and the prospect of a second successive relegation is one that will Kildare fans with dread.
Are Jason Ryan's Kildare heading for a second successive relegation? Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
6. Can Galway maintain their promotion charge?
The fruits of Galway’s recent underage success appear to be bearing fruit – if their early season League form is anything to go by. A crop of players from the All-Ireland U21 winning sides of 2011 and 2013 are now finding their feet on the senior stage.
And with home advantage against basement team Laois at Tuam Stadium, the Tribesmen will fancy their chances of claiming a third straight win. Danny Cummins and Patrick Sweeney have been in deadly scoring form for Galway and a suspect Laois defence will need to stand firm.
Laois are badly in need of a kickstart to their season, having suffered consecutive defeats to Westmeath and Cavan. Indiscipline dogged Laois in the Cavan loss, as the O’Moore men finished the game with 13 men.
Danny Cummins is fast making a name for himself as a Galway senior
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1. Can Derry finally get off the mark?
BRIAN McIver’s Derry are in early relegation trouble after losing their opening two games. And the manager has called for the cavalry with Eoin Bradley, James Kielt, Dermot McBride, Carlus McWilliams and Fergal Doherty in line for their first League starts of the season against Ulster rivals Tyrone.
McIver desperately needs some reinforcements to get the Oak Leaf County’s campaign off the ground, following defeats to Donegal and Kerry. Derry could do with some real punch in attack, too, as they’ve failed to register a goal in two games, while also racking up just 0-25.
Under the Saturday night lights at Healy Park, Tyrone will be confident of enhancing their chances of a place in the knockout stages but manager Mickey Harte is calling for more consistency from his players. Tyrone were shocking against Monaghan in the second half of their opening fixture but recovered to beat Mayo in Castlebar.
2. Will Kerry and Dublin whet the appetite for things to come?
The last two All-Ireland champions meet at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Holders Kerry and their predecessors Dublin are likely to attract a big crowd to the famed Killarney venue, with valuable League points at stake. Both counties are in a cluster of teams to have won one and lost one of their opening two League fixtures.
Dublin lost to Cork but bounced back to beat recent rivals Donegal last time out. Kerry began with a loss in Mayo but recovered to show some good form against basement boys Derry.
The big question doing the rounds all week is whether or not Kerry would have beaten Dublin had the sides met in last year’s All-Ireland final. We’ll never know the answer to that but Sunday could provide some clues about what might lie in store should the two heavyweights face off again later this year.
3. Can Cork maintain their 100 per cent start?
The Rebels won’t find it easy on their travels to Ballyshannon, where hosts Donegal are preparing a ‘warm’ welcome. Cork’s opening two fixtures were relatively open affairs, against Dublin and Monaghan, but now Brian Cuthbert’s men will come up against the much-vaunted Donegal defence.
Cuthbert puts a heavy emphasis on defensive solidity himself but with a player of Colm O’Neill’s calibre inside, it’s worth feeding him. O’Neill has 2-11 to his name from Cork’s opening two games, including a sensational late winner in the Monaghan game. O’Neill finished with 2-6 against the Farney men and is in a rich vein of early season form.
Donegal, fresh from their much-publicised team holiday to Dubai, will hope to bounce back from their loss to Dublin, having beaten Derry in their opening match.
4. Will a clean slate wipe clean in Mayo?
Joint-bosses Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly took the axe to their Mayo squad earlier this week, with ex-rugby star Gavin Duffy the most notable casualty. Duffy was deemed surplus to requirements despite not tasting competitive action since he was brought on board in a blaze of glory last year.
Both Mayo and Sunday’s opponents Monaghan could do with the points at MacHale Park. Mayo began their League campaign with a bang against Kerry but some cracks were exposed by Tyrone. Monaghan, in contrast, got the better of Tyrone before losing narrowly at home to Cork.
The visitors appear to have a better formline but early-season League outings are notoriously unpredictable affairs. Following that initial cull, Mayo’s players will be desperate to impress, with another cut expected in the coming weeks.
5. What’s gone wrong with Kildare?
Kildare have found themselves drifting into a bad habit in recent times – letting winning positions slip in big games. Two goals in a minute saw Down come from behind to stun the Lilywhites in the first Division 2 outing of the season and Meath rallied from a losing position to beat them in the round 2 Leinster derby.
Kildare face another Leinster opponent, Westmeath, this weekend and the Lake County will provide stern opposition. Tom Cribbin’s men beat Laois before narrowly losing against top of the table Galway by a point. Cribbin appears to have Westmeath moving well and Kildare will have to work hard for a result in Newbridge.
Another defeat for Jason Ryan’s men will have alarm bells ringing and the prospect of a second successive relegation is one that will Kildare fans with dread.
6. Can Galway maintain their promotion charge?
The fruits of Galway’s recent underage success appear to be bearing fruit – if their early season League form is anything to go by. A crop of players from the All-Ireland U21 winning sides of 2011 and 2013 are now finding their feet on the senior stage.
And with home advantage against basement team Laois at Tuam Stadium, the Tribesmen will fancy their chances of claiming a third straight win. Danny Cummins and Patrick Sweeney have been in deadly scoring form for Galway and a suspect Laois defence will need to stand firm.
Laois are badly in need of a kickstart to their season, having suffered consecutive defeats to Westmeath and Cavan. Indiscipline dogged Laois in the Cavan loss, as the O’Moore men finished the game with 13 men.
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Allianz Football League GAA Cork Derry Donegal Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Laois Mayo Monaghan Tyrone Westmeath