SATURDAY
Allianz Football League round three
Division One
Derry v Galway (Celtic Park, 5pm, live on TG4)
Read our match preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 7/5 A 8/11 D 8/1
Verdict Derry
Kerry v Dublin (Austin Stack Park, 7.30pm, live on RTÉ2)
IT’S been a while since Kerry have been so hotly fancied to beat Dublin, and it’s hard to argue on the evidence of what we’ve seen.
Ballinteer man and Sigerson star Luke Breathnach did himself no harm in kicking 0-2 from the bench against Donegal, while Greg McEneaney followed up his performance that day with a starring role midweek, as he set up the all-important DCU goal in the Sigerson final.
The Kingdom are more polished however. The Geaney show nicked two points against Derry and defeat to Donegal followed, but Jack O’Connor’s men will improve, and Barry Dan O’Sullivan’s showing in round two means Diarmuid O’Connor may well have found his midfield partner.
Odds H 1/2 A 2/1 D 17/2
Verdict Kerry
Division Two
Cork v Westmeath (Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm)
WESTMEATH are underdogs, but a price of 15/2 seems staggering for a side beaten by a late Louth goal in round one. In Clones they pushed Monaghan all the way, with Luke Loughlin included in the GAA’s Team of the Week two rounds running.
Rookie goalkeeper Conor McCormack, a forward for his club, was beaten twice last time out, though he could do little for either.
From a Cork perspective, they are targeting back-to-back wins in Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first time since 2020, that coming in Division Three.
It’s worth remembering The Lake County have as much top-table experience as Cork in recent times, but The Rebels could capitalise on The Lake County’s lack of confidence.
Odds H 1/11 A 15/2 D 12/1
Verdict Cork
Down v Meath (Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Read our match preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 8/11 A 7/5 D 8/1
Verdict Meath
Division Four
Waterford v Tipperary (Fraher Field, 6:30pm)
TIPPERARY are bound to feel like they owe Waterford one. Having slipped to a stalemate in last year’s League, The Déise then knocked Tipp’ out of the Munster Championship having been basement boys in both competitions.
Kilrossanty’s Alan Dunwoody has been a real find up front for Waterford, also striking 2-5 in a Sigerson loss for MTU Cork.
Seán O’Connor is The Premier’s top scorer to date with 2-9, and with his help they should negotiate this one.
Odds H 15/4 A 2/9 D 10/1
Verdict Tipperary
Wexford v Carlow (Chadwicks Wexford Park, 7pm)
CURRENTLY the League’s top two sides, Wexford will hope to maximise home advantage and move three points clear of Leinster rivals Carlow in the promotion race.
Having backed up a 10-point league win with a 23-point Leinster Championship victory, The Yellow Bellies will fancy their chances of making it four wins in a row against their rivals.
This one looks certain to be tighter, and if Carlow can curtail Sean Nolan, victory could be there for them.
Odds H 1/6 A 5/1 D 11/1
Verdict Carlow
SUNDAY
Allianz Football League Round Three
Division One
Mayo v Tyrone (Hastings Insurance McHale Park, 1:45pm, live on TG4)
Read our match preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 5/4 A 5/6 D 15/2
Verdict Tyrone
Donegal v Armagh (MacCumhaill Park, 3:45pm, live on TG4)
Read our preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds: H 8/15 A 15/8 D 8/1
Verdict: Armagh
Division Two
Cavan v Louth (Kingspan Breffni Park, 2pm)
Read our preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 15/8 A 8/1 D 8/15
Verdict Cavan
Roscommon v Monaghan (King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm)
Read our preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 8/15 A 15/8 D 17/2
Verdict Draw
Division Three
Laois v Sligo (Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 1pm)
TONY McEntee will be disappointed with his side’s start in their second season at this level, with a solid campaign last year following on from 2023’s Division Four title.
A loss this weekend puts them in certain relegation trouble, with Ulster sides Antrim and Fermanagh to come.
A heavy win over a weak looking Leitrim has propelled Mark Barry into second place in the list of the League’s top scorers, but the reigning Division Four champions will do well to overturn the Yeats’ men even on home soil.
Odds H 5/4 A 5/6 D 15/2
Verdict Sligo
Clare v Fermanagh (Cusack Park, 1:30pm)
Read our preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds: H 8/15 A 15/8 D 8/1
Verdict: Fermanagh
Leitrim v Kildare (Ballinamore, 2pm)
THERE are rarely David v Goliath clashes in Allianz League football, but across the Divisions in 2025, this looks the closest we will come.
Home advantage has even been diminished slightly with redevelopment in progress in Carrick-on-Shannon, though 2023 Allianz NFL top scorer Keith Beirne has returned for Stephen Poacher’s side.
The feel-good factor is back in Kildare, as away support almost outnumbered Sligo’s home crowd in round two. Darragh Kirwan has been phenomenal, while Callum Bolton is a rising star at midfield.
Odds H 20/1 A 1/100 D 40/1
Verdict Kildare
Offaly v Antrim (Glenisk O’Connor Park, 2pm)
Read our preview in this weekend’s Irish News.
Odds H 4/9 A 9/4 D 17/2
Verdict Offaly
Division Four
London v Limerick (Ruislip, 12:30pm)
A DRAW with Longford stopped the rot for Limerick, but the Munster side will be without a League win in 1056 days come Sunday.
If winning is a habit, then London didn’t look like starting it after a 2-24 to 2-6 loss in Wexford a few weeks back, but a shock win over notoriously slow starters Wicklow shows they are a different proposition in Ruislip.
In Donegal man Ciarán Diver, Liam Gallagher and Ruairí Rafferty they have real quality. An upset is not beyond the realms of possibility, but Jimmy Lee’s men should break their duck.
Odds H 5/1 A 1/6 D 11/1
Verdict Limerick
Wicklow v Longford (Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm)
A MATTER of years ago both Oisín McConville and Mike Solan were in the race to be part of a Mayo management ticket, only for Kevin McStay to win the race and both men to find themselves in Division Four.
Promotion will be the sole aim for both, though with Longford winless and Wicklow coming unstuck in London, it now seems improbable that both could go up. The loser here is in real trouble.
Longford’s Oran Kenny is the top scorer from play in the Division with 2-5, with Wicklow’s Kevin Quinn second top scorer outright. This one could be a shootout in more ways than one.
Odds H 10/11 A 11/10 D 15/2
Verdict Wicklow
Allianz Hurling League round one
Division 1B
Westmeath v Laois (TEG Cusack Park, 2:30pm)
WITH this clash originally called off due to a frozen pitch, Laois will belatedly get a chance to avenge a heavy Joe McDonagh Cup defeat to Westmeath in 2024.
Niall Mitchell struck two goals in what was a double scores 2-26 to 0-16 win for The Lake County, though it is notable there was nothing on the line for either side back in May.
With both sides nought from two, Laois prop the table up with a slightly inferior points difference, and home advantage is a further boost to the men in maroon.
Odds H 8/11 A 9/1 D 5/4
Verdict Westmeath
Division Three
Mayo v Cavan (Tooreen, 2:30pm)
CAVAN will draw from a win over Sligo in round one as they face further Connacht opposition in the form of Mayo in the Allianz NHL.
Canice Maher grabbed the goal on that occasion, with Liam O’Brien contributing 0-12. In round two, two red cards saw the Breffni men fail to score in the entire second half, which makes their nine-point defeat far from disastrous against a strong Exiles side.
Tooreen’s David Kenny will likely captain his side on his club grounds, with Mayo having also edged out Sligo last time around.
Odds H 1/500 A 7/1 D 20/1
Verdict Mayo
(All odds from Paddy Power)