This Weekend’s NFL Previews
– Saturday 1st March 2008 –
Allianz National Football League Division 2
An Cabhán v Baile Átha Cliath
Kingspan Breffni Park @ 7.00pm
Referee: Patrick Fox, Iar Mhí
Cavan will be looking to make full use of home advantage in a bid to get their first win of the National League, following defeats by Monaghan and Armagh in the opening two rounds.
Following an opening round win over Westmeath and a walkover over Cork, Dublin are sitting joint top of Division 2, and will travel to Breffni Park hoping to extend their unbeaten run.
Cavan: J Reilly; M Hannon, P Reilly, K Fannin; A Forde, R Flanagan, D Sheridan; D McCabe, M McKeever; M Reilly, M Lyng, R Donohoe; J Reilly, S Brady, S Johnston.
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Allianz National Football League Division 4
Aontroim v Uíbh Fhailí
Casement Park @ 7.00pm
Referee: Martin Higgins, Fear Manach
Antrim boss Jody Gormley has named an unchanged line-up as he looks to guide his side to a fourth straight win in Division Four of The Allianz National Football League.
The Saffrons are up against Offaly at Casement Park on Saturday evening in a game that will easily be their toughest to date in the campaign, with The Faithful County also possessing six points from their three games played and sitting as favourites for the division.
Paddy Cunningham and Michael McCann have been among those to star for the in-form Saffrons so far this season and boss Gormley will no doubt be looking for more of the same against Pat Roe’s Leinster side.
Antrim: S McGreevy; T Scullion, A McClean, K O’Boyle; J Loughrey, S Kelly, J Crozier; J Quinn, M McCann; A Gallagher, K Niblock, T O’Neill; P Cunningham, M Magill, M Dougan.
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– Sunday 2nd March 2008 –
Allianz National Football League Division 1
Cill Dara v Dún na nGall
Newbridge @ 2.30pm
Referee: Joe McQuillan, An Cabhán
League Champions Donegal face a tricky away game against Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare in Newbridge on Sunday. In the opening two rounds, Brian McIvor’s troops have snatched late, late 1 point victories over Mayo and Kerry respectively.
Donegal will be without the services of Ciaran Bonner, who is forced to withdraw through injury.
Kildare: T Corley; E Bolton, K O’Neill, M O’Flaherty; A Rainbow, A Mac Lochlainn, G White; R Sweeney, K Brennan; A Smith, P O’Neill, J Doyle; J Kavanagh, P Mullarkey, K Donnelly
Donegal: Paul Durcan, Karl Lacey, Néil McGee, Niall Mc Cready, Kevin Cassidy, Eamonn McGee, Frank McGlynn, Neil Gallagher, Kevin Rafferty, Christy Toye, Martin McElhinney, Brian Roper, Colm McFadden, Ryan Bradley, David Walsh.
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Allianz National Football League Division 1
Gaillimh v Tír Eoghain
Pearse Stadium @ 2.30pm
Referee: John Geaney, Corcaigh
Mickey Harte’s men are still without a win in Division 1 following an opening round draw with Kildare and a 0-12 to 0-9 defeat to All Ireland Champions Kerry in Tralee.
Galway will be hoping to maintain their 100% record, following on from wins at home to Laois and away to Kildare in the first two rounds.
Tyrone: J Curran; P Quinn, C Gormley, M Swift; D Harte, D Carlin, R McMenamin; K Hughes, E McGinley; R Mellon, R Mulgrew, S Cavanagh; T McGuigan, C McCullagh, O Mulligan.
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Allianz National Football League Division 1
Ciarraí v Doire
Killarney @ 2.30pm
Referee: Michael Collins, Corcaigh
Paddy Crozier and Derry will travel to Killarney hoping to preserve their unbeaten record in Division 1. The Oak Leaf men are currently joint top along with Galway and Donegal on 4 points following impressive wins over Mayo and Laois.
Pat O’Shea’s Kerry will represent a step up in class, and Derry will need to be at their best if they are to record an away win.
Kerry: K Cremin; M O Se, T O’Sullivan, P Reidy; T O Se, A O’Mahony, D Bohane; S Scanlon, T Griffin; D O’Sullivan, B Sheehan, S O’Sullivan; K O’Leary, K Donaghy, P O’Connor.
Derry: B. Gillis; K. McGuigan, N. McClusker, F. McEldowney; L. Hinphey, M. McBride, M. McIvor; F. Doherty, J. Conway; M. Lynch, B. McGoldrick, E. Muldoon; C. Devlin, P. Bradley, C. Mullen.
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Allianz National Football League Division 2
Muineachán v Ard Mhacha
Clones @ 2.30pm
Referee: John Bannon, An Longfort
Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has made just one change to his side’s starting line up to face Armagh on Sunday as Carrickmacross clubman Stephen Gollogly comes into the half-forward line in place of Eoin Lennon.
McEnaney will be looking to extend the Farney men’s unbeaten run in the league against Ulster neighbours Armagh, who have 1 win and 1 loss to their name thus far.
Monaghan: P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, P McGuigan; D Clerkin, P Finlay; C McManus, V Corey, S Gollogly; R Woods, R Ronaghan, T Freeman.
Armagh: C McKinney, E McNulty, B Donaghy, F Moriarty, C McKeever, A O’Rourke, A Kernan, M Mackin, P McGrane, S Kernan, M O’Rourke, P Courtney, S McDonnell, R Clarke, T Kernan.
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Allianz National Football League Division 3
Longfort v Fear Manach
Pearse Park @ 2.30pm
Referee: Padraig Hughes, Ard Mhacha
New Erne boss Malachy O’Rourke will be very anxious to see how his team fair on Sunday, as they have been out of competitive action since the McKenna Cup semi-final on 23rd January – their opening two league games having been called off at late notice due to unplayable pitches.
Longford will go into the match as favourites, after a comfortable win over Leitrim last time out.
Longford: Damien Sheridan, Dermot Brady, Diarmuid Masterson, Declan Reilly, Shane Mulligan, Arthur O’Connor, Noel Farrell, Liam Keenan (Capt), Enda Farrell, David Barden, Paul Barden, Paddy Dowd, Brian Kavanagh, Declan Farrell, Frankie McGee.
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Allianz National Football League Division 3
Loch Garman v An Dún
Wexford Park @ 2.30pm
Referee: Paddy Russell, Tiobraid Árann
Wexford Park will be the venue for the top-of-the-table clash between Wexford and Down, with both teams currently boasting 100% records in the league to date.
Down manager Ross Carr will be delighted with his side’s opening wins against Sligo and Louth, both as a result of strong second half comebacks, although surely he will see this game as the key fixture in their bid for promotion.
Down: B McVeigh; C McGovern, G McArdle, M Cole; D O’Hanlon, L Doyle, R Murtagh; D Gordon, J Lynch; J Fegan, K McKernan, D Hughes; J Clarke, C Magee, R Sexton.
