Armagh host Dublin as Tyrone and Derry face vital trips
Interestingly, in 11 seasons at the Armagh helm, Kieran McGeeney has faced Dublin just once. That was the 2022 Division One encounter at Croke Park, which Armagh won 2-15 to 1-13. Remarkably, that is the only time Armagh have locked horns with the Dubs during McGeeney's tenure. The two most recent All-Ireland winners have not met in the championship since 2010, and while Saturday may not be a championship tussle, it is an important outing for Sam Maguire holders Armagh. With a win, two defeats and a draw from four games, the Orchard men are not safe yet. Fifth in Division One, McGeeney's side may find themselves sucked into the relegation mire should they lose on Saturday. Having squandered a nine-point lead to draw with Mayo last week, Armagh hope to lean on home comforts when Dublin visit the Athletic Grounds for the first time since 2011.Recent results suggest they may need more than the Athletic Grounds roar, though. Dublin have won three out of four and blasted past Derry in impressive fashion at Croke Park last week. Dublin, however, may be without Sean Bugler - arguably the league's outstanding player this year - after he took a heavy knock to his calf in the Derry game.
Derry and Tyrone need points
With just three games remaining, Derry and Tyrone need to get a move on. Holders Derry have just one point from four games. Life under Paddy Tally has been a struggle so far and they face a tall order against Donegal in Ballyshannon on Sunday. While the Ulster champions fell to Galway last week, they have looked slick in the early rounds and comfortably dispatched Armagh in their last home game. And having rested Michael Murphy against Galway, Jim McGuinness may be tempted to afford the 2012 All-Ireland winner more minutes on Sunday. This is, of course, the counties' first meeting since last year's Ulster Championship quarter-final at Celtic Park when Donegal ran riot with four goals to end Derry's reign as provincial kingpins. While Derry are bottom, Tyrone are in similar bother near the foot of the table. Malachy O'Rourke's side beat Derry in their opener but have lost three on the spin since and face a daunting trip to pacesetters Galway on Sunday. But while they were undone by David Clifford's three-goal blitz last week, Tyrone were buoyed by the return of their Errigal Ciaran contingent, with Darragh Canavan coming off the bench to hit 1-4. In Division Two, Monaghan will hope to strengthen their place at the top when they travel to Louth, while there's a big all-Ulster clash at Breffni Park between Cavan and Down. Cavan are coming off back-to-back wins over Louth and Westmeath, but Down need a result after picking up just two points from their first four outings. Meanwhile in Division Three, Fermanagh hope to build on last week's win over Offaly while Antrim travel to Laois on the back of a thumping win over Leitrim.
This weekend's fixtures (times GMT)
SATURDAY Division OneArmagh v Dublin, Athletic Grounds, 19:35Mayo v Kerry, Castlebar, 15:00Division TwoCavan v Down, Breffni Park, 18:00Cork v Roscommon, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 19:00Division ThreeLaois v Antrim, O'Moore Park, 17:00Fermanagh v Sligo, Brewster Park, 18:00Division FourLimerick v Tipperary, Rathkeale, 18:30Waterford v Wexford, Dungarvan, 18:30SUNDAYDivision OneDonegal v Derry, Ballyshannon, 13:45Galway v Tyrone, Tuam, 13:45Division Two Louth v Monaghan, Ardee, 14:00Westmeath v Meath, Mullingar, 14:00Division Three Clare v Kildare, Ennis, 14:00Leitrim v Offaly, Ballinamore, 14:00Division FourWicklow v Carlow, Aughrim, 14:00London v Longford, Ruislip, 12:30
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Rugby Union Weekly Inside the Lions camp
We go behind the scenes at the Lions training camp in Portugal to see how preparations have begun for the clash with Argentina in Dublin and the tour down under. Chris chats to Ellis Genge who's already striking up an unexpected 'bromance' with one of the Irish players he's usually slating on the pitch. Genge talks openly about trying to get out of his comfort zone in camp and how he's approaching his first Lions tour aged 30. Forwards coach John Dalziel stops by to talk Argentina and what has impressed him most since the players came into camp. Plus, Jac Morgan tells us how it feels to be flying the flag for Welsh rugby on tour, his memories of the Australia tour in 2013 and he discusses the fierce competition in the back row.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Glentoran's time will come with fine tuning
Glentoran owner Ali Pour says the club just needs a bit of "fine tuning" and he will "give it as long as it takes" for the club to achieve took over at the Irish Premiership side six years ago and the club have only won an Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield in that season, Declan Devine guided the club to the County Antrim Shield and a third place finish in the league, when a top-two finish would have secured European they missed out on Europe by losing the play-off semi-final, and were defeated in the BetMcLean Cup final and quarter-finals of the Irish admits it was a "disappointing season" but says the club are "getting there"."We've had a few hiccups along the way, but we are very close. "Had we scored an extra goal and finished second, this would be a very different conversation. Fine margins have resulted in where we are today."The gap isn't huge. I expected better results in the last six years, in terms of silverware. We should have won more trophies, no one can dispute that. "But it's never a huge gap. It's always fine margins. Many of the games we lost or drew last season were so finely poised. We were one goal away from finishing second. "The level is up there, the squad performance, Declan's performance - it's all where it should be. I think we just need a bit of fine tuning."Glentoran haven't won the league since the 2008-09 season, but Pour says he believes the Gibson Cup will return to the Oval sooner rather than later. "Our time will come eventually, whether it's under my control or others. "We are serious contenders. There's no reason why it can't happen - the budget's there, we're still signing top players, Declan is more than qualified and capable of bringing the Gibson Cup here."If I didn't think we were capable, I probably wouldn't invest as much. What would be the point? We are capable of doing it and I'm sure one day we will, Who knows, it could be this season." 'Strong bid' for stadium redevelopment Something that the London-based owner believes could add to Glentoran's all round success and improve things on and off the pitch, is a new League clubs are awaiting news on how much money they will receive from the long-awaited Northern Ireland Football Fund. In Pour's eyes his club have submitted the best application and have requested a large portion of the available £36 million."When you look at the Oval, the stadium is falling apart here and I've seen other stadiums that need money. We have waited long enough. "The government has made a decision that they are going to put an amount of money into football. £36 million is not enough by any means for the whole league, so hopefully there will be more to come."Pour says the club have "ticked all the boxes" with a strong bid, and says it is a "big chunk" of the fund."We put a very, very strong bid in and I am very proud of what we have done. We have asked for a lot, we've asked for a big chunk. "Look, we can build a stadium for £20 million, we can build one for £100 million. It just depends how advanced you want it to be."Our need is clear, we sell out many big games because there is space available, but it's jut not safe. "In terms of impact, our social partnership has done wonders in this area and we understand the need to be sustainable. So, we're very optimistic." 'We're missing a talisman' After finishing third this season, the east Belfast side lost their European play-off semi-final to Cliftonville, something Pour admitted falls well short of the club's standards."European football is very important financially and from an emotional perspective. I was disappointed at the end of the season as our squad was more than capable of progressing through Europe. "We put a very strong team together, so we could have done really well had we qualified for Europe. It was hard to see us not get in there and obviously we could have made a lot of money in Europe in the next few months.""Emotionally, the fans and myself, we deserve to be in Europe. We're a full time club, we're very well financed, we've spent a lot of money over the past few years. It should be a given. "Even statistically speaking, there are four places available. We're a top two/top three team, we should be in Europe every year. Now this is the second year we haven't qualified, it's disappointing." Looking ahead to next season and summer transfers, Pour said manager Declan Devine has identified the positions they need to have already signed Scottish midfielder Liam Burt from Shamrock Rovers and Pour stressed there would be further additions."We may bring in two or three more players to strengthen our squad for next season. We're missing a talisman, we're still lacking a real goalscorer, someone who pulls it all together. So, I think we need one more upfront and one in a more defensive position."The club's women's team have achieved great success in recent seasons, wining three of the last five NIFL Premiership titles, achieving European football and most recently topping their group in the All-Island Cup to progress to the quarter-finals where they will host Dublin side Bohemians."The women's team are the thing that cheers me up," said Pour. "When the men's team isn't doing to well, they give me energy. The manager, Kim [Turner], is doing a great job."They've had a great start to the season and are doing so well in the All-Island Cup. I will support them all the way."
Belfast Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Why it's time to reduce the size of Casement Park and finally get some shovels in the ground
Lee Costello At the weekend, Antrim's season officially came to a close following yet another humiliating defeat, this time at the hands of Wexford. This year, the Saffrons have suffered relegation to Division Four, a first round defeat in the Ulster Championship and a dismal Tailteann Cup where they were ripped apart by Westmeath, Limerick and finally the Model County.
