In a seven-game Allianz Football League the halfway point of the campaign was at half-time around the various grounds last weekend.
The subsequent 35-plus minutes of action changed the fate of several counties with a number of Ulster sides now locked in a relegation battle in Division One.
This weekend’s round five games represent the last chance for teams to redeem themselves or they could need results to go in their favour elsewhere in the final two rounds.
Read more: Sean Quigley urges Fermanagh to push for promotion after "smash-and-grab" victory over Antrim
Roscommon’s bubble was burst by Monaghan and Tyrone dropped to the bottom of the table and there will be plenty of further twists in the coming weeks.
There’s also the small matter of Tailteann Cup implications in Division Two and a top-of-the-table clash between Derry and Dublin on the horizon.
Love thy neighbour
With three rounds of the League remaining, Tyrone are at the foot the Division One table and the upcoming fixtures suggests the Red Hands will struggle to avoid relegation.
Their opening day defeat to Roscommon could prove their undoing as it was, on paper, Tyrone’s easiest game.
The 2021 All-Ireland champions need a minimum of three points from their last three games and will probably need four to give themselves a chance of staying up.
Their recent record against Monaghan offers hope that one win could be secured in Clones and anything obtained from Sunday’s visit by the current All-Ireland champions Kerry would be a bonus.
That leaves them needing a result against arch rivals Armagh in O’Neills Healy Park on Sunday, March 26. Of course, Kieran McGeeney’s men are far from safe at present having only picked up three points themselves.
Yet, the Orchard County have two winnable home games against an out-of-sorts Donegal and an understrength Galway team and Armagh won’t lack motivation against either.
Two wins would leave Armagh safe ahead of their round seven trip to Omagh and, with their Ulster SFC preliminary round game against Antrim looming in early April, McGeeney might not risk adding to an already lengthy injury list.
With Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher’s side continuing to struggle to recapture their 2021 form, the last thing they need is Armagh coming to town for a winner-takes-all relegation duel.
It ain’t over til it’s over
Never leave a game early. A host of League games this season have been settled deep into added time.
Mayo and Galway fought out a thrilling draw in Castlebar in the opening round before Armagh fought back from five points down to claim a point against Kevin McStay’s side at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.
Down went one better in Páirc Esler against Antrim when they won the game by a point after trailing by five.
Unfortunately for the Saffrons, they suffered another crushing defeat on Saturday when, despite leading by eight points following Peter Healy’s goal on 49 minutes, they lost out by the minimum at the hands of Fermanagh last weekend.
Every team has their injury problems at the moment, but Andy McEntee could have done with the experience of Declan Lynch, Dermot McAleese, Ryan Murray or Paddy McBride in the final stages of Saturday afternoon’s game in Corrigan Park.
Panic set in from the minute Ultan Kelm ignited Fermanagh’s comeback with a superb goal and the Saffrons will need to regroup for their final three games.
Antrim had three narrow misses under Lenny Harbinson before securing promotion from Division Four under Enda McGinley.
It would be a huge blow for McEntee in his first year if they fell back into the basement division, but it is likely they’ll need a round seven victory over fellow strugglers Longford to stay in Division Three.
Could Derry topple the Dubs?
The bookies are seldom wrong and they’ve made Derry odd-on favourites to defeat Dublin in Saturday’s Division Two showdown in Celtic Park.
The Ulster champions meet the perennial Leinster winners in a top-of-the-table clash with the winners taking a huge step towards Division One football next season.
Of course, Derry missed out on promotion last season despite finishing on 11 points and their final two games against Clare (home) and Cork (away) aren’t exactly easy.
Yet, Rory Gallagher’s side continue to impress and they never gave Kildare a hope in Newbridge last Sunday - a notoriously difficult venue to visit.
In a similar manner to their win a week earlier against Meath, Derry were just better in every department.
Eoin McEvoy, who captained St Mary’s Magherafelt to MacRory Cup success last year, continues to improve at full-back and Derry still have Gareth McKinless to return from a hamstring injury.
Dublin, in contrast, have looked workmanlike this season despite the recent return of the brilliant Jack McCaffrey.
Dessie Farrell’s men are 11/8 to defeat Derry on Saturday night with the hosts priced at 8/11.
It is an indication of the growing reputation of the Oak Leafers which bodes well for Gallagher’s side with the defence of their Ulster title fast approaching.
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