The Allianz Football Leagues resume this weekend with some mouth-watering ties to start the 2023 campaign.
Division One and Division Three have four Ulster sides in each division with provincial champions Derry plying their trade in Division Two.
Rory Gallagher’s men have Dublin for company in the second tier, but the Oak Leaf county will still fancy their chances of playing top-flight football next season.
Despite defeating Galway in the Division Two final last season, Roscommon are favourites to be relegated from Division One. Plenty of Ulster sides will be looking over their shoulder in the coming weeks including Monaghan, Donegal and Tyrone.
Down and Cavan will have their sights set on promotion from Division Three, but Antrim and Fermanagh might have their work cut out to avoid being dragged into the relegation mire.
We assess each team’s chances of success as the 2023 Allianz Football League gets under way.
Division One
Armagh
Manager: Kieran McGeeney
Star player: Rian O’Neill
2022 League form: Third in Division One
2023 odds: 15/2 to win Division One, 9/2 to be relegated
Key game: Galway (Saturday, March 18, Athletic Grounds, 5pm)
The penultimate game for both counties could be vital in terms of League positions, but Armagh will want to avenge last season’s penalty shoot-out loss to the Tribesmen in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
Verdict: There is a growing sense of optimism in Armagh that they can challenge for major honours in 2023. They defeated Dublin and Tyrone in Division One last season and finished a respectable third having only narrowly avoided relegation in 2021.
On their day, they are more than capable of mixing it with the very best and, if they can unearth a few more players in the League, they’ll be heading for another top-half finish.
Fixtures:
Round One: Saturday, January 28 V Monaghan v (Castleblayney, 6.30pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Mayo (Athletic Grounds, 3.30pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Roscommon (Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm)
Round Four: Saturday, February 25 v Kerry (Tralee, 5pm)
Round Five: Saturday, March 4 v Donegal (Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm)
Round Six: Saturday, March 18 v Galway (Athletic Grounds, 5pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Tyrone (Healy Park, 1.45pm)
Donegal
Manager: Paddy Carr
Star Player: Eoghan Ban Gallagher
2022 League form: Fourth in Division One
2023 odds: 16/1 to win Division One, 5/4 to be relegated
Key game: Monaghan (Sunday, February 19, Clones, 1.45pm)
With four games on the road, Donegal will need to pick up points away from their Ballybofey fortress. They face their three Ulster rivals away from home and their third game against Monaghan could be pivotal for both counties.
Verdict: All great things come to an end, but Donegal would have preferred Michael Murphy to remain in their ranks for at least one more season.
New manager Paddy Carr’s first task will be to try and keep Donegal in the top flight. They’ve four games away from home and face Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh on the road and start by hosting All-Ireland champions Kerry in Ballybofey on Sunday. Donegal could be heading back to Division Two for the first time since 2019.
Fixtures:
Round One: Sunday, January 29 v Kerry (Ballybofey, 3.45pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Tyrone (Healy Park, 2pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Monaghan (Clones, 1.45pm)
Round Four: Sunday, February 26 v Galway (Letterkenny, 12.30pm)
Round Five: Saturday, March 4 v Armagh (Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm)
Round Six: Sunday, March 19 v Mayo (Ballybofey, 3.45pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Roscommon (Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm)
Monaghan
Manager: Vinny Corey
Star Player: Conor McManus
2022 League form: Sixth in Division One
2023 odds: 20/1 to win Division One, 11/10 to be relegated
Key game: Armagh (Saturday, January 28, Castleblayney, 6.30pm)
Monaghan will meet neighbours Armagh in their first League clash on Saturday evening, but the Orchard County will be missing a number of key players arising from their suspensions from the Galway Championship game last summer.
Verdict: Monaghan’s last-gasp heroics against Dublin in round seven might have to be repeated again under new boss Vinny Corey in 2023. They’ll want to have enough points banked before that trip to Mayo at the end of March. While Kevin McStay’s side have lost Lee Keegan and Donegal are without Michael Murphy, Monaghan have managed to retain the services of their talisman for another year at least. Conor McManus might just help keep the Farney in Division One.
Fixtures :
Round One: Saturday, January 28 v Armagh (Castleblayney, 6.30pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Kerry (Killarney, 1.30pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Donegal (Clones, 1.45pm)
Round Four: Sunday, February 26 v Roscommon (Clones, 2.30pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Galway (Pearse Stadium, 12.45pm)
Round Six: Sunday, March 19 v Tyrone (Clones, 2pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Mayo (Castlebar 1.45pm)
Tyrone
Managers: Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher
Star Player: Conor Meyler
2022 League form: Fifth in Division One
2023 odds: 13/2 to win Division One, 9/2 to be relegated
Key game: v Armagh (Sunday, March 26, Healy Park, 1.45pm)
Tyrone will be hoping they’ve secured their top-flight status for 2024 by the time they welcome Armagh to Healy Park.
However, with four away games this season, there’s every chance they’ll need at least a share of the spoils in their final game.
Verdict: Tyrone are desperate to arrest the sense that they are slipping back into the chasing pack following their All-Ireland triumph of 2021. Stayed in Division One thanks to back-to-back wins over Mayo and Kerry last season, but they dropped points against both Monaghan and Donegal in games they could have won. Four away games makes life even tougher this year and Tyrone look set to flirt with relegation once more. Should have enough class and hurt in the tank to earn another season in Division One.
Fixtures:
Round One: Sunday, January 29 v Roscommon (Dr Hyde Park, 1.30pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Donegal (Healy Park, 2pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Galway (Pearse Stadium, 1.45pm)
Round Four : Saturday, February 25 v Mayo (Castlebar, 7pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Kerry (Healy Park, 12.45pm)
Round Six: Sunday, March 19 v Monaghan (Clones, 2pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Armagh (Healy Park, 1.45pm)
Division Two
Derry
Manager: Rory Gallagher
Star Player: Conor Glass
2022 League form: Third in Division Two
2023 odds: 9/2 to win Division Two, 5/6 to be promoted, 16/1 to be relegated
Key game: v Kildare (Sunday, February 26, Newbridge, 2pm)
Forget Dublin. Derry’s main threat is Kildare and the winners of their round four battle in Newbridge are likely to join Dessie Farrell’s men in Division One next season.
Verdict: Derry’s 2022 tally of 11 points would have been enough to top Division One and Division Three and secured promotion from Division Four. It wasn’t enough to see the Oak Leaf County promoted from Division Two, however.
Dublin and Kildare’s presence in the second tier ensures that promotion will be hard-earned, but there’s a swagger and a confidence in the Derry ranks. They’ve won the Ulster title and the Dr McKenna Cup since missing out on promotion last term. Division One football is very attainable for Rory Gallagher’s men.
Fixtures:
Round One: Saturday, January 27 v Limerick (Owenbeg, 3pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Louth (Ardee, 2pm)
Round Three: Saturday, February 18 v Meath (Owenbeg, 5pm)
Round Four: Sunday, February 26 v Kildare (Newbridge, 2pm)
Round Five: Saturday, March 4 v Dublin (Celtic Park, 5pm)
Round Six: Sunday, March 19 v Clare (Owenbeg, 1pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Cork (Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm)
Division Three
Antrim
Manager: Andy McEntee
Star Player: Ryan Murray
2022 League form: Fourth in Division Three
2023 odds: 16/1 to win Division Three, 11/2 to be promoted, 8/11 to be relegated.
Key game: v Offaly (Sunday, January 29, Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Antrim face back-to-back games away to Down and Tipperary after Sunday’s game against Offaly, so they’ll need to take something from Corrigan Park.
Verdict: New manager Andy McEntee’s first job is to keep Antrim in Division Three. That has to be their primary objective.
Division Three is much more difficult in 2023 than it was in 2022 and there are no easy games for the Saffrons. They’ll need to beat Fermanagh (H) and Longford (A) and, if they can gain a draw from one of their first three games, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance.
The loss of a host of experienced players doesn’t bode well though and the margins will be very fine in the third tier - especially with three other Ulster teams.
Fixtures:
Round One: Sunday, January 29 v Offaly (Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Round Two: Saturday, February 4 v Down (Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Tipperary (Semple Stadium, 2pm)
Round Four: Saturday, February 25 v Fermanagh (Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Westmeath (Cusack Park, 2pm)
Round Six : Saturday, March 18 v Cavan (Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Longford (Pearse Park, 2pm)
Cavan
Manager: Mickey Graham
Star Player: Paddy Lynch
2022 League form: First in Division Four
2023 odds: 5/2 to win Division Three, Evs to be promoted, 10/1 to be relegated
Key game: v Tipperary (Sunday, February 5, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
Cavan’s four home games will be key to their chances of securing back-to-back promotions and they’ll be keen to turn over Tipperary after losing at home to the Premier County in Division Four last season.
Verdict: Louth jumped from Division Four to Division Two in two seasons and Cavan look set to make a bold attempt at back-to-back promotions.
Lost out to Westmeath in the Tailteann Cup final last year and get an early chance to avenge that defeat this weekend. That game isn’t win or burst for the Breffnimen as they’ve the luxury of four home games and, after last season’s Ulster Championship, they’ll be confident they can gain something from their penultimate game against Antrim in Corrigan Park.
Should be right in the mix for one of the two promotion berths at the end of March.
Fixtures:
Round One: Sunday, January 29 v Westmeath (Cusack Park, 2pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Tipperary (Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Longford (Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
Round Four: Sunday, February 26 v Offaly (Tullamore, 2pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Down (Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
Round Six: Saturday, March 18 v Antrim (Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Round Seven : Sunday, March 26 v Fermanagh (Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
Down
Manager: Conor Laverty
Star Player: Barry O’Hagan
2022 League form: Eighth in Division Two
2023 odds: 9/4 to win Division Three, 4/5 to be promoted, 12/1 to be relegated.
Key game: Westmeath (Saturday, February 25, Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Westmeath narrowly missed out on promotion last term. A win for Down in round four could put a dent in the chances of Dessie Dolan’s side and aid the Mournemen’s hopes of a swift return to Division Two.
Verdict: The only way is up for Down after last season’s bitterly disappointing campaign. They looked to have hit the ground running under Conor Laverty and they gained some valuable experience and results against Division One teams in the Dr McKenna Cup.
They’ll need to maximise their return from their three home games and pick up two wins on the road. The return of Kilcoo’s Ryan McEvoy and Ceilum Doherty to the fold is a huge boost while Liam Kerr, Pat Havern, Andrew Gilmore and Barry O’Hagan will cause damage in attack.
The first aim of any new manager is to get the best players in the county committing to the cause and Laverty should have enough talent at his disposal to ensure that Down’s stay in Division three is a brief one.
Fixtures:
Round One: Saturday, January 28 V Tipperary (Semple Stadium, 6pm)
Round Two: Saturday, February 4 v Antrim (Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Fermanagh (Brewster Park, 1pm)
Round Four: Saturday, February 25 v Meath (Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Cavan (Kingspan Breffni, 6pm)
Round Six: Saturday, March 18 v Longford (Páirc Esler, 6pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v Offaly (Tullamore, 2pm)
Fermanagh
Manager: Kieran Donnelly
Star Player: Ryan Jones
2022 League form: Fifth in Division Three
2023 odds: 18/1 to win Division Three, 7/1 to be promoted, 5/4 to be relegated
Key game: v Antrim (Saturday, February 25, Corrigan Park, 2pm)
This one could prove to be a relegation battle for both sides. Fermanagh do have four home games, but two are against Down and Westmeath.
Verdict: There were plenty of positives from Kieran Donnelly’s first year in charge of Fermanagh. They recovered from a nine-point loss to Antrim in their League opener to comfortably retain their place in Division Three.
The Erne County finish this season’s campaign against Westmeath (H) and Cavan (A) so they need to hit the ground running and get a couple of wins on the board early on.
The absence of star attacker Sean Quigley is a blow and they’ll need others to step up to the mark. Ultan Kelm, Ryan Jones and Josh Largo Ellis are quality operators and Fermanagh could surprise many in Division Three this season and should avoid relegation at least.
Fixtures:
Round One: Saturday, January 28 v Longford (Ederney, 2pm)
Round Two: Sunday, February 5 v Offaly (Tullamore, 2pm)
Round Three: Sunday, February 19 v Down (Brewster Park, 1pm)
Round Four: Saturday, February 25 v Antrim (Corrigan Park, 2pm)
Round Five: Sunday, March 5 v Tipperary (Semple Stadium, 1pm)
Round Six: Saturday, March 18 v Westmeath (Brewster Park, 6pm)
Round Seven: Sunday, March 26 v v Cavan (Kingspan Breffni, 2pm)
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