"It is only halfway. Eight points probably guarantee we stay up, that was our objective."

Kevin Walsh is taking Galway's four-match winning run in his stride.

"There were aspects of our performance that weren't great today. But the beauty of league football is we are out again in six days' time and it gives us a chance to try and improve and work on it this week and we will."

Eamonn Fitzmaurice will look for an improved defensive display when his Kerry team travel to Croke Park on Saturday evening.

"It was hard won. We played well at times, we let Tyrone back into it at times but, at the end of the day, we got the two points so mission accomplished."

Monaghan edged out Tyrone in Castleblayney and Malachy O'Rourke was happy with how they went about their business.

"Every game is important as there is a target of a certain number of points that every team need, and they would suggest you needed at least six, to be safe."

Mickey Harte and Tyrone are looking nervously over their shoulder. 

"Our first-half performance gave us that platform - 1-9 on the board at half-time."

It was business as usual for Jim Gavin and Dublin in MacHale Park.

"We don't be at our best in the early rounds. Over the last three or four years we've had a longer winter period due to our summer exploits, so we are going to be that bit slower out of the blocks that some teams. So that definitely has an effect."

Stephen Rochford's Mayo side have just one win to show for their efforts so far in Division 1.

"Absolutely disgraceful. He shouldn't have re-started the game until the player went off the pitch."

Kildare boss Cian O'Neill was fuming after losing the services of his captain Eoin Doyle against Donegal for not wearing a gum shield.

"It was about getting over the line and that's what we done, and we're happy to leave here with two points. We just need to do it on a more consistent level."

Donegal secured their first win of the campaign at the Lilywhite's expense and Declan Bonner hopes they can build on that.

"I'm very pleased. That was a four-pointer and we are one win away from consolidating our place in Division 2."

Liam Kearns' Tipperary claimed Meath's scalp in Semple Stadium on Saturday night.

"We are very disappointed with our performance. We were outplayed all over the pitch and can't have any excuses. We have a lot to do."

It was a second defeat in the space of a week for Andy McEntee and the Royal County. 

"It was very important that we left Cork this weekend with something, we're just over the moon."

Mattie McGleenan managed Cavan are looking good for an immediate return to the top flight.

"I'm not angry, it was disappointing. We knew it was a big game. It was a very poor performance on the back of a very poor second-half against Louth."

Cork have work to do under Ronan McCarthy.

"That puts Clare on the same points as us, so the race (to stay up) starts now."

Down accumulated 15 wides against 14-man Clare and Eamonn Burns has Division 2 survival very much on his mind.

"We gave away two desperate goals in the second-half. In fact, all three goals, switching off from a quick free for the first, a high ball punched into the square for the second and then a misplaced pass for the third."

Rory Gallagher's Fermanagh withstood a second-half rally from Derry to preserve their winning record in Division 3.

"In the second-half we were a totally different team. Just putting the bodies on the line, winning breaks, tracking back, winning balls we shouldn't have been winning. So that was encouraging."

Gallagher's Oak Leaf counterpart Damian McErlean took positives from their second-half showing.

"I said I'd give them a break and they said,' No, we're going running' and they ran for the month of December, hard running that we hadn't done for a while. We put all that away for January but you saw it there in the end, we had it in the tank."

The commitment of the Nemo Rangers players paid off in Portlaoise on Saturday and manager Larry Kavanagh is now planning for a final showdown with Corofin.

"I plan to initiate a review as these development squads are, in my view, starting too early. We need to row back from creating a level of elitism in young players which is unhealthy for our games."

New GAA President John Horan set out his stall after taking over from Aogan O Fearghail at Congress.

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