Previews for this weekend's National Football League fixtures from divisions one through four.

Saturday, January 30

Allianz FL Division 1

Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, 7pm
One of the epic rivalries in Irish sport continues this Saturday night as Dublin begin their Allianz National Football League Division One title defence against Kerry at Croke Park. Jim Gavin's side have undoubtedly held the upper hand against the Kingdom these last few years, with the last five seasons reaping three All-Ireland SFC and NFL titles apiece for the Leinster kingpins and all eyes will be on HQ to see if the game's aristocrats can end the capital men's recent dominance over them. Both giants have already hit bumps in the road in early 2016, with an experimental Kerry outfit having lost to Clare in the McGrath Cup and a Dublin side showing seven All-Ireland final starters suffering a shock defeat to Longford in the semi-finals of the O'Byrne Cup. You expect to see different starting 15s on the hallowed turf come Saturday night and going by the form book there only looks to be one outcome.
Verdict: Dublin

Down v Donegal, Pairc Esler, 7pm
Eamonn Burns' tenure as Down's new senior football boss has made for a rocky start with one win from three games in the Dr McKenna Cup and it would seem that they've it all to do heading into a daunting round of fixtures against some of the country's elite teams. Whether or not Donegal fall under that category anymore is up for debate but Rory Gallagher's side will be fancied for Saturday night's trip to Newry having already toppled Down earlier this month in Ballybofey, where Frank McGlynn's early goal proved the ultimate difference. The Tir Chonaill men recently welcomed back midfield stalwart Rory Kavanagh to their squad after a season-long absence, while the hosts will be without injured pair Conor Laverty, who captained the team last year, and Benny McArdle for the long-term but are set to welcome back Benny Coulter to the fold. The Mayobridge star recently returned to training for the Mourne County and could give them some vital minutes off the bench should things be close in the last quarter.
Verdict: Donegal

 

Sunday, January 31

Allianz FL Division 1

Cork v Mayo, Pairc Ui Rinn, 2pm
Last Friday night's McGrath Cup final victory over Clare has saw Peader Healy already bag some early silverware in the initial stages of his reign as Cork football boss. Indeed the Leesiders boast a 100 per cent record heading into Sunday's showdown with Mayo at Pairc Ui Rinn, where the home crowd will be hoping that the supreme shooting form of forward pairing Brian Hurley and Daniel Goulding continues on into February. In the Connacht champions, Healy's men will be meeting their first true test of 2016 and you can be sure that his opposite number Stephen Rochford will be desperate to stack up some early wins to impress, whilst keeping the pressure off. Recent injuries to key defenders Keith Higgins and Kevin Keane will see the former Corofin manager having to reshuffle a bit and with the O'Sheas and O'Connors also side-lined he has already sighted Division One as a survival mission for the Westerners.
Verdict: Cork

Roscommon v Monaghan, Kiltoom, 2pm
Ulster champions Monaghan travel to Kiltoom in search of their first win in 2016, having picked up one point from a possible six in the group stages of the Dr McKenna Cup. The introduction of Conor McManus saved Malachy O'Rourke's side a draw against neighbours Cavan in their last outing and the Clontibret ace will no doubt be looked to again if they are to overcome a Roscommon side which are keen return to winning ways under Fergal O'Donnell and Kevin McStay. The concession of two early Damien Comer goals likely prevented the Rossies from lifting the FBD Cup last Sunday and a winning start to life in Division One would certainly help them to get over the 2-8 to 0-13 defeat at the hands of Galway. Should they find a way to nullify McManus this Sunday, then we could be talking a home victory with the Farney men still waiting to welcome back some key players.
Verdict: Draw

 

Allianz FL Division 2

Derry v Fermanagh, Celtic Park, 2.15pm
Derry have been the team to catch the eye this month, playing an open brand of football under new manager Damien Barton which the players seemed to have certainly taken to. Indeed the Oak Leafers have struck a remarkable 10-73 in their five Dr McKenna Cup outings this month, with their only defeat coming against Tyrone (after extra time) in last Saturday night's thrilling finale. Barring the Red Hands, Fermanagh had been the form team up north up until now but in many ways Sunday's trip to Celtic Park looks a tall order for them given the recent displays of the likes of James Kielt, Ryan Bell and Shane Heavron up front for Derry. Pete McGrath will no doubt be looking for ways to halt the hosts' in-form trio, whilst ensuring supply to Sean Quigley and Tomas Corrigan at the other end, but the wheels on the Derry bus already look to be well motion.
Verdict: Derry

Meath v Armagh, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm
Meath may still be in the rebuilding process under Mick O'Dowd but 2016 couldn't really have gotten off to a better start for them having secured the O'Byrne Cup last Sunday with victory over Longford. Royals fans will certainly have been encouraged by the fact that Graham Reilly showed flashes of his best form against the Midlanders with 0-6 from play in a game which they never trailed in. Armagh's Dr McKenna Cup campaign ended early on the other hand, losing two of their three outings and with their Crossmaglen contingent currently preparing for another All-Ireland semi-final on February 13, Division Two could prove a tricky test for Kieran McGeeney's men. Expect home advantage to count for a lot in this one.
Verdict: Meath

Tyrone v Cavan, Healy Park, 2pm
Are Tyrone the form team in Ireland right now? Having captured a fifth successive Dr McKenna Cup last Saturday, after five wins from as many games, you'd have to say so as Mickey Harte's men head into Sunday's National League opener against Cavan red hot favourites. Connor McAliskey and Darren McCurry have been two of the many young guns to step up to the plate for the Red Hands and they'll look to continue to impress Harte when the Breffni men visit Omagh this weekend. Cast as 7/2 outsiders (Boylesports) for this one, Terry Hyland's side have welcomed back some of their best attacking contingent in Seanie Johnston and Eugene Keating recently, but couldn't have asked for a much tougher start to their Division Two campaign.
Verdict: Tyrone

Laois v Galway, O'Moore Park, 2pm
Galway will be keen to keep up the winning routine they've developed in the early part of the new season when they travel to Portlaoise on Sunday. The Tribesmen saw off Roscommon's challenge to land the FBD League trophy last Sunday, with manager Kevin Walsh stating afterwards that the competition "had served its purpose" for his team. Damien Comer showed promising form against the Rossies with a 2-1 contribution and the west siders will no doubt look to him again against the O'Moore men as they bid to mount an early promotion assault. Some could consider Laois unlucky not to have progressed further in the O'Byrne Cup, with two late goals from eventual winners Meath proving their undoing in the end, and they'll likely need another big game from Donie Kingston this weekend for a winning start in the second tier.
Verdict: Galway

 

Allianz FL Division 3

Clare v Sligo, Miltown Malbay, 2pm
Clare could be meeting Sligo at the perfect time with Niall Carew's charges seemingly in dire straits going by FBD League form. David Kelly's decision to quit the Yeats panel comes as a major blow and three defeats from three outings thus far this year has seen them ranked as 2/1 underdogs for the trip to Miltown Malbay. Clare's favourites tag is on merit though, having defeated Tipperary (1-10 to 1-9) and Kerry (0-12 to 0-9) before losing last Friday's McGrath Cup final to Cork (1-15 to 1-9), with Eoin Cleary leading the fight for the Banner men in attack.
Verdict: Clare

Limerick v Tipperary, Kilmallock, 2pm
Sunday's Munster derby is a hard one to call. Limerick pushed would-be winners Cork all the way in their McGrath Cup opener, falling to the Rebels by a single point in Mallow, before losing out to Waterford by six points in Rathkeale. Tipperary's form so far in 2016 makes for similar reading, losing to Clare by a point and Kerry by six, but Sunday's game is set to give a real indication as to where each team is at and what better way to start a new campaign than against your neighbours?
Verdict: Limerick

Offaly v Longford, O'Connor Park, 2pm
After making waves with a shock win over Dublin a fortnight ago, Longford travel to Tullamore on Sunday looking to make a winning start in Division Three against Pat Flanagan's Offaly. Francis McGee and Robbie Smith have been firing on all cylinders for Denis Connerton's side, while Brian Kavanagh also made an appearance off the bench in last Sunday's O'Byrne Cup final defeat to Meath. Offaly, meanwhile, are expect to welcome back a few key men of their own, with Flanagan thought to have persuaded ace forward Shane Dooley to keep up his dual commitments for 2016.
Verdict: Longford

Westmeath v Kildare, Cusack Park, 2pm
The other all-Leinster clash sees promotion favourites Kildare making the trip to Mullingar for a showdown with Westmeath. New Lilywhites boss Cian O'Neill experimented for much of the O'Byrne Cup campaign, dropping a defeat to Louth before overcoming Offaly narrowly in the process. A more familiar looking starting 15 is expected for Sunday, which means the Lake men are likely to have their work cut out for them on their home turf.
Verdict: Kildare

 

Allianz FL Division 4

Louth v London, Gaelic Grounds, 1pm
London have been ranked as 7/1 underdogs for this one and it's not hard to understand why. The Exiles face a tough task traveling to Drogheda, where Louth will be keen to build on the decent form they put forth earlier this month to reach the semi-finals of the O'Byrne Cup.
Verdict: Louth

Carlow v Antrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Antrim manager Frank Fitzsimons has been citing his side's trip to Carlow as one that could lay the platform for promotion. The Saffrons performed well in the Dr McKenna Cup by defeating Queen's University in the opening round and notching 2-12 in defeat Derry. Fitzsimons is hoping the team can build on those performances and having welcomed back a few stalwarts, including midfield general Michael McCann, they've to be fancied for the trip south.
Verdict: Antrim

Wexford v Leitrim, Bellefield, 2pm
Holding Dublin to a draw and hammering IT Carlow were the highlights of the O'Byrne Cup for Wexford, who recently said goodbye to team captain Grame Molloy following on-going knee trouble. PJ Banville has returned home for the US for the Slayneysiders and could feature in Leitrim's visit on Sunday as manager David Power plots a winning start to Division Three. Leitrim's form in the FBD League was impressive in parts, with comfortable wins scored over GMIT and Sligo, Emlyn Mulligan and Nevin O'Donnell will be the men looked to up front to try and cause an upset in Enniscorthy.
Verdict: Wexford

Wicklow v Waterford, Aughrim, 2pm
Both these teams finished joint bottom of Division Four with London last year and they met again in Round One this Sunday, with Wicklow trying to reverse the result which saw them losing out by four points. Waterford already have a win under their belts this year from their McGrath Cup outing against Limerick and will be keen to double that tally when they make the trip to Aughrim.
Verdict: Waterford

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