It’s Round 5 of the Allianz Football League and here we make our predictions on the games down for decision across the country this weekend.

 

Saturday, March 2nd

Allianz FL Division 1 round 5

Tyrone v Cavan, Healy Park, 7pm

Cavan head for Omagh on Saturday night having finally got the monkey off their back in defeating Roscommon and that Round 4 victory could yet prove crucial in the race for survival.

Tyrone scored their first win of the campaign too last time out by comfortably seeing off a Monaghan side which are now placed bottom, but it’s the Red Hands’ draw with the Rossies in the round previous which sees them leading this weekend’s opponents in the table by a point.

Needless to say, a win here would be a huge step in the right direction towards safety and Cavan will be confident of providing the upset at Healy Park, where they’ve run this opposition close in recent meetings.

Mickey Harte’s side were three-point winners over the Blues in last summer’s qualifiers and the final margin could well be even tighter than that this time around.

Verdict: Tyrone

Mayo v Galway, MacHale Park, 7.15pm - eir sport 1

This old western derby hits Castlebar on Saturday night and it will see hosts Mayo looking to get back on track after surprisingly falling flat against Dublin at HQ.

In their way stand a Galway side which will leapfrog them in the table with victory this weekend and the Connacht champions are looking to defy the 15/8 odds in order to edge closer towards a return to the Division 1 final.

Kevin Walsh has revealed his starting 15 for the derby at MacHale Park and it’s one that does not include marksman Shane Walsh after the Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman suffered a head injury in the narrow defeat to Kerry, while Sean Kelly is also omitted with a hamstring problem.

It means there’s a starting place in the Tribesmen’s attack for Eamonn Brannigan for the first time since last August’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin at Croke Park.

Verdict: Draw

Allianz FL Division 2 round 5

Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7pm

The tough times continued for Ronan McCarthy’s Cork side last weekend as they went down to Meath at home and now face a fixture which has proved tricky for them in recent times.

Tipperary couldn’t back up their sensational late win over Donegal when they met Armagh in Round 4 and know victory here will be crucial in maintaining league status.

The Rebels have revealed their hand and it sees them starting with a full-forward line which includes Michael Hurley, Brian Hurley and veteran Paul Kerrigan.

Verdict: Tipperary

Donegal v Armagh, Ballybofey, 7.15pm - eir sport 2

The winners of this one could have a huge say in the promotion race and it’s Donegal that are 8/13 favourites over Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh side despite their recent dip in form.

After being upset late on by Tipperary in Round 3, Declan Bonner’s side were made pay the price for going down to 14 men by a stingy Fermanagh side which held them to just 0-10 over the 70 minutes in Letterkenny.

No doubt the Orchard men will be looking to take advantage of the fact that Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty still remain on the injured list for Bonner, who could be set to welcome back some of his Gweedore contingent.

Verdict: Donegal

Allianz FL Division 3 round 5

Carlow v Louth, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7pm

After their bright start Carlow now find themselves in relegation bother and are in need of points quickly to ensure they don’t drop straight back to Division 4.

The Barrowsiders welcome a Louth side on Saturday night which are top of the pile thanks to a better scoring difference than Down and the Wee County are expected to continue their winning ways.

Verdict: Louth

Down v Offaly, Pairc Esler, 7pm

Down rediscovered their goal scoring touch last weekend with a hat-trick from Donal O’Hare to throw themselves right back into the promotion race.

Next up is a hosting of John Maughan's Offaly in Newry where the Mourne men should get the job done to keep the heat on Louth at the summit.

Verdict: Down

Laois v Longford, O'Moore Park, 7pm

This Leinster derby should be an intriguing one as hosts Laois look to leap Longford in the table and closer towards the promotion zone.

Longford have their Mullinalaghta lads back now but it’s the O’Moore men, with home advantage in their favour, that get the nod for both points here.

Verdict: Laois

Allianz FL Division 4 round 5

Waterford v Antrim, WIT Arena, 12.30pm

Waterford got their first win of the campaign by hitting five goals against Wexford the last day, but Antrim won’t be expected to concede anything like that in the first throw-in of the weekend.

Verdict: Antrim

Limerick v Derry, Gaelic Grounds, 1pm

League leaders Derry make the long trip south looking for five wins out of five and can expect a tough test against a Limerick side which pushed Leitrim all the way in Round 4.

Verdict: Derry

Wicklow v Wexford, Aughrim, 2pm

Wicklow need a win here to keep the heat on the top two and get the nod to do so with home advantage on Saturday.

Verdict: Wicklow

 
Sunday, March 3rd

Allianz FL Division 1 round 5

Roscommon v Dublin, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm - TG4 (live coverage)

Dublin looked a bit more familiar in Round 4 against Mayo and head for ‘the Hyde’ this weekend looking to inflict defeat on more western opposition.

Roscommon paid the price for leaking goals against Cavan last time out as its dragged them right into the thick of the survival fight.

Now Anthony Cunningham’s men are welcoming the mighty Dubs as 15/2 underdogs and it’s hard to see how they’ll tear up the script on this occasion.

Cormac Costello’s impressive 1-4 return went a long way to Mayo’s undoing the last day and the Rossies will have their hands full in trying to tie down the likes of him, Paul Mannion and Dean Rock from doing them irreversible damage this weekend.

Verdict: Dublin

Kerry v Monaghan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3pm - TG4 (deferred coverage)

Kerry still lead the way in Division 1 with a 100 per cent record after four games and it’s what makes them 4/11 favourites for Monaghan’s visit to Killarney this weekend.

Late scores from Sean O’Shea, sub Tomas O Se and Tom O’Sullivan were what got the Kingdom over the line against Galway the last day, with manager Peter Keane reserving special praise for both O Se and full-forward Tommy Walsh afterwards.

The Munster champions still have more deadly weapons to come into their attack before the league’s conclusion, with David Clifford and James O’Donoghue on their way back from injury, but for now Monaghan’s defence will have to contend with the towering Walsh and Co.

The Farney men looked largely out of sorts against Tyrone in Round 4 and will need a huge turnaround at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday.

Verdict: Kerry

Allianz FL Division 2 round 5

Meath v Kildare, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm

The winners of this Leinster derby will be fancied for promotion heading into the final two rounds and it’s a tight one to call in Navan.

Meath have been the form team since losing out to a late Donegal goal in Round 2 and Sunday’s showdown with Kildare will undoubtedly be their sternest test of the season to date.

The Lilywhites got big performances from Ben McCormack and ace Jimmy Hyland the last day to overcome Clare’s challenge and they, along with Kevin Feely at centre-field, could be what makes the difference in what’s sure to be a fascinating encounter at Pairc Tailteann.

Verdict: Kildare

Fermanagh v Clare, Brewster Park, 2pm

Fermanagh tore up the script on their visit to Letterkenny in Round 4 and another win for them here could see them top of Division 2 with two rounds remaining – should Kildare beat Meath in Navan.

Not many would have predicted Rory Gallagher’s men being in the promotion race to the topflight at all at this stage and they face another tough test in the form of Clare on Sunday.

After pushing the Lilywhites for long stages last weekend, the Banner men are in need of a win to keep some distance from the division’s bottom two sides.

Verdict: Fermanagh

Allianz FL Division 3 round 5

Sligo v Westmeath, Collooney, 2pm

Westmeath are right there when it comes to the hunt for promotion and will need to defeat bottom-placed Sligo to keep up the chase on Louth and Down.

Ger Egan, John Heslin and Kieran Martin were to the fore against Laois the last day and it’s hard to see struggling Sligo living with that deadly trio on Sunday.

Verdict: Westmeath

Allianz FL Division 4 round 5

Leitrim v London, Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 1pm

Leitrim edged a true battle with Limerick thanks to Gary Plunkett’s late, late point the last day and should come through another stern test here on home turf.

Verdict: Leitrim

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