For the first time since last year's infamous, and compelling, All-Ireland quarter-final. Galway and Armagh go to battle again this Saturday (18th March) in Round 6 of the National Football League as both look to nail down their final positions.
The Tribesmen have six points and effectively safe in Division 1 (though that's no guarantee). A win could have them in the mix for a league final place.
Throw-in at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday is 5pm and we'll have LIVE coverage here on Galway Bay FM.
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TENSION MOUNTS AHEAD OF ROUND SIX
It’s Round 6 of the Allianz Football League and while most of the big decisions will be reached in the final round on the weekend after next, much clearer patterns will emerge after the action on next Saturday and Sunday.
As of now, none of the promotion/relegation places are decided but that’s likely to change next weekend, especially in Divisions 2 and 3 where Derry and Cavan are very close to promotion.
DIVISION 1: ONLY FIVE POINTS SEPARATE THE EIGHT COUNTIES
Saturday: Armagh v Galway, Athletic Grounds, 5.0; Kerry v Roscommon, Tralee, 7.30.
Sunday: Monaghan v Tyrone, Clones, 2.0; Donegal v Mayo, Ballybofey, 3.45
If other results go their way, Mayo (8 points) could reach the final on Sunday by beating Donegal. If they win and Roscommon and Galway (6 points each) lose or draw to Kerry and Armagh respectively, Kevin McStay’s men will qualify for the final, irrespective of how fare against Monaghan in the final round.
A win on Sunday would take Mayo to ten points, leaving Roscommon and/or Galway as the only other teams that can reach ten points.
Mayo are the only unbeaten team in the group and are also the top scorers, whereas Donegal (3 points) are bottom of the table and have the lowest scoring return. They drew with Mayo in last year’s League.
Galway (6 points) v Armagh (5 points) was one of the highlights of last year’s All-Ireland championship, with the Tribesmen winning a quarter-final on penalties (4-1) after the sides finished level at the end of extra-time. This will be the first League clash between the counties since 2016 when they drew (1-15 each) in Division 2.
Only one point separates the bottom four (Kerry, Tyrone, Monaghan 4 points, Donegal 3 points). Kerry host Roscommon, who they beat by six points in their last League clash in 2021. Monaghan and Tyrone drew in last year’s League; Tyrone won in 2021; Monaghan won in 2020; Tyrone won in 2019; Monaghan won in 2018; Tyrone won in 2017. That’s 3-2 wins to Tyrone, with one draw, underlining how close this rivalry has been.
TOP SCORERS
Rian O’Neill (Armagh)..............0-23 (13 frees, 4’45s’, 1 mark)
Ryan O’Donoghue (Mayo)...... 1-19 (15 frees, 1 mark)
Darren McCurry (Tyrone).........0-22 (16 frees, 1 mark)
Matthew Tierney (Galway)........2-13 (0-5 frees, 0-01 ‘45’)
James Carr (Mayo)......................3-7 (0-1 mark)
Diarmuid Murtagh (Roscommon)...1-13 (0-7 frees)
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2023: RESULTS & FIXTURES
DIVISION 1
Round 1: Mayo 1-11 Galway 2-8; Donegal 0-13 Kerry 1-9; Roscommon 3-11 Tyrone 1-12; Armagh 1-14 Monaghan 1-12.
Round 2: Kerry 3-16 Monaghan 0-14; Roscommon 0-9 Galway 0-8; Tyrone 0-16 Donegal 0-8; Armagh 0-17 Mayo 0-17.
Round 3: Mayo 2-14 Kerry 1-10; Galway 0-16 Tyrone 0-13; Monaghan 1-20 Donegal 0-15; Roscommon 1-12 Armagh 0-12.
Round 4: Kerry 0-12 Armagh 0-11; Mayo 4-10 Tyrone 0-12; Donegal 1-9 Galway 1-9; Monaghan 0-14 Roscommon 0-11.
Round 5: Armagh 0-13 Donegal 0-10; Galway 1-13 Monaghan 0-10; Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 2-9; Mayo 1-16 Roscommon 2-11.
Round 6: March 18: Armagh v Galway; Kerry v Roscommon; March 19: Monaghan v Tyrone; Donegal v Mayo.
Round 7: March 26: Galway v Kerry; Roscommon v Donegal; Tyrone v Armagh; Mayo v Monaghan.
