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The third round of Division 1 of the National Football League will be played this weekend and we still don’t know who, apart from Galway, is good and who, apart from Mayo, is bad.
National Football League Division 1
Saturday, February 15
Derry v Galway – Celtic Park, 5.00pm (Live on TG4)
Kerry v Dublin – Austin Stacks Park, 7.30pm (Live on RTÉ)
Sunday, February 16
Mayo v Tyrone – Páirc Mhic Éil, 1.45pm (Live on TG4)
Donegal v Armagh – Mac Cumhaill Park, 3.45pm (Live on TG4)
Galway will take to the road north today as Pádraic Joyce and his team look to build on their strong start to the league this year.
After getting the better of Armagh in the first round, the Galway side were far too good for Mayo a fortnight ago in Castlebar and looked to be taking advantage of the new rules. Galway kicked three goals from outside the 40m arc in a crucial period against Armagh and found eight goals worth two points against Mayo to put their neighbours behind them.
The Seasiders, Cillian Ó Curraoin, and Shane Walsh have found the majority of the opportunities and look good even though we are still very early in the new season. The likes of Paul Conroy and Matthew Tierney are also capable of finding the target from beyond the arc and John Daly will be sure to try if he starts tonight in Derry.
Rob Finnerty also returned to the field of play in the game two weeks ago and the Galway panel looks to be a little stronger than it was last year, when they went as far as the All-Ireland final.
They won’t find anything easy in Celtic Park this evening, however, especially as the home team failed to beat Kerry a few weeks ago. The Ulstermen were the better side for much of that game but the Kerry side snatched victory with a few late goals in the game.
There were gaps in Derry’s defence when they lost possession of the ball, gaps that will likely be seen more often with the new rules, but the team’s ability was also evident with excellent displays from the likes of Shane McGuigan, Brendan Rodgers, Ethan Doherty and Paul Cassidy and on another day, they could have won the game quite easily.
Jack O’Connor will be grateful for the league points Kerry brought home that day, however, especially as Donegal got the better of them in Killarney last weekend. The Kingdom’s men will be in Tralee tonight as they welcome Dublin.
It’s hard to say how good the capital’s men are at the moment. They had a good win over Mayo in the first round but that may not be a feat when Mayo were so weak against Galway. Dublin then lost to Donegal a fortnight ago and had no answer to the gap that the Conalls put between the teams in the first half. Kerry will take particular pleasure in beating Dublin and they could have the opportunity to do so tonight.
Kevin McStay will be hoping for a response from his players when Mayo take on Tyrone in Páirc Mac Éil tomorrow. McStay is keen to give some new players a chance in the league but if they lose this evening, it will be difficult for them to turn the tide as they sit bottom of the Division 1 table.
This is Tyrone’s first game outside Ulster, having beaten Derry in the first round but having been thoroughly outplayed by Armagh two weeks ago. Eireagail Chiaráin’s lads did not play in those first two rounds but if the Canavans and the rest return for this one, they would be very hopeful.
Donegal and Armagh will face each other in the final match in Division 1 this weekend. Donegal will have the wind in their sails after beating Kerry last weekend but we will see what impression that game has left on them as they now play for the third weekend in a row but Armagh have a chance to take a break from their victory over Tyrone.
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