It’s been quite a while, huh?
It’s hard to believe it but it’s been more than six months since Kerry beat Galway in last year’s All-Ireland senior football final. The wait is finally over.
It’s not like we’ve been standing on ceremony in the meantime, what with club games to beat the band over the autumn and winter periods but none-the-less, it’s great to be back.
The McGrath Cups and Walsh Cups and FBD Leagues and what have you are all in the rear-view mirror at this stage, thankfully. It’s the last weekend in January and, well, we all know what that means, it’s nigh time to get back into the real stuff.
The Allianz National Football Leagues re-commence this weekend and, as you would expect, there are some proverbial thrillers in store. This is the start of it now.
Many call the Allianz Leagues the best competition in the GAA due to their competitiveness and we’re all hoping for another brilliant renewal this weekend. It all kicks off on Saturday and there are some barnstorming clashes in store, in all corners of the country.
You can see all the fixtures below and right here, in our live-blog, you can keep up to date with every step of the action.
Saturday’s Fixtures
Division 1 round 1
Monaghan v Armagh, St Mary’s Park, Castleblayney, 6.30 – BBC iPlayer
Mayo v Galway, Hastings MacHale Park 7.30 – RTÉ2
Division 2 round 1
Dublin v Kildare, Croke Park, 5.00 – TG4
Derry v Limerick, Owenbeg, 3.00
Division 3 round 1
Fermanagh v Longford, Ederney, 2.00
Tipperary v Down, FBD Semple Stadium, 6.00
Division 4 round 1
Carlow v Wicklow, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.00
Wexford v London, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 7.00
Sunday’s Fixtures
Division 1 round 1
Roscommon v Tyrone, Dr Hyde Park, 1.30 – TG4 deferred (live on website)
Donegal v Kerry, Ballybofey, 2.00 – TG4
Division 2 round 1
Clare v Louth, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2.00
Cork v Meath, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.30 – TG4 deferred (live on website)
Division 3 round 1
Antrim v Offaly, Corrigan Park, 2.00
Westmeath v Cavan, TEG Cusack Park, 2.00
Division 4 round 1
Leitrim v Waterford, Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 1.00
Sligo v Laois, Markievicz Park, 2.00