ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2: KILDARE UP: WILL GALWAY OR MEATH JOIN THEM?
Sunday (2.0): Galway v Kildare, Pearse Stadium; Cork v Down, Pairc Ui Rinn; Clare v Meath, Ennis; Fermanagh v Derry, Enniskillen.
WHAT’S DECIDED? Kildare will return to Allianz Football League Division 1 next season. They dropped from Divisions 1 to 3 in successive seasons but have now completed successive promotions.
WHO ELSE WILL BE PROMOTED? It’s between Galway (9pts) and Meath (7pts). A draw against Kildare would be enough for Galway but if they lose and Meath beat Clare, the Royals will be promoted under the head-to-head rule as they beat Galway.
WHO WILL BE RELEGATED? Derry (3pts), Down (4pts), Fermanagh (4pts) and Clare (5pts) are in the mix.
THE GAMES: Galway and Kildare meet for the first time in two years. The Tribesmen won by 3-12 to 1-12 in the final round of Allianz Football League Division 2 games in 2015. Down are in real danger of dropping from Divisions 1 to 3 in successive seasons as they prepare for the long journey south to take on Cork who beat them by 0-12 to 0-7 in Allianz Football League Division 1 last year.
The Fermanagh v Derry clash is also crucial in the relegation battle, with Derry needing to win to have any chance of avoiding the drop. They beat Fermanagh by 3-12 to 1-9 in last year’s Allianz Football League. Meath’s form has improved in recent weeks, winning two and drawing one of the last three games while Clare have lost their last two games.
