Ulster heavyweights renew rivalry as Harte returns to DerryImage source, InphoImage caption, Donegal star Michael Murphy signs autographs after his side’s round three victory against Mayo in LetterkennyByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished49 minutes agoThere’s another exciting slate of fixtures in the Allianz Football League this weekend as the promotion and relegation picture becomes clearer across the four divisions. Going into this weekend, Donegal and Down remain top of Division One and Three respectively with a 100% record. Armagh will look to stop the rot after two defeats in a row in the top tier, Derry are back on the promotion hunt in Division Two after back-to-back victories, while Tyrone registered their first win in same division at the weekend. Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh and Antrim make up four of the six counties yet to pick up a single point in this year’s league. McGeeney and McGuinness renew rivalryImage source, InphoImage caption, Jim McGuinness and Kieran McGeeney will go to battle once again on Sunday Armagh and Donegal has become the great Ulster rivalry of recent seasons, with the Tir Chonaill men having won the last two provincial deciders. They are also the last two Ulster counties to compete in the All-Ireland final. Armagh famously beat Galway in the 2024 showpiece before Donegal fell to Kerry last July. The battle within the war will come on the sideline as Kieran McGeeney and Jim McGuinness renew their rivalry, one which stretches back to 2011 when the former’s Kildare side lost to McGuinness’ Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Sunday will mark the fifth league and championship meeting between the sides in the past three seasons and they look to be on a collision course to meet in this year’s Ulster semi-final. It’s been business like for Donegal so far throughout the league. Three wins from three and they sit top of the division beating Dublin, Kerry and Mayo. After an impressive opening day win against Monaghan, Armagh have stuttered with back-to-back defeats against Connacht opposition in Galway (home) and Roscommon (away). McGeeney and Armagh need points more as they battle to avoid a relegation dogfight, while Donegal will look to make a push to consolidate their position. The Athletic Grounds is sure to be a cauldron for this rivalry’s just in chapter on Sunday (15:45 GMT). Can Derry win three in a row as Harte returns? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mickey Harte returns to manage against Derry on Saturday night at Celtic ParkDerry failed to win a league or championship game throughout the entirety of 2025, a far-cry from their spell as Division One league champions under Mickey Harte in 2024. Just as winning is a habit, losing can become an unwanted one and after an opening day defeat by Meath, Derry finally secured their their first win in over a year by beating neighbours Tyrone at Celtic Park three weeks ago. After a battling victory over Kildare in Newbridge, the Oak Leafers return to Celtic Park, but they will be without captain Conor Glass, who was sent off six minutes into the game against the Lilywhites.Ciaran Meenagh’s men will be heavy favourites to make it three wins in a row as Offaly – joint-managed by Harte – make the trip in search of their first league points. Another victory would leave Derry with a real chance for promotion before home games against Cork and Cavan and a trip to Gavin Devlin’s Louth. Tyrone’s promotion push as Canavan gets set to departImage source, InphoImage caption, Tyrone will be without Darragh Canavan for the remainder of the league after Sunday’s trip to LouthMalachy O’Rourke’s Tyrone were heavily tipped for immediate promotion back to the top tier this season after becoming the first county to be relegated with seven points in 2025. Throw into the mix an appearance in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and the influx of a host of successful underage teams, it appeared likely the Red Hands would make the step at the first time of asking. But after an opening draw with Kildare and a loss to Derry, the Red Hands picked up their first Division Two win with an impressive dismantling of Cavan last time out. Promotion hopes are not dead and buried just yet, but it’s likely Tyrone will have to win all four of their remaining fixtures to have any chance, starting with Sunday’s trip to Louth.Darragh Canavan is the standout name on the Tyrone team and kicked nine points in their win over Cavan, but this weekend will mark his last game for the county until the Ulster Championship clash with Armagh in April due to a pre-planned holiday to Australia. Tyrone round out their campaign with a home game against Offaly, before taking on promotion rivals Meath (Croke Park) and Cork (Healy Park).Can Down edge closer to Division Two?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Down are three wins from three at the top of Division Three The importance of winning Division Three is clear for the Down manager Conor Laverty as he wants to give his side the best chance of competing in the All-Ireland championship rather than the Tailteann Cup later this summer. The Mournemen have battled their way to three wins from three and that included a victory over promotion rivals Westmeath in Newry last time out. This weekend they face another side pushing for promotion as they head to Wexford (Sunday, 14:00 GMT), who have two wins from their first three games. Victory for Down would put them in a real strong position secure immediate promotion back to the second tier ahead of struggling Fermanagh’s visit to Pairc Esler. Laverty will hope for another free-scoring display from his side on Sunday after managing 4-52 in their opening three games.Monaghan, Fermanagh and Antrim seek first winsThe league tables make grim reading for Monaghan, Fermanagh and Antrim supporters.This year’s Division One campaign was always going to be tough for Monaghan after Scotstown’s run to the All-Ireland club semi-final robbed them of their full hand in the early rounds. A heavy defeat by Armagh at Clones was followed by losses on the road to two counties tipped for relegation in Roscommon and Dublin. With Mayo visiting St Tiernach’s Park on Sunday (13:45 GMT), it’s unlikely to get any easier for Gabriel Bannigan, who is also contending with a hefty injury list. Fermanagh are pointless and bottom of Division Three ahead of a trip to promotion chasing Westmeath, Antrim sit bottom of the basement division ahead of an away fixture against promotion pushing Leitrim. Allianz Football League round four fixtures (times GMT)Division OneSaturday 21 FebruaryDublin v Kerry, Croke Park (19:00)Galway v Roscommon, Salthill (19:00)Sunday 22 FebruaryMonaghan v Mayo, Clones (13:45)Armagh v Donegal, Athletic Grounds (15:45)Division Two Saturday 21 FebruaryDerry v Offaly, Celtic Park (18:00)Sunday 22 FebruaryCork v Meath, Pairc Ui Rinn (14:00)Louth v Tyrone, Ardee (14:00)Cavan v Kildare, Breffni Park (15:00)Division ThreeSunday 22 FebruaryWestmeath v Fermanagh, Mullingar (13:00)Clare v Laois, Ennis (14:00)Sligo v Limerick, Markievicz Park (14:00)Wexford v Down, Wexford Park (14:00)Division Four Saturday 21 FebruaryCarlow v Waterford, Cullen Park (18:00)Sunday 22 FebruaryWicklow v London, Aughrim (13:00)Leitrim v Antrim, Carrick-on-Shannon (14:00)Longford v Tipperary, Pearse Park (14:00)Related topicsGaelic Games
