Allianz Football League: Donegal v Fermanagh BBC streamed game among Ulster derbies
- Published
Allianz Football League 17/18 February |
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Saturday coverage: Live stream of Donegal v Fermanagh on BBC iPlayer and Sport website from 13:45 GMT with text updates from Derry v Monaghan (17:00) and Cork v Cavan (16:00) |
Sunday coverage: Live text commentary from 13:30 GMT of Tyrone v Galway (13:45), Antrim v Down (14:00) and Kildare v Armagh (15:45) |
The Allianz Football League resumes after a week's break with three Ulster derbies which include Derry v Monaghan in Division One and the BBC streamed game between Donegal and Fermanagh.
The Division Two game starts in Letterkenny at 14:00 GMT on Saturday with the action beginning at Celtic Park three hours later.
Donegal go into the O'Donnell Park game sharing top spot with Armagh.
That follows their opening wins over Cork and Cavan.
However, while Donegal put an impressive 1-20 on Cork in their opener in Ballybofey they had to work hard to edge out Cavan 0-13 to 0-12 at Breffni Park.
Jim McGuinness' side had to rely on 0-6 from Oisin Gallen - including four efforts from play - to overcome the Breffnimen with Patrick McBrearty continuing his good start to the campaign by adding 0-4 to the 1-6 he notched against the Rebel County.
Fermanagh have made an encouraging start of their own to the Division Two campaign as they drew their opener in Navan - when the home side hit the final three scores - before deservedly overcoming Kildare in the BBC Sport NI streamed game at Brewster Park two weeks ago.
Defenders Che Cullen and Declan McCusker impressively supplemented the Erne attack in that game as they strode upfield to notch vital scores which included the latter's goal after Kildare keeper Mark Donnellan spilled his first-half high ball over the line.
It's was the second defeat in seven days for the Lilywhites after their opening 0-16 to 0-12 reverse against Cavan at Dr Cullen Park and for the third consecutive round, the Breffnimen are in Saturday action as they take on Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in a game that throws in at 16:00 GMT.
After reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals last summer, John Cleary's Cork side are propping up the Division Two table after following up their hammering in Ballybofey with a 2-9 to 0-13 defeat by Louth.
Sunday's Division Two contest between Kildare and table toppers Armagh at Dr Cullen Park will see Kieran McGeeney aiming to pile more misery on his former team.
A third straight win would be a huge boost to Armagh's hopes of making an immediate return to Division One following their rather unlucky relegation last year.
In Division One, Derry will also be seeking their third successive win in Saturday evening's all-Ulster clash at Celtic Park.
After holding on to beat Kerry in an opening thriller in Tralee, the Oak Leafers proved much too savvy for a young Tyrone at Celtic Park in what proved a rather low-key contest after all the hype generated by Mickey Harte's presence in the Derry dugout.
Goalkeeper Odhran Lynch and All-star Gareth McKinless were both forced off by hamstring injuries two weeks ago and must be major doubts for Saturday evening's contest.
Ryan Scullion and Niall Toner were introduced for the injured duo against the Red Hands and will be in contention for starting roles.
While Harte has not deviated greatly from the largely settled Oak Leaf selection employed by Rory Gallagher and Ciaran Meenagh, he has given starts to Diarmuid Baker and Cormac Murphy in recent games with the latter particularly impressive against Tyrone, when he contributed 0-3.
Clifford torments Farney men
After their stirring opening Croke Park win over Dublin, an injury-hit Monaghan found David Clifford too hot to handle two weeks ago.
Monaghan fans will hope that the likes of All-Star Conor McCarthy, Michael Bannigan and Ryan McAnespie will be in contention to return to action at Celtic Park.
The Farney County's last competitive game at the Derry city venue saw earned a thoroughly deserved draw in their opening Super 16s round last summer, which was only four weeks after an Ulster semi-final in which the Oak Leafers had outclassed Monaghan in what proved Rory Gallagher's final game in charge.
After losing to Derry, Tyrone will hope to regain the verve which enabled them to beat Roscommon in their home opener when they return to Healy Park for Sunday's contest with Galway.
The Tribesmen followed up an opening defeat by Division One leaders Mayo by drawing at Dr Hyde Park but their lack of scores must be a concern for Padraic Joyce after notching only 0-10 and 0-9 in their opening two games and with Shane Walsh and Damien Comer again expected to be absent for Sunday's game.
Sunday's action also includes the Division Three top-of-the-table contest between Antrim and Down at Corrigan Park, although Westmeath also sit on a maximum four points following their two opening wins.
Down defeated Oisin McConville's Wicklow 0-18 to 0-13 in their opener before two Odhran Murdock penalties helped them secure a facile 3-16 to 0-9 over bottom-of-the-table Limerick.
Antrim, meanwhile, also accounted for Limerick 2-14 to 2-7 in their opener in Rathkeale before almost losing a big lead at Corrigan Park after the straight red carding of Conor Hand as they held on to beat Offaly 2-5 to 1-7.
Down look marginal favourites but Antrim will believe that they can win if they avoid the kind of indiscipline which almost cost them dear two weeks ago.