Gaelic Games

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Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney has said that he doesn't expect Rian O'Neill to be available for the All-Ireland champions this season.

The Crossmaglen man has not featured for Armagh this year and McGeeney said following his team's opening League game in Galway in late January that O'Neill was "taking a few months to himself", adding: "I don't know whether it's weeks or months".

There were reports a couple of weeks ago that O'Neill was set to return to the squad but following Armagh's 2-21 to 0-17 Division One defeat by Kerry on Saturday night, McGeeney cast doubt on any likelihood of the All-Star playing for his county in 2025.

"We will not see Rian for a good while, I would say," said McGeeney.

Asked whether he expected O'Neill to feature in the championship, the Armagh manager replied: "I would doubt it. He has his own stuff going on. As I said, I don't like to go into fellas' personal lives. We just have to respect that and let him do what he has to do.

"Give the fella the space. He deserves that. I am trying to do it for him."

Armagh face Antrim in their Ulster Championship opener on 12 April, with the game now fixed for Newry's Pairc Esler after Ulster GAA didn't sanction the contest being played at Antrim's current home venue Corrigan Park.

Goals from Dylan Geaney and Paudie Clifford helped Kerry into a commanding 2-13 to 0-6 half-time advantage in Saturday's game in Tralee and the Kingdom's lead was never under threat despite an improved Armagh second-half performance.

McGeeney has been among the county manager to criticise the introduction of the new playing rules and he expressed annoyance at him in turn being criticised for venturing his opinion.

"I don't want to talk about the rules. At this stage, you must be sick of it. Then when I say it, you have whingers out there telling me I am whining, which is rich coming from some of them. The biggest whingers I've ever seen.

"I'd rather talk about the game. I'm not being disrespectful, honestly. At this stage let the egos work away and let us do the football."

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A last gasp score from Adam Crimmins saw Down beat Westmeath and boosted the Mournemen's Allianz League Division Two survival hopes.

The scores were level at 1-25 to 0-28 as the hooter neared but replacement Crimmins' fisted point secured a much needed victory for Conor Laverty's men and relegated their opponents in the process.

Despite the stakes for both counties it was an entertaining game at Pairc Esler which saw the sides trade the advantage throughout.

In no small part thanks to John McGeough's first-half goal, Down looked set to lead at the interval, but Luke Loughlin's late point ensured the teams went in level at 1-10 to 0-13.

As Pat Havern and Loughlin continued to trade key scores, a draw looked likely until Crimmins late intervention secured a crucial two points for his county.

The victory takes Down level on points with Cork and Louth, who meet at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday.

One of that trio is most likely to join Westmeath in Division Three next season, although Cavan, currently two points ahead, could be dragged into the mix should they lose both their remaining fixtures.

Down finish their campaign away to league leaders Monaghan on 23 March.

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Kerry hammered Armagh by 2-21 to 0-17 to boost their Division One survival hopes in the Allianz Football League.

Goals from Dylan Geaney and Paudie Clifford helped Kerry into a commanding 2-13 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Armagh improved in the second half but fell short as the hosts moved past the All-Ireland champions and into third place in Division One.

The result is bad news for Tyrone and Derry, who both play on Sunday and occupy the relegation places.

Tyrone, who visit Donegal on Sunday, are now two points adrift of safety while Derry are cut adrift on one point and will be relegated if they lose to Mayo.

Kerry raced into an early lead thanks to points from before Geaney squeezed in the opening goal after being fed by David Clifford in the 10th minute.

The Kingdom's second goal came in the 19th minute when Geaney was brought down as he shaped to shoot, but the forward dusted himself down to dispatch the penalty into the bottom corner.

Goalkeeper Shane Ryan made a big save to deny Darragh McMullan, who looked poised to pull a goal back for Armagh, who struggle to get to grips with Kerry in the opening 35 minutes.

Kieran McGeeney's side improved after the restart and started chipping into Kerry's advantage, but the damage was largely done in the first half and the hosts had enough in the tank to withstand any late pressure.

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Leitrim have conceded their Allianz Football League Division Three match with Fermanagh on Sunday due to a lack of available players.

The Wild Rose County said in a statement that they have only 13 outfield players available and have taken this "unprecedented" decision due "to overall player welfare considerations and a duty of care towards the group for the greater good".

Steven Poacher's side have already been relegated after losing all five of their Division Three matches so far this season.

The decision means Fermanagh's relegation fears have been eased and they go into their final fixture against Laois next weekend with a chance of gaining promotion into Division Two.

In the lengthy statement published on Saturday, external, Leitrim stated that of the players available, two of those are recovering from long term injuries while both of their goalkeepers are recovering from head injuries.

They also added that six other members of the panel were unavailable because of their upcoming involvement in a Connacht Under-20 Championship match against Galway on Wednesday.

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With just two rounds of fixtures left in Division Four of the Allianz Football League, Wexford are sitting pretty at the top of the table.

It's a bit tighter behind, with Limerick, Wicklow, Tipperary, London and Longford separated by just three points in the race for promotion.

Wexford host Tipperary on Saturday and can secure top spot and promotion, while Oisin McConville's Wicklow face Limerick in a tantalising third against second match-up at Echelon Park.

London will be poised to make strides in the promotion battle when they take on Waterford, who are without a point in five matches.

It's a similar situation for Longford, who are poised to capitalise on any slip-ups as they face Carlow, who have just one win in five matches.

Division Four fixtures - round six

Carlow v Longford (Saturday, 17:00) Cullen Park

Wexford v Tipperary (Saturday, 18:30) Wexford Park

Waterford v London (Saturday, 19:00) Dungarvan

Wicklow v Limerick (Sunday, 14:00) Echelon Park

• Get the latest GAA news here

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It's a huge weekend at the bottom of Division Three in the Allianz Football League, with Fermanagh and Antrim both in action.

Fermanagh will look to boost their survival hopes with victory over Leitrim, who are without a win and have shipped 126 points across their five matches to date.

Things are that tight in Division Three that Fermanagh could even enter the conversation for promotion with victory by a large margin on Sunday.

Antrim are one point behind their Ulster rivals and host Sligo, who are currently in the relegation zone, in their penultimate fixture.

Andy McEntee's side would likely secure their place in Division Three with victory over Sligo, depending on the result from Fermanagh's game in Ballinamore.

At the top of the table, Kildare and Offaly are separated by points difference and the leading pair face off at Tullamore.

It's also third against fourth as Laois host Clare - with Fermanagh poised to take advantage of any slip-ups.

Division Three fixtures - round six

Laois v Clare (Saturday, 18:00) Portlaoise

Antrim v Sligo (Sunday, 14:00) Corrigan Park

Leitrim v Fermanagh (Sunday, 14:00) Ballinamore

Offaly, v Kildare (Sunday, 14:00) Tullamore

• Get the latest GAA news here

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As is often the case, Division Two in the Allianz Football League is one of the most tightly-contested as the race for promotion heats up.

Just two points separate the top four, meaning it is all to play for heading into the penultimate round of fixtures.

Monaghan lead the way thanks to their superior points difference and face a Meath side who also have four wins from their five matches.

Roscommon, also on eight points, host Cavan in a game that could make of break each team's promotions hopes at Dr Hyde Park.

Cork's game against Louth is another intriguing match-up, with the winner set to keep their promotion hopes alive while the loser will fall into the relegation battle.

At the other end of the table, Down need to pick up two points against bottom side Westmeath, who can be relegated if they do not win in Newry on Saturday.

Down's survival in Division Two also rests on results in the final two weeks for Louth and Cork, who are just two points ahead of Conor Laverty's side heading into the penultimate weekend.

Division Two fixtures - round six

Down v Westmeath (Saturday, 18:00) Newry

Cork v Louth (Sunday, 14:00) Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Meath v Monaghan (Sunday, 14:00) Navan

Roscommon v Cavan (Sunday, 14:00) Dr Hyde Park

• Get all the latest GAA news here

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It's a pivotal weekend in the Allianz Football League ahead of the penultimate round of fixtures in Division One.

At the bottom end of the table, Derry can be relegated if they fail to beat Mayo at Celtic Park on Sunday.

It has been a disappointing campaign for Derry under Paddy Tally, and they are cut adrift with two matches remaining with their sole point coming in February's draw with Galway.

Their Ulster rivals Tyrone are also in relegation danger, but if Derry fail to win and the Red Hands pick up a point against Donegal, then the Oak Leafers will be facing Division Two football next year.

Tyrone, whose sole win came over Derry in their opener, take on Donegal at the weekend, with both sides in contrasting form.

Jim McGuinness' Donegal, meanwhile, are level on points with Galway at the top, and can move a step closer to securing a place in the league final with victory in Letterkenny.

Unbeaten Galway are in a similar position to Donegel, and Padraic Joyce's All-Ireland finalists return to Croke Park to take on Dublin on Saturday.

All-Ireland champions Armagh travel Kerry in what could define the campaign for both sides.

A top-two finish is unlikely, but defeat would leave either side in danger of dropping into the bottom two if Derry and Tyrone can turn around their form.

Division One fixtures - round six

Kerry v Armagh (Saturday, 17:30) Tralee

Dublin v Galway (Saturday, 19:30) Croke Park

Derry v Mayo, Celtic Park, (Sunday, 13:30) Celtic Park

Donegal v Tyrone (Sunday, 15:30) Letterkenny

• Get all the latest GAA news here

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Derry GAA great Tony Scullion has told The GAA Social that the new football rules "have been absolutely brilliant" for the game even though he does have some misgivings about the removal of the short kickout.

The 1993 All-Ireland winner and four-time All-Star told the GAA podcast on BBC Sounds that "Jim Gavin and the committee have to take credit where credit is due".

"The game needed the change and by God, the first few National League games, it's been tremendous, the entertainment we're getting with these new rules," Scullion, 63, told presenters Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville.

On Monday, the GAA's Central Council backed all the modifications to the new rules recommended last week by the Football Review Committee.

Ballinascreen man Scullion said the kickout "is the debatable one for me".

"Everything is going out to the middle now but I think there will be forward-thinking coaches will come up with solutions whereby not everything has to be kicked out to the middle.

"There will be coaches trying to outnumber the opposition on one side of the field."

'League being degraded'

In addition to his All-Ireland medal, Scullion won three National League titles during his Derry career and he spoke of his upset at the way the competition is "now being degraded" by its proximity to the championship.

This year's Ulster Championship opener between Donegal and Derry takes place a week after the Allianz Football League Division One final which as it stands, Jim McGuinness' side is on course to reach.

"The National League competition is nearly as good as the championship. The football – and you have four divisions – is absolutely tremendous," Scullion added.

"I don't think it's fair. There should be two weeks between the National League Final at the start of the championship."

On the same theme, Scullion added that he believes the All-Ireland Football Championship should extend into at least the middle of August as opposed to concluding on the last Sunday in July, which is the current situation.

Scullion talks about his coaching career with both his own county and Ulster GAA since the end of his playing career which currently includes passing on his football knowledge to inmates at both Maghaberry and Magilligan Prisons.

The popular Derryman also speaks about his recovery from a mini-stroke in 2021.

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Oisin McConville says he imagines Antrim's Ulster Championship quarter-final against Armagh will take place at Corrigan Park and that the debate over the venue doesn't "look great".

On Thursday, Ulster GAA said the fixture on 12 April would be moved from the Belfast venue to Pairc Esler in Newry to accommodate the anticipated crowd for the visit of the All-Ireland champions.

In response, Antrim GAA said they "still expect" the game to be played at Corrigan Park after being drawn as the home team, and the Saffrons' players have said they will only play the match if it is held at the Belfast venue.

"The game should be at Corrigan Park," said McConville on the GAA Social podcast.

"Whatever needs to happen in order for it to be there, it should be there.

"I don't know how that is going to come about, but I imagine it will end up there."

• Listen to the GAA Social with Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville on BBC Sounds

McConville said there would be "so many ramifications down the road" if the fixture did not go ahead and said "there's not a chance" Antrim's players back down from their stance.

GAA rules make clear that teams who refuse to play championship games would not only forfeit the fixture but would be thrown out of the remainder of the competition.

The 2002 All-Ireland winner also pointed at the "precedent" set with Kildare in 2018, who forced a u-turn from the GAA to have their All-Ireland qualifier with Mayo moved back to their home Newbridge stadium from Croke Park.

The GAA had said that Kildare's St Conleth's Park ground could not accommodate the expected 18,000 crowd.

"I don't think Newbridge was in any better shape than Corrigan Park at that time," McConville added.

"I know it's a fine set up now, but if it could be made to happen there I'm pretty sure it could be made to happen at Corrigan Park.

"Whatever needs to happen in order to do it, it'll need to be done."

James McNaughton hailed Antrim's attitude after his 2-11 helped the Saffrons earn a vital thumping 4-22 to 0-21 win over Laois which the formbook suggests will be enough to keep Davy Fitzgerald's side in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League.

With Antrim's campaign now concluded, Laois need to earn home wins over Carlow and Dublin in their remaining two contests to relegate the Saffrons and on the evidence of their display at Corrigan Park, that looks unlikely.

"We knew the pressure was on us today and thankfully we all turned up and just brought the fight," said Loughgiel man McNaughton after Antrim's victory.

"From minute one, you can tell that everyone is flying into tackles. You're on it and even from the warm-up, you could tell everybody was zoned in. That's just what we need to bring every day really."

• Listen to the GAA Social's weekend review with Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville

Antrim's display was even more noteworthy considering McNaughton's comment that "12 or 15" of the squad were unable to training on Tuesday evening because of the bug that ravaged the Saffrons panel.

"Thankfully we have a grown-up enough group to know how much this game meant to us and we all put our shoulder to the wheel," added McNaughton.

"There didn't really need to be much said. We knew what we had to bring today."

Manager Fitzgerald said he was delighted that his players showed "the fight" as the victory left them on five points from their six games, which barring late Laois heroics, will preserve their Division 1 status.

"Ryan [Elliott] made three unreal saves as well - we have to remember that - but at the same time we missed another three or four goal chances that we should have taken but definitely happy with the performance," added the Clare hurling legend.

"How sick we were during the week was unreal and I'm so proud that they came through it. It's out of our hands now and we'll see what happens."

Fitzgerald and McNaughton spoke of the hurling squad's support for the county footballers' campaign to have their Ulster SFC opener against All-Ireland champions Armagh played at Corrigan Park.

"All the hurlers are 100% behind them. We'll all together in Antrim and hopefully common sense will prevail," added the hurling manager.

Antrim took a potentially decisive step to retaining their Division 1B status in the Allianz Hurling League by hammering fellow strugglers Laois 4-22 to 0-21 at a sunny Corrigan Park.

Defeat in their final game would have ensured the drop to Division Two for the Saffrons but instead Laois now need the unlikely prospect of two home wins over Carlow and Dublin to relegate Davy Fitzgerald's side.

On the basis of Laois' performance in Belfast, that turn of events looks extremely unlikely.

While it was a strong team performance by Antrim, James McNaughton's display stood out as he notched exactly half of their total by scoring 2-11.

However, the Saffrons had stars all over the pitch with Eoghan Campbell impressing in his more advanced role as youngster Cormac McKeown, Gerard Walsh, Conor Johnston and Joe Maskey were among others to impress.

Antrim's display was even more praiseworthy given the illness which was affected more than a dozen of their squad earlier this week.

Laois never looked like getting back into the contest but Antrim keeper Ryan Elliott still made three superb saves - including a late magnificent stop to turn a Mark Dowling piledriver over the bar.

Antrim needed to make a fast start and that's exactly what happened as two Walsh points and a McNaughton brace moved them into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead before the Loughgiel man blasted in the first of his two goals.

Laois briefly threatened to get back in touch as they cut the margin to 1-6 to 0-4 but the Saffrons regained control to move 2-12 to 0-7 up with Campbell's unselfish pass setting up Johnston to fire past Cathal McDunne.

By half-time, Antrim's lead was 2-15 to 0-8 and while Laois were going to have the benefit of a slight breeze in the second period, the game was already beyond them.

After trailing by 13 at the break, Laois never got closer than nine in arrears in the second half.

That was when Aaron Dunphy hit his eighth point in the 65th minute to cut Antrim's lead to 2-20 to 0-17 but the home side side finished with a flourish as McNaughton stroked his second goal after a superb Seaan Elliott pass before Keelan Molloy added a further major.

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Mark Sidebottom
BBC Sport NI

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Antrim's ambition to host the All-Ireland champions Armagh at Corrigan Park was clear from the moment the draw for the Ulster Championship was made.

The Ulster GAA's reservations with that have also been clear from day one with concerns over health and safety sign-off given Corrigan's limited capacity and increased ticketing demand.

Antrim have remained resolute in their ambitions to bring this tie to west Belfast - and again this week nominated Corrigan Park as their venue.

With the nine Ulster counties represented at Thursday's committee meeting, no-one seconded their proposal – while rules stated that another member could nominate a venue.

Newry's Pairc Esler was put forward – and seconded in the room – giving the provincial council the authority to proceed with that decision.

Antrim have somewhat dug their heels in, releasing a statement confirming Corrigan Park had statutory health and safety sign off from Belfast City Council – and garnered the supported of the players association, too.

So, where do we go from here?

Antrim have 72 hours to lodge an appeal to Croke Park's Central Appeals Committee (CAC), which I am told they are working on and is likely to be facilitated next week.

If that is unsuccessful, Antrim would then have the option of the GAA's final court of appeal - the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).

The stakes are significant. If Antrim's appeal fails and they do not field against Armagh - as they previously stated - they would not only forfeit the game but also risk being disqualified from championship football for the remainder of the season.

Right now, the mood within Antrim GAA is both defiant and febrile.

They feel they have the broad support of the wider GAA public and the county will be presenting a united front ahead of this weekend's hurling fixture at Corrigan Park.

This is playing out as rather unedifying for the GAA in Ulster - the provincial governing body too has dug in and it's now a case of who blinks first.

Is this a case which will see the intervention of GAA president Jarlath Burns? Only time will tell, but this saga is far from over.