Brian Kennedy, Tyrone, and Andrew Murnin, Armagh, in Allianz Football League action. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Ultimately, it will be a busy Sunday of Allianz Football League action with the final round of action in the group phase.
It’s worth remembering that when teams finish with equal points for qualification for the concluding stages, or for promotion or relegation, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:
(i) Where two Teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;
(ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For);
(iii) Highest Total Score For;
(iv) Highest Total Goals For;
(v) A Play-Off In the event that two teams or more finish with equal points, but have been affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walkover, the tie shall be decided by the following means:
(i) Least number of Walkovers given.
(ii) Score Difference from the games in which only the teams involved, (teams tied on points), have played each other (subtracting the total Scores Against from the total Scores For)
(iii) Highest Total Score For, in which only the teams involved have played each other, and have finished equal in (ii)
(iv) Highest Total Goals For, in which only the teams involved have played each other, and have finished equal in (ii) & (iii)
(v) A Play-Off
The full Allianz League tables with scoring differences included can be downloaded at the bottom of this article and also found at the following link - https://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/tables.
It’s also worth remembering that the Allianz Football League carries added significance because it impacts what teams can participate in the All-Ireland SFC.
The 16 counties that will compete in Round One the All-Ireland series are to be seeded in the following way:
First seeds: The four provincial champions
Second seeds: The four provincial runners-up
Third seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league
Fourth seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league
There is one exception - the previous year's Tailteann Cup winner (Down, 2024) if not already qualified as one of the teams will be eligible instead of the lowest ranked fourth seeded team following the conclusion of the Allianz Football League.
It must be noted that a league final winner will be considered a higher seed than the team they defeated in the final.
The remaining 16 teams, who don't advance to the All-Ireland SFC, will compete in the Tailteann Cup.
Allianz Football League Division One standings.
Sunday March 23
Allianz Football League Division One
Armagh v Derry, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 3.45pm
Galway v Kerry, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm
Tyrone v Dublin, O'Neill's Healy Park, 3.45pm
Mayo v Donegal, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 3.45pm
Only one thing is currently decided - Derry's relegation to Division Two for 2026.
Derry are away to sixth place Armagh, who are home to the Oak Leaf county at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Armagh and Tyrone, who face Dublin at O'Neill's Healy Park, both have accumulated five points.
Kerry, who are away to Galway, are on six points, and could qualify for the final or be relegated.
That is also the case for Mayo, who have seven points registered, with Kevin McStay's team meeting Donegal at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
Five counties have a chance of reaching the Croke Park decider.
Galway, Dublin, and Donegal are all on eight points presently with the Tribesmen top of the pile due to a superior scoring difference.
A Galway success over Kerry at Pearse Stadium on Sunday should be sufficient to earn a league final placing.
Indeed, Padraic Joyce's team could advance to the decider even if they lose to Kerry, depending on how Dublin, Donegal, and Mayo fare in their respective fixtures.
Kerry can claim a league final place if they overcome Galway, and either Dublin and Donegal are beaten. Then, scoring difference will come into play.
However, Jack O'Connor's charges could drop to Division Two if they lose and Armagh and Tyrone register victories.
A draw between Galway and Kerry would leave the Kingdom on seven points. Amazingly, it is possible that Kerry, Armagh, Tyrone, and Mayo all finish with seven points.
In Castlebar, a Mayo win over Donegal would edge them to nine points which could be enough to earn a league final place, if Galway and Dublin also lose.
Donegal, one of three counties on eight points, know a win will be enough to reach the final, if either Galway or Dublin suffer defeats.
Tyrone's clash in Omagh against Dublin carries implications at both ends of the table.
To avoid the drop, Tyrone need to register a win, and hope that results elsewhere are favourable.
A Dublin win would guide them to 10 points, coupled with a draw or defeat for Galway or Donegal, would send Dessie Farrell's outfit through.
Currently Tyrone are behind Armagh due to the head to head rule, but the Red Hands need to better what the All-Ireland champions do.
If Tyrone secure a win and more than one county ends on seven points, scoring difference will be used.
Allianz Hurling League Division Two standings
Allianz Football League Division Two
Cavan v Cork, Kingspan Breffni, 1.30pm
Louth v Meath, Inniskeen, 1.30pm
Monaghan v Down, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, 1.30pm
Westmeath v Roscommon, TEG Cusack Park, 1.30pm
Despite several gutsy displays, Westmeath are already relegated.
Down, Louth, and Cork could all join the midlanders' in Division Three next year.
Five counties are in the race for promotion with Monaghan, Roscommon, Meath, Cavan, and Cork in the mix.
For Cork to reach the final, though, they'd need to beat Cavan at Kingspan Breffni and hope for Louth and Westmeath to overcome Meath and Roscommon. John Cleary's team would also need also need a significant change in scoring difference, which currently stands at -9.
Monaghan have assumed a healthy position, and a draw or win at home to Down will be enough to earn a place in Division One next year.
A defeat, though, and wins for two of Cavan, Meath, and Roscommon would ensure that scoring difference would be required.
Roscommon, Meath, and Cavan all currently have eight points, and are heavily involved in the promotion race.
Currently, Roscommon's scoring difference is superior (+19) compared to Meath (+10), and Cavan's (-4).
The head to head rule will be used if two counties are locked on the same number of points with scoring average used if more than two are involved.
So, everything is on the line.
Relegation wise, 2024 Tailteann Cup winners Down, are away to Monaghan, while Louth face Meath in Inniskeen.
If Down lose in Clones, they will be relegated. A draw would be sufficient if Louth lose to Meath.
Wins for Down and Louth and a Cork loss to Cavan at Kingspan Breffni would ensure three counties finish on six points. In that case, scoring difference will be used to determine who is relegated.
Allianz Football League Division Three standings.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Clare v Offaly, Cusack Park, 2pm
Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 2pm
Kildare v Antrim, Cedral St Conleth's, 2pm
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 2pm
With five wins registered from six games, Offaly are on the verge of securing promotion.
The Faithful County will be reach the Division Three decider, if they beat or draw with Clare.
Peter Keane's Banner outfit, though, know that a win would put them on 10 points. Kildare can also reach that total if the Lilywhites overcome Antrim in Newbridge.
That scenario would leave three counties on 10 points. Offaly's scoring average is currently (+37), Clare's (+16), and Kildare's (+48).
Fermanagh could potentially reach the final, if they beat Laois, and both Clare and Kildare lose.
If Clare and Kildare were to draw their games they could conclude on nine points, the same total as Fermanagh if they defeat Laois.
Leitrim, who face Sligo, are already relegated.
Antrim, Sligo, and Laois will all be hoping to avoid the drop.
It would take an unlikely series of results to relegate Laois, who have accumulated six points so far.
A win for Sligo over Leitrim will be enough for Tony McEntee's team. Antrim need to register a win over Kildare at Cedral St Conleth's Park and hope for a favour from Leitrim.
Allianz Football League Division Four standings.
Allianz Football League Division Four
Limerick v Waterford, Rathkeale, 1pm
London v Carlow, McGovern Park, 1pm
Longford v Wexford, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm
Tipperary v Wicklow, FBD Semple Stadium, 1pm
Wexford have already earned promotion and a place in the Allianz Football League Division Four Final.
Limerick and Wicklow are the other two counties looking to secure a place in Division Three next year.
On Sunday, a home win for Limerick over Waterford will earn promotion.
For Wicklow to achieve promotion they must defeat Tipperary in Thurles and hope that Waterford cause a surprise against Limerick at Rathkeale.
