All Division 2 action takes place on Sunday, with several interesting encounters in store. Cork take on Kildare in the pick of the fixtures while Meath v Clare should also be engaging. Louth travel to Derry in search of their first win while Limerick have the opportunity to cause a shock when they host Dublin.
Meath v Clare, 2pm @ Páirc Tailteann, Sunday 5th February
Meath will be looking to replicate the flying start they got off to last week when they beat Cork by 3-14 to 0-19 in a highly entertaining clash between two fallen giants. The Royals face another Munster side in Clare this weekend in what could be another engaging encounter.
Clare used all their Division 2 experience to launch a late comeback against Louth to beat their Ulster opponents by the minimum at Cusack Park last week. The Banner will have to make things work away from familiar surroundings on Sunday when they travel to Leinster.
These counties met on two occasions in 2022. Meath took victory by a single point in Round 6 of the league though it was Clare who came out on top by two points when they met in the Championship last June. Expect a closely run affair at Páirc Tailteann.
Kildare v Cork, 2pm @ St. Conleth’s Park, Sunday 5th February
Kildare could well have been kicking themselves as they failed to get a second consecutive league win over the fallen Dubs at Croker last weekend, despite their dominance late on. The Lilies will look to be more consistent when they host the Rebels on Sunday.
Stephen Sherlock was the star of the show for Cork in their first-round encounter with Meath. Despite his side’s loss, Sherlock notched an impressive 0-14 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and will be sure to cause trouble for the Kildare defence.
Both teams will see themselves as realistic promotion contenders and will be fired up to get the first win of their respective league campaigns this weekend.
Louth v Derry, 2pm @ DEFY Pairc Mhuire, Sunday 5th February
Mickey Harte’s Louth endured a late defeat away to Clare last weekend and were aggrieved with the referee’s playing of the game past the allocated minimum of six additional minutes. Those factors will have the Wee County highly motivated when they host Derry in Ardee.
However, Derry’s could prove a difficult obstacle for Louth to overcome on recent form. The Ulster side are Dr McKenna Cup holders after all and put Limerick to the fire in their opening league tie at Owenbeg.
Rory Gallagher’s men beat the Treaty County by 12 points without much fuss and could be gearing up to do the same to another side that earned promotion from Division 3 last season in Louth. The Wee County will still back themselves to get a result at home. Serial scorer Sam Mulroy will have to be on top form to lead his county to their first win.
Limerick v Dublin, 3pm @ TUS Gaelic Grounds, Sunday 5th February
Having lurked in the lower levels of National League football for some time, Limerick will be relishing the chance to take on the Dubs in a competitive fixture on home soil. The Munster side will have to be much better than they were versus Derry if they are to have any chance of causing an upset at the Gaelic Grounds.
Dublin were not at their best against Kildare last weekend but held on to take an opening round win over their Leinster rivals by a single point. The Blues will be confident of earning a second win on the bounce when they travel to Limerick and it will be up to the Treaty County to lay down a challenge.
Ray Dempsey’s outfit notched just four points last weekend and his team will have to find more if they are to get anywhere close to their visitors. Cormac Costello led the Dubs scoring with four points of his own against Kildare and could well be looking for more on Sunday.
