There’s plenty of silverware up for grabs this weekend with three football finals down for decision at Croke Park. Here are our previews:

 

Saturday, March 30th

Allianz FL Division 3 round 6

Louth v Westmeath, Drogheda, 2pm

This one’s a ‘winner takes all’ affair as the victors at Drogheda will be playing their league football in Division 2 next season.

That should make for a fascinating encounter when these two cross swords in the early throw-in on Saturday afternoon in a bid to join Laois in next weekend’s Division 3 final.

Westmeath head for Louth as 8/11 favourites, having only lost one of their six games (against Down in Round 3) thus far in the campaign, but they’re sure to come up against a stiff test from the hosts whom pipped the former league leaders in Newry last time out.

A draw would even suit Jack Cooney’s men for promotion but they should get both points here after a tight battle. 

Verdict: Westmeath

Allianz FL Division 4 final

Derry v Leitrim, Croke Park, 3pm - TG4

Leitrim are set for their first visit to Croke Park since 2006 on Saturday with a hotly-fancied Derry side standing in their way of some coveted national silverware.

Both these sides achieved their promotion goal after five rounds and the Oak Leafers have earned their favourites tags for this one after seeing off Terry Hyland’s men by 2-16 to 1-12 in Round 6.

The margin is expected to be a bit tighter this time round though as the Connacht minnows look to tear up the script on their Ulster counterparts.

Hyland has revealed his hand two days in advance of this decider and it shows experienced attacker Emlyn Mulligan starting on ‘the 40’, having missed out on the earlier rounds through injury, while Cathal McCrann is preferred in goal instead of Diarmuid McKiernan.

Verdict: Derry

Allianz FL Division 2 final

Meath v Donegal, Croke Park, 5pm - TG4

When these two met back in early February it was a late lapse from Meath’s defence that handed Donegal victory via a Caolan McGonagle goal in Ballybofey. 

Tir Chonaill boss Declan Bonner has accepted that his side were perhaps lucky to claim the points that night at MacCumhaill Park and he’ll know that Saturday evening will present the opposition with an ideal shot at vengeance, with some silverware on the line to boot.

The Royals have been hands down the form team in Division 2 since that second round defeat, but it hasn’t stopped the bookies ranking them as 2/1 outsiders for this Croker showdown.

Perhaps the Ulster men’s knack of edging out Andy McEntee’s charges in recent meetings (they defeated them by a point in Navan in the 2017 All-Ireland SFC qualifiers) pays some homage to those odds.

The favourites will be minus the services of injured duo Ciaran Thompson and Michael Langan for their trip to the capital, while ace attacker Paddy McBrearty also remains side-lined, but still get the nod here to add another trophy to Bonner’s reign.

Verdict: Donegal

 

Sunday, March 31st

Allianz FL Division 1 final

Kerry v Mayo, Croke Park, 4pm - TG4

All roads lead to Croke Park on Sunday as Kerry and Mayo meet in the Division 1 final for the first time since 1972.

The 4.00pm throw-in at HQ will mark the second meeting in three weeks between the sides after Matthew Ruane’s late goal handed Mayo a two-point victory down in Tralee, propelling James Horan’s men towards this decider in the process.

The Westerners stand as the only side to have defeated Kerry in this league campaign and if they can repeat the trick on Sunday they’ll have a 12th league title to celebrate.

The Kingdom are seeking their 21st crown and are 4/7 favourites to claim it with David Clifford back in their pack and Sean O’Shea kicking scores for fun all throughout the Spring.

O’Shea has contributed 1-50 so far in the Munster champions’ final run, with Stephen O’Brien (2-8) and Dara Moynihan (0-8) the team mates which are closest to him in the scoring stakes.

Mayo’s defence will once again need to figure out a way not to afford the Kenmare sharpshooter cheap frees on Sunday, while on the inside Clifford brings a threat that Peter Keane’s side didn’t have with them in Tralee last time.

All Star ‘keeper David Clarke is expected to miss out for the Connacht men with injury, meaning Rob Hennelly is sure to deputise, while Michael Plunkett and Fionn McDonagh are also in doubt for the trip to the capital.

Verdict: Kerry

Join the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for live coverage of the Allianz Football and Hurling League finals.

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