A look at the weekend's matches

Today

(7.30pm unless stated)

Allianz NFL Division One

Derry v Cork, Celtic Park –Cork got back on track last week with a comprehensive dismissal of fellow contenders Dublin but will be wary of this game, considering how they managed to lose out on their recent trip to the other Ulster back markers, Tyrone.

Damian Cassidy’s desire to experiment during the campaign has come at a higher cost than last year’s similar approach and it was noticeable that the otherwise flat performance against Monaghan picked up when more established players joined the fray later on.

Derry’s need for the points is now acute, as they prop up the division. Under-21 star Ciarán Sheehan is named at full forward and Conor Counihan’s line-up looks too fast and penetrative for a home side in which Paddy Bradley is struggling for form.

Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park– Galway's revival last week against Tyrone is said to have had its origins in a major, clear-the-air team meeting the previous week, which inspired a performance of greatly intensified commitment.

Among those who stepped it up were two of the survivors of the 2001 All-Ireland win: Joe Bergin’s graft and application won several plaudits including from the greatly-relieved manager Joe Kernan and Matthew Clancy, who shot 1-3 in his best display in a long time.

Dublin had a moment of clarity of a different hue down in Cork where their ultra-defensive configuration, the Celtic catenaccio, couldn’t keep out the division’s top scorers. Barry Cahill returns for the Leinster champions and they have the motivation of reaching towards a first league final in 11 years.

Michael Meehan won’t be on hand to trouble Dublin this time and Pat Gilroy’s team have home advantage but one of the positive aspects of beating Tyrone was that Galway achieved it without the Caltra marksman. With the teams’ respective momentums reversed, this has the look an away win.

Tyrone v Kerry, Omagh– One of the weathervane fixtures of recent years. Tyrone may well be fighting for survival but the prospect of helping to send Mickey Harte's team down to Division Two will act as a incentive to the All-Ireland champions.

Seán Cavanagh makes his first start of the season and looked sharp and refreshed when entering the fray against Galway. The attack in general has a more menacing appearance with Owen Mulligan finally back and wunderkind Kyle Coney recovered from injury.

Kerry are also strengthened after the home defeat by Mayo with Kieran Donaghy, a late drop-out last week even though he did make an appearance in an effective second half, back, Killian Young coming into a defence that is close to first choice and All Star Séamus Scanlon in to partner Anthony Maher in what may well be the championship centrefield.

David Moran goes to the half forwards. With both sides likely to be well-motivated, this has the makings of an excellent evening with Kerry perhaps sneaking it.

NFL Division Two

Donegal v Meath, Ballybofey– Meath have been living on fine margins during this campaign with a sequence of one-point wins. They have yet to pick up anything on their travels, a state of affairs that is unlikely to change as they take on promotion rivals Donegal, who have Michael Murphy in great form and a need for points before the final day showdown with Armagh.

Laois v Kildare, Portlaoise –A rerun for the fixture that somewhat improbably became the great scandal of January when seven players saw red in the counties' O'Byrne Cup meeting.

Injuries have meant a fractured campaign by Kieran McGeeney’s side but he has a stronger pick on this occasion and Kildare can pick up the points against a Laois team that has its own injury problems and continues to struggle.

NFL Division Three

Antrim v Louth, Casement Park –The division's top two had disappointing outings last week, but Liam Bradley received a boost with the return of All-Ireland winners St Gall's CJ McGourty after last year's ructions.

Louth have injuries to key players and that played a part in losing to Roscommon so the home side have to be favoured to push on towards promotion.

Cavan v Offaly, Kingspan Breffni Park– Both teams could do with the points for different reasons. With a late surge for the tape, Offaly became the first side to scalp Antrim in the division and can press their claims for promotion here whereas Tom Carr's side aren't clear of the bottom yet.

With their full forwards scoring well, the visitors can win.

NFL Division Four

Carlow v Leitrim, Dr Cullen Park, 2.30pm –Leitrim have been picking up form but Carlow were unlucky to lose by a point to league leaders Clare. Home win.

Limerick v Kilkenny, Gaelic Grounds –Limerick to win and enhance their scoring difference.

Tomorrow

(2.30pm unless stated)

NFL Division One

Mayo v Monaghan, Castlebar –It's been a heartening campaign for both teams with Séamus McEnaney seeing his team take both of the big provincial rivals, Tyrone and Derry, and John O'Mahony's side-well positioned to reach the final. Mayo were fortunate last week that Kieran Donaghy wasn't available for the full match but they have performed well this season.

Monaghan will be aware that the result spoiling Mayo’s campaign is the home defeat by Dublin when tight defensive priorities contributed to the home team’s vast register of wides.

Monaghan won’t be any more stand-offish than the Dubs and boosted by a good under-21 win during the week can give a good account of themselves.

NFL Division Two

Armagh v Tipperary, Crossmaglen –Armagh took a bit of a scalding from Down last week but the dismissal of Ciarán McKeever contributed to that.

This is a more straightforward task even if John Evans’s team have been fighting the good fight to stay afloat in the division.

Home win.

Westmeath v Down, Cusack Park– Westmeath have got better and were unlucky to lose to Kildare last week. Martin Flanagan's return looks to have galvanised the team but too late.

Down’s star prodigal, Martin Clarke is named on the bench after picking up a rib injury against Armagh but if they avoid complacency they should copperfasten promotion to Division One here.

NFL Division Three

Fermanagh v Sligo, Brewster Park– Fermanagh need to move if they're not to end up in Division Four whereas Sligo could be involved in departing the division in the other direction. Fermanagh's need can help them edge it.

Roscommon v Wexford, Dr Hyde Park– A great win over Louth preserved Roscommon's chances of beating the drop but Wexford have been picking up some forward momentum and scraped out a valuable win last week although understrength. Close, but the visitors to win.

NFL Division Four

Longford v Clare, Pearse Park– First of a daunting run-in for division leaders Clare. Longford have underperformed in this campaign and against a tight defence (fewest goals conceded in the NFL) and an in-form David Tubridy things mightn't get any better.

Waterford v Wicklow, Fraher Field– Two contenders for promotion. Any points for Wicklow would all but promote them with just Kilkenny left to play and Mick O'Dwyer's team can achieve that.