The National Football League resumes at the weekend with a number of strong football counties chasing vital points to avoid relegation. Derry, Meath, Kerry and Dublin are among those currently in need of a win to be assured of football in the top divisions next season.
The bottom two teams in both Division 1A and 1B are automatically relegated, and in Division 1A those positions are currently occupied by Kerry and Dublin. Although both sides have a game in hand (their pre-Christmas tie was postponed until March 4th), neither county will want that game to determine their fate for next season.
Dublin have already fallen to Tyrone and Offaly, and on Saturday take on Roscommon at Parnell Park. Manager Tom Carr used those opening games to experiment with a number of younger players but he now admits that his side must start collecting some points.
"We will be going all out for a win on Saturday," he says. "It is important that we get some points to avoid relegation and it doesn't do anyone any good to be down the table. The confidence suffers as a result, so it is very important that we get a win at this stage."
All-Ireland champions Kerry are in a similar position. The post-championship celebrations brought about a loss of form and they experienced a close defeat by Louth and then suffered a hammering from Tyrone. Sunday's game against old rivals Offaly has now become a crucial tie for manager Paidi O Se if his side are to avoid a desperate battle against relegation in the weeks ahead.
Derry, the league champions, also face some nervous games over the remaining four fixtures. With just one win from their three games, they go into Saturday's meeting with Sligo at Celtic Park needing a win to get away from the bottom two positions in Division 1B.
Sligo, in contrast, have enjoyed one of their best starts to the league with three wins from three and are now on course to reach the semi-finals, something they should have done last year had Meath not stolen their place at the last moment.
Few people in Meath deny that reaching the latter stages of the league last year dented their championship ambitions, but Sean Boylan has now found himself in a position where he must start winning games if his side are to remain in the top division.
Meath lost to Sligo and Fermanagh before the break and on Sunday travel to Breffni Park to face Cavan, currently third in Division 1B. Clare and Fermanagh have also picked up one victory each, with the latter in the best position to pick up some points on Sunday when they face bottom-placed Laois.
The race for promotion is a little more clearcut. Westmeath and Cork take unbeaten runs to Armagh and London respectively in Division 2A, while Longford and Down - both unbeaten in Division 2B - will play for sole possession of the top spot when they meet in Newry on Sunday.
One problem facing all the counties this weekend will be the weather. The first round of the hurling league was hampered by some wicked playing conditions and there is the promise of more of the same for the month ahead.
"It is very unfortunate that we have to play in these sort of conditions," says Carr. "I would certainly prefer if the league was put back a few more weeks and played closer to the championship."
