Football League set for dramatic day of ups and downs

Tyrone's transformation from relegation candidates to Division One Football League finalists could be completed in Sunday's final round of round robin fixtures.

It still represents a long shot for Mickey Harte's side as they need relegation-threatened Monaghan to beat Mayo in Castlebar in addition to the Red Hands overcoming Galway at Healy Park.

But while Mayo go into the MacHale Park contest buoyed following their impressive win in Kerry, Monaghan may need a victory to guarantee their Division One status.

It's hard to believe Malachy O'Rourke's side find themselves in this predicament after their stirring opening win over Dublin - although that result was put in some context by the All-Ireland champions' subsequent defeats by Kerry and Tyrone.

A reverse in Roscommon then started a run of four successive Farney defeats which was only halted by their nervy home win over Cavan last week.

Monaghan fans will recall their opening 2017 league win in Castlebar although Mayo avenged that at Clones last year.

After Tyrone's impressive win at Croke Park last weekend, it's difficult to imagine them slipping up against Galway in Omagh although the Tribesmen know victory will guarantee them a final spot.

At the bottom of the table, Cavan, mathematically, could still avoid relegation but it looks a forlorn hope.

To survive, Mickey Graham's side need to beat a Dublin side surely still smarting from last weekend in addition to Roscommon's home game against Kerry ending in a draw - plus a Mayo victory over Monaghan.

That would leave all three bottom sides on four points with Cavan hoping to have overhauled the six-point scoring difference advantage which the Farney county currently have over them.

The Division Two picture heading into the final round of games is even more intriguing with leaders Meath, Fermanagh, Donegal and Kildare all still in with a chance of promotion.

After slipping to their first defeat in Crossmaglen last weekend, Fermanagh head to Navan knowing that even victory may not be enough to secure a Division One spot.

The Ernemen are two points behind Meath in the table but the Royals have an 18-point scoring difference lead over Rory Gallagher's side.

Wins for Fermanagh and Donegal will move them to 10 points alongside Meath which would leave the two counties with the best scoring averages securing promotion in addition to places in the Division Two final.

However, Kildare will pip both Ulster counties for promotion if they beat Donegal in Ballyshannon and Meath secure a home victory.

Now-safe Armagh host Cork at the Athletic Grounds with the Rebels needed to win to have any chance of producing an unlikely escape act as the other teams on three points, Tipperary and Clare, are in opposition in a relegation shoot-out at Semple Stadium.

For Cork to survive, they need to win and hope that Tipperary are victorious at Thurles. That would leave them both on five points as the Rebels would survive having beaten the Premier County in their fixture.

Despite their five successive wins following the opening home defeat by Laois, Down go into their final home game against Louth still needing to avoid defeat to be absolutely certain of promotion.

Under new manager Paddy Tally, the Mournemen have shown tremendous resilience and nerve so far during the campaign in grafting to a series of narrow wins.

The latest one came against Carlow last weekend but there is still work to do against a Louth side who also remain in promotion contention.

With their game against fellow contenders Westmeath having to be postponed last weekend, Louth go into the Sunday's match on six points from five games and two closing wins would see them finishing on 10 points alongside Down.

Laois will move to 10 points if they record a home victory over Carlow, who were sent back into the relegation mix by their defeat by the Mourne County.

A Carlow defeat in Portlaoise plus an Offaly win over already-relegated Sligo would leave Carlow and Offaly both on five points and needing scoring difference to decide the second team who makes the drop.

With the Division Four promotion issues long settled, promoted teams Derry and Leitrim are both in action on Saturday with the Oak Leafers facing Wexford at Bellaghy and Leitrim hosting Waterford at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Antrim's campaign, meanwhile concludes with Sunday's contest against Limerick in Kilmallock.

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