GAA preview: What to know ahead of the Allianz National League
Michael Bolton
In a sign that Spring is on the horizon, the Allianz National Football and Hurling leagues are back this weekend.
Since the All-Ireland titles were lifted in July, there have been manager changes, retirements, and new captains ahead of the 2026 season.
In football, Kerry will be the team to catch after winning the All-Ireland last July.
The Kingdom were the team that adapted the best to the new rule changes, the chasing pack will want to make their impact felt early in the opening rounds of the league.
In hurling, Tipperary took everyone by surprise to win Liam MacCarthy, and have the young squad profile to have another big season.
Cork will still be scratching their head to figure out what happened in the final, while Limerick will want to show they are still one of the top contenders.
Kilkenny will be moments away from another final, while the likes of Clare, Waterford, and Galway will all feel they will have a big say in what happens this season. Here is all you need to know about the Divisions this season
Football
Division One
Kerry defeated Mayo in the Division One final last March, a victory which they gathered momentum in the championship.
Having had teams in the three All-Ireland finals, especially Dingle's dramatic win last weekend, it could be a slow start for Jack O'Connor's side, but expect them to want nothing less than silverware.
All-Ireland runners-up Donegal face Dublin this weekend in one of the games of the weekend, in what will be an interesting campaign for Jim McGuinness' side.
With an always competitive Ulster championship quickly on the horizon after the league, how they approach the next few weeks will be interesting.
For Dublin, Ger Brennan will hope some new faces can impress in the games ahead, in what is the start of a new era for Dublin football.
Eyes will also firmly be on Mayo this weekend, with former Footballer of the Year Andy Moran taking over as manager.
With some familiar faces returning, and exciting young players to look out for, Mayo fans will have reason for optimism.
They face Galway on Sunday, who have always taken the league seriously, but have not had the silverware to show for it.
In Armagh, the 2024 All-Ireland winners were taken apart by Kerry in the quarter-finals in a manner which was hard to believe.
For Roscommon and Monaghan, survival in the top Division will be the aim
Division Two
Division Two has a calibre of teams that will feel that anything less than promotion will not be seen as acceptable.
Tyrone's slow start to the season cost them Division One status, but they regrouped to reach the semi-finals of the All-Ireland.
The other team relegated last season was Derry, who failed to win a game in 2025.
For Meath, big scalps over Dublin, Kerry, and Galway saw them reach the All-Ireland semi-finals, and they will feel they deserve to be playing among the best teams on a regular basis.
Leinster rivals Louth will also feel similar after their provincial success last season, but it will not be easy under new management.
For Cork, after a mixed few years, a strong league campaign could be used as momentum for the rest of the year.
Promoted to the Division is the Tailteann Cup winners Kildare, who will be encouraged by the progress of Meath and Louth, while Offaly will have to have another big season to stay up.
Division Three
In a hugely competitive league, Down will be the favourites to straight back up.
Despite relegation, they rallied to reach the preliminary quarter-finals, in a county going in the right direction.
Likely to join them in the hunt is Westmeath, who will be disappointed with their relegation from Division Two last season.
Clare will also feel that promotion is a realistic target, and is under new management in Paul Madden.
Promotion is likely a bridge too far for Sligo and Fermanagh, but a strong start to the season could cause some shocks.
For Limerick, Wexford, and Loais, survival will be the aim.
Division Four
In the final Division, Antrim and Wicklow are the most likely counties to be lifting silverware in Croke Park.
Antrim will be managed by Mark Doran, and started last season, will before falling off and was relegated to the bottom tier.
For Wicklow, the county is making progress under Oisín McConville in his third season.
Having reached the semi-finals of the Tailteann Cup, promotion should be the goal to start the season.
Carlow and Longford will hope to build on the momentum from last season and will be in contention for the top two places.
Saturday January 24th
Allianz Football League Division One
Dublin v Donegal, Croke Park, 5 pm, TG4.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Meath v Derry, Páirc an Chrócaigh, TG4 player, 3pm.
Tyrone v Kildare, O'Neills Healy Park, 6pm.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Down v Clare, Páirc Esler, 6pm
Laois v Limerick, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 6pm
Allianz Football League Division Four
Waterford v Longford, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, 2.30pm
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Tipperary v Galway, FBD Semple Stadium, RTÉ, 7pm.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Carlow v Down, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm
Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 4pm
Allianz HL Division Two
Meath v London, St Loman's Park, Trim, 12.30pm.
Derry v Kerry, Celtic Park, Derry, 1.30pm.
Sunday January 25th
Allianz Football League Division One
Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, TG4, 1.45 pm.
Kerry v Roscommon, Fitzgerald Stadium, TG4 player, 2pm.
Monaghan v Armagh, St Tiernach's Park, GAA+ 2pm.
Allianz Football League Division Two
Cork v Cavan, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.30pm.
Offaly v Louth, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm.
Allianz Football League Division Three
Fermanagh v Wexford, Brewster Park, 1pm.
Westmeath v Sligo, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm.
Allianz Football League Division Four
London v Tipperary, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm.
Antrim v Carlow, Erins Own, Cargin, 2pm.
Wicklow v Leitrim, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pm.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Kilkenny v Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm.
Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, TG4, 3.45pm.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Clare v Dublin, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm.
Ladies National Football Division One
Armagh v Waterford, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2 pm.
Cork v Kildare, MTU, 2 pm.
Meath v Galway, Summerhill, 2 pm.
Ladies National Football League Division Two
Cavan v Mayo, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm.
Donegal v Westmeath, O'Donnell Park, 2pm.
Monaghan v Tyrone, Blackhill Emeralds, 2pm.
Wexford v Tipperary, Enniscorthy, 2pm.
