GAA takeaways – Donegal roll on, Derry surge and hurling struggles

It’s been another bumper weekend in the GAA National Leagues with promotion and relegation scenarios beginning to emerge.

Donegal remain at the top of Division One, while Armagh are now fighting a relegation battle.

Derry continue to turn heads in Division Two and Down look all but promoted from Division Three.

Antrim’s hurlers suffered another long afternoon against Dublin but they can still survive in Division 1B, while Down are still alive despite falling short against Kildare.

BBC Sport NI takes a look at some of the talking points from the latest round of action.

Last year, many wondered aloud whether Jim McGuinness was happy to coast along in the final weeks of the league and simply remain in Division One.

With a league final set for the week before Donegal’s Ulster Championship opener against Derry, missing out on the extra game was not exactly a crushing blow.

This year, with four weeks between the league final on 29 March and their Ulster Championship quarter-final against Down on 26 April, perhaps the added game and shot at silverware is being viewed as more of a help than hindrance.

Certainly, there has been no sense Donegal are just happy with performances as they fought back with 14 men to snatch a draw at home to Galway with Conor O’Donnell finding the net for the third game on the spin, while Peadar Mogan nailed the late two-pointer to level which keeps them on course for a place in the final.

McGuinness’ stated aim of using the league to unearth fresh talent has also bore fruit while managing the veterans including Michael Murphy who sat out the win over Armagh and got minutes on Sunday.

“Paul O’Hare got 70 minutes today, Kevin Muldoon came into the game and did well, so the things we were chasing at the beginning of the league, we’re still chasing, but we win another game we’re probably there [in the final],” McGuinness told reporters.

Just as Donegal won’t be booking the open-top bus just yet, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney won’t be hitting the panic button despite yet another narrow defeat which leaves them in the drop zone in Division One.

They have been competitive in each of their defeats and but for a break here or there, could be in a much healthier position on the table.

Just like their trip to Roscommon a fortnight ago, they produced a stirring revival in Mayo on Sunday which again fell just short as their whirlwind finish couldn’t make up for another slow start.

McGeeney has been tasked with replacing some key figures in Stefan Campbell and Rian O’Neill, yet they have averaged 23 points per game, which is a healthy return yet they could perhaps be a little more clinical.

They have two weeks to prepare for what looks to be a pivotal game against Dublin in their quest to remain in Division One, but Ulster neighbours Monaghan already look doomed to the drop as they remain empty-handed after their five games.

At the outset of Division Two, many predicted Tyrone to be a leading contender for promotion, but Derry have confounded many predictions and are the team in red-hot form.

Having failed to win a league of championship game since 2024, that victory over the Red Hands in round two has sparked he Oak Leafers into life and it wasn’t just their win over previously unbeaten Cork which caught the eye, but the manner of it as they romped to a 20-point win.

That leaves them a three-way tie at the top alongside the Rebels and Meath, but Ciaran Meenagh’s side have a significant scoring advantage with games against Louth and Cavan to come.

Speaking of Cavan, their 1-22 to 1-12 defeat by Louth on Saturday leaves them in real danger of the drop, currently sitting inside the drop zone but just one point behind Kildare.

They have Offaly up next who are also fighting for survival following Saturday’s defeat by Tyrone whose place in Division Two isn’t quite guaranteed next year, but it’s unlikely they will drop.

Down are not quite there in Division Three, but their victory over Fermanagh on Saturday which continued their perfect start leaves them needing just one point from their final two games against Sligo and Laois to make absolutely sure.

Conor Laverty’s side were a little unlucky to suffer relegation last year and their performances in the championship were of a team on the up, and that’s the direction they have been desperate to go in the league.

Tailteann Cup football this year is not what they need and they’ve given themselves every chance of avoiding that, while a winning habit is hard to beat and they will have designs on keeping their run going with a big test against Donegal to come in Ulster.

The outlook for Fermanagh is not so bright as their future in Division Three is out of their own hands.

Declan Bonner’s side have failed to pick up a point in their five games and their only hope of surviving is by winning their final two games against Westmeath and Limerick, then hoping for a number of results to go their way – unrealistic to say the least.

They’ll almost certainly be in Division Four next year and will likely have Antrim for company despite the Saffrons suddenly finding form with their victory on Saturday over Wicklow.

Once upon a time, Antrim’s hurlers would have felt a game against Dublin was winnable, but a 15-point reverse at Corrigan Park on Sunday was just the latest in the run of Dubs’ dominance.

The same margin separated the sides when they met in last year’s Leinster Championship, so the gulf between the counties at present is clear.

The latest game leaves the teams where we thought they might be at the outset of the day with Dublin looking up and Antrim over their shoulder as Davy Fitzgerald’s side seek to remain in Division 1B.

They have the bye in round six, but will be hoping for a Kildare home win over Carlow as then an Antrim win over Down on the final day would guarantee their survival.

Down will be hoping for the same as it would give them life on the final day.

Making the step-up from Division Two to 1B was always going to be a test for Ronan Sheehan’s side as it can take time to get up to speed – a feature of their defeat by Kildare on Sunday as, just like when they lost to Wexford, recovering from a slow start fell short.