The Allianz League campaign had its final round this weekend across all four divisions. With Division 1 again being filled with weekly talking points, engaging storylines, and superb contests. Now that the table is finalised and we have our League Final and our relegated teams, it’s time to reflect on how all eight sides performed in this league campaign, with an old fashioned school grade to be applied to each county’s performance.
17 February 2024; Conor Doherty of Derry celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Derry and Monaghan at Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Derry: A
A stellar campaign from Derry. Beginning with an impressive victory away against Kerry in Austin Stack Park. The Oak-Leafers went from strength to strength beating Tyrone, Monaghan and Galway all with ease to make it four wins from four and top the table at the midway stage. They were complementing this perfect start by also integrating some new stars from Diarmuid Baker in defence to Cormac Murphy up front.
Their blip came in Round 5 as Dublin beat them in Celtic Park, but the way Mickey Harte’s side responded to that was also impressive, as they won their last two games against Mayo and Roscommon handsomely to book their place in the Division 1 League Final.
Waiting for them there will be Dublin, the only team to beat them. If Derry can beat the Dubs heading into Championship 2024 then new manager Mickey Harte will be very happy with how their league has played out, but up until now they have been near flawless, and an A+ is well deserved on their first year back in Division 1 since 2015.
24 February 2024; Con O'Callaghan of Dublin scores his side's third goal despite the efforts of Jason Foley of Kerry during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Dublin: A
A real campaign of two halves, Dublin’s turnaround from Round 3 onwards has been something to behold. The All-Ireland Champions’ league campaign got off to a very flat start with back-to-back defeats against Monaghan in Croke Park, and then Mayo in McHale Park. Then in Round 3 the Dubs finally got off the mark with an impressive win against Roscommon as a certain Con O’Callaghan hinted he was hitting top form, a suspicion he nailed on when he hit 3-4 against Kerry as the Dubs ripped through their biggest rivals by 3-18 to 1-14 in a standout performance at Croke Park.
The Dubs then followed this up by beating league leaders Derry in their own backyard at Celtic Park, before clinching their league final position by seeing off Galway and Tyrone, with the latter being another imperious Dublin performance at Croke Park. With the news that Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons and James McCarthy are all back training with Dessie Farrell’s side for another year, the Champions look as good as ever.
29 May 2022; Galway manager Padraic Joyce, centre, in conversation with coach Cian O'Neill during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Galway and Roscommon at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Galway: D
A tough league campaign for Galway in which one result defined their survival for another year, their dogged victory against Tyrone at Healy Park. Johnny Heaney led from the front that day as Galway battled their way to a victory, something which can be applied to their whole campaign. They did not stay up through skill and flair, but through sheer grit.
Galway manager Pádraic Joyce stated after Round 2’s draw with Roscommon that their goal was to win the league, however the Tribesmen were severely hampered by major absentees such as Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, Cillian McDaid, Peter Cooke and more.
The one troubling aspect is that Galway did not look a match for the top three teams, Derry, Kerry and Dublin. They can return to the levels of 2022, and Joyce certainly is the man to do it. A lot of work needs to be done however. Their league campaign can be summed up like this: They stayed up, but they didn’t set the world alight. A D grade will suffice for this one.
30 July 2023; Paudie Clifford of Kerry during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Kerry: B-
It’s been a very mixed bag for Kerry in the Allianz Football League of 2024. The Kingdom picked up notable wins against Tyrone, Mayo, Galway, Monaghan and Roscommon, while also unearthing new staples in the team such as Dylan Geaney, Cillian Burke and Joe O’Connor. However, their two defeats will leave a lot of food for thought for Jack O’Connor. The opening day defeat to Derry at home was one that hurt but the Kingdom could point to the absence of the Clifford brothers as a main reason why they didn’t fire at full power on that night.
However their complete implosion at the hands of their biggest rivals Dublin in Croke Park is a chastening experience that Jack O’Connor will no doubt carry with him into Championship 2024. The Dubs tore through the Kerry defence on their way to a 3-18 to 1-14 victory. The Kingdom will know the size of the task ahead of them if they are to reclaim their All-Ireland Title that they lost the year previous. On their league campaign, their mixed bag leaves them with a B- for their grade.
2 July 2023; Mayo manager Kevin McStay during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Mayo: C
A relatively uneventful league campaign for Mayo in 2024, they began with impressive back-to-back wins over Galway and Dublin. However they then lost their next two games away to both Kerry and Tyrone. This left them at a crossroads coming into their Round 5 tie against neighbours Roscommon. If they won they were looking back up the table, if they lost they were peering over their shoulders at a possible relegation fight.
Thankfully for Kevin McStay’s men, they won that match comfortably, and then responded to a defeat to Derry in Round 6, with a victory over Monaghan in Round 7 to finish their campaign on a high. They finished fourth, with eight points, without really giving too much away on what their plans are looking like heading into championship 2024. A middle of the road C grade will do for this one.
1 July 2023; Conor McCarthy of Monaghan during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Armagh and Monaghan at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Monaghan: D-
A league campaign which started with such promise for Monaghan has unfortunately ended with the Farney men dropping to Division 2 where they will play for the first time since 2014. Their extraordinary record of constantly staying up against the odds looked to be tougher than ever to maintain this year when it came out that stalwarts such as Rory Beggan, Kieran Hughes and Darren Hughes would all be unavailable for this league campaign.
Nevertheless Monaghan began their league campaign in extraordinary fashion, with Stephen O’Hanlon shooting the lights out in Croke Park as they dispatched of the All-Ireland Champions Dublin to open their league campaign with a victory.
However from there they lost heavily in back-to-back games to Kerry and Derry. Yet people still felt that they could save themselves in upcoming fixtures. Costly defeats followed to Roscommon, Galway and then Tyrone which ultimately sealed their fate with relegation to Division 2 confirmed. Vincent Corey’s men then finished their league campaign with defeat to Mayo in Clones. You cannot fault their effort, their heart and their grit. However, they did get relegated, so they cannot get a higher grade than an E for this campaign.
28 May 2023; Enda Smith of Roscommon after his side's draw in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Dublin and Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Roscommon: D-
A league campaign in which Roscommon showed their potential at times, has ultimately ended in relegation for Davy Burke’s men. The Rossies began their league by losing a costly tie to Tyrone in Healy Park, they then drew with neighbours Galway in Dr. Hyde Park, a game in which they led by 3 points with 10 minutes left in the contest. Defeat to Dublin at Croke Park followed before the Rossies showed their potential by ruthlessly dispatching Monaghan by 1-16 to 0-7.
However they failed to build on this, and three defeats in a row to Mayo, Kerry and then Derry on the final day sealed their fate and return to Division 2. With the Connacht Championship just around the corner, Roscommon need to pick themselves up fast if they have any hope of achieving provincial glory this year. For their league campaign, a grade of E will suffice.
24 June 2023; Brothers Ruairi, left, and Darragh Canavan of Tyrone make their way onto the pitch before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter Final match between Donegal and Tyrone at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tyrone: C
A very odd league campaign for Tyrone in 2024. The 2021 All-Ireland Champions began their campaign by beating Roscommon at home, which was subsequently followed by defeats to Derry and Galway, the latter of which felt potentially disastrous at the time. Brian Dooher’s side then fought back valiantly by defeating Mayo in a brilliant second half display in Round 4.
Defeat to Kerry followed in Round 5, before Tyrone beat and subsequently relegated Monaghan in Round 6. The end of their league campaign however is a day to forget, as they were mercilessly ripped apart by the All-Ireland Champions Dublin at Croke Park.
The main positive to take away from the league for Tyrone is the form of Darragh Canavan. The son of Peter The Great is becoming exactly what we always knew he could be, and he won three player of the match awards in Tyrone’s league campaign, constantly clutching up for the Red Hand whenever they really needed him. Overall, their league campaign was OK, and that gets them a grade of C.
With the All-Ireland Championship of 2024 just around the corner, reflecting and evaluating on each county's performance in the Allianz Leagues can be a good indicator of just what to expect from them heading into the rest of their season. Counties like Dublin and Derry look at the top of their game. Mayo and Kerry have things to work on but are certainly within shot of the top two, while Galway, Tyrone, Monaghan and Roscommon will all feel improvements are necessary if they are to win the Sam Maguire in 2024.
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