Allianz GAA Football Roundup - Week 1 - 2020
The 2020 campaign of the Allianz Gaelic Athletic Association season kicked off on January 24, 2020. Below are the matchup summaries from all four divisions, including a highlight of Week 1's key matchups. Stay tuned for Week 2 coverage, coming soon!
Division 1
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Donegal 0-19 (19) - Mayo 2-13 (19)
Both clubs open the season with a tie after Mayo's James Durcan netted in the 8th minute of injury time to secure the draw. Durcan's entrance into the game proved to be a deciding factor for Mayo's comeback after Mayo went into halftime with a 0-9 to 1-4 deficit.
Notable performances: Donegal - Michael Murphy (0-8, 7f, 1'45); Mayo - James Durcan (1-3, 0-2f)
Location: MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, County Donegal
Attendance: 8,729
Referee: D. Coldrick
Dublin 1-19 (22) - Kerry 1-19 (22)
After Dublin pulled ahead after a 77th minute free kick by Dean Rock, it seemed as if Kerry had no more opportunities to come back against the All-Ireland favorites. But after Kerry's David Clifford was awarded a free kick in the dying seconds of the 80th minute, the ball sailed through to secure a draw in a thrilling opening match at Croke Park.
Notable performances: Dublin - Dean Rock (1-6, 1-0pen, 0-6f); Kerry - David Clifford (1-3, 0-2f)
Location: Croke Park, Drumcondra, Dublin
Attendance: 42,502
Referee: Sean Hurson
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Tyrone 1-14 (17) - Meath 1-09 (12)
After taking a 1-5 to 1-4 lead into halftime, Tyrone found a second gear in the second half and scored 5 of the next 7 points to secure a sound win over the visiting Meath club.
Notable performances: Tyrone - Darren McCurry (1-6, 0-4f); Meath - Bryan McMahon (1-2, 0-2f)
Location: Healy Park, Omagh, County Tyrone
Attendance: 5,860
Referee: Joe McQuillan
Galway 1-14 (17) - Monaghan 0-16 (16)
After trailing by 5 points early in the second half, Monaghan stormed back to level the score. Galway resisted however and kept the pace with Monaghan before Damien Comer put in a free kick with five minutes to go to put Galway up 2 points. A late Conor McManus score put Monaghan within 1 point but Galway ended up the victor when the final whistle blew.
Notable Performances: Galway - Shane Walsh (0-6, 0-5f); Monaghan - Conor McManus (0-6, 0-2f, 1m)
Location: Pearse Stadium, Salthill, County Galway
Referee: Maurice Deegan
Standings after Week 1
Top 2 teams play in final, bottom two teams face relegation
Tyrone - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +5 pt differential
Galway - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +1 pt differential
Dublin - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Mayo - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Kerry - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Donegal - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Monaghan - 0 pt - (0-0-1), -1 pt differential
Meath - 0 pt - (0-0-1), -5 pt differential
Division 2
Armagh 2-18 (24) - Cavan 1-08 (11)
Notable Performances: Armagh - Conor Turbitt (1-6, 1m); Cavan - James Smith (1-0)
Location: Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Referee: Barry Cassidy
Westmeath 2-9 (15) - Clare 1-11 (14)
Notable Performances: Westmeath - John Heslin (0-4, 0-3f); Clare - David Tubridy (0-8, 0-7f)
Location: TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, County Westmeath
Referee: Niall Cullen
Roscommon 2-14 (20) - Laois 2-14 (20)
Notable Performances: Roscommon - Enda Smith (1-2, 1pen); Laois- Evan O'Carroll (1-6)
Location: Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
Referee: Ciaran Branagan
Kildare 2-12 (18) - Fermanagh 0-14 (14)
Notable Performances: Kildare - Neill Flynn (0-7, 0-6f); Fermanagh - Conall Jones (0-8)
Location: St. Conleths Park, Newbridge, County Kildare
Referee: Fergal Kelly
Standings after Week 1
Top 2 teams play in final and promoted to Division 1, bottom two teams face relegation
Armagh - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +13 pt differential
Kildare - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +4 pt differential
Westmeath - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +1 pt differential
Roscommon - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Laois - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Clare - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -1 pt differential
Fermanagh - 0 pts (0-0-1), -4 pt differential
Cavan - 0 pts (0-0-1), -13 pt differential
Division 3
Derry 2-11 (17) - Leitrim 1-14 (17)
Cork 0-20 (20) - Offaly 0-13 (13)
Longford 0-16 (16) - Louth 1-10 (13)
Tipperary 0-10 (10) - Down 0-10 (10)
Standings after Week 1
Top 2 teams play in final and promoted to Division 2, bottom two teams face relegation
Cork - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +7 pt differential
Longford - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +3 pt differential
Derry - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Leitrim - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Tipperary - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Down - 1 pt - (0-1-0), 0 pt differential
Louth - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -3 pt differential
Offaly - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -7 pt differential
Division 4
Carlow 0-11 (11) - Wicklow 0-9 (9)
Waterford 0-10 (10) - Limerick 1-10 (13)
Antrim 3-10 (19) - Wexford 0-13 (13)
London 0-11 (11) - Sligo 5-8 (23)
Standings after Week 1
Top 2 teams play in final and promoted to Division 3
Sligo - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +12 pt differential
Antrim - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +6 pt differential
Limerick - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +3 pt differential
Carlow - 2 pts - (1-0-0), +2 pt differential
Wicklow - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -2 pt differential
Waterford - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -3 pt differential
Wexford - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -6 pt differential
London - 0 pts - (0-0-1), -12 pt differential
Note: All scores and recaps are sourced from Irish news sources with as much information collected to the best of my ability. Irish coverage of Divisions 3 and 4 are scarce at the current moment.
