Leinster trio the unknown quantity in Allianz Football League Division 2

The Allianz Football Leagues kick into gear this weekend and arguably the most intriguing tier will be the second one.

Relegation could spell the end of a county's hopes of competing for the Sam Maguire Cup this summer. Armagh and Donegal are favourites before a ball has been kicked, but the real interest might come at the other end of the table.

With the eight provincial finalists guaranteed their All-Ireland championship status, alongside last year's Tailteann Cup winners Meath, it leaves just seven places available for the premier competition later in the year.

Relegation might be a double whammy, with demotion into the Tailteann Cup for sides that finish in the bottom two in Division 2, should they fail to reach their respective provincial final.

Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, two-time All-Star Ciarán Whelan suggested that Louth might be in trouble this spring.

"Louth had got momentum last year under Mickey Harte but, and I know Ger Brennan has gone down there, did they overachieve?," he wondered.

"They got it badly wrong against Dublin [in the Leinster final] and they wiped the floor with them. Kerry gave them a bad beating at the end of the group stages.

"Maybe they overachieved last year and I think they might find the pace too heavy."

Kildare have been up and down in recent seasons, inflicting a rare defeat on a Dublin side that would go on to be relegated in the league two years ago, before being relegated themselves.

Last summer they ran Dublin close in Leinster and recorded a spirited victory against Roscommon, only to see Monaghan end their summer in the next game.

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