Tubridy: D2 relegation dogfight will test character of protagonists

RTÉ Sport analyst David Tubridy believes that Division 2 relegation candidates Limerick, Kildare and Clare will have their character tested to the maximum in what is set to be a crucial round of Allianz Football League fixtures this weekend.

Meath could also be pulled into that particular mire, but with a three-point buffer over sixth-placed Kildare Colm O'Rourke’s troops do have some breathing space.

On Sunday, bottom placed Limerick host the Lilywhites while earlier in the day, Clare will travel to Owenbeg to face a Derry side that need just a single point to confirm their return to Division 1 football for the first time since 2015.

Speaking to the RTÉ GAA Podcast, Tubridy said that the pressure stakes will be huge when Limerick and Kildare meet with Glenn Ryan’s side aiming to avoid back-to-back relegations and the Tailteann Cup football that could accompany the drop depending on their performance in the Leinster championship.

Limerick are also under the microscope. Last week Ray Dempsey stood down just five months after replacing Billy Lee amidst reports of player unrest, and the former Clare attacker said that the players must respond on the pitch.

"It’s a strange one," Tubridy said of Dempsey’s departure with coach Mark Fitzgerald taking over for the rest of the season.

"The rumours going around are that the players wanted him out. I think it was something similar to Billy Lee as well, that it was kind of the players that said they’d had enough of Billy Lee.

"There’s a lot of pressure on the Limerick players going out this weekend against Kildare because they have to perform because people will be wondering....you can’t be sacking managers every few months and thinking it’s the manager’s fault.

"It’ll be down to the