Allianz Football League Division One

DERRY
Derry is the only Ulster county in the top three divisions to have four home games in the League and that could make a major difference.
The Oak Leafers start with a tricky trip to Mayo, but should garner enough points from hosting Westmeath, Kerry, Galway, and Donegal to stave off any threat of relegation.
Damian Cassidy is one of four new bosses in the top flight, counting Jack O’Connor on his return to Kerry, but has inter-county experience as part of management with his native county and with Cavan, as well as an impressive CV at club level.
His panel includes nine new faces, but there’s plenty of experience to help that talent along. Derry may take a little time to gel, with different players and a different system, but their ability should see them to a safe finishing position.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: v Mayo (a); Sun, Feb 15: v Westmeath (h); Sun, March 8: v Kerry (h); Sat March 14: v Dublin (a); Sat March 21: v Galway (h); Sat March 28: v Tyrone (a); Sun April 12: v Donegal (h).
To win Division One: 8/1

DONEGAL
New manager number two in this division is John Joe Doherty, who’s made his mark already by leading Donegal to a first McKenna Cup final triumph since 1991.
Despite that winning start, the bookmakers suggest that Donegal are favourites to go down. Certainly, the Tir Chonaill team are one of the most unpredictable and inconsistent around, and rode their luck with a couple of fortunate last-gasp victories in the League last year.
Yet Donegal native Doherty is showing signs that he’ll get more out of his players than they gave to his predecessor Brian McIver at times last season.
They’ll have to make the most of their three home games, and that’s achievable as two of them are against Mayo and Dublin early on, with both visitors probably less settled than Doherty’s men.
They’ll also host Tyrone in round five and will be determined to defeat their neighbours.
Failing that, Donegal can still pick up a point or two from their last two away games, against Westmeath then arch-rivals Derry, if they need to, and prove the bookies wrong.
Fixtures: Sun Feb 1: v Kerry (a); Sat Feb 14: v Mayo (h); Sun Mar 8: v Dublin (h); Sun Mar 15: v Galway (a); Sat Mar 21: v Tyrone (h); Sun Mar 29: v Westmeath (a); Sun Apr 12: v Derry (a).
To win Division One: 16/1

DUBLIN
Like Damian Cassidy and John Joe Doherty, this is Pat Gilroy’s first stab at inter-county management – but the knives are already out in the capital.
Gilroy’s only previous managerial ‘experience’ was a brief spell with his club St Vincent’s, before Mickey Whelan took over, and the former Dublin boss will assist his clubmate in charge of the county this season.
Questions are already being asked about who’s really in charge of the Metropolitans, although Gilroy tried to show he’s boss by sending another Vincent’s man, Diarmuid Connolly, home from a training camp in La Manga for disciplinary reasons.
No conclusions could be drawn from the inclusion of a third string in the O’Byrne Cup, which beat Offaly, but lost to Wicklow.
However, if Dublin don’t get off to a flier after the fireworks at Croke Park against Tyrone on Saturday night then they could struggle, despite having three more home games.
Trips to Galway, Donegal, and Mayo aren’t the most arduous, but Derry, Kerry, and even Westmeath won’t fear going to Parnell Park in search of a win.
Fixtures: Sat Jan 31: v Tyrone (h); Sun Feb 15: v Galway (a); Sun Mar 8: v Donegal (a); Sat Mar 14: v Derry (h); Sun Mar 22: v Mayo (a); Sun Mar 29: v Kerry (h); Sun Apr 12: v Westmeath (h).
To win Division One: 7/1

GALWAY
It’s been a case of close, but no trophy for Galway in the League this decade. Having lost the 2001 final to arch-rivals Mayo, the Tribesmen lost the 2004 and 2006 deciders to Kerry, and were also pipped by the Kingdom for a place in last year’s final. Add in their defeat by Kerry in a rip-roaring All-Ireland quarter-final last year and Galway will be looking forward to their trip to the Kingdom in round seven.
Liam Sammon’s side could still be in contention by that stage but they’ll have to make their home form count – and win their opener away to Westmeath. They could get off to a strong start after winning the FBD League final, although Roscommon took them to extra-time.
Before the Kerry game they also have testing trips to Tyrone and Derry. Galway are always dark horses, with strength at midfield and some fabulous forwards, but they may need to toughen up the defensive side of their game if they are to finish ahead of some of the thoroughbreds in this division.
Fixtures: Sun Feb 1: v Westmeath (a); Sun Feb 15: v Dublin (h); Sat Mar 7: v Tyrone (a); Sun Mar 15: v Donegal (h); Sun Mar 22: v Derry (a); Sun Mar 29: v Mayo (h); Sun Apr 12: v Kerry (a).
To win Division One: 8/1

KERRY
Jack is back – and Kerry are never too far away, or at least not recently. Losing Division One finalists last year, the Kingdom won the League twice under Jack O’Connor, in 2004 and 2006, and finished third in Division 1A in 2005 and 2007.
Expect them to finish in the top three again this term, although they may be vulnerable in the early stages of the League, especially up against Ulster teams in their first three fixtures, including away trips to Tyrone and Derry after Sunday’s opener at home to Donegal.
With four home games in all, Kerry will expect to do well.
Technically, O’Connor is the fourth new manager in this division, but the beauty for the Kingdom is that he returns after only a two-year gap, having kept close tabs on the club scene in charge of Kerins O'Rahilly’s.
Kerry won’t take long to get back to Jack’s ways and the talent in their ranks makes them permanent contenders.
Fixtures: Sun Feb 1: v Donegal (h); Sun Feb 15: v Tyrone (a); Sun Mar 8: v Derry (a); Sun Mar 15: v Mayo (h); Sun Mar 22: v Westmeath (h); Sun Mar 29: v Dublin (a); Sun Apr 12: v Galway (h).).
To win Division One: 5/2

MAYO
Mayo have the players to be a top eight team this year – their worry is that they won’t all come together in time to earn a top six finish and retain their top flight status.
John O’Mahony (pictured) will have to field a makeshift defence for at least part of the League, possibly all of it, with Keith Higgins in Australia until May, Trevor Howley recovering from ankle surgery, and veterans James Nallen and David Heaney delaying their returns. Ballina’s Ger Cafferkey, an All-Ireland U21 winner in 2006, is over injury problems and should start at full-back. Cafferkey was one of many Mayo men lining out for student sides earlier this month and another, Conor Mortimer, is a doubt due to broken nose sustained with DCU in the O’Byrne Cup. Mayo may need a while to develop understanding but the quality in their ranks – and four home games – might see them survive.
Fixtures: Sun Feb 1: v Derry (h); Sat Feb 14: v Donegal (a); Sun Mar 8: v Westmeath (h); Sat Mar 14: v Kerry (a); Sun Mar 22: v Dublin (h); Sun Mar 29: v Galway (a); Sun Apr 12: v Tyrone (h).
To win Division One: 7/1

TYRONE
After three seasons topping Division 1A in the middle of this decade, Tyrone have slipped down over the past three seasons, finishing third, then fourth, then fifth. This should be the year the Red Hands climb up the table, given the fierce competition for places on Mickey Harte’s panel, never mind his squad.
Key to their ambitions is victory in Saturday night’s League opener at Croke Park, but Tyrone are much further on in their preparations than Dublin. The attacking tandem of Stephen O’Neill (pictured) and Sean Cavanagh could do serious damage during this League, and Shaun O’Neill should show his scoring threat.
His near-namesake and Dromore clubmate Sean O’Neill boosts the defensive options, as does the aptly-named Martin Swift, while Aidan Cassidy is an athletic, tall midfielder.
If Tyrone can start with two wins – a tough enough ask with Kerry the visitors in round two
– then they’ll be flying high again.
Fixtures: Sat Jan 31: v Dublin (a); Sun Feb 15: v Kerry (h); Sat Mar 7: v Galway (h); Sun Mar 15: v Westmeath (a); Sat Mar 21: v Donegal (a); Sat Mar 28: v Derry (h); Sun Apr 12: v Mayo (a).
To win Division One: 2/1

WESTMEATH
The obvious candidates for the drop. Tomas O Flatharta’s team may have a mean defence but that may not be enough, especially as their attack lacks a cutting edge. Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon are strong sources of scores, but, beyond them, Westmeath don’t threaten.
A lengthy injury list includes the talismanic Marty Flanagan, David Duffy, and David O’Shaughnessy, while Damien Healy is aboard and Alan Mangan is recovering from surgery.
The midlanders’ geographical location means that they never face any massively long journeys, but having four away games still does not bode well for them, with trips to Derry, Mayo, Kerry, and Dublin.
You could probably count the points they’ll garner from those games on your thumbs and their home games are tough too, against Galway, Tyrone, and Donegal.
Westmeath are really a second level side – and should return there after this campaign.
Fixtures: Sun Feb 1: v Galway (h); Sat Feb 14: v Derry (a); Sun Mar 8: v Mayo (a); Sun Mar 15: v Tyrone (h); Sat Mar 21: v Kerry (a); Sun Mar 29: v Donegal (h); Sun Apr 12: v Dublin (a)..
To win Division One: 14/1