Allianz National Football League Division 3

DOWN
The bookies have installed Down as favourites for Division Three and after their run to McKenna Cup glory who can blame them? Some young players have staked a claim for inclusion in his League team with Luke Howard impressing in some challenge matches and for Queen's University. Packie Downey should feature at the edge of the square, alternating with Cathal Magee during the League and Burren's Kevin McKernan and Rostrevor's Colm Murney were also impressive during their January success.
The injury list runs long for the Mournemen - Declan Rooney, Stephen Kearney, Paul Murphy and Daniel McCartan are likely to miss some of the League through injury and Peter Fitzpatrick will miss all of it but the return of Laim Doyle is a welcome boost as Carr aims for promotion.
Paul McComiskey will offer a further helping hand to a forward line that excelled during the McKenna Cup, averaging over 18 points a game. An air of confidence has swept through the county and maximum points at home will be expected. New captain Dan Gordon has already lifted silverware this year; he will be hoping to add to that in the coming months.

Fixtures: Feb 2: Sligo (h); Feb 17: Louth (a); March 2: Wexford (a); March 15: Longford (h); March 29: Limerick (h); April 6: Leitrim (a); April 13: Fermanagh (h).
To win Division Three: 9/4

FERMANAGH
Seven defeats from seven was Fermanagh's League record last year but new boss Malachy O'Rourke has installed a belief into his players which resulted in them progressing to the McKenna Cup semi-finals. Barry Owens will miss the League while he awaits minor heart surgery, while Colm Bradley has opted out for the year. Goalkeeper Niall Tinney is unavailable as he is in Scotland, but Ronan Gallagher, who has rejoined the side for the first time since 2004, replaces him.
Ryan McCluskey also makes a welcome return to the panel. Fermanagh will return to Lisnaskea to play their home matches after playing last season's games in Clones and Breffni Park due to the unavailability of Brewster Park. Of the new charges, half-back Barry Mulrone and corner-forward Pat Cadden have caught the eye while Matthew Keenan has been deadly accurate from dead ball situations.
Liam McBarron (pictured) has been converted into a target man and the transition has proved successful thus far and should wear the number 14 jersey against neighbours Leitrim on Sunday. Four away games out of seven means that O'Rourke will be more concerned about avoiding relegation than gaining promotion.

Fixtures: Feb 3: Leitrim (a); Feb 17: Limerick (h); March 2: Longford (a); March 16: Louth (h); March 30: Sligo (a); April 6: Wexford (h); April 13: Down (a).
To win Division Three: 13/2

LEITRIM
Impressive performances against Galway and Donegal in last year's Championship will give Leitrim hope for 2008.
Dessie Dolan will be confident his side can hold their own in this well balanced division, but Leitrim will struggle as they have four away days to contend with.
A home victory over neighbours Fermanagh is essential on day one and if they can follow that up with a home victory in their derby with Sligo they may have a chance of survival. They defeated Sligo and GMIT in the FBD League and only lost to Galway by a point. Their good form in January, however, should not be good enough to stop the Ridge county ending up in the bottom two of the division. Four tough games away from home - Longford, Louth, Wexford and Limerick - will most likely yield no points.

Fixtures: Feb 3: Fermanagh (h); Feb 17: Longford (a); March 2: Louth (a); March 16: Sligo (h); March 30: Wexford (a); April 6: Down (h); April 13: Limerick (a).
To win Division Three: 16/1

LIMERICK
Mickey 'Ned' O'Sullivan has been working hard during the close season. He has persuaded former Leinster rugby player Jim O'Donavan to switch back to the round ball and will be a good asset during the League when he recovers from a knee injury.
Limerick will also welcome back Eoin Keating, who will give the forward line some help after withdrawing his services in 2007. John Murphy has also been talked out of retirement and Stephen Kelly has returned after a year in the wilderness. All positive steps from the colourful Kerry man but they could find this division tough going. 2007 was a disastrous year for the Treatymen, winning just once in the League before losing games to Cork and Louth in the Championship. They lost the McGrath Cup final to Clare, but two newcomers stood out, corner-back Stephen Walsh and Dermot Phelan who hit 1-2 against Tralee IT. Three home games in their last four should be enough for them to avoid relegation but promotion should also be out of the question.
Fixtures: Feb 3: Louth (h); Feb 17: Fermanagh (a); March 2: Sligo (a); March 16: Wexford (h); March 29: Down (a); April 6: Longford (h); April 13: Leitrim (h).
To win Division Three: 10/1

LONGFORD
Longford have started the year well with fine wins on the road against Kildare and Meath as well as a home success over UCD to reach the O'Byrne Cup final. Brian Kavanagh will lead this year's charge, the Ardagh man has been in devastating form, hitting 1-10 on the march to the final.
The loss of midfielder Bernard McElvaney to Australia will be a blow as will the withdrawal from the squad of regular number six David Hannify.
The three Farrell brothers - Noel, Enda and Declan - will all make their League debuts against Wexford on Sunday. The Colmcille trio hit five points between them in January and will aim to cement a place for the coming season. Longford's January form would suggest the bookies may have under-estimated their Division Three challenge and with four games taking place in front of their own vociferous fans, a top two finish is a distinct possibility. Anything other than defeat on the first day of the campaign, away to Wexford, should see Longford in the promotion race.

Fixtures: Feb 3: Wexford (a); Feb 17: Leitrim (h); March 2: Fermanagh (h); March 15: Down (a); March 30: Louth (h); April 6: Limerick (a); April 13: Sligo (h).
To win Division Three: 6/1

LOUTH
Last season, Louth had a bit of a rollercoaster year. Their League form was poor, losing four from seven but they had a good run in the summer, narrowly losing out to eventual finalists Cork in round three of the Qualifiers.
Louth have shown steady progress since winning the Division Two title in 2006 but Eamon McEneaney must make sure that progress continues this season.
McEneaney has tried to strengthen the panel this year and has called in a number of new players including Benny McArdle, Conor McGuinness, and Derek Crilly. Paudie Mallon has also been given another shot at making an impression.
Of the new starts, McGuinness has been the most impressive and should see plenty more action during the League. Two defeats from three in the O'Byrne Cup was a poor return but they showed better form in recent challenge matches, defeating Armagh and drawing with Queen's. Paddy Keenan and Peter McGinnity will definitely miss the Limerick match through injury. The Wee County are second favourites for the division (4/1) but may just be muscled out of a top two finish.

Fixtures: Feb 3: Limerick (a); Feb 17: Down (h); March 2: Leitrim (h); March 16: Fermanagh (a); March 30: Longford (a); April 6: Sligo (h); April 13: Wexford (a).
To win Division Three: 4/1

SLIGO
Escaped Division Four last year with a final day win away to Wicklow to leapfrog them into fourth place. Only two move up this year and it may be just beyond the Yeatsmen despite winning the Connacht Championship last year.
New manager Tommy Jordan has had an indifferent start to his Sligo career; a victory against GMIT was sandwiched between defeats to Galway and Leitrim. Three of their last four NFL matches are away from home and they begin tomorrow by travelling to Newry to face a Down side that is oozing confidence.
Jordan experimented in the FBD League and of the new players, it was St Malaise Gaels' Peter Wilson who was most impressive, but it was recalled panellists Dermot McTeirnan and especially Eamon Cawley who would of caught Jordan's eye. Pre-League form has been worrying but Sligo should still safely avoid relegation.

Fixtures: Feb 2: Down (a); Feb 17: Wexford (h); March 2: Limerick (h); March 16: Leitrim (a); March 30: Fermanagh (h); April 6: Louth (a); April 13: Longford (a).
To win Division Three: 13/2

WEXFORD
Last season Jason Ryan lined out for Waterford as they recorded a stunning League victory over Wexford, this season Ryan will be in charge of Wexford and at 31 he is the youngest inter-county manager in the country.
Continuing in that vein, Ryan has introduced a number of new players to improve on last year's solid League campaign and it is 20-year-old Ben Brosnan who has stood out, with the Bannow man knocking over six points in two games. Last year they just missed out on a Division Two semi-final spot on scoring difference.
The fixtures this year have been kind with Longford, Down and Louth all having to make the journey to Wexford Park. For the first time in four years, Wexford will have four home games and that may just prove the key ingredient to a top two finish especially as Matty Forde has hit the ground running this year with 1-10 in Wexford's first two games. Captain Ciaran Deeley will almost certainly miss the entire League due to a groin injury but they should still finish in and around the promotion places.

Fixtures: Feb 2: Longford (h); Feb 17: Sligo (a); March 2: Down (h); March 16: Limerick (a); March 30: Leitrim (h); April 6: Fermanagh (a); April 13: Louth (h).
To win Division Three: 7/1