Allianz National Football League Division 4

ANTRIM
THE only Ulster side in the basement division, promotion is a necessary requirement. Finishing third behind Tipperary last season was a major blow to the county, but lessons will have been learned.
Last season hurt the team; with two games remaining they were top of the table and only needed one point from the last two against Tipperary and Waterford. The expected four points turned into an astonishing zero following two three-point defeats.
A Championship defeat to Cavan countered by Tommy Murphy success did little to ease the pain of the league shambles in April.
New manager Liam Bradley would have hoped for better in the Dr McKenna Cup. Indeed, Antrim’s best performers were those playing for university sides, the Saffrons had 12 players representing them.
For those who lined out in yellow in January, Dara Edwards made a good impression while Colm Fleming showed potential.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Wicklow (h); Sat, Feb 7: Kilkenny (a); Sat, Feb 14: Clare (h); Sun, March 8: Leitrim (a); Sun, March 15: Carlow (a); Sat, March 21: London (h); Sat, March 28: Sligo (h); Sun, April 12: Bye; Sat, April 18: Waterford (a).
To win Division Four: 5/2

CARLOW
FOUR wins and four losses in this division last year was a good return and Luke Dempsey’s side would probably take that right now as well.
One area that will have to be improved on is their defence.
January will have given the team a bit of confidence. They lost their O’Byrne Cup match with Wicklow by five points. But they fared better in the shield. They defeated Offaly by four points and UCD by seven. Laois beat them by seven in the final, but the match was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggests.
There have been some impressive performances too. John Murphy has been excellent in midfield, Shane Redmond is also proving a useful outlet, having scored three points against UCD.
Carlow will fancy their chances against Clare and London at home, while Waterford and Kilkenny could also be productive.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Clare (h); Sun, Feb 8: Leitrim (a); Sun, Feb 15: London (h); Sun, March 8: Bye; Sun, March 15: Antrim (h); Sun, March 22: Sligo (a); Sat, March 28: Waterford (a); Sun, April 12: Wicklow (h); Sat, April 18: Kilkenny (a).
To win Division Four: 16/1

CLARE
THINGS are not good in the Banner county. Manager Frank Doherty is having trouble getting numbers for his squad.
Two of the county’s most promising players, Gordon Kelly and Laurence Healy, have both emigrated to Australia to find work.
Doherty will also be without the injured trio of David Connole, John Hayes and Niall Considine for the League opener.
Martin McMahon, Tomas Madigan, Gary Kelly, Liam Markin and Paul Reidy will all make their League debuts against Carlow and Doherty will be hoping his newcomers make an impression.
Victories should be elusive and the side will be focussing on the visits of Waterford and Kilkenny in the middle of the League programme to secure the points to keep them off bottom.
London at home on the last day of the campaign may also secure a victory.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Carlow (a); Sat, Feb 7: Sligo (h); Sun, Feb 14: Antrim (a); Sun, March 8: Waterford (h); Sun, March 15: Kilkenny (h); Sun, March 22: Wicklow (a); Sun, March 29: Bye; Sun, April 12: Leitrim (a); Sat, April 18: London (h).
To win Division Four: 15/2

KILKENNY
MANAGER Tom Brennan has praised the “effort and enthusiasm” of his side in January. The man viewed as having the hardest job in football has seen vast improvement in his side. A six-point defeat to DIT in the O’Byrne Cup was a positive result.
A win last year over London was massive result; it is hard to see them repeating the feat this year.
Their scoring difference was -144 last year and a similar figure is to be expected this season. But any small improvements would justify the side’s continuing participation in the competition.
Unfortunately, the two teams they have a chance of pushing, Waterford and London, will both have home advantage against the Cats.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Sligo (a); Sat, Feb 7: Antrim (h); Sun, Feb 15: Waterford (a); Sun, March 8: Wicklow (h); Sun, March 15: Clare (a); Sun, March 22: Bye; Sun, March 29: Leitrim (h); Sun, April 12: London (a); Sat, April 18: Carlow (h)).
To win Division Four: 250/1

LEITRIM
A LOOK at a schedule will suggest that Leitrim should not be discounted from this division.
There are points to be picked up on the road for the Ridge men as their four away games are against London, Sligo, Waterford and Kilkenny.
Mickey Moran and John Morrision’s side may just be the ones to watch in the division.
Emlyn Mulligan may be the man to spearhead Leitrim’s promotion hopes. He notched up 0-11 on his Championship debut against New York and a further 0-10 against Galway, bringing his tally for the Connacht SFC to 0-21 in just two games .
Seven points from two games would suggest Mulligan will be in good form when he lines out at number 10 against London on Sunday.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: London (a); Sun, Feb 8: Carlow (h); Sun, Feb 15: Sligo (a); Sun, March 8: Antrim (h); Sun, March 15: Wicklow (h); Sun, March 22: Waterford (a); Sun, March 29: Kilkenny (a); Sun, April 12: Clare (h); Sat, April 18: Bye).
To win Division Four: 9/2

LONDON
THE London footballers may be the one county to welcome the credit crunch as hordes of players make their way to the capital city in search of work. The bookies don’t share that optimism, and rate them as 200/1 shots to win the title.
A defeat to Kilkenny in the second last round of last year’s League proved a low ebb for the Exiles, and ensured they finished the campaign pointless. Defeat by Sligo in the Connacht SFC compounded their misery.
A realistic aim would be to secure two wins. Kilkenny at home should be a certain two points. Waterford at home could also prove useful, while Sligo and Leitrim will be wary of travelling. The side should finish above Kilkenny but below the rest.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Leitrim (h); Sat, Feb 7: Bye; Sun, Feb 15: Carlow (a); Sun, March 8: Sligo (h); Sun, March 15: Waterford (h); Sat, March 21: Antrim (a); Sun, March 29: Wicklow (a); Sun, April 12: Kilkenny (h); Sat, April 18: Clare (a)).
To win Division Four: 200/1

SLIGO
FOLLOWING the Connacht SFC win in 2007, last year was a real shock for the Yeatsmen. The side were understandably confident and the bookies had them installed as second favourites, but they finished dead last, picking up just one victory.
A Connacht semi-final defeat to Mayo, coupled with their new Division Four status, meant they were not even able to compete in the Qualifiers.
A look at the side’s first four fixtures Kilkenny and Leitrim at home, and Clare and London away, would suggest full points is very possible.
Kevin Walsh has taken over and the Galway man has appointed ex-Sligo players Paul Durcan, Paul Taylor and Dessie Sloyane as his backroom team.
Midfielder Eugene Mullen, wing forward Gary Gaughan and dual star Keith Raymond did enough in January to earn League debuts for Sunday’s game against Kilkenny.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Kilkenny (h); Sat, Feb 7: Clare (a); Sun, Feb 15: Leitrim (h); Sun, March 8: London (a); Sun, March 15: Bye; Sun, March 22: Carlow (h); Sat, March 28: Antrim (a); Sun, April 12: Waterford (h); Sat, April 18: Wicklow (a)).
To win Division Four: 5/2

WATERFORD
WHEN the manager describes the state of football in the county as a “nightmare,” it is safe to say things are not going to plan.
To be fair to John Kiely, he has a point. When you’re a county trying to remove yourself from the also-rans, you need everything to go right which, unfortunately, is not the case.
The side will be missing nine of last year’s Championship starters that featured last year. The three Hurney brothers, Greg, Paddy and John, are focusing on hurling this year. Connie Power and Andy Hubert have retired, Ger Power and Shane Briggs have suffered cruciate injuries, while Justin Walsh and Jason Staward will be unavailable.
Throw in away trips to Wicklow, Clare, London and Sligo and the Decies will be fighting it out with Kilkenny and London for the wooden spoon.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Bye; Sat, Feb 7: Wicklow (a); Sun, Feb 15: Kilkenny (h); Sun, March 8: Clare (a); Sun, March 15: London (a); Sun, March 22: Leitrim (h); Sat, March 28: Carlow (h); Sun, April 12: Sligo (a); Sat, April 18: Antrim (h).
To win Division Four: 16/1

WICKLOW
A TEAM hotly tipped to make the top two; Sunday’s match away to Antrim should tell a lot about where this team is at.
Last year they ended a 50-year wait to record a Leinster SFC victory when they disposed of Kildare, and this year could be a watershed for the county.
The O’Byrne Cup demonstrated that the side can continue their progress this year. A comfortable five-point victory over Carlow was followed by victory over a third-string Dublin side.
Mick O’Dwyer is having problems with midfielder Tommy Walsh. He transferred from Carlow two years ago, but has returned to live in his native county. Speculation is rife that he may transfer back too, which would be a massive blow to the county. Promotion may just be beyond them.
Fixtures: Sun, Feb 1: Antrim (a); Sat, Feb 7: Waterford (h); Sun, Feb 15: Bye; Sun, March 8: Kilkenny (a); Sun, March 15: Leitrim (a); Sun, March 22: Clare (h); Sun, March 29: London (h); Sun, April 12: Carlow (a); Sat, April 18: Sligo (h)
To win Division Four: 7/2

• All odds supplied by Ladbrokes