Manager Focus - Managers prepare for testing League tussle
ANTRIM Liam Bradley
First venture into the arena as manager having gained experience with Derry at U21 and with various Derry senior managements, most recently during Paddy Crozier’s term. Inherits a panel framework developed over two seasons by Jody Gormley that reached two Tommy Murphy Cup finals, winning the second last summer against the county that beat them in the first, Wicklow.
Bradley (main picture) seeks to encourage a hunger to win, a stronger and more consistent competitive drive to secure results, motivating players to want to improve and drive Antrim to a higher level than Division Four and early exits from the Championship. Initial indicators from the Dr McKenna Cup, defeats to Armagh and Cavan, reminded him of a longstanding Achilles heel, the lack of killer instinct in the scoring third of the field.
Abundance of chances, decent
build-up work, but weak finishing cost Antrim in both games. This and poor attitude cost in the final weeks of last season’s NFL. Could do with getting themselves out of the League’s basement. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Wicklow (home), Feb 7 v Kilkenny (away), Feb 14 v Clare (home),
Mar 8 v Leitrim (away), Mar 15 v Carlow (away), Mar 21 v London (home), Mar 28 v Sligo (home), Apr 12 bye, Apr 18 v Waterford (away)
ARMAGH Peter McDonnell Missed out on promotion to Division One on his debut season by three points. Three wins and a draw from seven games, the high mark the display against Dublin, provided the platform for McDonnell to steer a very experienced squad to Ulster SFC success by mid-summer. A 15-minute implosion at Croke Park, inspired by Wexford’s Matty Forde, denied them at least an All-Ireland semi-final place.
McDonnell is using this month’s Dr McKenna Cup games to run the rule over determined prospects with the possibility of a couple of lines being redeveloped as the NFL progresses.
Armagh have not challenged at League level in the past three campaigns, each yielding three wins. Finished top of the old Division 1B in 2005, going on to beat Wexford for the NFL title, Stevie McDonnell scoring 10 points. Ronan Clarke’s return to fitness and form, which was rewarded with an Allstar, was the most positive development of McDonnell’s first year in charge. The late collapse to Wexford at Croke Park suggested to some that a team with six Ulsters under their belts during the 2000s (they were fortunate to get a replay chance in the Ulster final against Fermanagh) were in need of a revamp. The next couple of months of team development will be watched with interest. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Wexford (away),
Feb 14 v Laois (home), Mar 7 v Monaghan (home), Mar 15 v Fermanagh (away),
Mar 22 v Kildare (away), Mar 28 v Meath (home), Apr 12 v Cork (away)
CARLOW Luke Dempsey In his school days, he played for Carlow CBS. After being linked to the vacancy in Meath, the former Longford manager opted to take on the massive challenge of moving the county’s senior football fortunes up a rung or two. Perhaps his reputation and experience will bring stability to the post of manager which has resembled a musical chairs scenario.
In the past two Championships, they have had a new manager stepping into the breach, Kearns in ’07, Condon in ’08. Dempsey’s preliminary squad fared reasonably in the O’Byrne Cup before going out to Wicklow. He is expected to build a team around a seasoned core of players, led by Brian Murphy and Mark Carpenter.
Despite tremendous showings in club championship via Eire Og, the county has been unsuccessful.
They have spent the past six years in the lower reaches of the National League.
In the last three, they have finished seventh in either Division 2B or Division Four and have lost 23 of 43 NFL games in the period. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Clare (home), Feb 7
v Leitrim (away), Feb 15 v London (home), Mar 8 bye, Mar 15 v Antrim (home), Mar 22
v Sligo (away), Mar 28 v Waterford (away),
Apr 12 v Wicklow (home), Apr 18 v Kilkenny (away)
CAVAN Tommy Carr For the third time since his decorated playing career with Dublin ended, during which he won NFL medals in 1991 and ’93, Carr (right) has taken on a county team manager challenge. He was first with the Dubs for the 1999-2000 and ’01 seasons, then with Roscommon until resigning in March ’05.
He succeeds Donal Keogan who resigned last summer after two seasons and enjoyed a first win last weekend at Casement Park when 1-3 from Paddy Gumley helped see off wayward Antrim in the Dr McKenna Cup. Eight days earlier at Breffni, his debut game was spoiled by a hat-trick of goals by Queen’s University forward Shaun O’Neill.
The competition is being used, as it is by most managers, to blood new players. Further encouragement will be sought on Saturday when they host Armagh. In the NFL last season the strides made in ’07, when promoted, were knocked back after they managed only one win from seven games and were relegated to Division Three.
A big plus for Cavan pre-season is the return of highly-rated attacker Ger Pierson who is steadily getting back to form after a long spell out with injury, though seasoned campaigner Anthony Forde has, for the moment, retired. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Longford (away), Feb 14 v Tipperary (home), Mar 7 v Down (away), Mar 14 v Limerick (home), Mar 22 v Offaly (away), Mar 29 v Roscommon (home), Apr 12 v Louth (away)
CLARE Frank Doherty The Galway native is at the helm for a second season, but the first weeks of the new year do not suggest this year will be any better than the last. Doherty has already expressed his annoyance and frustration with a number of players who did not join the panel after indicating that they would.
There appears to be an undercurrent of disinterest as regards the senior football team.
The county has finished no higher than sixth in one of the lower divisions, be that Division Four or the former 2A and 2B groupings, since 2002. He has also lost two of his top defenders, Gordon Kelly and Laurence Healy, to emigration. They have both left to seek work in Australia. Suggests yet another year of toil and trouble in Division Four ahead for the Banner. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Carlow (away), Feb 7 v Sligo (home), Feb 14 v Antrim (away), Mar 8 v Waterford (home), Mar 15 v Kilkenny (home), Mar 22 v Wicklow (away), Mar 29 bye, Apr 12 v Leitrim (away), Apr 18 v London (home)
CORK Conor Counihan He was widely received as an excellent and natural choice as manager when he was appointed last year following weeks of crisis when players withdrew their services after Teddy Holland was named successor to Billy Morgan.
The manager without a team, Holland later resigned and Cork’s NFL programme did not start until round three at Kiltoom with a win over Roscommon.
The earlier games scheduled (v Meath and Dublin) were shelved and the points awarded to those counties.
Cork went on to win three and draw one of the four they contested, the defeat against Cavan their only loss under Counihan until the drama of an All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay, as Munster champions, at Croke Park against Kerry. Nine games played, six wins and two draws and enough good points from it all to keep their odds on Munster and even All-Ireland success in 2009 fairly short. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1
v Meath (home), Feb 15 v Kildare (away), Mar 7 v Fermanagh (home), Mar 14 v Laois (away), Mar 21 v Wexford (home), Mar 29 v Monaghan (away), Apr 12 v Armagh (home)
DERRY Damian Cassidy One of the most talented and experienced squads is what ‘Cass’ will probably have at his disposal once the starter pistol sounds to the NFL series and Derry’s defence of the Division One title won in such style in ’08 against Kerry.
The late Eamon Coleman’s right hand man from 2000-’02, the first of those campaigns securing a League title, he has worked in management at various levels in the years since and was a popular appointment in October as successor to Paddy Crozier.
He was with Cavan for a time alongside Martin McElkennon, enjoyed a range of achievements in club management with Loughmacrory, home club Bellaghy and Clonoe and takes on the Derry job with considerable expectation on his shoulders and those of the players he puts faith in.
In the NFL arena, Derry have been consistently around the top order since being promoted back to the top flight in Mickey Moran’s final season (2005). Crozier gained two third places in the former Division 1B before last year’s terrific second half display accounted for Division One final rivals Kerry. Importance of another long League run is questionable after how things turned out last summer. Championship progress is what they will be judged on. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Mayo (away),
Feb 14 v Westmeath (home), Mar 7 v Kerry (home), Mar 14 v Dublin (away), Mar 21 v Galway (home), Mar 28 v Tyrone (away), Apr 12 v Donegal (home)
DONEGAL John Joe Doherty Now that the winter of discontent and the rows and confusion behind the scenes is finished with, the ’92 All-Ireland SFC medal winner has settled into the job of trying to restore harmony and hunger and hit the ground running in Kerry on February 1. John Joe’s first senior county management appointment, it followed a tempestuous few months in the north west after Brian McIver felt he had no option but to resign – for a second time in just over a year. The appointment process was messy to say the least, but the Dr McKenna Cup drew a line under all of that and Doherty (main picture) got to work.
There have been some positives and he will look for a few more before January closes and Donegal’s hard task of retaining Division One status (the county won the title in ’07) begins. Ulster SFC first round matches them against Antrim at Ballybofey on June 14. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Kerry (away),
Feb 14 v Mayo (home), Mar 7 v Dublin (home), Mar 15 v Galway (away), Mar 21 v Tyrone (home), Mar 29 v Westmeath (away), Apr 12 v Derry (away)
DOWN
Ross Carr In his third year, team development showed many encouraging signs in 2008 after a very difficult first season. Can look back on last summer with certain satisfaction. Two thrillers with Tyrone, the second, won in extra-time at Pairc Esler, inflicting the only defeat in the Championship on the eventual All-Ireland winners.
The other big exam for Carr’s young team was in the formidable surroundings of the main arena, Croke Park. A third round All-Ireland Qualifier against Wexford, they fluffed their lines, played under par compared to the Championship games with Tyrone, Offaly and Laois and left the stadium mulling over what could have been.
It was the same in the NFL. In Division Three, where they also fell to Wexford, promotion was a priority, but a poor display at Leitrim and defeat at home to Fermanagh knocked them out of the running. For all the good points of 2008, their manager recently emphasised the disappointment felt about a couple of games that cost them dearly. Carr has made no secret of the fact he wants promotion achieved this year. Ulster SFC opens on May 17 away to 2008 finalists Fermanagh. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Tipperary (away),
Feb 14 v Louth (home), Mar 7 v Cavan (home), Mar 15 v Longford (away),
Mar 22 v Limerick (away), Mar 28 v Offaly (home), Apr 12 v Roscommon (away)
DUBLIN Pat Gilroy The last few days have not been what the new manager would have liked ideally. One of the county’s top young forwards, Diarmuid Connolly, was sent home 48 hours early from a pre-season training break at La Manga for an alleged breach of discipline. The O’Byrne Cup and a home defeat to Wicklow followed, though none of the players who trained in Spain were involved in that game.
Gilroy has had to demonstrate, in surprising terms, that he will not tolerate apparent nonsense. If a
wake-up call to those players hoping to play for the county this season was needed, the La Manga incident served to provide it.
His appointment as successor to Paul Caffrey follows four consecutive Leinster title wins under Caffrey’s wing but, crucially, nothing but heartbreak and shattered aspirations in the pursuit of Gaelic football’s ‘Holy Grail’. Dublin have not claimed an All-Ireland senior for going on 14 years. Last season, a 12-point thumping from Tyrone ended with Caffrey resigning.
So, new broom, different ideas, maybe a few new faces, Division One football and Tyrone first up for Gilroy on January 31. Whatever about the League, all pales against demands, pressures and hyped up expectations of the summer. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Jan 31 v Tyrone (home),
Feb 15 v Galway (away), Mar 7 v Donegal (away), Mar 14 v Derry (home), Mar 22 v Mayo (away), Mar 28 v Kerry (home),
Apr 12 v Westmeath (home)
FERMANAGH
Malachy O’Rourke The stock value of provincial Championship titles may have reduced in some eyes with All-Ireland Qualifiers, the back door system, second chance saloon and all the rest of it, but there are a raft of counties who would give their right arms to win a ‘provincial’. Fermanagh is most definitely one of them.
It was a shame that they didn’t quite get over the line the first day against Armagh. Played fine football, created so many chances, forced so many opportunities, but were not able to apply the couple of finishing blows to win the Ulster final. The replay allowed a regrouped Armagh to draw on all the experience of five other title wins this decade to deny them a first Ulster SFC success.
That hurt deeply for O’Rourke (below), in his debut season as manager, and his players. The catalogue of missed chances the first day played on forwards’ minds, particularly the free-takers. Confidence was completely drained for the All-Ireland Qualifier that followed against Kildare at Croke Park in a truly awful affair. They can only learn from it, develop the resources needed to go at it again this year and give themselves an even better chance, if results fall right, to bid again. An Ulster final and replay, promotion from Division Three, a League final against Wexford. Not a bad return for O’Rourke in year one. The main objective remains the
Anglo-Celt Cup. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Monaghan (home), Feb 14 v Meath (away), Mar 7 v Cork (away), Mar 15 v Armagh (home), Mar 21 v Laois (away), Mar 29 v Kildare (home), Apr 12 v Wexford (away)
GALWAY
Liam Sammon Good to watch last year when they clicked, Galway’s attacking game produced seven goals and 48 points in the Connacht and
All-Ireland Championships. There were phases of play when they looked an exciting title contender for the Croke Park stage of the summer, but when they arrived, so too did monsoon rains and Kerry.
The quarter-final draw was hard on them, the match made near impossible by atrocious conditions, but the contest they and Kerry produced was stunning. Galway scored 1-16 in the deluge. Trouble was, and what nearly cost them against Mayo and Leitrim, the defence was already leaky and, between them, Colm Cooper, Bryan Sheehan, Tommy Walsh and Declan O’Sullivan helped Kerry score 1-21.
Still, there was much to admire in Sammon’s first season. He could do with a couple more Michael Meehan- types and Joe Bergin and other key men to stay injury-free. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Westmeath (away), Feb 15 v Dublin (home), Mar 7 v Tyrone (away), Mar 15 v Donegal (home), Mar 21 v Derry (away), Mar 29 v Mayo (home), Apr 12 v Kerry (away)
KERRY Jack O’Connor Keys to the Kingdom II. Jack’s much talked about return may inspire a second book once he has finished. The first provoked debate, and so might the sequel if there’s one, especially if the Championship produces a match-up with champions Tyrone down the line. Kerry versus Tyrone for the title in September is the dream game they will hope comes to pass.
Two All-Irelands in 2004 and ’06, both won against Mayo, two Munster titles in the same years, two Division One titles those seasons also. Formidable track record for O’Connor (main picture with Declan O’Sullivan) but sandwiched in between defeat to Tyrone, just as his successor Pat O’Shea endured last September. Jack’s opinion of the final was sought beforehand. He reckoned Kerry had the ammunition to avenge the ’05 final loss and semi-final defeat Paidi O Se’s side suffered two years earlier.
Key to it, the ‘Twin Towers’ of Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh. Chemistry of McMahon brothers Justin and Joe subdued the threat. O’Shea resigned after the three in-a-row bid was so sensationally scuppered, leaving the way open for O’Connor to take up the challenge again. Provides a fascinating sub-plot to a season relished by football fans and pundits alike.
Tyrone pay a visit to the Kingdom on St Valentine’s Day but, whatever the result, Jack’s focus and that of opposing manager Mickey Harte will be on what the summer delivers. Powder will be kept dry until then. August and beyond. That’s when it counts. They may meet, perhaps not. Championship results will as ever hold the key as Jack looks for a third
All-Ireland. No points for guessing the one county Kerry would like that to be achieved against. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Donegal (home), Feb 14 v Tyrone (away), Mar 7 v Derry (away), Mar 14 v Mayo (home), Mar 21 v Westmeath (home), Mar 28 v Dublin (away), Apr 12 v Galway (home)
KILDARE Kieran McGeeney Year two for McGeeney (right) and right-hand man Paul Grimley. The former All-Ireland SFC winning captain’s first season of experiences as a senior county manager were mixed. The League’s teething programme disappointed. There were injury setbacks and, in the Championship, performances in the Qualifiers offered signs of a corner being turned.
Going into the final round of Division One games last season they needed Mayo to lose, which they did at Tyrone, and a win away at Laois. That game ended in a draw as their opening game, at Tyrone, finished also. A one-point defeat at Kerry came back to haunt them as well and they were relegated. Outside of Johnny Doyle, they struggled in the scoring third of the field. Gained only one win in the NFL, by a point at home to Donegal, two draws at Tyrone and at Laois, and ran Galway and Kerry to a point.
The big focus, as ever, was how McGeeney’s debut at Championship level would pan out. Wicklow knocked them out of Leinster in round one but in the Qualifiers he was given reason to be encouraged. Fought the bit out to beat Cavan thanks to James Kavanagh’s injury-time goal, stunned Limerick at Pairc na nGael, where Johnny Doyle’s goal proved crucial, then put confidence-drained Fermanagh out of their misery at Croke Park. There didn’t appear much to be hopeful about when against Cork, first half, they fell 2-3 to 0-0 behind, but a stirring second half ended the campaign on a better note though Cork held on.
A reasonable building block to work from, the task of trying to retain Division Two in what is an extremely tough section that includes a game against Ulster champions Armagh and All-Ireland semi-finalists Cork and Wexford, and whatever the Championship throws at them. The SFC starts on May 24 against Offaly. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Laois (away), Feb 15 v Cork (home), Mar 8 v Wexford (home), Mar 15 v Monaghan (away), Mar 22 v Armagh (home), Mar 29 v Fermanagh (away), Apr 12 v Meath (away)
KILKENNY
Tom Brennan With commitment in place to try and move football forward in the hurling kingdom, Kilkenny returned to the NFL after an absence of several years last season, taking their efforts to the next stage after brief appearances in the 2006 and ’07 Tommy Murphy Cup competitions and O’Byrne Cup.
Brennan took charge of team affairs at the start of last year.
The League in ’08 started with heavy defeats to Tipperary and Antrim. This remained a theme against Waterford, Wicklow and Clare before, on April 13, the Cats grabbed the NFL headlines with a shock 2-13 to 0-15 win at Nowlan Park – a first in the League since the 1990s – over London.
Lost heavily in the Tommy Murphy Cup a couple of months later at the hands of the Exiles and in their main target, the Leinster JFC, to Wexford but enthusiasm and effort of players has encouraged Brennan to stick with the challenge.
League draw doesn’t offer much opportunity to equal last season when they avoided finishing bottom of Division Four.
Progress at Leinster JFC level is their summer goal again. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Sligo (away), Feb 7 v Antrim (home), Feb 15 v Waterford (away), Mar 8 v Wicklow (home), Mar 15 v Clare (away), Mar 22 bye, Mar 29 v Leitrim (home), Apr 12 London (away), Apr 18 v Carlow (home)
LAOIS
Sean Dempsey For the second time in three seasons Laois has a new man at the helm. Dempsey succeeds former Limerick manager Liam Kearns, who took charge in ’07 after the departure of Mick O’Dwyer.
A disappointing campaign last year led to yet another change of management.
Dempsey is from the St Joseph’s club and inherits a squad that contains many players he worked with at minor and U21 levels, especially in 2003 when he managed Laois to the
All-Ireland minor title. He brought the county’s U21s to the All-Ireland the season before last. In 2007, he was also one of Kearns’ senior selectors but wasn’t involved with the seniors last year, concentrating instead on the U21s.
This month’s O’Byrne Cup and Shield has been used to blood 15 new players invited into his preliminary panel. Laois were relegated from Division One after failing to win a single game last season. In the SFC had a short run also, a win over Wicklow followed by defeats to Wexford and Down. MJ Tierney, Donie Kingston, Brian McCormack and Ross Munnelly in attack, Padraig Clancy centrefield, will be central to progression.
Former Allstar defenders Tom Kelly (pictured) and Joe Higgins may return for the League. Carlow or Louth are first SFC opponent on June 14. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Kildare (home), Feb 14 v Armagh (away), Mar 7 v Meath (away), Mar 14 v Cork (home), Mar 21 v Fermanagh (home), Mar 29 v Wexford (away), Apr 12 v Monaghan (home)
LEITRIM
Mickey Moran Last August, the Maghera man’s return to Connacht football was confirmed. Moran’s seventh term in senior county management since the early 1980s, he takes over from Dessie Dolan after a break from the scene after leaving Mayo’s post after an All-Ireland final defeat to Kerry.
During this period he managed Antrim club Creggan Kickhams and Jordanstown, taking UUJ to successive Sigerson Cup finals, winning the trophy in ’08. Mickey previously had three spells with his native Derry, helping them to All-Ireland SFC success in 1993 as coach to manager Eamon Coleman, managed Donegal and Sligo, reaching provincial finals with both,and won a Connacht title with Mayo.
John Morrison has been part of various management teams with him and was appointed last August as Leitrim’s new trainer. Leitrim were relegated from Division Three on the final Sunday last season, losing to Limerick by a point. Dolan left behind a fairly good squad. Pushed Galway close in last season’s Connacht SFC but, due to relegation, were excluded from playing in the Qualifiers. Lost Tommy Murphy Cup semi-final to Wicklow. Promotion contenders. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v London (away), Feb 7 v Carlow (home), Feb 15 v Sligo (away), Mar 8 v Antrim (home), Mar 15 v Wicklow (home), Mar 22 v Waterford (away), Mar 29 v Kilkenny (away), Apr 12 v Clare (home), Apr 18 bye
LIMERICK
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan A year of highs and lows provided O’Sullivan with enough positive points to stay on for a fourth season. Surprise losses to Sligo and Longford and a four-goal salvo from Down left one of the contenders short-listed for promotion to Division Two well out of the running. Needed a nervous narrow final round win over Leitrim to avert relegation. In the SFC, were very unlucky not to beat Cork. Undone by two late goals. Ripped Meath to shreds in the Qualifiers only to falter against Kildare. After a consistently good NFL, the Meath game also emphasised the exciting talent of teenage forward Ian Ryan. Scored the SFC’s highest individual tally that day with 3-7.
O’Sullivan’s squad is packed with big, powerful players. If they hit form they can challenge for promotion. Difficult start at Louth, who denied him a Division Two final appearance in his first season (2006). Key games also at Cavan and at home to Down in March. Squad boosted by requests of senior hurlers Stephen Lucey, Mark O’Riordan and Stephen Walsh to play football also in National Leagues. Last year both Stephen Lavin and Padraig Browne featured in the NFL though both were overlooked for the Senior Hurling Championship. Open SFC on May 24 against Division Three rivals Tipperary. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Louth (away), Feb 15 v Roscommon (home), Mar 8 v Tipperary (home), Mar 14 v Cavan (away), Mar 22 v Down (home), Mar 29 v Longford (away), Apr 12 v Offaly (away)
LONDON
Noel Dunning Apathy was an issue for the Exiles last year, with defections from the panel leaving them on a hiding to nothing in the NFL. Hammered out of sight in the first six rounds, even Kilkenny proved too much for them as they inflicted a seventh straight loss. Rounded off on the same note against Clare to finish bottom of the pile.
In the Connacht SFC, were drubbed by 16 points at Ruislip by Sligo. Restored some pride in the Tommy Murphy Cup with wins over Kilkenny and Sligo before losing in the semi-finals to eventual winners Antrim. In the NFL results have been dismal. One win in four years. Home game against Kilkenny on April 12 likely to decide whether they finish bottom or next to it. May 24 sees them face an emphatic exit from the Connacht SFC when they host Galway. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Leitrim (home), Feb 7 bye, Feb 15 v Carlow (away), Mar 8 v Sligo (home), Mar 15 v Waterford (home), Mar 21 v Antrim (away), Mar 29 v Wicklow (away), Apr 12 v Kilkenny (home), Apr 18 v Clare (away)
LONGFORD
Glen Ryan The former Kildare Allstar and Irish International Rules half-back, recently retired from county football, steps into the senior team manager’s shoes for the first time. Ryan replaces Luke Dempsey, who is now in charge of his native Carlow.
He is spending this month like most other county managers, assessing options after a trawl of talent prospects. Opened the year with an O’Byrne Cup win over Athlone IT, which included promising showings from forwards David Morgan and Padraig Shanley. Louth’s greater strength and quality, however, left Ryan with things to think about when they hit them with 4-12 at Pearse Park last weekend.
Longford fielded only one third of the team that lost at home in the 2008 SFC to Westmeath (Leinster) and Laois (Qualifiers). He is likely to be without star forward Brian Kavanagh for the opening League game on February 1 due to Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland SFC commitments and for the round two game against Offaly for the same reason. A number of players are on extended breaks, including the Barden brothers, Paul and David, and ‘keeper Damien Sheridan. Bernard McElvaney is set to return to the panel after spending last year in Australia. Ryan will hope all are available before long as they face a battle to avoid slipping down another rung of the NFL ladder. Open Leinster SFC on May 24 against Wicklow. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Cavan (home), Feb 15 v Offaly (away), Mar 8 v Roscommon (away), Mar 15 v Down (home), Mar 22 v Louth (away), Mar 29 v Limerick (home), Apr 12 v Tipperary (away)
LOUTH
Eamonn McEneaney Has a maturing squad that, on paper, and if consistent enough, are better than their Division Three grading. January’s form has been promising, 6-24 in two games, with key forwards Shane Lennon, Darren Clarke and JP Rooney impressing in O’Byrne Cup wins over UCD and Longford.
Division Two winners in 2006, missed the Division One cut-off point in the League’s regrading for ’08 and instead found themselves dropping into a new-look third tier.
Defeats to promoted Fermanagh, Weford and Down, all of whom finished above them, and a list of injuries kept them in Division Three. Getting themselves out of it is the first objective.
McEneaney has a number of good, experienced forwards, Paddy Keenan in the middle of the park, and key defensive players returning after spells on the sideline.
Promotion prospects likely to become clearer after they go to Offaly in round three as they open with back-to-back tests against the two others favoured to in the shake-up also – Limerick (home) and Down (away). Last year was also all-too-brief and disappointing for them in the Championship.
In fairness, Louth were handed a couple of short straws, firstly Dublin, then in the Qualifiers the eventual All-Ireland winners Tyrone. Landed Carlow in the first round this summer. Potential for 2009 to be better than ’08. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Limerick (home), Feb 14 v Down (away), Mar 8 v Offaly (away), Mar 15 v Roscommon (home), Mar 22 v Longford (home), Mar 28 v Tipperary (away), Apr 12 v Cavan (home)
MAYO
John O’Mahony In the build-up to last summer’s Connacht SFC, bookmaker Ladbrokes ran a promotional Charity Bet event that O’Mahony (main picture) was invited to take part in.
He opted against a tip for a horse race, placing e1,000 instead at odds of 20/1 on Mayo to win the All-Ireland title.
The horse came home in flying colours at 4/1. Mayo cleared a provincial semi-final hurdle (Sligo), were edged by a nose in the Connacht final (2-12 to 1-4 by Galway), before entering the Qualifiers in round three and falling by a point to eventual winners Tyrone at Croke Park.
The opportunities were there to win both those games but they dropped the baton both days.
O’Mahony’s second year finished much the same as the first, All-Ireland hopes floundering in the Qualifiers (2007 v Derry), though they did reach that season’s NFL final, losing to Donegal.
Last year’s League was average at best, two wins and a draw keeping them out of relegation’s clutch but off the pace at the right end of the table.
Start 2009 home to Derry and away to Donegal. Same counties, reverse venues. Lost to both in ’08.
New York, folllowed by Leitrim or Roscommon, provides the initial SFC schedule. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Derry (home),
Feb 14 v Donegal (away), Mar 8 v Westmeath (home), Mar 14 v Kerry (away),
Mar 22 v Dublin (home), Mar 29 v Galway (away), Apr 12 v Tyrone (home)
MEATH
Eamonn O’Brien One of the 19 changes in the senior football team manager profiles from the end of last season is the appointment of one of Sean Boylan’s former selectors, who was part the backroom team for both the 1996 and ’99 All-Ireland SFC title wins.
O’Brien was ratified in November, though not before a complicated selection process that initially recommended former Longford manager Luke Dempsey. This was not accepted, Meath officials moved back to square one and started over.
He replaces Colm Coyle, whose tenure started so brightly when lighting up the 2007 Championship by reaching the All-Ireland semi-finals, having earlier taken Dublin to a replay in Leinster and accounted for Galway and Tyrone. However, last season tumbled off the rails. Division Two promotion hopes disappeared after losses to Westmeath and Monaghan. Ended badly. A derby with Dublin resulted in five red cards and several suspensions. Paid a high price in the Championship.
A routine win over Carlow, calm before storm, as Wexford knocked them out by a point. Worse followed. Limerick in the Qualifiers. Humiliation. It was
4-11 to 0-3 with 15 minutes left. Coyle resigned immediately afterwards. O’Brien inherits a good young squad all the same. Capable of a lot better. Leinster SFC should whet their appetite to sort things out. Dublin at Croke Park on June 7. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Cork (away), Feb 14
v Fermanagh (home), Mar 7 v Laois (home), Mar 15 v Wexford (away), Mar 21 v Monaghan (home), Mar 28 v Armagh (away), Apr 12
v Kildare (home)
MONAGHAN Seamus McEnaney This is Banty’s fifth year. The only current manager longer at his post is Tyrone’s three-time All-Ireland winner, Mickey Harte. Championship silver has eluded him since taking charge in 2005. Gave Tyrone a close run in Ulster a couple of seasons back. A summer title and longer run in the All-Ireland play-offs are the targets and McEnaney has a strong, maturing squad capable of making a big impact.
Sparked in ’07 when unlucky not to take out Kerry in the All-Ireland series at Croke Park. Not quite as threatening in key games last summer, slow out of the blocks left them beaten at Fermanagh but turned things around with Qualifier wins over Derry and Donegal. No favours in the next round when drawn against Kerry for the second year in-a-row.
Only three points in it, but Kerry were not troubled as much in that game as the year previously. Monaghan have an exciting mix, captained this year by Vincent Corey, that McEnaney (main picture), his coach Martin McElkennon and selectors Adrian Trappe and Gerry Connolly, part of Sean McCague’s backroom team when the Farney last won Ulster in ’88 and appointed this month to the management set-up, that could go places. McEnaney has them at a stage now that challenging for titles and silverware is the expectation. Developing a chance for promotion to Division One, building a decent run of results ahead of Championship, could make for a more interesting summer. Mettle tester May 24. First round SFC opponents are Damian Cassidy’s Derry. Seek third win in as many Championship campaigns. Winner faces Tyrone or Armagh. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Fermanagh (away), Feb 15 v Wexford (home), Mar 7 v Armagh (away), Mar 15 v Kildare (home), Mar 21 v Meath (away), Mar 29 v Cork (home), Apr 12 v Laois (away)
OFFLAY Richie Connor Six of the 11 Leinster teams have a new manager. Offaly is one of them with the appointment of their most famous modern day captain, Richie Connor, who led the Faithful to a shock win in the 1982 All-Ireland senior football final that denied, thanks to Seamus Darby’s often
re-run and debated goal, Kerry’s bid for a five in-a-row of Sam Maguires.
Connor, an Allstar awarded centre half-back the previous year, played at centre three-quarters then in what was his eighth of 15 senior seasons playing for Offaly. He finished his career with three Leinster SFC medals and six Offaly senior medals and two Leinsters with Walsh Island.
He replaces Pat Roe who, after the disappointments of a poor League in 2007, when in the old Division 2A that demoted the county to Division Four, for last season following the regrading of the NFL format, led them to promotion.
Niall McNamee’s seven-point blitz secured Division Four final victory over fellow promoted Tipperary.
Connor had a three-year spell in senior county management back in the early 1990s. Took charge of Laois following the departure of Bobby Miller in 1990. McNamee will be central to how his first season of a three-year deal goes. Once out of Division Four Offaly were found wanting, beaten by a stronger Westmeath in Leinster and wiped out 5-19 to 2-10 by Down in the Qualifiers. Rebuilding and strengthening work will occupy the management energies. Survival in Division Three is first objective. Avoiding the draw for the first round of SFC Qualifiers requires a win over Kildare at Portlaoise on May 24. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Roscommon (away), Feb 15 v Longford (home), Mar 7 v Louth (home), Mar 15 v Tipperary (away), Mar 22
v Cavan (home), Mar 28 v Down (away), Apr 12 v Limerick (home)
ROSCOMMON Fergal O’Donnell A fair degree of turbulence rocked the Rossies in the past 12 months, so a season of stability wouldn’t go amiss. In 2006, Roscomon won the All-Ireland minor football title. It was their first success in the competition since 1944.
O’Donnell managed the feat. County officials looked to him last September to make the step up to try and motivate a senior squad after the bottom fell out of 2008.
John Maughan started the year as manager, a role he’d been in since ’05 following a spell with Fermanagh. He resigned in March.
Paul Earley agreed to a caretaker role. Michael Ryan took over for the Championship.
The draw could not have been any more difficult given their troubles. Galway hammered them by 16 points at Pearse Stadium.
It wasn’t much better in the Qualifiers, drawn away to Donegal. They lost by eight points.
The League produced a draw with Meath and a last round win over
also-relegated Cavan.
Other results were heavy defeat variety to Monaghan (10), Armagh (24), Westmeath (11) and Dublin (22). FBD Connacht League this month has provided some encouraging efforts before character and commitment is examined in a tough League section that includes Down, Louth and Limerick. Connacht SFC matches them away to Mickey Moran’s Leitrim on May 31. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Offaly (home), Feb 15
v Limerick (away), Mar 8 v Longford (home), Mar 15 v Louth (away), Mar 22 v Tipperary (home), Mar 29 v Cavan (away), Apr 12
v Down (home)
SLIGO Kevin Walsh One of the finest midfielders of the last quarter century, he was the powerhouse at the centre of two All-Ireland SFC victories by Galway and his contributions were honoured by three Allstar awards.
He is a newcomer to the senior county manager arena, replacing Tommy Jordan who spent one season at the helm as successor to Tommy Brehony. He has brought into his backroom team three individuals with strong links and reputations in Sligo football in the past decade or so, Dessie Sloyan, Paul Taylor and Paul Durcan.
Motivating experienced players in the wake of a poor 2008, inspiring what promising young talent the FBD Connacht League games identify is the initial task. Sligo fared badly in the NFL last year, six defeats in seven games seeing them relegated to Division Four. Should be strong enough to get themselves out of there with a squad that includes Mark Breheny, Sean Davey, former Allstar Eamonn O’Hara, Dermot McTernan, Noel McGuire and Adrian Marren.
An NFL first game at home to minnows Kilkenny is a wake-up call. Away tests in two of their last three games, at Antrim and Wicklow, may determine promotion. Round three at home to Leitrim is another key exam. Given they are the last county into the Championship (June 28 Connacht semi-final against London or Galway) promotion and a run to the division’s final would be a bonus.
NFL status: Division Four
NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Kilkenny (home), Feb 7 v Clare (away), Feb 15 v Leitrim (home), Mar 8 v London (away), Mar 15 bye, Mar 22
v Carlow (home), Mar 28 v Antrim (away), Apr 12 v Waterford (home), Apr 18 v Wicklow (away)
TIPPERARY John Evans Second season. Replaced John Owens in October ’07. Promoted from Division Four last year along with Offaly after a stunning conclusion to the competition that had, as one of its central characters, Antrim.
A surprise win at Ardfinnan when Antrim needed a draw to be promoted was billed beforehand as a ‘nothing to play for but pride’ fixture. Antrim then surpassed that when they lost at home to Waterford and because Tipp beat Wicklow, they, and not the sorry Saffrons, were elevated to Division Three.
Applied a bit of unexpected gloss to Evans’ debut campaign that was otherwise highlighted by the prolific marksmanship of Barry Grogan. Their primary free-taker, he finished with
4-48 in the League. Absence of other scoring forwards, however, was emphasised in the Championship when beaten by Limerick and in the Qualifiers by a side with one of the hardest defences to break down last year, Westmeath.
Evans will strive to improve this. UCC beat them by a point in the McGrath Cup a few days ago. Last season’s captain Aidan Foley having emigrated to the USA and Mark Peters of county champions Galtee Rovers is unavailable for the initial stages of the NFL, leaving two full-back line replacements to find also. Difficult to pin-point where the results will be gained to avoid relegation. SFC draw matches them against Limerick on May 24. NFL status: Division Three NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Down (home), Feb 14
v Cavan (away), Mar 8 v Limerick (away), Mar 15 v Offaly (home), Mar 22 v Roscommon (away), Mar 28 v Louth (home), Apr 12
v Longford (away)
TYRONE
Mickey Harte The longest serving current manager, Harte is into year seven. Sam is the ultimate target again. A fourth All-Ireland senior title since 2003, would see them become the first Ulster county to win back-to-back Championships for 48 years. A strong, steadily progressing campaign in the League is desired to build momentum, fitness and blood a few prospects in preparation for the Ulster SFC. Massive first round draw matches the All-Ireland champions against the Ulster champions and most consistent and successful county in the Anglo Celt Cup this decade, Armagh. As two of Tyrone’s All-Ireland victories illustrate, the ultimate can be achieved just as well via the back door Qualifiers than by the front door of reaching August’s quarter-finals via provincial Championship success.
Fifth in Division One last season, the challenge to retain status begins with the opening promotional spectacular planned by the GAA to mark the Association’s 125th anniversary at Croke Park, under lights, against Dublin on January 31. Jack O’Connor’s Kerry visit then on St Valentine’s. August, though, is when Harte (above right) wants to be shoulder to shoulder with all their main rivals and contenders for the
All-Ireland.
Fascinating summer awaits to see what Ulster football’s most successful manager delivers. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Jan 31 v Dublin (away), Feb 14 v Kerry (home), Mar 7
v Galway (home), Mar 15 v Westmeath (away), Mar 21 v Donegal (away), Mar 28 v Derry (home), Apr 12 v Mayo (away)
WATERFORD
John Kiely The highlight of last season was undoubtedly sinking Antrim’s promotion campaign. In the final round of regulation games, Antrim, who had already blown one chance to secure a place in Division Three by losing at Tipperary, were at home needing a draw to go up. Waterford punished a listless effort for a fifth win out of eight games. But having beaten Clare in the Munster SFC the previous year, poor effort resulted in a 0-9 to 0-7 defeat at Ennis. In the Tommy Murphy Cup lost by six points to Wicklow. Kiely’s fourth year in charge. Competitiveness improved last season. Mid-table basement finish probably with early SFC exit. Drew a ‘David versus Goliath’ card in Munster versus champions Cork. May hope for an unfashionable draw in the Qualifiers. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 bye, Feb 7 v Wicklow (away), Feb 15 v Kilkenny (home), Mar 8 Clare (away), Mar 15 v London (away), Mar 22 v Leitrim (home), Mar 28 v Carlow (home), Apr 12 v Sligo (away), Apr 18 v Antrim (home)
WESTMEATH
Tomas O Flatharta Into his fourth successive season. He has blended one of the meanest defences in the country.
Lowest concession rate in the entire NFL in 2008 (Cork totalled one point less at 60 but, due to players strike, played five instead of seven games). Five of their seven opponents in Division Two did not hit the target more than eight times, Dublin and Armagh among them, but under Championship pressure on fast summer ground, for all their good defence play, Westmeath’s Achilles heel caught up with them.
Lack of ruthless finishers. Outside of regular scorer-in-chief Dessie Dolan, Denis Glennon posed the most effective threat. Clearly an aspect of the team O’Flatharta is working to bolster.
For the League, he will be without experienced duo Damien Healy (abroad) and Martin Flanagan (possible ankle surgery).
David Duffy is sidelined following surgery. Retaining top flight status will ask a lot of them. The Leinster SFC draw matches them against Longford or Wicklow on June 13. NFL status: Division One NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Galway (home), Feb 14 v Derry (away), Mar 8 v Mayo (away), Mar 15
v Tyrone (home), Mar 21 v Kerry (away), Mar 29 v Donegal (home), Apr 12 v Dublin (away)
WEXFORD Jason Ryan His first crack at senior county management was certainly eventful, a bit of a roller-coaster with a few encouraging highs. Won the Division Three final against Fermanagh, promotion, but it was the Championship where Ryan’s debut year sparkled, bar one disastrous half.
Ciaran Lyng, Redmond Barry and PJ Banville provided former Allstar forward Matty Forde with excellent support in attack as their Leinster SFC campaign produced a thrilling
one-point win over Meath, a six-point win over Laois and a decent first half to the provincial final against Dublin. The next 35 minutes of the title match were hell on earth for Ryan as his team collapsed and were ripped apart, losing by an embarrassing 3-23 to
0-9. How they responded amazed and offers the former Waterford player plenty to be encouraged about for his second season in charge. Bucket loads of fighting spirit fuelled a Qualifier win over fancied Down and a quarter-final shock over Ulster champions Armagh.
Performed with great credit in the semi-final against Tyrone. Remove the thorn of Dublin’s second half Leinster final blitz all in all a fine first season. More testing NFL can bring them on. Face Kildare or Offaly in the SFC on June 13. NFL status: Division Two NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Armagh (home), Feb 15 v Monaghan (away), Mar 8 v Kildare (away), Mar 15 v Meath (home), Mar 21 v Cork (away), Mar 29 v Laois (home), Apr 12 v Fermanagh (home)
.
WICKLOW
Mick O’Dwyer The legendary manager will be 73 on June 9, by which point he will hope to be looking forward also to a Leinster SFC
semi-final against Dublin or Meath. Wicklow will require wins over Division Three-rated Longford and Westmeath, who compete three divisions above them in the NFL, to make that a reality. Career in senior management started 34 years ago.
After Kerry, Kildare (twice) and Laois he accepted the Wicklow job October ’06. Promotion is high on the wish list, as is a Championship run in Leinster. Winner and loser of Tommy Murphy Cup finals in 2007 and ’08 (both v Antrim).
SFC highlights have been a three-match marathon with Louth, victory last season against Kildare and pushing Laois to two points.
Talisman on the pitch is Leighton Glynn, main forwards free-taker Tony Hannon (0-44 last season), Sean Furlong, JP Dalton and Paul Earls. League exams begin in Belfast against annual rivals Antrim. NFL status: Division Four NFL fixtures: Feb 1 v Antrim (away), Feb 7 v Waterford (home), Feb 15 bye, Mar 8 v Kilkenny (away), Mar 15 v Leitrim (away), Mar 22 v Clare (home), Mar 29 v London (home), Apr 12 v Carlow (away), Apr 18 v Sligo (home)
ANTRIM
ARMAGH
CARLOW
CAVAN
CLARE
CORK
DERRY
DONEGAL
DOWN
DUBLIN
FERMANAGH
GALWAY
KERRY
KILDARE
KILKENNY
LAOIS
LEITRIM
LIMERICK
LONDON
LONGFORD
LOUTH
MAYO
MEATH
MONAGHAN
OFFLAY
ROSCOMMON
SLIGO
TIPPERARY
TYRONE
WATERFORD
WESTMEATH
WEXFORD
WICKLOW
