CARLOW
Former Laois player Andy Shorthall is the new Carlow manager this year and is already finding life tough. Shorthall has been frustrated by poor turn-outs for initials trials and he has been dealt a further blow by the news that brothers Patrick and Thomas Walsh have opted to play rugby with AIL Division Two side in Bective Rangers in Dublin instead of turning out for Carlow in the National League.
They managed just two wins in Division 2A last year – against Leitrim and London – and can't really hope for much more this term. Their last fixture against London may be a battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Division Four beckons next year.
Fixtures: Feb 3: Clare (h); Feb 11: Offaly (a); Feb 25: Monaghan (a); Mar 11: Roscommon (h); Mar 25: Leitrim (a); Apr 1: Longford (h); Apr 8: London (a) To win Division 2A: 33/1
To win Division 2 outright: 100/1
CLARE THE profile of the Clare footballers has been raised somewhat by the appointment of charismatic Kerryman, Paidi O’Se (below) as manager. Lost out on fourth place in the division last year on points difference. Finishing in the top four would represent some achievement for the Banner county as it would mean they avoid Division Four football next year.
It’s a big ask though. Did account for Antrim in last year’s All-Ireland Qualifier at Casement Park, but O’Se is in no doubt about the work to be done and Clare followers hoping he can repeat the the success he brought to Westmeath must be cautious.
A measure of the task face Paidi was shown in the 1-11 to 0-8 McGrath Cup defeat to University of Limerick three weeks ago. However, Frank O’Dea showed well in midfield in that game and much will rest on the scoring prowess of Dennis Russell and Stephen Hickey.
Fixtures: Feb 3: Carlow (a); Feb 10: Leitrim (h); Feb 25: Roscommon (a); Mar 11: Monaghan (h); Mar 25: Offaly (a); Apr 1: London (h); Apr 8: Longford (a) To win Division 2A: 14/1
To win Division Two outright: 33/1
LEITRIM A REPEAT of last year’s fourth-place finish would do nicely for the Ridge county, ensuring a place in Division Three.
After an opening day draw with Donegal, wins over Clare and London and another stalemate with Longford, Des Dolan’s men were looking like dark horses for promotion. But the wheels came off, most surprisingly against Carlow to whom they suffered a shock defeat, before Roscommon and Limerick ensured a disappointing tail-off to their League challenge.
The FBD League yielded two defeats, against Sligo (2-9 to 0-13) and Galway (0-7 to 0-4) with their third match against GMIT not played because it was deemed irrelevant to the final pairing.
Dolan could maybe have done with an extra competitive outing ahead of Sunday’s tricky opener against Divisional favourites Offaly.
Their top four credentials will be tested by a three-game spell on the road after that.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Offaly (h); Feb 11: Clare (a); Feb 25: London (a); Mar 11: Longford (a); Mar 25: Carlow (h); Apr 1: Roscommon (a); Apr 8: Monaghan (h) To win Division 2A: 12/1
To win Division Two outright: 25/1
LONDON HARD to look for any reasons to be cheerful for the Exiles. Rank outsiders for both 2A and Division Two outright, a win of any kind will spark celebrations in Ruislip.
The closest they got to anyone last year was to within eight points of Leitrim and unsurprisingly possessed the most pourous defence in the entire National League, shipping a grand total of 11-104 in their seven matches.
Manager Noel Dunning will once again have had to start from scratch this year when he sat down to pick his panel.
Only five survivors from the team which faced Mayo in the Championship last year remain and among those to have returned home were Paddy McConigley, who has found his way onto the Donegal panel this year.
Their last NFL triumph was a 1-10 to 0-12 win over Carlow in 2004 and they may have to wait that bit longer for a repeat show.
Fixtures: Feb4: Longford (a); Feb 11: Roscommon (h); Feb 24: Leitrim (h); Mar 11: Offaly (a); Mar 25: Monaghan (h); April 1: Clare (a); Apr 8: Carlow (h) To win Division 2A: 100/1
To win Division Two outright: 500/1
LONGFORD OUTSPOKEN Longford manager Luke Dempsey (below) has already expressed his misgivings about the new League format for next year. However, his up-and-coming side must have an eye on making it into the new Division Two. It may seem a tall order, but encouraging Championship displays against Dublin and Kerry last year will have fuelled optimism in the Midlands. However, their League campaign last year was a frustrating one. Just two wins – against the Division’s whipping boys London and Carlow – and a couple of draws saw their promotion bid fade.
The Barden brothers, Paul and David will again be key players with exciting U21 prospect Brian Kavanagh expected to make his mark.
Fixtures: Feb 4: London (h); Feb 11: Monaghan (a); Feb 25: Offaly (h); Mar 11: Leitrim (h); Mar 25: Roscommon (a); Apr 1: Carlow (a); Apr 8: Clare (h) To win Division 2A: 7/2
To win Division Two outright: 9/1
MONAGHAN LUNLUCKY to find themselves down here after some excellent performances in Division One last year. But the harsh reality is that in some of those tight games against Kerry and Tyrone, they lacked that killer touch. Seamus McEnaney will have a panel galvanised by that experience with a few new faces to freshen things up. Dick Clerkin will be a big loss for most of the campaign, but Paul Finlay will once again be called on to step up and take the responsibility at crucial times.
However, McEnaney will be expecting others to shoulder the burden and newcomers Stephen Fitzpatrick and Mark Daly have shown tremendous maturity so far. The attacking talents of Stephen Gollogly (main pic) and Ciaran Hanratty can also be key for the Farney men this year. Despite only three home games, they should be aiming for at least a semi-final appearance with the Division Two title not beyond their reach. The last of their home games on April 1 against Offaly could be the defining match of the campaign.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Roscommon (a); Feb 11: Longford (h); Feb 25: Carlow (h); Mar 11: Clare (a); Mar 25: London (a); Apr 1: Offaly (h); Apr 8: Leitrim (a) To win Division 2A: 3/1
To win Division 2 outright: 8/1
OFFALY BEAT the two teams that finished immediately above them in Division 1A, Cork and Fermanagh, on their way out of the top tier.
The Faithful county will be looking to secure what will be Division Two football next year and have already been installed as favourites to both top the group and take the Division Two title.
Won two out of three in the O’Byrne Cup, accounting for university opponents UCD and DIT before succumbing to the challenge of Laois in the semi-final.
Manager Pat Roe will again be looking to get the most out of the talismanic Ciaran McManus as well as attacking duo, Thomas Deehan and Niall McNamee.
The Faithful county will also have the services of PJ Ward after the former Westmeath forward, who played against Offaly in last year’s Championship, transferred to the county.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Leitrim; Feb 11: Carlow (h); Feb 25: Longford (a); Mar 11: London (h); Mar 25: Clare (h); Apr 1: Monaghan (a); April 8: Roscommon (h) To win Division 2A: 13/8
To win Division Two outright: 11/4
ROSCOMMON ROSCOMMON will be hoping they can build on the success of St Brigid’s who won the Connacht Club title last year.
Manager John Maughan will be hoping for an improvement on last year when a won five, lost two record was not enough to gain promotion.
However, those two defeats did come at the hands of promoted pair, Donegal and Limerick so the Rossies can be confident they have the measure of the rest of the division.
Maughan has also been boosted by the return from injury of key trio Stuart Daly, Seamus O’Neill and David Casey.
Won just one of their FBD League matches, against NUI Galway and suffered defeats at the hands of Mayo and Sligo IT.
Once again the scoring burden will fall on Frankie Dolan. They face a tricky opener against Monaghan, but with four home games, the Connacht side will approach the campaign with reasonable optimism.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Monaghan (h); Feb 11: London (a); Feb 25: Clare (h); Mar 11: Carlow (a); Mar 25: Longford (h); Apr 1: Leitrim (h); Apr 8: Offaly (a) To win Division 2A: 9/2
To win Division Two outright: 10/1
CARLOW
