ANTRIM
The bookies reckon Meath, Wexford, Cavan and Sligo will take the crucial top four places, but the Saffrons are good value to cause an upset.
Although they failed to win a game in the McKenna Cup, Jody Gormley’s men offered signals that they will be a tougher, more organised outfit in 2007. They conceded just nine points against Donegal, losing on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-8. This makes a change from last year when Antrim had no apparent defensive system in place. The results are there to prove it. In the League they beat Wicklow by a point, but conceded 3-10. In the games they lost, Louth scored 2-15, Westmeath 3-11, Cavan 0-16, Sligo 1-13 and Tipperary 2-13.
This time around Gormley will insist on a shared work ethic. He will also try and establish some type of gameplan. It might just be enough for a place in the top four. Antrim have four home games and a smattering of decent players. If the players are prepared to put in the necessary graft they should be in Division Three next year.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Wicklow (a); Feb 10: Meath (h); Feb 25: Waterford (a); March 11: Wexford (h); March 24: Cavan (h); April 1: Sligo (a); April 8: Tipperary (h). To win Division 2B: 12/1
To win Division Two outright: 33/1
CAVAN
The Breffni Blues will still be smarting from last year’s shock defeat to Waterford which denied them promotion. Westmeath went up due to their superior scoring difference. New manager Donal Keoghan will channel the frustration from last year’s near miss towards a successful campaign in 2007. Reports from inside the Cavan camp are extremely positive. The players are very impressed by Paul Grimley and Donal Keoghan has taken a tough line on discipline. Keoghan will have been encouraged by his players’ displays in the McKenna Cup. He will also be aware that Seanie Johnston is in great form with DCU. The Dublin university played Crossmaglen in a recent challenge game and the Armagh champions struggled to compete with the Cavan sharpshooter. Micheal Lyng is also set to return before the end of the month. Cavan have four away games, but they’ve a decent record against Meath in Navan. Top place should be between these two counties and Cavan might just edge it.
Fixtures: Feb 3: Meath (a); Feb 10: Wicklow (h); Feb 25: Tipperary (a); March 10: Sligo (h); March 24: Antrim (a); April 1: Wexford (h); April 8: Waterford (a). To win Division 2B: 3/1
To win Division Two outright: 7/1
MEATH
LNew Meath manager Colm Coyle never placed a great emphasis on the League when he was in charge of Monaghan, but he can’t afford to be as casual this year. The bottom four teams in Division 2A and 2B will make up Division Four in 2008. All Division Four teams will lose the luxury of a place in the Qualifiers and instead will compete in the Tommy Murphy Cup. Coyle will be keen to avoid this ignominy and his team will be under instructions to win every game.
Coyle has been able to welcome back Darren Fay (main pic). His presence will be a major benefit at this level. Ollie Murphy is also in the squad but the former Allstar’s best days are behind him. Emerging star Cian Ward has a better chance of grabbing the headlines.
Ultimately, Meath should have a greater depth of talent than the other counties in this group. Reports also suggest that there is a better atmosphere in the camp following the departure of Eamon Barry.
Fixtures: Feb 3: Cavan (h); Feb 10: Antrim (a); Feb 25: Sligo (a); March 10: Tipperary (h); March 25: Wicklow (a); March 31: Waterford (h); April 8: Wexford (a). To win Division 2B: 13/8
To win Division Two outright: 3/1
SLIGO
Sligo will need a fair slice luck and a panel of fully fit players if they are to make an impression at the top of the table.
Tommy Brehony’s team doesn’t lack character or the stomach for a battle. In last year’s Championship they produced a series of commendable displays against Galway, Down, Leitrim and Westmeath. They beat Down and Leitrim before falling to Westmeath by a single point after extra-time. Sligo’s trouble stems from their paucity of quality players, a lack of strength in depth and a dearth of emerging talent. In last year’s League they won three games and lost four. This put them in fifth place ahead of Antrim, Waterford and Wicklow. Brehony will realise that a similar sequence of results will consign them to Division Four in 2008. Sligo might squeeze their way into the top four, but it’s not a guarantee. Cavan, Meath and Wexford look stronger. The Yeatsmen will probably get locked in a battle with Antrim for that coveted fourth place.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Tipperary (a); Feb 11: Waterford (h); Feb 25: Meath (h); March 10: Cavan (a); March 25: Wexford (a); April 1: Antrim (h); April 8: Wicklow (a). To win Division 2B: 7/1
To win Division Two outright: 14/1
TIPPERARY
Tipperary won four games last year and finished in fourth place but it’s difficult to see them emulating this feat.
Last season they beat Sligo, Waterford, Wicklow and Antrim. Sligo, Wicklow and Antrim should prove tougher opposition in 2007 while Cavan, Wexford and Meath will be confident of beating the Premier county.
Nevertheless, the men in blue and gold are a very unpredictable outfit. Winners of the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2005, they’ve always a puncher’s chance when double Allstar Declan Browne (above) leads their attack. Although they’ll cause at least one shock, it won’t be enough to keep them out of the bottom half of the table.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Sligo (h); Feb 11: Wexford (a); Feb 25: Cavan (h); March 10: Meath (a); March 25: Waterford (h); April 1: Wicklow (h); April 8: Antrim (a). To win Division 2B: 33/1
To win Division Two outright: 80/1
WATERFORD
The sum total of Waterford’s achievements last year was their outrageous victory over Cavan in the last round of the League which denied the Breffni men promotion to Division 1B.
The Decies footballers can’t be accused of being predictable. Their only other victory in the League came against Sligo. Despite beating solid teams like Sligo and Cavan, they shipped some awful hammerings against Westmeath
(3-23 to 1-7) and Louth (0-5 to 4-11).
Little is likely to change this season. John Kiely’s men start with three tough ties against Wexford, Sligo and Antrim. They might sneak a win against the likes of Tipperary or Wicklow, but it’s hard to summon any optimism for them.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Wexford (h); Feb 11: Sligo (a); Feb 25: Antrim (h); March 11: Wicklow (h); March 25: Tipperary (a); March 31: Meath (a); April 8: Cavan (h). To win Division 2B: 100/1
To win Division Two outright: 250/1
WEXFORD
Wexford are the second favourites to win this Division but they’ll do well to finish in second place.
The draw has been unkind to Paul Bealin’s team. For their third year in a row, they have been handed four away games.
The Model county will need to pick up points quickly in their first four games against Waterford (home), Tipperary (home), Wicklow (away), and Antrim (away). Wexford’s last three games are against Sligo (home), Cavan (away) and Meath (home) and they’ll be hard pressed to secure points from these tough looking encounters.
Wexford much prefer being the underdogs and they did well to survive in Division One for so long. But they face a whole new situation in 2007. Each game will be dog fight and this time Wexford are the giants waiting to be toppled.
Bealin’s men got a taste of what’s to come when Wicklow beat them in the O’Byrne Cup. Similar clashes are set to follow.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Waterford (a); Feb 11: Tipperary (h); Feb 24: Wicklow (a); March 11: Antrim (a); March 24: Wexford (h); March 31: Cavan (a); April 8: Meath (h). To win Division 2B: 9/4
To win Division Two outright: 9/2
WICKLOW
“The whole county is on fire. No matter where he goes there are crowds.’’ So says Wicklow PRO Sean Napier about the effect of Mick O’Dwyer (below) on his native county.
Generating enthusiasm and creating a sense of excitement is one thing, turning that expectancy into success with a county like Wicklow is another.
Last year the Garden county managed just one competitive victory – a League win over Waterford.
Micko has already bettered the record following his team’s victories against Carlow and Wexford in the O’Byrne Cup. A 0-15 to 1-5 defeat to the Dubs brought Micko’s men swiftly back to planet earth. More of the same could follow in Division 2B. Division Three and the Tommy Murphy Cup beckons.
Fixtures: Feb 4: Antrim (h); Feb 10: Cavan (a); Feb 25: Wexford (h); March 11: Waterford (a); March 25: Meath (h); April 1: Tipperary (a); April 8: Sligo (h). To win Division 2B: 14/1
To win Division Two outright: 33/1
