O’Byrne Cup
Westmeath v Offaly
(today, Hogan Park, 2pm)
NEW Offaly manager John Maughan has quickly learned that life in the lower echelons of football is usually paved with difficulties.
The two-time Mayo boss will have to make do without Conor McNamee, James Lawlor, Sean Pender, Sean Doyle, Alan Mulhall, Brian Darby and Michael Brazil who have all stepped aside.
“That’s not the situation when you’re talking about the Mayos or Dublins or Kerrys, Tyrones, Donegals,” he said.
Maughan said that he wouldn’t be chasing any player so it opens up some gaps for players to catch the eye in their clash with Westmeath this afternoon with few managing to do that in their opening fixture against Kildare.
The Lilywhites won that match 1-20 to 0-11 and Maughan will expect a much better showing today.
They only had four scorers in all although Johnny Moloney did show up with three points from play.
Westmeath had a good start to the season as they defeated Carlow by four points.
New boss Jack Cooney had planned five changes for this game with their neighbours but the weather intervened and it was postponed. He has opted to name the same team once again although some late changes wouldn’t be a surprise.
Wicklow v Louth
(today, Bray, 2pm)
THIS match was postponed two weeks ago due to the weather so now both teams will belatedly get the chance to make up for opening round losses.
Wicklow were unfortunate to lose out by a point to Longford but Louth suffered a heavy home loss at the hands of Wexford.
Wayne Kierans has moved from selector to manager and he would have been disappointed with the desire – or lack of - shown in the 0-16 to 1-6 loss to the Model county.
Positives were few and far between although Tadhg McEneaney, who was left frustrated with his lack of game-time under former manager Pete McGrath, did show some glimpses of class.
John Evans’s Wicklow lost 1-6 to 1-7 to Longford in their opening fixture.
Oisin Manning and David Devereux, who were both expected to start, were pulled from the starting line-up late on after it was confirmed that their transfers from Dublin do not come into effect until January 1. That ensures that they will not be involved today.
Evans must plan without some key men following the decision of Seanie Furlong and James Stafford to step aside and that significantly weakens their hand.
They can record their first win of the season though against a Louth side that could be set for another difficult season.