Sport

Enda McGinley: League to look forward to as new Championship permutations add to the drama

Tyrone's Niall Sludden and Dessie Mone (Monaghan) in action during the Allianz Football League Division One clash at Healy Park, Omagh on February 23 2019. Picture by Philip Walsh.
Tyrone's Niall Sludden and Dessie Mone (Monaghan) in action during the Allianz Football League Division One clash at Healy Park, Omagh on February 23 2019. Picture by Philip Walsh. Tyrone's Niall Sludden and Dessie Mone (Monaghan) in action during the Allianz Football League Division One clash at Healy Park, Omagh on February 23 2019. Picture by Philip Walsh.

It makes a great change from the relative quiet of the past two-three months to be able to look forward to two months of non-stop competitive action. With a Special Congress, new rules and new competitions, the off-season has been a busy one but at last, now the new season begins.

For many teams, outside of those in real Championship contention, the National Football League (NFL) is their most meaningful period of the season and will be the primary gauge of progress made or ground loss by season's end.

The solid, hard graft of attempting to move up or maintain status in the desired division are the foundation blocks to any teams overall development. Without it, any surprise summer Championship run is merely a mirage as without making headway on the league front there can be little hope of definite progress or development.

This seasons edition of the NFL is different of course, carrying as it does, for the first time in GAA history, responsibility for determining (along with provincial final pairings) of the perspective make-up of the tiered inter-county Championships this summer.

Crucially the cut is not made on how the NFL starts but how it finishes; ie: those teams promoted from Division 3 or relegated from Division 2 will have respectively gained or lost the right to remain in the senior Championship proper for 2020.

Given the disparity between the provincial Championships, it certainly leaves Ulster teams in a much trickier situation when it comes to gaining a senior Championship life-line by reaching a provincial final.

That will have particular relevance for Cavan and Fermanagh who, along with Armagh, make up the Ulster contingent in what will be a fiercely competitive division.

The big hitters will be Kildare, under new boss Jack O’Connor, and Roscommon.

Both teams have been playing yo-yo for some time between the top two divisions and look sure to be among the contenders for promotion with Armagh for me the most likely contender.

Following Armagh over recent league campaigns has been high on entertainment and drama.

How they would love to replace that with some boring consistency, as that particular ingredient would serve to make the Orchard men a serious proposition indeed.

Cavan and Fermanagh, having lost key men over the winter look likely to be in a dog fight to survive.

Last year a massive first round home win against Kildare and led to Fermanagh’s brief promotion push.

Kildare again are first up for the Erne men but this time it’s in Newbridge while Kildare, now with Kerry All-Ireland winner Jack O’Connor at the helm will be very determined to start like they mean to go on.

Despite the tough start which sees them play Roscommon in round two, the four home game advantage should mean Ricey McMenamin’s charges will do enough to maintain their status which would be a very good result.

Cavan's excellent run to last year’s Ulster final, beating Monaghan and Armagh en-route, was followed by drubbings by Donegal and then Tyrone.

The loss of key players over the winter will have done little to rebuild the mood within the camp.

Consolidation in the division should still be an achievable goal for Mickey Graham but some early momentum will be vital to get those recent disappointments out of the system.

In many respects, Division Three looks as strong as Division 2.

Cork, Down and Tipperary, will all feel that they simply shouldn’t be there and you can add Derry to this mix too.

All four have contested provincial finals, All-Ireland quarter-finals or had Division 1 campaigns within the past four seasons.

All would be among the favourites to lift the eventual ‘B Championship’ yet all will be fighting tooth and nail to avoid being in it.

For both Derry and particularly Down, it’s all about the start.

A massive game between themselves on the February 1st goes with a game against Tipperary for Derry and games against Tipperary and Cork for Down within the initial batch of three games that occur before the mini-break in mid-February.

Both teams face the challenge of best harnessing the talents of returning club men and whoever manages that best will be favourites to gain that crucial head start.

Antrim will, unfortunately, plough the lowest and loneliest Ulster furrow in Division 4.

Whether or not they wish to be in a ‘B-Championship’ teams at this level know that barring the minor miracle of making a provincial final they will be in it.

Yet the reality is such teams usually just became the early round qualifier cannon fodder for some rehabilitating big gun anyway.

Unless the GAA are completely ham-fisted, I expect them to throw everything they have from a promotional point of view to making the new competition a success and so inclusion and a run in it could be well worth these teams determined focus.

Antrim’s previous best form and Championship campaigns came off the back of serious progress in the league and of course their winning of the ill-fated Tommy Murphy Cup.

For a once-again rebuilding Antrim, the league will be used to get returning players up to speed and attempt to put together a decent campaign with an eye on the potential for a credible summer championship run.

Going from the bottom to the top and finishing then with division one.

Most significantly, of course, we have post-Jim Gavin era Dublin.

All attention will remain on the champions throughout the league as everyone looks for evidence of changes, weaknesses or, God Forbid, improvements under Dessie Farrell.

Ironically the primary dog fight in the top division is simply to avoid the drop.

For Monaghan, a new post-Malachy O’Rourke era beckons and with a gradual, ongoing changing of the guard, it has the makings of a tough campaign.

With the inimitable Banty McEnaney back on the sidelines, it feels hard to imagine them succumbing to the gravitational pull down which they have so often defied in the past.

Critically, the fitness of the mercurial Conor McManus remains as crucial as it ever has for the Farney with the search continuing for a reliable assistant to their star man.

Tyrone have of course suffered the drop before and will be aware that their high-profile absentees will make them vulnerable again.

Ironically, their awareness of that vulnerability may be their making.

The strange backs-against-the- wall feel that is there from the start should sharpen the senses of all the players to step up and ensure people stop talking of those that are not there and concentrate on those that are.

Teams just promoted can sometimes be the surprise packets who end up towards the top of the division.

Donegal are of course in that boat and their young generation of players who broke onto the stage three years ago should now be well experienced and could, if their focus is on it, make a significant push at the competition.

Throw in Padraig Joyce’s new era in Galway, the ever-entertaining Mayo and the young guns in Kerry and Division One looks rather enticing indeed.

The National League gives much to look forward to and the new Championship permutations only add to that.

Let’s just hope the new rules do not get in the way of a great competition breaking out.