CAVAN
FOUR home fixtures is always a bonus in a tricky division. Cavan have Ulster rivals Monaghan and Down in their back garden of Kingspan Breffni, with Louth and Cork also facing an away day in rounds three and seven respectively.
Raymond Galligan’s men had a statement win in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year, before Pádraig Faulkner smashed the ball past the returning Rory Beggan to rubber-stamp a Championship win over Monaghan.
The Breffni men petered out in the group stage of the Championship, having lost Paddy Lynch to an ACL tear in April.
Having transferred from Leitrim and played mainly as a forward, don’t be surprised to see Nevin O’Donnell as a wandering first-choice keeper.
Manager Raymond Galligan
Last year Third in Division Two. Extra-time defeat to Tyrone in Ulster classic. Winless in All-Ireland group phase.
Fixtures Monaghan (H), Meath (A), Louth (H), Westmeath (A), Down (H), Roscommon (A), Cork (H)
CORK
ONE would expect Cork to set off their campaign with a win over Meath, but their indifference combined with a new Royals set-up makes it a little less straight-forward to call.
The Rebels were one of only two sides to defeat Donegal in 2024, but a home loss to Tyrone took the sting out of their tail a little, with Louth pulling the pin on their season in the preliminary quarter-final.
Kerry look even more formidable in Munster given the FRC’s new rules, so promotion should be Cork’s primary aim.
Returning Cill na Martra forward Daniel Dineen is a name to watch, while Darragh Cashman has been in sublime form in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup.
Manager John Cleary
Last year Fourth in Division Two. Third on points difference in All-Ireland group phase. Beaten by Louth in preliminary quarter-final.
Fixtures Meath (H), Down (A), Westmeath (H), Monaghan (A), Roscommon (H), Louth (H), Cavan (A)
DOWN
SOMETHING with this Down squad feels ready to click. Although Kilcoo failed to capture the Ulster title in the end, their exit gave Conor Laverty a bit more time with his inter-county thinking cap on.
Danny Magill has been exceptional for UU, while in Ódhran Murdock, Pat Havern and others the Mourne men have frightening athleticism. Caolán Mooney is a huge addition back to the panel after claiming he feels “fitter than I’ve ever been”.
They ran Armagh as close as anyone in last year’s Championship. An ugly match, but one that showed their tactical flexibility. Never has that been more important than right now.
Manager Conor Laverty
Last year Promoted from Division Three. Beaten in the divisional final. Tailteann Cup champions.
Fixtures Roscommon (A), Cork (H), Meath (H), Louth (A), Meath (A), Cavan (H), Monaghan (A)
LOUTH
LOUTH won’t fear much in this division. Having beaten Cork in the League, they repeated the feat in the Championship in Inniskeen.
A draw against Monaghan was another stand-out Championship result, but after the swift departure of Mickey Harte, the pressure was somewhat off last year. Ger Brennan won’t have that luxury this time around.
All-Star Craig Lennon in particular will be a marked man.
Much of their success came with a defensive system and Sam Mulroy often deployed alone up front. That will have to change, but there is no better man than Brennan to do just that, a renowned analyst of the game.
Manager Ger Brennan
Last year Sixth in Division Two. Win over Meath, draw with Monaghan. Beaten in first-ever All-Ireland quarter-final by Donegal.
Fixtures Westmeath (A), Roscommon (H), Cavan (A), Down (H), Monaghan (H), Cork (A), Meath (H)
MEATH
COLM O’Rourke was one of those managers you felt had a third year in him, but such is the commitment of the game at the top level, Meath went calling for Kilmacud’s Robbie Brennan.
In Conor Frayne, Mathew Costello, Conor Gray and others, the Royals have an abundance of dynamic, young forwards that have an eye for goal. Under the new rules that marks them out as all the more dangerous.
To call them raw would be harsh, but they are not fully proven. Come the summer, Meath could be a different animal, but defence could still prove the key component for this year’s Division Two winners before the pitches harden up and teams and officials adapt.
Manager Robbie Brennan
Last year Fifth in Division Two. Beaten heavily by Dublin in Leinster. Winless in All-Ireland group phase.
Fixtures Cork (A), Cavan (H), Down (A), Roscommon (H), Westmeath (A), Monaghan (H), Louth (A)
MONAGHAN
IT’S a new era for Monaghan. Back in Division Two for the first time since 2014, led by new manager Gabriel Bannigan and new captain Micheál Bannigan, his nephew.
Conor McManus, described by Dessie Mone as the county’s “greatest of all time” has hung up the boots, although Karl O’Connell and Darren Hughes are opting in at 37.
There is also a real freshness in the squad, however.
Ulster University’s Michael Hamill is a young gun that could really kick on in 2025.
Manager Gabriel Bannigan
Last year Relegated from Division One. Beaten 0-14 to 0-11 by Galway in All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
Fixtures Cavan (A), Westmeath (H), Roscommon (A), Cork (H), Louth (A), Meath (A), Down (H)
ROSCOMMON
A BIG Roscommon win over Monaghan was their sole victory in last year’s League campaign. Davy Burke has become a marmite man somewhat, with the Kildare native freshening up his backroom team with the addition of former Lilywhite star Hugh Lynch.
The fixture schedule looks favourable for the Rossies, barring perhaps a trip to Cork, as they face Down, Cavan and Monaghan all in the King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.
A big year will be expected from 2023 All-Star Enda Smith, while Daire Cregg has picked up from where he left off last year.
Ben O’Carroll’s extended off-season after a surprise St Brigid’s defeat to Pádraig Pearses is a further boost.
Manager Davy Burke
Last year Relegated from Division One in seventh place. Beaten by Mayo in Connacht. Last-16 win over Tyrone, knocked out by All-Ireland champions Armagh in quarter-final.
Fixtures Down (H), Louth (A), Monaghan (H), Meath (A), Cork (A), Cavan (H), Westmeath (A)
WESTMEATH
THE big news in Westmeath is the retirement of 32-year-old John Heslin. Dermot McCabe’s most immediate task is filling the boots of one of the country’s finest sharp-shooters.
Senan Baker is a name to watch, scoring heavily for DCU in their Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup campaign to date. Ronan O’Toole is seriously well-rounded at centre-forward, while Ronan Wallace is an underrated figure at centre-back, with exhilarating pace.
Forward Conor McCormack has been trying his hand in goal for the Lake county, while Mark McHugh is a huge asset to the management team.
A Leinster derby opener against Louth is absolutely critical for both sides.
Manager Dermot McCabe
Last year Division Three champions. 0 from 4 in the Championship – including a shock defeat to Wicklow.
Fixtures Louth (H), Monaghan (A), Cork (A), Cavan (H), Meath (H), Down (A), Roscommon (H)