ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
DERRY
Manager: Damian McErlain (first season)
Last year: Relegated from Division Two (finished seventh)
DERRY are too good to be in this division, and are a good shout to go straight back up to the second tier.
Former Derry minor manager Damian McErlain takes over the senior reins from Damian Barton, and the Magherafelt man recently named a youthful looking squad for the season ahead.
Anything less than promotion will be a poor showing from the Oak Leafers as they look to lay a solid foundation for a bid to end an Ulster SFC famine that now stretches back to 1998.
Verdict: Winners
Sunday, January 28 (2.30pm): Westmeath (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Longford (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Offaly (h)
Saturday, February 24 (7pm): Fermanagh (a)
Saturday, March 3 (7pm): Armagh (a)
Sunday, March 11 (2pm): Wexford (h)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Sligo (a)
ARMAGH
Manager: Kieran McGeeney (fourth season)
Last year: Third
LOSING out on promotion to Division Two on the final day of the campaign was a serious disappointment for Kieran McGeeney and his men last year, and they will be burning to get out this time around.
Although McGeeney still has a lot of talent at his disposal, the loss of attackers Stefan Campbell and Jamie Clarke will not be easily covered.
They can be fancied to be promoted, but their huge loss to Tyrone in the championship shows how far they still have to travel to match the top teams.
Verdict: Runners-up
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Sligo (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2.30pm): Westmeath (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Longford (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): Offaly (a)
Saturday, March 3 (7pm): Derry (h)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Fermanagh (a)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Wexford (a)
WESTMEATH
Manager: Colin Kelly (first season)
Last year: Promoted from Division Four (finished first)
THE Lake County strolled through Division Four in 2017, with the only points dropped being those in their opening day draw with Carlow.
They have a new man at the helm in former Louth manager Colin Kelly, as they bid to continue their climb back up through the league tiers.
As recently as 2014, they were in Division One, but three successive relegations had them plying their trade in the basement last year. Previous manager Tom Cribben took Westmeath to two Leinster finals, and Kelly will be under pressure right from the throw-in against Derry on the opening day.
Verdict: Third
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Derry (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2.30pm): Armagh (h)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Wexford (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Sligo (h)
Sunday, March 4 (3pm): Fermanagh (h)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Longford (a)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Offaly (h)
FERMANAGH
Manager: Rory Gallagher (first season)
Last year: Relegated from Division Two (finished bottom)
THERE is also a new boss in charge of Fermanagh, with Rory Gallagher returning to take charge of his native county.
This looks like a good fit for the former Donegal manager, who will, nevertheless, have a lot to do to restore the morale of the Ernesiders.
They finished bottom of Division Two last year taking some sizeable beatings along the way.
They may struggle to beat their northern neighbours in this division, but can fare ok elsewhere, starting with Wexford at Brewster Park.
Verdict: Fourth
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Wexford (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Offaly (h)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Sligo (a)
Saturday, February 24 (7pm): Derry (h)
Sunday, March 4 (3pm): Westmeath (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Armagh (h)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Longford (a)
SLIGO
Manager: Cathal Corey (first season)
Last year: Fourth
TYRONE native Cathal Corey has taken his first step into inter-county management, after establishing a good reputation at club level. The Yeatsmen will surely be competitive again at this level – last year they beat the top two teams, Louth and Tipperary as well as drawing with Armagh – but may just miss out on promotion.
Their opening day clash with Armagh at the Athletic Grounds is a baptism of fire for both Corey and his charges.
Verdict: Fifth
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Armagh (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Wexford (h)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Fermanagh (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Westmeath (a)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Longford (h)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Offaly (a)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Derry (h)
OFFALY
Manager: Stephen Wallace (first season)
Last year: Fifth
STEPHEN Wallace is yet another new managerial appointment, and the former junior All-Ireland winning manager with Kerry has been tasked with making the Faithful a force again.
He has said that he wants to make playing senior football for Offaly a bit ‘sexier’.
Whatever about that goal, Offaly are very lucky that they are not starting in Division Four, as they just survived in Division Three last year.
They should start off with a win to Longford, before tough trips to Fermanagh and Derry.
Verdict: Sixth
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Longford (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Fermanagh (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Derry (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): Armagh (h)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Wexford (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Sligo (h)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Westmeath (a)
LONGFORD
Manager: Denis Connerton (third season)
Last year: Sixth
LONGFORD are becoming something of a mainstay in Division Three, with manager Denis Connerton keeping them there for the past two seasons.
They managed just two wins in their last league campaign, but have developed an enviable track record in not only being competitive in the qualifiers, but taking unexpected scalps – such as Monaghan and Down in 2016.
Connerton would certainly like them to translate that form to the league though, and they can trap well this year with an away win against Offaly.
Verdict: Seventh
Sunday, January 28 (2.30pm): Offaly (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Derry (h)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Armagh (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): Wexford (h)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Sligo (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Westmeath (h)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Fermanagh (h)
WEXFORD
Manager: Paul McLoughlin (first season)
Last year: Promoted from Division Four (finished second)
KILDARE man Paul McLoughlin is also a new managerial appointee.
The Yellowbellies were promoted from the bottom tier last season, and although the new boss will have been heartened by the beating, of an albeit second string Dublin side in the O’Byrne Cup this month, he has also had to deal with a player exodus at present.
Among those missing are Shane Roche and PJ Banville, who have both retired, Kevin O’Grady who is travelling and Colm Kehoe, Jake Firman and Michael O’Regan who have joined the hurlers.
Verdict: Eighth
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Fermanagh (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Sligo (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Westmeath (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): Longford (a)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Offaly (h)
Sunday, March 11 (2pm): Derry (a)
Sunday, March 25 (3pm): Armagh (h)
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION FOUR
ANTRIM
Manager: Lenny Harbinson (first season)
Last year: Relegated from Division Three (finished seventh)
LENNY Harbinson has his work cut out with Antrim, but there does seem to be a fresh air of optimism about the Saffrons as they attempt to break the cycle of yo-yoing between Divisions Three and Four.
Last year was a bitter disappointment, as they won just two games in the third tier.
They are capable of topping this division though, and the way their fixtures fall should mean that they are well in contention when their toughest games against Carlow and Limerick come around.
Verdict: Winners
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Leitrim (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Waterford (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Wicklow (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): London (a)
Sunday, March 4 (12.30pm): Laois (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Carlow (h)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Limerick (a)
LAOIS
Manager: John Sugrue (first season)
Last year: Relegated from Division Three (finished bottom)
THE O’Moore county have appointed Kerry man John Sugrue as their new bainisteoir, and will be looking to bounce straight back up into Division Three, after a dismal 2017 league campaign that saw them finish last in the table.
The county recently received a boost with the news that star attacker Donie Kingston is available for the season after reports that he was going to play basketball for the winter.
Laois have sufficient quality to win Division Four, and should, at least, gain promotion.
Verdict: Runners-up
Saturday, January 27 (7pm): Limerick (h)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Leitrim (a)
Saturday, February 10 (7pm): Waterford (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Wicklow (a)
Sunday, March 4 (12.30pm): Antrim (h)
Sunday, March 11 (1pm): London (a)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Carlow (a)
CARLOW
Manager: Turlough O’Brien (fourth season)
Last year: Third
CARLOW have a fair chance of gaining promotion, but may fall just short.
Manager Turlough O’Brien is entering his fourth season in charge and the Barrowsiders are progressing, albeit slowly, as they have finished fifth, fourth and third over his three years to date.
Their Championship adventure in 2017 will have instilled confidence and with players of the calibre of John Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Paul Broderick, Daniel St Ledger and Sean Gannon in their ranks – they are better fixed than a lot of other counties.
Verdict: Third
Saturday, January 27 (1pm): London (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Limerick (a)
Saturday, February 10 (5pm): Leitrim (h)
Saturday, February 24 (7pm): Waterford (a)
Saturday, March 3 (7pm): Wicklow (h)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Antrim (a)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Laois (h)
LIMERICK
Manager: Billy Lee (second season)
Last year: Fourth
IT was a league season of two halves for Limerick last year, as they lost their opening three games and then won their last four.
They will hope to carry that good latter form into this campaign, but will try and do so without the services of veterans Johnny McCarthy and Seanie Buckley, who have both retired.
They have two tough opening games against Laois and Carlow, but if they can get something from those, a trip to London begins a run of games from which they should be making hay.
Verdict: Fourth
Saturday, January 27 (7pm): Laois (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Carlow (h)
Sunday, February 11 (1pm): London (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Leitrim (a)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Waterford (h)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Wicklow (a)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Antrim (h)
WICKLOW
Manager: John Evans (first season)
Last year: Seventh
FORMER Tipperary and Roscommon manager John Evans has been handed the task of reviving the fortunes of Wicklow, who only managed to beat London last year in an awful league campaign.
Seanie Furlong is a talented forward, and although Evans introduced a number of new players in the O’Byrne Cup, realistically they are probably looking at finishing mid-table.
Their best chance of points are probably in their first two games, at home to Waterford and away to London.
Verdict: Fifth
Sunday, January 28 (2.30pm): Waterford (h)
Sunday, February 4 (1pm): London (a)
Sunday, February 11 (2pm): Antrim (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Laois (h)
Saturday, March 3 (7pm): Carlow (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Limerick (h)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Leitrim (a)
LEITRIM
Manager: Brendan Guckian (second season)
Last year: Fifth
SPEAKING earlier this month, Leitrim manager Brendan Guckian said that the Ridge County have been, since October last year, solely focused on their opening day league clash with Antrim at Corrigan Park.
If Leitrim can get something there against the Saffrons, it will set them in good stead for two more difficult games, before the terrain gets a little easier to navigate.
However, it is not hard to see them kicking around the lower reaches of the basement come late March.
Verdict: Sixth
Sunday, January 28 (2pm): Antrim (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Laois (h)
Saturday, February 10 (5pm): Carlow (a)
Sunday, February 25 (2pm): Limerick (h)
Saturday, March 3 (1pm): London (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Waterford (a)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Wicklow (h)
WATERFORD
Manager: Tom McGlinchey (fourth season)
Last year: Sixth
THE Deise started off with two wins last year, but proceeded to lose the next five matches.
Manager Tom McGlinchey has been three years in the county, and there has not been much to shout about in that time for them.
They can beat Wicklow at home in their first game before Antrim come to Dungarvan ahead of clashes with Laois and Carlow.
They will do well to take any points of those three, and they will surely struggle again in this division.
Verdict: Seventh
Sunday, January 28 (2.30pm): Wicklow (a)
Sunday, February 4 (2pm): Antrim (h)
Saturday, February 10 (7pm): Laois (a)
Saturday, February 24 (7pm): Carlow (h)
Sunday, March 4 (2pm): Limerick (a)
Sunday, March 18 (2pm): Leitrim (h)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): London (a)
LONDON
Manager: Ciaran Deely (third season)
Last year: Eighth
EVEN playing all their league games this year in Ruislip is unlikely to prevent London from propping up the table come the end of March.
That said, they are always competitive, and capable of springing the odd surprise, as they did last year when deservedly beating Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park, a loss which ultimately cost the Barrowsiders promotion.
Turlough O’Brien’s men are the first visitors to McGovern Park this time around, and there should not be a repeat result.
Verdict: Eighth
Saturday, January 27 (1pm): Carlow (h)
Sunday, February 4 (1pm): Wicklow (h)
Sunday, February 11 (1pm): Limerick (h)
Sunday, February 25 (2.30pm): Antrim (h)
Saturday, March 3 (1pm): Leitrim (h)
Sunday, March 11 (1pm): Laois (h)
Sunday, March 25 (1pm): Waterford (h)
