ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE
DOWN
Manager: Paddy Tally
Last year: Finished seventh in Division Two, relegated.
PADDY Tally is a shrewd appointment as Down boss as he brings second-to-none coaching ability and hunger to succeed to the table. The Mourne men had a miserable league campaign in 2018, and promotion is really a must. It should be well within this group of player’s reach to make an immediate return to the second tier. Having said that, they have not got tremendous strength in depth, and will therefore need all their main men fit and on form if they are to make progress on league and championship fronts.
Verdict: Second
Saturday, January 26: Laois (h)
Sunday, February 3: Sligo (a)
Saturday, February 9: Westmeath (h)
Sunday, February 24: Longford (a)
Saturday, March 2: Offaly (h)
Saturday, March 16: Carlow (a)
Sunday, March 24: Louth (a)
LOUTH
Manager: Wayne Kierans
Last year: Finished eighth in Division Two, relegated.
AFTER a season from hell last year under Pete McGrath, the Wee county faithful will hope that things can only get better this time around. Wayne Kierans, who managed Louth minors to the Leinster final in 2017, is the man entrusted with arresting their slide. This division is more their level at present and they can certainly survive in it, without maybe challenging to get out of it just yet. The visit of Longford on Sunday presents a tough but not insurmountable challenge.
Verdict: Fifth
Sunday, January 27: Longford (h)
Saturday, February 2: Laois (a)
Sunday, February 10: Offaly (a)
Sunday, February 24: Sligo (h)
Saturday, March 2: Carlow (a)
Saturday, March 16: Westmeath (h)
Sunday, March 24: Down (a)
OFFALY
Manager: John Maughan
Last year: Sixth
THE Faithful avoided the drop to Division Four on the last day of the 2018 season, but will hope that with John Maughan now at the helm, they can, at the very least consolidate their place in the third tier. It will be fascinating to see how Maughan gets on in Offaly, as on the face of it, they do not look a natural fit. The much-travelled manager is certain to have his troops well set up and organised to a tee.
Verdict: Sixth
Sunday, January 27: Westmeath (h)
Sunday, February 3: Longford (a)
Sunday, February 10: Louth (h)
Sunday, February 24: Carlow (h)
Saturday, March 2: Down (a)
Saturday, March 16: Laois (h)
Sunday, March 24: Sligo (a)
SLIGO
Manager: Paul Taylor
Last year: Fifth
THIS year sees Sligo compete in Division Three for the eighth consecutive year, and it is hard to see 2019 being the year that the Yeatsmen make a jump up a division. One of their longest ever-serving players, Paul Taylor, is their new boss, and he will have plenty of goodwill behind him as he attempts to move the county forward. But he will have to do so without last year’s captain Kevin O’Donnell, as well as David Kelly and Ross Donovan.
Verdict: Seventh
Sunday, January 27: Carlow (a)
Sunday, February 3: Down (h)
Sunday, February 10: Laois (a)
Sunday, February 24: Louth (a)
Sunday, March 3: Westmeath (h)
Sunday, March 24: Offaly (h)
LONGFORD
Manager: Padraic Davis
Last year: Third
LONGFORD will be without their Mullinalaghta players for, at the very least, their first three league outings, which is a huge handicap for new manager Padraic Davis. And should the county champions beat Dr Crokes to reach the All-Ireland club final, the county side will most probably not see them for the league at all. It looks likely, therefore, that survival will be the name of the game in this division, which is a shame because they had a fine campaign in 2018.
Verdict: Eighth
Sunday, January 27: Louth (a)
Sunday, February 3: Offaly (h)
Sunday, February 10: Carlow (a)
Sunday, February 24: Down (h)
Saturday, March 2: Laois (a)
Saturday, March 16: Sligo (h)
Sunday, March 24: Westmeath (a)
WESTMEATH
Manager: Jack Cooney
Last year: Fourth
IN the shape of Jack Cooney, who was a selector when Paidi O’Se won Leinster with them in 2004, the Lake county have a native in charge of their senior footballers for the first time in 26 years. They have already won the O’Byrne cup this year – beating an experimental Dublin side in the final and have a fair chance of being in the promotion shake-up in this campaign. The loss of star attacker John Heslin – who has decided to concentrate on his studies – is, however, a huge blow to their season.
Verdict: Fourth
Sunday, January 27: Offaly (a)
Sunday, February 3: Carlow (h)
Saturday, February 9: Down (a)
Sunday, February 24: Laois (h)
Sunday, March 3: Sligo (a)
Saturday, March 16: Louth (a)
Sunday, March 24: Longford (h)
CARLOW
Manager: Turlough O’Brien
Last year: Finished runners-up in Division Four, promoted.
IT was one of the highlights of the GAA season last year to see Carlow gain promotion after so much time spent in Division Four. That they went on to beat Kildare in the championship was remarkable too. They are in with a shout of another promotion, and if Brendan Murphy is available that would aid their cause greatly. Paul Broderick is invaluable to them also, but the real strength of Carlow is that the whole is greater than the sum of their individual parts.
Verdict: Third
Sunday, January 27: Sligo (h)
Sunday, February 3: Westmeath (a)
Sunday, February 10: Longford (h)
Sunday, February 24: Offaly (a)
Saturday, March 2: Louth (h)
Saturday, March 16: Down (h)
Sunday, March 24: Laois (a)
LAOIS
Manager: John Sugrue
Last year: Finished first in Division Four, promoted.
JOHN Sugrue has been a notable success story as boss of the O’Moore men, having led them to the Division Four league title and the Leinster SFC final last year. They had little difficulty in gaining promotion and will relish mixing it with the stronger opposition in this division. With players such as the Kingston brothers Donie and Paul, Kieran Lillis , Colm Begley and the evergreen Ross Munnelly at their disposal, they can be a match for any of the teams they will meet here.
Verdict: First
Saturday, January 26: Down (a)
Saturday, February 2: Louth (h)
Sunday, February 10: Sligo (h)
Sunday, February 24: Westmeath (a)
Saturday, March 2: Longford (h)
Saturday, March 16: Offaly (a)
Sunday, March 24: Carlow (h)
DIVISION FOUR
DERRY
Manager: Damian McErlain
Last year: Finished seventh in Division Three, relegated.
HAVING their Slaughtneil players available to them for the league is a boon for the Oak Leafers, and they are surely nailed on for a quick return to Division Three. They leaked some big totals in defeats in that division last term and with the McKaigue brothers Chrissy and Karl, as well as Brendan Rogers back in harness, it is unlikely that they will be so porous in the coming weeks. Derry have enjoyed a lot of underage success in recent years, and some of those players will continue to be blooded at senior level by Damian McErlaine as their league unfolds.
Verdict: First
Sunday, January 27: Antrim (a)
Sunday, February 3: London (h)
Sunday, February 10: Waterford (a)
Sunday, February 24: Wicklow (h)
Sunday, March 3: Limerick (a)
Saturday, March 16: Leitrim (h)
Sunday, March 24: Wexford (h)
WEXFORD
Manager: Paul McLoughlin
Last year: Finished eighth in Division Three, relegated.
PAUL McLoughlin’s men endured a torrid time of it in their last league campaign, winning only one game – and that against an already promoted Armagh – on route to an ignominious relegation. That they were then beaten in the championship by Waterford tells us that they are at a low ebb. That said, there is only one way to go in Division Four, and they can be competitive without threatening to bounce back just now. Brian Malone and Daithi Waters are back for them, which is good news.
Verdict: Fifth
Sunday, January 27: Leitrim (a)
Sunday, February 3: Antrim (h)
Sunday, February 10: London (a)
Sunday, February 24: Waterford (h)
Saturday, March 2: Wicklow (a)
Saturday, March 16: Limerick (h)
Sunday, March 24: Derry (a)
ANTRIM
Manager: Lenny Harbinson
Last year: Third
ANTRIM, along with Leitrim, Wexford and Limerick are probably playing for second place behind Derry. Once again the Saffrons will play four away games, and it will not be easy to go to Leitrim and Wexford in particular. It is vital that they get something from their first two games if they are to sustain a promotion push. Their panel has an unfamiliar and youthful look to it, although there are some talented youngsters available to manager Lenny Harbinson. Losing star forward Tomas McCann, albeit that he has not totally closed the door on a return, is a blow.
Verdict: Third
Sunday, January 27: Derry (h)
Sunday, February 3: Wexford (a)
Sunday, February 10: Leitrim (a)
Sunday, February 24: London (h)
Sunday, March 3: Waterford (a)
Saturday, March 16: Wicklow (h)
Sunday, March 24: Limerick (a)
LEITRIM
Manager: Terry Hyland
Last year: Fifth
LEITRIM lost their first three games in this division last term, and promotion hopes quickly disappeared. They reached the FBD league final this year, where they lost to Mayo on penalties, but impressed with how they stuck to their task against a strong Mayo side. Terry Hyland is an excellent appointment as manager as he brings a wealth of experience and know-how to the job. They have a home game with Wexford on Sunday, and should they win that, Leitrim, with their tails up, can give promotion a right good rattle this time around.
Verdict: Second
Sunday, January 27: Wexford (h)
Sunday, February 3: Wicklow (a)
Sunday, February 10: Antrim (h)
Saturday, February 23: Limerick (a)
Sunday, March 3: London (h)
Saturday, March 16: Derry (a)
Sunday, March 24: Waterford (h)
LONDON
Manager: Ciaran Deely
Last year: Fourth
THE Exiles had a good showing last year, and even in defeat, were not disgraced by any means. Their problem is that they have had a huge turnover of players – even more so than usual – with boss Ciaran Deely stating that only 14 of last year’s panel have stayed on board, alongside 18 newcomers. This means that making a prediction as to how they will get on is tricky indeed. Their home opener against Limerick will be revealing. At this stage, it is not hard to see them struggling.
Verdict: Seventh
Sunday, January 27: Limerick (h)
Sunday, February 3: Derry (a)
Sunday, February 10: Wexford (h)
Sunday, February 24: Antrim (a)
Sunday, March 3: Leitrim (a)
Saturday, March 16: Waterford (h)
Sunday, March 24: Wicklow (a)
WICKLOW
Manager: John Evans
Last year: Eighth
WICKLOW propped up the entire league at the conclusion of action last March, and since then have been hit by the departures of veterans James Stafford, Seanie Furlong, John McGrath and Rory Finn. On the upside, they can now call on the services of Dublin club players Oisin Manning and Davy Devereux, and have talented attacker Conor McGraynor back involved. It is not difficult to see them struggling for results again though.
Verdict: Eighth
Saturday, January 26: Waterford (a)
Sunday, February 3: Leitrim (h)
Sunday, February 10: Limerick (h)
Sunday, February 24: Derry (a)
Saturday, March 2: Wexford (h)
Saturday, March 16: Antrim (a)
Sunday, March 24: London (h)
WATERFORD
Manager: Benji Whelan
Last year: Seventh
ALTHOUGH they finished well down the table in 2018, that doesn’t tell the full story for the Deise last year, as they generally competed well. Their league was followed by a first win in the championship since 2011, beating Wexford. New boss Benji Whelan will be hoping he can build on the good work of his predecessor Tom McGlinchey. He comes into the job with solid club management credentials, having guided the Nire to two county senior titles and making two Munster Club football championship finals.
Verdict: Fourth
Saturday, January 26: Wicklow (h)
Sunday, February 3: Limerick (a)
Sunday, February 10: Derry (h)
Sunday, February 24: Wexford (a)
Sunday, March 3: Antrim (h)
Saturday, March 16: London (a)
Sunday, March 24: Leitrim (a)
LIMERICK
Manager: Billy Lee
Last year: Sixth
A WIN against Waterford and a draw against London were all Limerick had to show for their league outings last year, and a similar story probably awaits them this year. They have London away on Sunday, and a win there would be a good start, but is far from guaranteed. Former underage hurling star Ronan Lynch has been drafted in, and Tommy Childs and Brian Donovan have returned to strengthen Billy Lee’s hand. They won Division Four in 2013, but that seems a long way away now.
Verdict: Sixth
Sunday, January 27: London (a)
Sunday, February 3: Waterford (h)
Sunday, February 10: Wicklow (a)
Saturday, February 23: Leitrim (h)
Sunday, March 3: Derry (h)
Saturday, March 16: Wexford (a)
Sunday, March 24:Antrim (h)
