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With the furore over three handpasses (and one and two bandpasses at times) the actual focus of the last month has been less on teams and more on reportage of the progress and prospects of individual counties. With a mixture of new and returning management teams, and county panels affected in the opening stages by Sigerson and club commitments, there’s an opportunity for a few teams to steal a march. Still at this stage of the year as the league starts, for most diehard fans the county jersey still gets the blood racing after a winter of doing little. Lets look at a few prospects.
Carlow
It’s a case of follow me up to Division 3 for Carlow after blowing fresh through 2018, so they should approach the season with a fair bit of optimism. In Turlough O’Brien they have one of the divisions most experienced managers, and a very able support act in Stevie Poacher who stuck with Carlow rather than join a Down management ticket or otherwise throw his hat in the ring. A team that learns fast and plays smart we’d expect them to hold their status and be an outside push for promotion. Turlough O’Brien and Poacher are entertainers in their refusal to bow to criticism from certain quarters which makes for entertaining usually round about a Wednesday news cycle.
Derry
Derry’s manager Damian McErlaine will be looking to the Slaughtneil contingent and the likes of Enda Lynn to lead a very callow group of players out of Division 4. Derry supporters are hanging their head and praying that vexing the basement tapes in the bottom league will be a one season wonder. It was a blow marking the 25 year anniversary of winning Sam with league relegation. But it offers a chance to rebuild and from there redemption. There’s no doubt the talent in the county suggests higher league status, but last year the combined absence of Slaughtneil in early season along with a few other players either jettisoned too soon or not sufficiently tempted back, meant the Oakleafers suffered through inexperience. Mark Lynch and Sean Leo McGoldrick are definitely gone, as is prospect Callum Brown, off to Oz. But if Derry can mould the youthful prowess of the likes of Ben McCarron with Brendan Rodgers and Emmet Bradley their stay in Division 4 should be short. They face a banana skin opener against Antrim.
Offaly
Interesting appointment in John Maughan, a hugely influential and charismatic figure in his day. Has been off the county radar for a while (ten years gone) and was perplexed on his return after ten years out of county management at the reluctance of a number of Offaly players to return to the fold. That highlights the modern day pressure for a manager, time commitment wedded to prospect of ‘success’ can lead to players saying thanks but no thanks. Shane Horan has arrived from Kilmacud to provide bite up front. Worth watching to see if Maughan can work his magic. And if it is still his day.
Down
Down people naturally don’t like ‘languishing’ in football terms, but at the minute that’s what they are doing in a competitive looking Division 3. With players like the Johnstones, and veteran Kevin McKernan, Down would feel they should be higher up the pecking order. Enter Paddy Tally, taking the Bainisteoir bib at County level for the first time. Credited with bringing organisation and defensive discipline and structure to Galway last season, Tally’s track record with winning Sigerson with St Marys and previous stints in Down and Tyrone, suggests the only way is up for Down. Tally knows the players and the county and as someone said he wouldn’t be there if he didn’t think it was worthwhile. Expect to see a serious push for promotion and a tightening of the Down defence which in the past has been as wide open as the Newry border crossing.
Kerry
New manager in Peter Keane and a young (ish) team. Could take a while to get things settling. But then they are Kerry. Facing Tyrone on Sunday in Killarney maybe isn’t the start Peter would have wanted with - he estimates - up to 14 players unavailable through injury, including David Clifford an injury absence for another few weeks at least. Without Sean O’Shea as well as the Crokes players and David Moran it could be a difficult opening weekend. Note Tommy Walsh could feature in what would be a welcome and impressive renaissance. Like the cheeky child might say. Kerry will be good, but not just yet.
Roscommon
The Rossies are an interesting study now. Good enough to be in Division 1, many folks favourites to be back in Division 2 from whence they came, a little unfair? New boss Anthony Cunningham played down the Connacht FBD success over Galway but he’ll be secretly pleased with his men’s in-your-face attitude and their strong performance. It’s a tasty derby opener against Mayo, with James Horan back in their hotseat. This one will be keenly watched out West, as Connacht could shape up to be a highly competitive and entertaining championship, with the three big hitters all plying their trade in Division 1.
Armagh
The GAA needs Kieran McGeeney. If for nothing more than the deadpan and devastating delivery and assessments he delivers when he chooses to engage with the media. Armagh will have been pleased with the showing against Tyrone in the McKenna Cup in front of 11,000 men, women and children who all paid in to see a tasty bit of post Christmas fayre. Geezer will have liked what he saw from the likes of Grugan, Clarke and O’Neill. It could be a good campaign and after a longish work in progress Armagh are coming along nicely. Noone will enjoy playing them which is just the way Geezer likes it. A team to watch in 2019.