Fintan O'Toole
DERRY
A change of manager? John Brennan stays on for a second year after guiding the Oak Leaf county to last summer’s Ulster final.
How’s the skipper chosen? Barry McGoldrick was last year’s captain but Brennan has yet to announce who will lead the team this season.
Anyone injured? John McCamley picked up a leg injury recently in the Dr McKenna Cup while Gerard O’Kane is likely out for six weeks after tearing his knee cartilage last weekend. Eoin Bradley is a long-term cruciate absentee.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Cailean O’Boyle, fresh out of the U21 ranks, had a peripheral senior role last season but has impressed as a target man at full-forward throughout the Dr McKenna Cup.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Galway (h); Feb 12th v Tyrone (a); Mar 3rd v Monaghan (h); Mar 11th v Kildare (a); Mar 18th v Meath (a); Mar 25th v Louth (h); Apr 8th v Westmeath (a).
Odds: 6/1
Did you know? Derry faced Kerry in consecutive Division 1 league finals in 2008 and 2009.
A successful league will be: Atoning for narrowly missing out on promotion last year by making a successful bid to reach Division 1 this time around.
GALWAY
A change of manager? Last year’s All-Ireland U21 winning boss Alan Mulholland slips into the hot seat vacated by Tomás Ó Flatharta.
How’s the skipper chosen? Finian Hanley has been selected by Mulholland to lead the Tribesmen this year after the Salthill-Knocknacarra player had shared the captaincy duties with Kieran Fitzgerald and Micheal Meehan last year.
Anyone injured? Star attacker Micheal Meehan is the main figure on the treatment table as he continues to battle a serious ankle injury.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? DCU student Fiontain Ó Curraoin was a midfield star in last year’s All-Ireland U21 winning team and is poised to develop further.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Derry (a); Feb 12th v Louth (h); Mar 4th v Westmeath (a); Mar 11th v Meath (h); Mar 18th v Tyrone (h); Mar 25th v Monaghan (a); Apr 8th v Kildare (h).
Odds: 5/1
Did you know? New manager Alan Mulholland was part of the Salthill-Knocknacarra team that lost the 1991 All-Ireland club SFC final to Derry club Lavey.
A successful league will be? Introducing the key talents of the 2011 All-Ireland U21 winning side to life at senior level and forming a settled starting XV for the championship.
KILDARE
A change of manager? Kieran McGeeney remains at the helm for a fifth successive year.
How’s the skipper chosen? John Doyle will wear the captain’s armband for a second successive year.
Anyone injured? Defender Emmett Bolton currently has an Achilles tendon injury while attacker Fionn Dowling is battling an ankle problem.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Tommy Moolick, a county minor in 2009, featured in the league last year and the highly-rated forward will be looking to establish himself this season.
Fixtures: Feb 4th v Tyrone (n); Feb 12th v Monaghan (a); Mar 3rd v Meath (a); Mar 11th v Derry (h); Mar 18th v Louth (a); Mar 25th v Westmeath (h); Apr 8th v Galway (a).
Odds: 2/1
Did you know? Kildare won four games in Division 2 last season but finished only in fifth place.
A successful league will be: Claiming promotion. A county of Kildare’s stature and ambition needs to be returning to Division 1 football.
LOUTH
A change of manager? Peter Fitzpatrick will stay in charge for the 2012 campaign.
How’s the skipper chosen? Inspirational midfielder Paddy Keenan remains the captain role.
Anyone injured? Derek Byrne has a broken finger while Shane Lennon is out for two months with a groin injury.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Cathal Bellew is a new attacker that will likely be given a chance to impress.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Westmeath (h); Feb 12th v Galway (a); Mar 4th v Tyrone (h); Mar 11th v Monaghan (a); Mar 18th v Kildare (h); Mar 25th v Derry (a); Apr 8th v Louth (a).
Odds: 28/1
Did you know? Louth have claimed victories over Roscommon, Crossmaglen Rangers and Down in challenge games in recent weeks.
A successful league will be: Division 2 will represent a serious step up in class for last year’s Division 3 champions and avoiding the drop will be their primary objective.
MEATH
A change of manager? Seamus ‘Banty' McEnaney will be hoping for a more successful second year after his turbulent opening season in charge.
How’s the skipper chosen? Seamus Kenny has been reappointed captain for the 2012 season.
Anyone injured? Jamie Queeney is out with a broken jaw, Kevin Reilly has an Achilles injury while Shane O’Rourke is facing surgery on a hip problem.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Oldcastle forward Paddy Gilsenan has caught the eye with his work ethic and attitude.
Fixtures: Feb 4th v Monaghan (h); Feb 12th v Westmeath (a); Mar 3rd v Kildare (h); Mar 11th v Galway (a); Mar 18th v Derry (h); Mar 24th v Tyrone (a); Apr 8th v Louth (h).
Odds: 11/2
Did you know? Meath last won the Division 1 football league title in 1994.
A successful league will be: After the problems they encountered last spring in narrowly avoiding relegation and claiming a single victory, a top four finish this time around would be welcomed.
MONAGHAN
A change of manager? Eamonn McEnaney will be looking to build during his second year in charge.
How’s the skipper chosen? Key defender Darren Hughes has been announced as the captain by McEnaney.
Anyone injured? Attacker Conor McManus will miss the early rounds of the league but the return to fitness of Dessie Mone, Kieran Hughes, Paul McGuigan and Stephen Gollogly is a major boost.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Inniskeen’s Matthew McKenna has shown up well in the early rounds of the National League.
Fixtures: Feb 4th v Meath (a); Feb 12th v Kildare (h); Mar 3rd v Derry (a); Mar 11th v Louth (h); Mar 18th v Westmeath (a); Mar 25th v Galway (h); Apr 8th v Tyrone (a).
Odds: 10/1
Did you know? Monaghan defeated Sunday’s league opponents Meath, in the 2005 Division 2 league final by 3-13 to 3-12 courtesy of a dramatic late goal by Paul Finlay.
A successful league will be: Consolidating their Division 2 status and assembling a fit squad before the start of the Ulster championship.
TYRONE
A change of manager? For the 10tenth season, Mickey Harte is guiding the tiller for the Red Hands.
How’s the skipper chosen? Goalkeeper John Devine captained Tyrone to Dr McKenna Cup success last year.
Anyone injured? Colm Cavanagh broke ribs in last weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup final, Conor Gormley underwent surgery this week on an ankle injury while Sean Cavanagh is continuing to rehabilitate following shoulder surgery before Christmas.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Ronan O’Neill was the breakout star during Tyrone’s 2010 All-Ireland minor triumph and the Omagh attacker is ready to be unleashed at senior level this year.
Fixtures: Feb 4th v Kildare (n); Feb 12th v Derry (h); Mar 4th v Louth (a); Mar 10th v Westmeath (h); Mar 18th v Galway (a); Mar 24th v Meath (h); Apr 8th v Monaghan (h).
Odds: 3/1
Did you know? Only five members of Tyrone’s 2003 All-Ireland winning team are still part of their panel — John Devine, Ryan McMenamin, Conor Gormley, Sean Cavanagh and Owen Mulligan.
A successful league will be: Returning to the elite level of Division 1 football. Tyrone have prided themselves on league consistency and atoning for last year’s relegation is a key aim.
WESTMEATH
A change of manager? Clara native Pat Flanagan has remained in charge for another season in the Lake County.
How’s the skipper chosen? No decision yet made on who will lead Westmeath in 2012.
Anyone injured? Darragh Daly is battling a back injury while Ger Egan has damaged the medial ligament in his knee.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Young Maryland attacker Callum McCormack has shown up well in pre-season.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Louth (a); Feb 12th v Meath (h); Mar 4th v Galway (h); Mar 10th v Tyrone (a); Mar 18th v Monaghan (h); Mar 25th v Kildare (a); Apr 8th v Derry (h).
Odds: 28/1
Did you know? Dual stars Paul Greville, Frank Boyle, Brendan Murtagh, Conor Jordan and Philip Gilsenan have all committed to the Westmeath hurling squad for 2012.
A successful league will be: Avoiding relegation would represent progress but will difficult to achieve given that Westmeath must face a high standard of opposition and will be without their Garrycastle contingent who are focusing on the All-Ireland Club SFC.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/ljS9DueTV1Q/post.aspx
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