Your guide to Allianz Football League Division 3

John Fogarty

ANTRIM

A change of manager? Liam Bradley takes charge of the Saffrons for his fourth season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Bradley’s appointed Aodhan Gallagher as his leader for 2012.
Anyone injured? Brothers Kevin and CJ McGourty as well as corner-backs Colin Brady and Kevin O’Boyle and are long-term absentees.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? U21 starlet Colm Duffin could be just the ticket in the full-forward line.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Sligo (h); Feb 12: v Tipperary (a); Mar 3: v Offaly (h); Mar 11: v Roscommon (a); Mar 18: v Longford (a); Mar 25: v Wexford (h); Apr 8: v Cavan (a).
Odds: 8/1
Did you know? Antrim conceded the most across the eight-team top three divisions last year – 7-109.
A successful league will be: Relegated from Division 2 last year, Bradley shouldn’t be happy with anything less than challenging for promotion come the final round in April. Bigger team this year.


CAVAN
A change of manager? Rather a halving of one. Val Andrews takes over full duties after sharing the job with Terry Hyland last season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Pauric O’Reilly is Andrews’ captain and David Givney is his back-up.
Anyone injured? No long-term injuries to report for the Breffni County.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Cavan Gaels forward Martin Dunne was instrumental in McKenna Cup win over UUJ when coming off the bench.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Wexford (a); Feb 11: v Longford (h); Mar 3: v Sligo (h); Mar 11: v Tipperary (a); Mar 18: v Offaly (h); Mar 25: v Roscommon (a); Apr 8: v Antrim (h).
Odds: 9/1
Did you know? Michael Lyng is close to returning to the Cavan panel.
A successful league will be: After a decent McKenna Cup, Cavan could be the dark horses for a top-two finish. Certainly appear to be a more settled outfit.

LONGFORD
A change of manager? Kildare man Glen Ryan goes into his fourth year looking to get a break.
How’s the skipper chosen? Paul Barden looks set to retain captaincy.
Anyone injured? Brian Kavanagh broke a bone in his hand while Martin Brady is coming back from the same problem.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Obviously, Michael Quinn.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Offaly (h); Feb 11: v Cavan (a); Mar 4: v Roscommon (h); Mar 11: v Sligo (a); Mar 18: v Antrim (h); Mar 24: v Tipperary (a); Apr 8: v Wexford (h).
Odds: 5/1
Did you know? Longford had the most miserly defence across all four divisions last year, conceding 4-66 in Division 4.
A successful league will be: Blooding last year’s Leinster U21 finalists will be tough in Division 3 but there are enough stalwarts to show them the way. Should be in the reckoning for promotion.
 

OFFALY
A change of manager? It took some time but Gerry Cooney was appointed as Tom Cribbin’s successor last November.
How’s the skipper chosen? No permanent captain named by Cooney at the moment.
Anyone injured? Niall McNamee is unlikely to be available for the first few weeks as he deals with injury and personal matters. Richie Dalton, Ross Brady, David Hanlon and Michael Brazil will all miss Sunday’s opener.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Retired Karol Slattery has left a void and Lorcan Hiney might be able to fill it.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Longford (a); Feb 12: v Roscommon (h); Mar 3: v Antrim (a); Mar 11: v Wexford (h); Mar 18: v Cavan (a); Mar 25: v Sligo (h); Apr 8: v Tipperary (a).
Odds: 7/1
Did you know? Offaly have finished third in Division 3 the last two seasons.
A successful league will be: Winning their three home games and having something to build on for the Leinster championship. Surprising if they challenge for the top two.

 
ROSCOMMON
A change of manager? Des Newton has come in to replace Fergie O’Donnell who, much to supporters’ disappointment, stepped down in October.
How’s the skipper chosen? Not finalised by Newton yet.
Anyone injured? Cathal Cregg should be fit to play shortly but there are another three or four on the treatment table.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Much expected of UCC’s half-back Niall Daly this season.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Tipperary (h); Feb 12: v Offaly (a); Mar 4: v Longford (a); Mar 11: v Antrim (h); Mar 18: v Wexford (a); Mar 25: v Cavan (h); Apr 8: v Sligo (a).
Odds: 9/1
Did you know? Roscommon, along with Dublin, were the only team to go through the league proper without losing a game last year.
A successful league will be: As Newton gets to know his charges, anything more than a third or fourth place finish would be a bonus.
 
SLIGO
A change of manager? Former Galway midfielder Kevin Walsh is Sligo’s man for a fourth year.
How’s the skipper chosen? Charlie Harrison looks to be the man designated for the job by Walsh once again.
Anyone injured? Eamonn O’Hara, Sean Davey and Brian Curran remain sidelined.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Exciting wing-forward Conor Griffin could force his way into the team.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Antrim (a); Feb 12: v Wexford (h); Mar 3: v Cavan (a); Mar 11: v Longford (h); Mar 18: v Tipperary (h); Mar 25: v Offaly (a); Apr 8: v Roscommon (h).
Odds: 9/2
Did you know? Despite having a better score difference that Meath, Sligo were relegated from Division 2 last year as they lost to the Royals in their second round game.
A successful league will be: David Kelly’s return to fitness will bring some welcome class to the attack. Sligo need to be challenging for promotion if they are to put their forgettable 2011 season behind them.

 
TIPPERARY
A change of manager? John Evans goes into the latest year of his current agreement, all in all his fifth season with the Premier County.
How’s the skipper chosen? Borrisokane’s Philip Austin takes over from Barry Grogan.
Anyone injured? Relatively clean bill of health for Evans.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Last year’s All-Ireland minor captain Liam McGrath has been drafted into the panel along with fellow winner Michael Quinlivan.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Roscommon (a); Feb 12: v Antrim (h); Mar 4: v Wexford (a); Mar 11: v Cavan (h); Mar 18: v Sligo (a); Mar 24: v Longford (h); Apr 8: v Offaly (h).
Odds: 6/1
Did you know? This is the first season Tipperary have played in the same division two seasons in successions since Evans took over.
A successful league will be: Lucky to avoid relegation to Division 4 last year, their worst league campaign under Evans. A finish in the top four would mark improvement on that.


WEXFORD
A change of manager? Jason Ryan is on board for a fifth season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Nothing announced but David Murphy could receive the armband from Ryan for a second season.
Anyone injured? PJ Banville (knee/hamstring) is the only serious injury concern.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Dual player Michael O’Regan, who kicked the winning point in last year’s Leinster U21 final, has the ability to take the next step.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Cavan (h); Feb 12: v Sligo (a); Mar 4: v Tipperary (h); Mar 11: v Offaly (a); Mar 18: v Roscommon (h); Mar 25: v Antrim (a); Apr 8: v Longford (a)
Odds: 5/2 to win title
Did you know? Of the Wexford team that lost to Armagh in the 2005 Division 1 final, just three lined out in the qualifier defeat to Limerick last year – Murphy, Redmond Barry and Colm Morris.
A successful league will be: Leinster finalists last year, Division 3 favourites Wexford have to build on their return to form in 2011. Must challenge for promotion.

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/SnLx_PBr3T4/post.aspx

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