Five teams to watch in 2016
January 12, 2016
Can Meath, Armagh, Cavan, Roscommon and Tipperary close that gap to the main contenders
By John O'Brien
Behind the top counties in the race for football honours are a number of teams yearning to go from also rans to contenders. We take a look at five that are full of hope as the new season begins.
Roscommon
After a promising start to the 2015 campaign, Roscommon's season ultimately ended in disappointment with shock championship defeats to Sligo and Fermanagh respectively.
Kevin McStay, who led St Brigids of Kiltoom to All-Ireland club glory in 2013, is in his first season in charge of the Connacht men. He will share his managerial duties with former All-Ireland winning minor manager Fergal O'Donnell. Mayo man Liam McHale will also be part of the backroom team.
Former Rossies head coach John Evans spoke up their chances last year of lifting the Sam Maguire. In many ways that may have been their downfall in the championship. McStay and co. will be hoping to steady the ship and go on a better championship run in 2016.
First up is the league however, and the men from the West will be operating in Division 1. The top division will be a tough test for them, they face Monaghan at home in their 1st game. There is no guarantee that 2016 will be a successful year for Roscommon but they are definitely worth keeping an eye on.
2015 NFL - Played 7, Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 2.
Gained promotion and will now operate in Division 1 for the 2016 season after finishing in 2nd position behind Down.
2015 Championship - Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2.
Roscommon 1 - 14 v 0 - 10 London, (Connacht SFC Quarter-Final)
Roscommon 0 - 13 v 1 - 14 Sligo, (Connacht SFC Semi-Final)
Roscommon 3 - 17 v 1 - 16 Cavan, (Qualifiers round 2A)
Roscommon 0 - 16 v 1 - 14 Fermanagh, (Qualifiers round 3A)
Meath
Meath are one of the modern day sleeping giants in GAA football terms. Mick O'Dowd is entering his fourth season in charge of the Royal footballers. This year could turn out to be his most important at the helm yet. Things won't be easy for the Skryne club man though with the recent retirements of the Navan O'Mahony's duo of Kevin Reilly and Stephen Bray.
Meath suffered a very disappointing 2015, having been defeated by local rivals Westmeath for the first time in championship history. Their season was over in early July after being knocked out by Mickey Harte's Tyrone.
O'Dowd will be hoping to discover some new young talent and blend them into the intercounty set up. The performances of Donal Keoghan, Mickey Newman and Graham Reilly will be key to the Royals having a successful year.
A tough Division 2 campaign awaits for the Royals with five Ulster counties competing in the division this year. Their league form should be a good indicator for their summer ahead. They kick off with a home tie against Armagh on 31 January.
2015 NFL - Played 7, Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 2.
Finished in 3rd position in Division 2, behind Down and Roscommon narrowly avoiding promotion to Division 1.
2015 Championship - Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2.
Meath 2 - 19 v 3 - 12 Wicklow, (Leinster SFC Quarter-Final)
Meath 2 - 18 v 3 - 19 Westmeath, (Leinster SFC Semi-Final)
Meath 0 - 11 v 1 - 10 Tyrone, (Qualifiers Round 2B)
Cavan
Cavan are the most successful side in Ulster football with 37 provincial titles in total. However, they have not contested an Ulster final in the last 15 years (2001) and last lifted the Anglo Celt Cup in 1997.
Terry Hyland is entering his fifth year in charge of the senior footballers. Hyland will be hoping that 2016 is the year in which the Breffni men do something big on the senior stage. Cavan have enjoyed a lot of success with their under 21 side in recent times winning four Ulster titles in a row (2011 - 2014).
Cavan possess a talented youthful squad with the likes of Michael Argue, Niall Murray and Niall McDermott to name just a few. The return of Cavan Gaels sharpshooter Seanie Johnston should also be a plus.
They face a tough opening assignment in the first round of the league against Ulster rivals Tyrone. 2016 could be a make or break year for Hyland and his management team. It remains to be seen how they get on. A lot could depend on whether the inclusion of Seanie Johnston has a positive or negative affect within the squad.
2015 NFL - Played 7, Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 3.
Finished in mid-table in Division 2 in 5th position behind Down, Roscommon, Galway and Meath.
2015 Championship - Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2.
Cavan 0 - 15 v 0 - 16 Monaghan, (Ulster SFC Quarter-Final)
Cavan 2 - 22 v 0 - 11 London, (Qualifiers Round 1A)
Cavan 1 - 16 v 3 - 17 Roscommon. (Qualifiers Round 2A)
Tipperary
Tipperary traditionally known as a hurling county have been making huge strides in football terms in recent times. The Munster men will be hoping to transfer some of their minor and under 21 success to the senior team.
Tralee man Liam Kearns is in his first year in charge of the senior footballers. The former Laois and Limerick manager will be hoping to continue the good work that was done by Peter Creedon.
Kearns will however have to plan without the influential duo of Colin O'Riordan and Steven O'Brien for the 2016 season. O'Riordan, recently signed for Aussie rules outfit Sydney Swans and O'Brien is focusing on Michael Ryan's hurler's this year.
The recent Munster senior club championship success of Clonmel Commercials will add to the footballers' confidence within the Premier County. Tipp will be operating in Division 3 of the league and will be aiming for promotion. They will fancy their chances to beat any side in the division and hope to build up some momentum for the summer ahead.
2015 NFL - Played 7, Won 4, Lost 3.
Placed in 3rd position in Division 3, behind Fermanagh and Armagh.
2015 Championship - Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2.
Tipperary 1 - 24 v 0 - 5 Waterford, (Munster SFC Quarter-Final)
Tipperary 2 - 8 v 2 - 14 Kerry, (Munster SFC Semi-Final)
Tipperary 3 - 21 v 0 - 7 Louth, (Qualifiers Round 2B)
Tipperary 0 - 7 v 0 - 19 Tyrone, (Qualifiers Round 3B)
Armagh
Kieran Mcgeeney will have been disappointed with the performances of his Armagh side in last year's championship campaign. After having a successful league campaign, the Orchard men performed poorly last summer with a heavy defeat to Donegal in the Ulster championship and a loss to Galway in the back door.
The news that star forward Jamie Clarke will not be available for the upcoming season is disappointing news for Armagh supporters. Clarke recently informed McGeeney that he's travelling to the US after Crossmaglen Rangers' All-Ireland club championship campaign ends.
The All-Ireland champions from 2002 have failed to lift the Anglo Celt Cup since 2008 and haven't competed in an Ulster final since the same year. After winning six Ulster titles during the 2000's Armagh have struggled to lift silverware in recent times.
Armagh club champions Crossmaglen have enjoyed huge success over the years and McGeeney will be hoping that the county footballers can replicate the triumphs that their club counterparts have achieved. It will be interesting to see how they get on in 2016. Can they mount a serious challenge in Ulster?
2015 NFL - Played 7, Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1.
Gained promotion and will now ply their trade in Division 2 for the upcoming season.
2015 Championship - Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2.
Armagh 0 - 8 v 2 - 11 Donegal, (Ulster SFC Quarter-Final)
Armagh 2 - 17 v 2 - 7 Wicklow, (Qualifiers Round 1B)
Armagh 0 - 12 v 1 - 12 Galway, (Qualifiers Round 4 2B)
