This has the potential to be one of the most interesting Division 2 campaign's in years...

5 Ulster teams
Tyrone
Derry
Armagh
Fermanagh
Cavan

As well as Galway,Meath and Laois.


Already it seems people and the bookies have settled on the fact its Tyrone and Derry for Top spots with Laois and Fermanagh to be routed to the bottom.

I'm not so Sure while I'm in agreement with Tyrone being the force to be reckoned with I think the rest of the division is quiet open.

Fermanagh are an improving team and will give there neighbors especially very tough games.

Meath are Meath and you know they won't be an easy game for anyone I expect big things from them this year infact,

Derry have a great player base and usually go well early in the year because of their sheer physical size.

Cavan are another side on the up and have a vast amount of quality young players to pick from.

Galway can do anything on any given day I know that more than most they will be targeting a promotion and nothing else before the first throw in.

Laois are everyone's favourite to be the weakest here but the O'Moore men have not been out of the Top 2 divisions in I don't know how long?20 years???
They are always written off but always produce some suprise results like the one against my own Galway last year in tuam.

I think Tyrone will finish top of the pile but after that it's hard to predict anything is this division.

Good conditions could see some cracking games !!
I for one will be at a good few of them ..Living in Laois and being a Tribesman.

BigJohn.6_8 (Galway) - Posts: 704 - 20/01/2016 16:43:04    1818016

It should be a competitive division alright because all of the teams are capable of beating each other. Tyrone have the best manager, Mickey Harte still knows how to make life difficult for other teams so I'd expect them to go up and then take your pick of either Derry, Cavan, Armagh or Galway for the other promotion spot, possibly Derry, they are a good league team.

I don't know a huge amount about the other counties but just from a Meath point of view, I'm a worried man, I honestly think we'll be in a survival battle this year.

My reasons for pessimism:

4 away games (and a poor record both away and against northern teams), several of our better players either retired or long term injured, no apparent game plan after 3 years of management, dreadful kickouts costing us several scores per game, one of the most unfit teams around and a propensity to give up etc etc

It's safe to say Meath are not Meath anymore, I'd love to see differently this year but there's no evidence of it so far (early days I know).

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 20/01/2016 17:07:10    1818031

Very competitive division Galway could struggle i hope im wrong. Its a big year for alot of teams in that division. I'd imagine Armagh will bounce back after a disastrous championship campaign in 2015. David Givney back with Cavan is a huge boost for them

3rdmidfielder (Australia) - Posts: 294 - 20/01/2016 17:11:34    1818034

First round of games are very important. Drop points and you are playing catch-up immediately. For Ulster teams it is a very unsatisfactory set-up. Tyrone seem to be the stand-out team. It will be interesting to see how many teams will draw red cards in their matches with the red-hands. I hope Spring weather conditions are reasonable and facilitate good football.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 20/01/2016 17:31:39    1818046

Meath must start with a win against Armagh to give themselves a fighting chance of having a decent run. A competitive game against Longford in O Byrne Cup on Sunday should set them up for first league match. Will be a very competitive division with lots of twists and turns.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 20/01/2016 19:37:13    1818097

Id agree with htaem in most parts. 4 years in and mod seems to be still learning, after Westmeath last year I am at loss to explain current Meath mind set, I wouldn't be surprised if they beat dubs one week and go out and give up 20 point lead to Kilkenny. That's just how Meath are, no set game plan, a keeper that's worth 3 points to opposing team before ball thrown in. Look I know its early days but Meath are a quagmire at min and like htaem I hope I am proven wrong, but id have us warm fav to go down if we dont get things sorted asap.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/01/2016 19:53:03    1818100

Galway and Meath for the drop

AnBuachaillGlas (Fermanagh) - Posts: 287 - 20/01/2016 21:42:21    1818131

Look Meath could beat Tyrone, but I don't think they believe that they can, and that must change, the likes of Keogan Reilly (graham) Newman, Rooney can destroy any county on their day, but belief is so low that staying in division 2 is the goal from management.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 21/01/2016 08:51:55    1818149

Agree with royaldunne and Hteam. Meath are a shambles at the moment. I can see us going to Portlaoise on the final day looking for a result and results elsewhere to stay up.
Div 2 is a much higher standard than 2015 with 2 stronger relegated teams as well as 2 stronger promoted teams.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 21/01/2016 09:25:04    1818158

We (Cavan) are Playing Tyrone in our first game, away in Omagh and Then we play Derry. So we may be in a bad place from the get go.
I would say that Tyrone are a few steps above everyone in this division and expect them to top the table. We played Derry in the McKenna Cup last weekend and they were very good. Their ability to score long-range points was the key to them winning the game, also very strong running from the backs. They beat us well. We had a good victory over Armagh but that was the first outing of the new year for them and they improved immeasurably against Monaghan in their next game. Galway Are cabable of beating anyone on their day as they have some fantastic footballers, it depends on the attitude on the day. I would not under-estimate Laois as again they have a very strong midfield and with Donie Kingston, one of the best forwards in the game. Meath, I don't know , other counties seem to rate them higher than they rate themselves, I can't believe they are as bad as their own supporters make out, they still have a very strong panel of big strong players. Fermanagh are a team on the up and will be bouyed by their exploits of last season.
my prediction
1. Tyrone
2. derry
3. Galway
4. Meath
5. Cavan
6 Laois
7. Armagh
8. Fermanagh

but not many points seperating top from bottom and everything to play for in the last round of games.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 21/01/2016 09:45:00    1818166

It will be interesting to see how many teams will draw red cards in their matches with the red-hands. I hope Spring weather conditions are reasonable and facilitate good football.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts:127 - 20/01/2016 17:31:39


What are you trying to imply by this? You would be better concentrating on how many scores Roscommon will concede as they get thumped back into div 2 where they belong

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 21/01/2016 10:21:02    1818179

Growing up , I never had witnessed a bad Meath side. I think its a real pity they are not anywhere near their old self - particularly with Dublin having it so easy in Leinster. Are Meath going to come again once more ? I would still doubt they will go to division 3 ? Do Meath people really think they are that bad ???

People were stating in the past few years that Galway are a coming team - where is the evidence of this ? Club football has basically nothing to do with county so Corofins success means little in the context of inter county football. Last year , a battered and bruised Donegal side managed to easily defeat Galway. Again it would be great to see them back but realistically their a long way off.

Derry and Tyrone for me . Both good league sides and are going good thus far.

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/01/2016 10:34:48    1818185

Look Meath could beat Tyrone, but I don't think they believe that they can, and that must change, the likes of Keogan Reilly (graham) Newman, Rooney can destroy any county on their day, but belief is so low that staying in division 2 is the goal from management.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts:8462 - 21/01/2016 08:51:55

Keoghan is quality.

Not sure about the other lads destroying any county on their day. To be honest I think that's fairly wishful thinking.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 21/01/2016 10:38:25    1818189

TheRightStuff - I think the idea that Galway are a coming team was based on the U-21 success rather than club success - 2 all ireland titles in 2011 and 2013 as well as 2005 and 2002. Although this is no guarantee of success either.

Rocky.Road (Galway) - Posts: 374 - 21/01/2016 11:21:11    1818207

As a Fermanagh man I think 8 points is a very attainable target. For me Derry and Tyrone are the 2 strongest sides in the Division by a considerable bit although I would not be frightened playing them.

Have Meath lost a lot of players RD? I thought I read somewhere that Galway had lost a lot of players too. Anyway it should be the most competitive of the 4 divisions, each side is capable of beating any other on their given day. Roll on next Sunday.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 21/01/2016 11:38:42    1818218

TheRightStuff

Growing up , I never had witnessed a bad Meath side. I think its a real pity they are not anywhere near their old self - particularly with Dublin having it so easy in Leinster. Are Meath going to come again once more ? I would still doubt they will go to division 3 ? Do Meath people really think they are that bad ???

We're not great to be fair and Division 3 is a real possibility, only 3 years ago we were playing our football there so we can't presume we'll safe this year.

The main problem with Meath football is the appalling mismanagement by a string of our past county boards, particularly since the turn of the century. While other counties have moved on and put systems in place we've largely remained static. I mean only now are we slowly moving in the right direction having changed the Meath championship structure (we only done this on Monday and it's still not a great system) and there's talk of us getting a full time strength and conditioning coach.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 21/01/2016 11:51:52    1818226

This division is a lot stronger than last year. Everyone's fav's for promotion are Tyrone and it's hard to argue with that. I fancied Galway for promotion last year, but they just never got it together properly. I'd fancy them again this year but it'll be a close thing with Armagh and Derry. Would love to see Meath getting promoted but just can't see it happening at present unless there's some miraculous transformation. Any 2 of ourselves, Cavan, Fermanagh or Laois to be relegated, fav's being Laois, Cavan, but I'd only give Meath a hesitant +1/+2 points on either of those. We have Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan to start with. Capable of beating all 3, also very capable of losing to all 3.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 21/01/2016 12:17:24    1818238

TheRightStuff - I think the idea that Galway are a coming team was based on the U-21 success rather than club success - 2 all ireland titles in 2011 and 2013 as well as 2005 and 2002. Although this is no guarantee of success either.

Rocky.Road (Galway) - Posts:93 - 21/01/2016 11:21:11

Do you think the right structures are in place to see Galway coming again ? It must be difficult being dual county in terms of resources ?

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/01/2016 12:21:56    1818239

The main problem with Meath football is the appalling mismanagement by a string of our past county boards, particularly since the turn of the century. While other counties have moved on and put systems in place we've largely remained static. I mean only now are we slowly moving in the right direction having changed the Meath championship structure (we only done this on Monday and it's still not a great system) and there's talk of us getting a full time strength and conditioning coach.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts:6911 - 21/01/2016 11:51:52

Fair enough Htaem . Are there many of the former great Meath players coaching at underage ? The list of great football men is endless in the royal county. I would love to see Meath back at the top although im still annoyed about 1990 lol .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/01/2016 12:24:05    1818241

Meath's first three games will be crucial with Armagh at home, Fermanagh away and then Cavan at home. Those 3 fixtures are winnable although trying to get points in Enniskillen will be tough, a minimum of 4 points from those opening three games is required before we hit the tough middle fixtures of Galway away ( awful record there recently) and Tyrone at home. Our last two games are away to Derry and Laois and I have no desire to visit those counties needing points to survive hopefully it will be looking for points to go up. It's a very tight competitive division in which Tyrone are favourites with one of Derry, Galway, Meath to join them with Fermanagh having a possible shout too I like where they are heading under Pete McGrath

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 21/01/2016 13:34:32    1818275