GROUP D

O Raghallaighs

Manager: Mickey Conlon Go-to-guy: Ben Rogan (below) Group rivals: St Joseph’s & O’Connell’s 2017: Won relegation semi-final Last 3 (Div 2): W - O’Connell’s 5-13 : 2-17 L - St Mochta’s 2-10 : 1-11 W - Hunterstown Rovers 1-15 to 2-11 Verdict: There are four Division 2 teams in the senior grade this year and three of them are in this group! O Raghallaigh’s lead the second tier, but can take nothing for granted against the Joes or O’Connell’s. The latter won intermediate last year and the former reached the last four in senior. That was with different managers on both cases and the Raghs will fancy their chances in this group and of causing an upset or two thereafter.

St Joseph’s

Manager: Anthony Keenan Go-to-guy: Conall O’Hanlon Group rivals: O Raghallaigh’s & O’Connell’s 2017: Semi-finals Last 3: L - St Mochta’s 1-10 to 1-7 W - Glen Emmets 3-13 to 0-14 W - Oliver Plunketts 1-14 to 2-10 Verdict: Last year’s surprise package have struggled since Wayne McKeever’s departure, losing his replacement Terry McGinnis after just a few games. They lost to O Raghallaigh’s in the league and beat O’Connells but anything can happen in a championship derby clash so that will have little bearing on what will be a mouth-watering clash. On current form they’ll be the underdogs in this group and could struggle in the play-offs if that’s where they end up.

O’Connell’s

Manager: Paul Gallagher Go-to-guy: Niall Conlon Group rivals: O Raghallaighs & St Joseph’s 2017: IFC champions Last 3: L - O Raghallaighs 5-13 : 2-17 W - Hunterstown Rovers 2-16 : 0-7 W - Kilkerley Emmets 3-12 : 1-12 Verdict: It’s been an up-and-down league campaign for the intermediate champs, who replaced Guy Bates with Cooley man Paul Gallagher over the close season. Recent form is positive, however, and if they tick they are more than capable of emerging from this group to consolidate, and after going down and bouncing straight back up that will be the primary target this season.