IT IS A LEAGUE LIKE NO OTHER
THE National Football League throws in this weekend, and for some the stakes have never been higher.
Division 2 sides are not only fighting for promotion and to avoid relegation, but also for their place in the first ever round robin All-ireland football championship.
This year’s All-ireland will be competed for by the eight provincial finalists and next highest placed seven teams in the National League as well as last year’s Tailteann Cup winners, Westmeath.
Here are 5 things worth looking out for in this year’s Allianz NFL:
1. CUTTHROAT DIVISION 2
IF you’re Kildare, Derry or Cork you have to be worried about your promotion prospects.
Dublin should do enough to win promotion, but the games between the aforementioned trio will have a real Championship feel about them.
Then there’s the others – Meath, Clare, Limerick and Louth – who will know that a poor campaign could see them drop out of this year’s Sam Maguire Cup.
The bottom side in Division 2 will play in this summer’s Tailteann Cup. And if a Division 3 and 4 outfit like Cavan, Down, Sligo or Tipperary were to make a provincial final, the seventh placed team in Division 2 would miss out on the All-ireland, unless they make their provincial final.
2. FIRST YEAR MANAGER BOUNCE
WE’RE looking at Mayo, Roscommon and Down here
Kevin Mcstay won an All-ireland in his first year with St Brigid’s, while he also landed a Connacht title in his first season with Roscommon.
In Down, the appointment of Conor Laverty has created a huge buzz.
How Roscommon cope in
Division 1 will also be worth watching with another young and emerging boss, Davy Burke, in charge.
3. DUBLIN’S RETURNING STARS
THERE’S a feeling that Dublin are regrouping again with Pat Gilroy back on board and Paul Mannion and Jack Mccaffrey returning.
Come the summer they’ll be two serious weapons for Dessie Farrell (inset), who has lost Jonny Cooper and has doubts over Con O’callaghan’s fitness.
Dublin could be in for a rude awakening in Division 2 though if they’re not at it from the start.
Were they to lose to Kildare on Saturday night, they face away trips to Derry, Meath and Cork already on the backfoot.
4. KERRY’S EVOLUTION?
WHAT will Kerry bring to the table that they didn’t last year?
It may well just be the confidence of finally getting the Dublin monkey off their back and winning a first All-ireland title in eight years.
They’ll have to replace David Moran and hope to wring another year out of Stephen O’brien in the punishing wing forward role he was excellent in last year.
It could be mix and match at midfield again with Jack Barry, Diarmuid O’connor, Adrian Spillane and even Sean O’shea.
5. LONG BREAKS
JACK O’CONNOR says we might not see Paudie and David Clifford until March after Fossa’s run to the All-ireland junior title.
Rory Gallagher said recently he expected new skipper Conor Glass (left) and Ethan Doherty back in Derry training a week after Glen’s All-ireland final.
The GAA’S split season has almost universally been hailed a success by inter-county players.
The only ones still being flogged are those whose clubs are successful – the likes of Sean Kelly (Moycullen and Galway), Shane Walsh (Kilmacud and Galway), the Cliffords, Glass and Doherty.
These lads have been on the go for 15 or 16 months with little or no break.