Tones the best of a tight bottom bunch

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS

Manager: Glenn Burden. Last season: Fourth.

Summary: New manager Glenn Burden has Annaghminnon flying at the moment and qualification for the Shield semi-final, after three wins in a row, suggests Rovers will be a force in the early stages of 3B.

CUCHULAINN GAELS

Manager: Paddy White.

Last season: Fifth.

Summary: James Sharkey, Philip McGovern and Jamie Molloy are talented players who will be better again in their second season of adult football and with a growing number of panellists, the only way is up.

DOWDALLSHILL

Manager: Colin Corrigan. Last season: Eighth. Summary: Dowdallshill failed to win a game last year and improving that unwanted record will be their primary aim for the term ahead. They have added a few players and Colin Corrigan will certainly improve them.

NAOMH MALACHI

Manager: Kevin Carragher.

Last season: Second – lost play-off. Summary: Very good for much of last year, winning 11 of their 14 Division 3B matches before losing the play-off with Glyde Rangers. Paudie McLoughlin is a big loss around midfield but they will win more than they will lose and should be in the running for promotion.

SEAN MCDERMOTT’S

Manager: Aidan Shevlin. Last season: Seventh.

Summary: Seans were better than their seventh place finish last year suggests and though numbers will again be tight, Aidan Shevlin has improved the Mountrush men.

ST NICHOLAS

Manager: Karl O’Connor.

Last season: Third. Summary: Consistency has been St Nicholas’ biggest issue in getting among the promotion pack. They have a cohort of players in their early 20s but the absence of a proven finisher means most of their victories come in relatively low-scoring fixtures.

WESTERNS

Manager: David Martin.

Last season: Sixth. Summary: Westerns are moving in the right direction and though they are unlikely to be in a position to push for promotion or major honours this season, they have a plethora of young players and finishing in the play-off place is not beyond them.

WOLFE TONES

Manager: Josh Carolan.

Last season: Relegated. Summary: Desperately unfortunate last season to lose their Division 3A status and then succumb in the championship semi-final on penalties. Darren Moore’s coaching brought Tones on in recent years and getting back up at the first attempt is a must.