Gaelic GamesGuide

NFL Division Two: Roscommon have firepower to go back up as Westmeath look in trouble

Monaghan drop down to the second tier for the first time in a decade

Roscommon’s Enda Smith with Killian Lavelle of Monaghan. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Roscommon’s Enda Smith with Killian Lavelle of Monaghan. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Malachy Clerkin
Thu Jan 23 2025 - 06:00
Cavan

Manager: Ray Galligan (2nd year)

Main man: Paddy Lynch

2024 league: Finished third in Division Two, a fine result given plenty had them getting relegated at the start of it.

Outlook: Galligan has a settled and experienced squad, albeit one that is starting to get old together and could do with an injection of youth. That said, Gearóid McKiernan is a welcome return to the fold after a year out, although neither he nor Paddy Lynch will be available for the first few rounds.

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Opening fixture: v Monaghan, Saturday, Breffni Park, 6pm

Prediction: 4th

Cork

Manager: John Cleary (3rd season)

Main man: Seán Powter

2024 league: Finished fourth in Division Two but were out of the promotion stakes with a game to go.

Outlook: Cleary has lost a few stalwarts over the winter – Steven Sherlock, Tom Clancy, Kevin Flahive, Damien Gore and John O’Rourke have all either retired or taken a year out. Luke Fahy, Kevin O’Donovan and Seán Meehan will all miss the league through injury. Add in three trips to Ulster and it’s hard to see them sustaining a promotion charge.

Opening fixture: v Meath, Saturday, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm

Prediction: 5th

Down

Manager: Conor Laverty (3rd season)

Main man: Odhrán Murdock

2024 league: Topped Division Three but finished runners-up after losing the final to Westmeath.

Outlook: Last year’s Tailteann Cup champions have been on an upward curve and there has been very little squad turnover compared to previous years. They boast some seriously impressive young talent in the shape of Odhrán Murdock, Danny Magill and Oisín Savage, to go along with the Kilcoo crew. Interesting to see how the new rules affect their deep-lying instincts.

Opening fixture: v Roscommon, Dr Hyde Park, Sunday, 2pm

Prediction: 6th

Louth’s Sam Mulroy celebrates scoring a free to put his side into the lead in the last minute. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Louth’s Sam Mulroy celebrates scoring a free to put his side into the lead in the last minute. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Louth

Manager: Ger Brennan (2nd season)

Main man: Sam Mulroy

2024 league: Beat Kildare on the last day to escape relegation to Division Three.

Outlook: Clearly the coming team in Leinster – the next step has to be Division One. The return of 34-year-old Andy McDonnell is fascinating, with Emmet Carolan and James Stewart back in the mix too. If they can spread the scoring threat beyond Mulroy and last year’s All Star wing back Craig Lennon, they’ll be in the promotion hunt.

Opening fixture: v Westmeath, Sunday, 2pm

Prediction: 2nd

Meath

Manager: Robbie Brennan (1st season)

Main man: Donal Keogan

2024 league: Two wins and two draws saw them finish a respectable fifth.

Outlook: Lost another promising young player to the AFL over the winter in Eamonn Armstrong. After a couple of seasons of consolidation under Colm O’Rourke, including a Tailteann Cup win, the end was messy. Brennan brings All-Ireland winning credentials with Kilmacud Crokes but he has an uphill task in front of him.

Opening fixture: v Cork, Saturday, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm

Prediction: 7th

Monaghan’s goalkeeper Rory Beggan and Paul Mannion of Dublin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Monaghan’s goalkeeper Rory Beggan and Paul Mannion of Dublin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Monaghan

Manager: Gabriel Bannigan (1st season)

Main man: Rory Beggan

2024 league: Relegated from Division One after conceding the most scores of any team in all four divisions.

Outlook: First time in Division Two since 2014, first league campaign without Conor McManus since 2006. Darren Hughes and Karl O’Connell are going again and Rory Beggan will be a big asset coming out the field. With McManus gone, time for David Garland, Seán Jones and Andrew Woods to step up.

Opening fixture: v Cavan, Saturday, Breffni Park, 6pm

Prediction: 3rd

Roscommon

Manager: Davy Burke (3rd season)

Main man: Enda Smith

2024 league: Lost their final three games on the bounce to be relegated from Division One.

Outlook: With no winter defections and a decent injury profile, Burke has described this as the strongest panel he’s had since taking over. Down coach Mark Doran has joined from Wicklow and should bring an edge to the group. Boasting the best forwards in the division, the new rules should suit them and they’re worthy favourites to go straight back up.

Opening fixture: v Down, Dr Hyde Park, Sunday, 2pm

Prediction: 1st

Westmeath

Manager: Dermot McCabe (1st season)

Main man: Luke Loughlin

2024 league: Finished second in Division Three but won the final against Down to be crowned champions.

Outlook: McCabe was one of the last managers in the country to be appointed and has to plan without John Heslin, James Dolan, Andy McCormack, Kevin Maguire and Ronan O’Toole. Ray Connellan and Luke Loughlin will be carrying a lot of weight in their absence. Hard to see them staying up.

Opening fixture: v Louth, Sunday, 2pm

Prediction: 8th

Malachy Clerkin

Malachy Clerkin

Malachy Clerkin is a sports writer with The Irish Times