GAELIC GAMES:WINNING THE first round of the NFL won't necessarily make or break the campaign but for the 11 managers in their first season in charge it certainly helps.

Less than half of them managed to kick things off on a winning note – with two earning a draw, and one starting off on a bye – although Eamonn McEneaney can probably feel most satisfied with the opening victory in his new role as Monaghan manager.

Sunday’s 0-19 to 0-14 win over Galway was impressive on several counts, not least of all the fact that McEneaney fielded eight debutants in the course of the game.

The victory in Clones was also secured without such experienced names as Tommy and Damian Freeman, and Monaghan finished particularly well, turning round a one-point deficit at half-time to win by five.

“It’s always a worry when you have eight debutants as to how they will handle the pressure,” said McEneaney after Sunday’s win.

“You could see that in the first half, they were not really having a cut at it. They were in the comfort zone a bit.

“But they came out in the second half and they showed what they were made of.”

The former Louth manager was quick to add that no one is getting carried away, especially as Sunday’s win came off the back of three successive defeats in Dr McKenna Cup.

It’s worth noting too they had only five of the players who figured in last year’s Ulster final defeat by Tyrone.

But for now Monaghan sit atop Division One on points difference, with a trip to Armagh next up, on February 20th.

McEneaney was in fact the only manager in his first season in charge to win in Division One – Tomás Ó Flatharta is in his first season with Galway and was obviously on the losing side of that result, although James Horan, who took over from John O’Mahony in Mayo, did manage a draw in the 1-13 to 3-7 result against beaten All-Ireland finalists Down, thanks to a spirited comeback that saw them close down a seven-point deficit in the first half.

Next up for Mayo is the visit of Kerry, while Galway must travel to Down.

In Division Two, John Brennan got his first term as Derry manager off to a winning start with the 1-11 to 0-13 win over Tyrone.

It was always going to be difficult for Tyrone to come out all guns blazing after the recent tragedy for manager Mickey Harte, but Derry were certainly deserving of their win, and in fact gives Brennan an opening managerial record of five wins in five games when Dr McKenna Cup results are also taken into account.

Next up for Brennan is a trip to Kildare, who top Division Two thanks to their convincing win away to Antrim, while Tyrone will try to get their push for promotion back on track when hosting Donegal.

Former Armagh All-Ireland winner Justin McNulty also got his first term as Laois manager off to a winning start with the 1-14 to 1-11 win over Meath – which at the same time gave Séamus McEnaney a losing start to his term as Meath manager.

Also in Division Two, new Donegal manager Jim McGuinness secured a share of the points against Sligo.

In Division Three, Cavan’s Val Andrews and Terry Hyland and Limerick’s Maurice Horan began their terms on a losing note – Cavan were well beaten by Offaly, where debutant Bernard Allen hit 1-4 for Offaly, while Limerick were somewhat surprised by the second-half comeback of Tipperary, which earned them a four-point win.

With Fermanagh not in action in the opening round of Division Three, meaning John O’Neill has yet to make his league debut as manager, new London’s Paul Coggins was the only managerial debutant in the division, and as expected enjoyed a comfortable win over Kilkenny, who only managed a meagre two points over the entire 70 minutes.

For now London top Division Four on points difference, but just like the rest of the divisions, it’s still early days yet.