A change of manager? Paddy O’Rourke is in charge for a third season although selector Donal Murtagh has been replaced by Paul Grimley.
How is the skipper chosen? Steven McDonnell will captain the team again if he, as expected, returns to action after the birth of his fourth child.
Anyone injured? Long-term victim Ronan Clarke remains the most significant absentee.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Pocket rocket and 2009 All-Ireland minor winner Eugene McVerry could lighten to load up-front.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Cork (h); Feb 11: v Kerry (a); Mar 3: v Mayo (h); Mar 11: v Dublin (a); Mar 18: v Laois (a); Mar 24: v Down (h); Apr 8: v Donegal (a).
Odds: 28/1
Did you know? Of the Armagh team that started in the 2005 Division 1 final win over Wexford, just six are still playing inter-county football.
A successful league will be: Given the Crossmaglen men are otherwise engaged again, they have four away games from seven and the likes of McDonnell and Clarke are missing, survival has to be a goal.
CORK
A change of manager? Not at all. Conor Counihan remains at the helm for a fifth season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Interesting to see whether Michael Shields will retain league captaincy given Graham Canty is back early this year.
Anyone injured? Daniel Goulding and Ciarán Sheehan will be out for another couple of months but Paddy Kelly, Colm O’Neill, Donnacha O’Connor and Aidan Walsh only have slight injuries.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? A junior All-Ireland winner last year, Liam Shorten could stake a claim in the forwards after a decent McGrath Cup campaign.
Fixtures: Feb 5: v Armagh (a); Feb 12: v Down (h); Mar 4: v Cork (a); Mar 10: v Laois (h); Mar 18: v Kerry (h); Mar 24: v Mayo (a); Apr 8: v Dublin (h).
Odds: 2/1
Did you know? Cork last year became the first county to win back-to-back Division 1 title since Derry (1995, ’96).
A successful league will be: Champions the last two seasons, winning the secondary competition certainly hasn’t debilitated Cork. Another final appearance would be a satisfactory return.
DUBLIN
A change of manager? Dublin supporters’ prayers were answered when All-Ireland winning manager Pat Gilroy agreed to stay on for another season.
How’s the skipper chosen? The manager’s prerogative. Nothing confirmed as of yet but Bryan Cullen expected to retain the armband.
Anyone injured? Plenty. At last count, Gilroy figured 10. Midfielder Denis Bastick is definitely out of Saturday’s opener. Kevin Nolan and Paul Griffin also remain sidelined.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Ballymun Kickhams’ Micheal McCarthy is raw but his talent is obvious.
Fixtures: Feb 4 v Kerry (h); Feb 11 v Mayo (a); Mar 3: v Dublin (a); Mar 11: v Armagh (h); Mar 18: v Down (a); Mar 24: v Donegal (h); Apr 8: v Cork (a).
Odds: 7/2
Did you know? In three seasons under Gilroy, Dublin have lost just five times from 24 league proper games.
A successful league will be: A league semi-final spot combined with blooding some young players to augment Gilroy’s panel options. Don’t have the same home comforts this year as they face four away trips.
DONEGAL
A change of manager? Are you kidding? Jim McGuinness was hardly going to be shafted after the county’s most successful year since their 1992 All-Ireland win.
How’s the skipper chosen? Up to McGuinness, and Michael Murphy’s his leading man.
Anyone injured? Murphy (groin) is the most high-profile casualty at the moment. Colm McFadden also a long-term casualty while Mark McHugh has picked up a muscle adbuctor injury. Christy Toye (hamstring), Eoin Wade (hand) and Martin McElhinney (ankle) also carrying knocks.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Not so much young but former Clonakilty player Conor McManus could come into the reckoning. Otherwise, Dermot Molloy will be expected to shine this year.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Down (a): Feb 12: v Laois (h); Mar 4: v Cork (h); Mar 11: v Kerry (a); Mar 18: v Mayo (h); Mar 24: v Dublin (a); Apr 8: v Armagh (h).
Odds? 12/1
Did you know? Glenswilly men have a habit of lifting league silverware. Before Michael Murphy raised the Division 2 title last year, a bandaged Neil Gallagher held aloft the Allianz Cup in 2007.
A successful league will be: A semi-final spot would be a fine achievement after promotion last year. Murphy and McFadden’s absences are likely to be keenly felt in the first two rounds.
DOWN
A change of manager? James McCartan is at the reins for a third season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Up to McCartan. Benny Coulter will wear the armband once more.
Anyone injured? Forward Paul McComiskey is out for the early part of the league with a collapsed disc. Anton McArdle and Conor Garvey are also out.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Spotlight is on 6ft5in Conor Gough who switched allegiances from Armagh.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Donegal (h); Feb 12: v Cork (a); Mar 4: v Kerry (h); Mar 11: v Mayo (a); Mar 18 v Dublin (h); Mar 24: v Armagh (a); Apr 8: v Laois (a).
Odds? 12/1
Did you know? Down were the third highest goal scorers in Division 1 last year, behind Dublin (16) and Mayo (10).
A successful league will be: Like Donegal, they have four home games and their away trips aren’t too taxing. Martin Clarke will be missed but a top-four finish is within their reach.
KERRY
A change of manager? Jack O’Connor mans the sideline for a fourth successive season, his seventh in total.
How’s the skipper chosen? Colm Cooper will wear the armband for a second successive season after being nominated by his club and county champions Dr Crokes.
Anyone injured? Anthony Maher (shoulder), Donnacha Walsh (hip) and Padraig Reidy (hamstring) are the only major concerns.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Shane Enright will build on his 2011 season but Peter Crowley should also bolster the Kerry defence.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Dublin (a); Feb 11: v Armagh (h); Mar 4: v Down (a); Mar 11: v Donegal (h); Mar 18: v Cork (a); Mar 25: v Laois (h); Apr 8: v Mayo (h).
Odds? 9/4
Did you know? An oldie but a goodie, nonetheless: all of Kerry’s three All-Ireland titles under O’Connor have come in the same season as Division 1 crowns.
A successful league will be: Winning it, of course. There are arguments being made for Kerry startling slowly but trying tell that to the Ó Ses who have been back since the first week in January.
LAOIS
A change of manager? After earning promotion in his debut season in charge, Justin McNulty wears the bainisteoir’s bib for a second season.
How’s the skipper chosen? Nothing decided by McNulty as of yet but Colm Begley likely to be announced as captain once more.
Anyone injured? Wing forward Niall Donoher the only major concern.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Timahoe’s Damien O’Connor hasn’t done his chances any harm in the Laois attack.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Mayo (h); Feb 12: v Donegal (a); Mar 3: v Dublin (h); Mar 10: v Cork (a); Mar 18: v Armagh (h); Mar 25: v Kerry (a); Apr 8: v Down (h) Odds? 28/1
Did you know? Laois were the top scorers in last year’s Division 2 with 6-98.
A successful league will be: Avoiding relegation would be an achievement. Laois aren’t yet oscillating as rapidly as the majority of their divisional opponents.
MAYO
A change of manager? Second season for James Horan after a promising first year in charge.
How’s the skipper chosen? Ballintubber retained their county title last year but Alan Dillon has been picked on merit.
Anyone injured? Goalkeeper Rob Hennelly is on the mend from after chipping a bone in his elbow.
Who’s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Danny Kirby made a name for himself with his four goals against GMIT but competition in the forward line is fierce.
Fixtures: Feb 4: v Laois (a); Feb 11: v Dublin (h); Mar 3: v Armagh (a); Mar 11: v Down (h); Mar 18: v Donegal (a); Mar 24: v Cork (h); Apr 8: v Kerry (a).
Odds? 7/1
Did you know? Mayo won just one of four home games last year, beating Cork in their penultimate fixture.
A successful league will be: Provincial champions last year, All-Ireland semi-finalists to boot, finishing in the last four would solidify Mayo’s claims as contenders.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, February 03, 2012
