Young player exit worry for Dempsey

LONGFORD manager Luke Dempsey believes there’s a risk of young players heading off to America for the summer after their teams are knocked out of the provincial championships.

With the last round of games in Division 2A of the Allianz NFL on Sunday determining the championship status (this year) of the eight counties which will be in the new Division Four next season, he feels that this particular element was agreed rather hastily.

“I wouldn’t agree with this being brought in so soon. It will be very hard on some managers. And I feel that it will also belittle the Tommy Murphy Cup, which it was never meant to. One of the things discussed by the managers at their meeting in Mullingar (early in the year) was the lack of communication between them and the administrators,’’ he commented.

More immediately, Dempsey is eagerly looking forward to Sunday’s meeting with Clare in Cusack Park which is a ‘must-win’ game for both sides with both sides level on eight points.

Dempsey points out that the only blips during their campaign were an unexpected defeat at the hands of Carlow — “people would have been convinced we were going to win that one,’’ he commented — and a poor second half display against Roscommon.

“We’re hoping to get back on track again. With the championship only four weeks away (against Westmeath), we feel that this will be ideal preparation for us. The one thing we are happy about is that we are playing at home. On the last two occasions we went down to play Clare we didn’t get a result either time.’’

London and Carlow are already consigned to Division 4 next year, which means that if they lose in their respective provincial championship they won’t be allowed take part in the qualifier series — and compete instead in the expanded Tommy Murphy Cup.

By coincidence, both of these teams will be in direct opposition on Sunday.

Leaders Monaghan, who are already assured of promotion (and their semi-final place) are away to Leitrim, Roscommon are at home to Offaly and the other game is the Longford/Clare tie.

At issue is the second place in the group, the third and fourth positions (which will see the teams take part in Division Two) and the fifth and six places — which will consign these teams to Division 4. In the event of teams finishing level on points, play-offs will be necessary to decide League status next season.