Dubs again: County-by-county guide to Div 1 of the Allianz NFL
Manager: Peadar Healy (1st season)
Captain: TBC
7th consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: No more spring false dawns. Division 1 campaigns have promised much and delivered little come summer. Cork’s style of football must reflect the county’s position in the pecking order.
What they fear: An injury crisis in the middle third. It’s where they are most light on numbers. They must also show some more muscle.
On the rise: Luke Connolly, Kieran Histon
On the mend: Ruairi Deane, Alan O’Connor, Colm O’Neill
2015 AFL in one word: Deceptive
2015 AFL top scorer: Colm O'Neill (5-40)
Fixtures: Jan 31: v Mayo (h); Feb 7: v Donegal (a); Feb 28: v Roscommon (h); Mar 5: v Dublin (a); Mar 13: v Monaghan (h); Mar 27: v Down (h); Apr 3: v Kerry (a).
Prediction: Four home games but there must be room for trial and error as Healy feels his way into the job – 5th.
Manager: Rory Gallagher (2nd season)
Captain: Michael Murphy (6th season)
2nd consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: No early Ulster outing this year means they can attack the league but they need another option or two around the half-forward line and we’re not just talking Rory Kavanagh.
What they fear: Having to bank on the old reliables. Donegal know they can’t put all the onus on the same shoulders.
On the rise: Stephen McBrearty, Eoin McHugh
On the mend: Michael Boyle, Karl Lacey, Colm McFadden, Darach O’Connor, Christy Toye, David Walsh
2015 AFL in one word: Distracted
2015 AFL top scorer: Michael Murphy (2-32)
Fixtures: Jan 30: v Down (a); Feb 7: v Cork (h); Feb 28: v Mayo (h); Mar 6: v Kerry (a); Mar 13: v Roscommon (h); Mar 26: v Dublin (a); Apr 3: v Monaghan (h).
Prediction: Few teams possess the nous and guile of Donegal. With a rested Michael Murphy leading the way, they can secure another top four place – Semi-finalists
Manager: Eamon Burns (1st season)
Captain: TBC
1st season in Division 1 since 2013
What they want: The last time they were this high, Down managed to stick around in Division 1 longer than anticipated – three seasons. Staying up may mean more conservative football.
What they fear: A quick return to Division 2. Among the big boys and Conor Laverty not featuring in the forward line this year, it’s a possibility.
On the rise: Danny Savage
On the mend: Luke Howard, Brendan McArdle
2015 AFL in one word: Reasonable
2015 AFL top scorer: Donal O’Hare (4-29)
Fixtures: Jan 30: v Donegal (h); Feb 7: v Monaghan (a); Feb 28: v Kerry (h); Mar 6: v Roscommon (a); Mar 12: v Dublin (h); Mar 27: v Cork (a); Apr 3: v Mayo (a).
Prediction: Must takes points in at least three of their four Newry games but they’re in esteemed company – Relegated.
Manager: Jim Gavin (4th season)
Captain: Stephen Cluxton (4th season)
8th consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: A new full-back by the end of April. Rory O’Carroll leaves a vacuum that must be filled. Dublin will hit a rocky patch once or twice but a last four spot will be theirs.
What they fear: A hangover from last season. The league has been good to Dublin under Gavin and continued dominance in it will send out the right signals.
On the rise: Shane Carthy, Eric Lowndes, Conor McHugh
On the mend: Paul Flynn, Cian O’Sullivan, Eoghan O’Gara
2015 AFL in one word: Ominous
2015 top scorer: Dean Rock (1-52)
Fixtures: Jan 30: v Kerry (h); Feb 6: v Mayo (a); Feb 27: v Monaghan (h); Mar 5: v Cork (h); Mar 12: v Down (a); Mar 26: v Donegal (h); Apr 3: v Roscommon (a).
Prediction: A competition like the league allows Gavin to display his full arsenal and they’re only on the road thrice – Winners.
Manager: Eamonn Fitzmaurice (4th season)
Captain: Bryan Sheehan (1st season)
14th consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: A first semi-final spot under Fitzmaurice. Given their injury and fixture lists, it would be a real boon and a strong indication they have put last September behind them.
What they fear: Relegation has already been mentioned this month by David Moran. It's not beyond them but this is a panel of equals.
On the rise: Briain Ó Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan
On the mend: Peter Crowley, Mikey Geaney, Paul Geaney, Anthony Maher, James O’Donoghue, Kieran O’Leary
2015 AFL in one word: Middling
2015 top scorer: Bryan Sheehan (0-23)
Fixtures: Jan 30: v Dublin (a); Feb 7: v Roscommon (h); Feb 28: v Down (a); Mar 6: v Donegal (h); Mar 13: v Mayo (a); Mar 27: v Monaghan (a); Apr 3: v Cork (h).
Prediction: Strong chance of another rollercoaster spring ahead for Kerry but there seems a determination to start as they mean to go on – Semi-finalists.
Manager: Stephen Rochford (1st season)
Captain: TBC
18th consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: Selector and coach Tony McEntee expects a change in Mayo’s style to be apparent by early March. They have a team capable of winning an All-Ireland title but not yet a panel.
What they fear: A drubbing against one of their fellow All-Ireland contenders, like the spanking Dublin gave them in Castlebar last year. Two or even three defeats will be understood if Mayo are competitive.
On the rise: Stephen Coen, Conor Loftus, Conor O’Shea
On the mend: Chris Barrett, Mickey Conroy, Alan Dillon, Keith Higgins, Kevin Keane, Andy Moran, Cillian O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Connor, Seamus O’Shea
2015 AFL in one word: Ordinary
2015 AFL top scorer: Kevin McLoughlin (1-13)
Fixtures: Jan 31: v Cork (a); Feb 6: v Dublin (h); Feb 28: v Donegal (a); Mar 6: v Monaghan (a); Mar 13: v Kerry (h); Mar 27: v Roscommon (a); Apr 3: v Down (h)
Prediction: Not without their injury problems but they don’t have not as many long-term lay-offs as Kerry. Likely to see their best from March onwards – Finalists
Manager: Malachy O’Rourke (4th season)
Captain: Conor McManus (3rd season)
2nd consecutive season in Division 1
What they want: Another spring when their ledger is in the black.
What they fear: That even a hair is harmed on the head of Conor McManus. The man who spearheads their attack must also manage a hip injury.
On the rise: Conor McCarthy, Barry McGinn, Mark Thornton
On the mend: Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay
2015 AFL in one word: Solid
2015 AFL top scorer: Conor McManus (0-32)
Fixtures: Jan 31: v Roscommon (a); Feb 7: v Down (h); Feb 27: v Dublin (a); Mar 6: v Mayo (h); Mar 13: v Cork (a); Mar 27: v Kerry (h); Apr 3: v Donegal (h).
Prediction: Four home games will help but theirs is a stretched panel and the need to rest stalwarts like Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay and Vinny Corey may stunt semi-final ambitions – 6th
Manager: Kevin McStay/Fergie O’Donnell (1st season)
Captain: TBC
1st season in Division 1 since 2003
What they want: Simple, really – two or three morale-boosting victories (one coming on the road would be nice) as they retain their top flight status.
What they fear: Being bottom feeders. Their January form indicates they’ve been training well but their opponents will have caught up by the end of February if not early March.
On the rise: Ronan Daly, Enda Smith
On the mend: Ciarán Cafferkey, Niall Carty, Cathal Compton, Kevin Higgins, Donie Shine, Donal Ward
2015 AFL in one word: Advancing
2015 AFL top scorer: Diarmuid Murtagh (2-28)
Fixtures: Jan 31: v Monaghan (h); Feb 7: v Kerry (a); Feb 28: v Cork (a); Mar 6: v Down (h); Mar 13: v Donegal (a); Mar 27: v Mayo (h); Apr 3: v Dublin (h).
Prediction: A meteoric rise from 2014 when they were in Division 3. A good management team may not be able to stave off the drop – Relegated
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