Meath’s Mickey Newman believes second-tier sides can prosper

Mickey Harte has often voiced the opinion that teams simply must be playing Division 1 football to have any chance of claiming All-Ireland honours later in the year, but Meath’s Mickey Newman feels the gap between the top and second tiers may be over-egged.

The Kilmainham forward has yet to play in that elite strata of the Allianz Leagues. His debut season in 2013 coincided with the county’s short stint in Division 3, but he has seen enough in Division 2 to contend that it is not to be underestimated.

“Getting up to Division 1 is obviously the ultimate aim,” he said after claiming 1-4 in Meath’s opening Allianz League defeat of Armagh. “Division 2 is a competitive league as well so we can learn a lot from it.”