County-by-county guide: Allianz Football League - Division Four
TOP OF THE TABLE: Longford's Patrick Fox during the Tailteann Cup Group 3 Round 3 match againsst Carlow at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Niall Carew (fifth season)
Darragh Foley
: Niall Carew says he's got 95% of the players that he wanted. Jamie and Shane Clarke - with 25 appearances between them in 2023 - sat out the O'Byrne Cup but are expected back for league duty.
: Jan 27 Tipperary (a); Feb 3 Waterford (h); Feb 17 Laois (a); Feb 25 Leitrim (h); Mar 2 Wexford (h); Mar 17 Longford (a); Mar 24 London (h).
: Secondary school student John Phiri, a talented dual player, started against Kildare in the O'Byrne Cup. Colin Byrne and John Murphy started both pre-season games and are newcomers also.
: Darragh Foley, who played his 150th game last summer and also became Carlow's all-time leading scorer with over 400 points, is staying on.
: Niall Carew is in his third year and claims this is his most competitive squad yet. He reckons promotion is a strong possibility if they can put back-to-back wins together, something they've struggled with.
: Fifth. With no significant opt outs and over 40 players training throughout Winter, Carlow are in a good place. They have a tough opener in Tipp though.
Justin McNulty (first season, second term)
: Evan O'Carroll
Portarlington trio Paddy O'Sullivan, Robbie Piggot and Colm Murphy have opted out for 2024. Injuries will keep Paul Kingston and Kieran Lillis out of the starting team for the opening games.
Jan 27 Longford (h); Feb 3 Wexford (a); Feb 17 Carlow (h); Feb 25 Tipperary (a); Mar 2 London (h); Mar 16 Leitrim (h); Mar 24 Waterford (a).
: Simon Fingleton, a debutant, scored Laois' first point of the year against Offaly in the O'Byrne Cup. They had 10 debutants that evening. Newcomer Ryan Brady, however, has done his ACL.
: It's over a decade since Justin McNulty last managed Laois. Returning is a gamble. They're starting from scratch, and from further down the food chain, though last year's Tailteann Cup run raised morale.
: With no Leinster minor or U20 titles in over 15 years and no real progress being made at senior level, Laois football is at a low ebb. Can it sink any further?
: Third. Laois were favourites for promotion before Longford won the O'Byrne Cup. Now the positions have switched. Either way, a top-two finish is a must for a county that has fallen on hard times.
Andy Moran (third season)
: Donal Wrynn and Mark Diffley
There are question marks over Keith Beirne's availability this year. That's potentially a huge loss to a county with a tiny pick.
: Jan 28 Waterford (a); Feb 4 London (h); Feb 18 Wexford (h); Feb 25 Carlow (a); Mar 3 Longford (a); Mar 16 Laois (a); Mar 24 Tipperary (h).
: Jamie McGreal and Jack Foley stood out for Leitrim in the pre-season.
: Former Cavan manager Mickey Graham is part of Andy Moran's backroom. His history of big wins with underdogs augurs well.
: Evan Sweeney, known as a forward, played wing-back in Leitrim's only pre-season game, a defeat to Galway. Jack Heslin and both Ryan and Riordan O'Rourke have been similarly utilised by Andy Moran.
: Sixth. Matching the four wins they've picked up in each of the last two campaigns looks a tall order, especially with four away trips.
Michael Maher (fifth season)
Eoin Walsh
: Last year's captain Liam Gavaghan has retired. The Exiles have only retained 15 of the 2023 panel. Some left and a couple were cut, partly with the aim of bringing down the age profile.
Jan 28 Wexford (h); Feb 4 Leitrim (a); Feb 18 Tipperary (h); Feb 25 Longford (a); Mar 2 Laois (a); Mar 16 Waterford (h); Mar 24 Carlow (a).
: Six points on his senior debut in the FBD League win over Mayo, and four more against Roscommon, marked London-born Tara club man Shay Rafter out as a potential league starter.
: Cahir Healy recently turned 37 but has signed up for another season. Tir Chonaill Gaels duo Stephen Dornan (Inniscarra, Cork) and Matt Moynihan (Spa, Kerry) are going again too.
: London deal with a large turnover of players each winter but particularly so this year. "I don't think there's too many counties that will have 15 or 16 changes to their panel," said boss Michael Maher.
Eighth. With 15 players replaced since last year, it's anyone's guess whether London will gel quickly and thrive or suffer another campaign without a single win.
: Paddy Christie (second season)
: Patrick Fox
Daire O'Brien is out due to travel plans. In the short-term, Daniel Mimnagh's shoulder injury picked up against Dublin last weekend is concerning.
Jan 27 Laois (a); Feb 4 Tipperary (h); Feb 16 Waterford (a); Feb 25 London (h); Mar 3 Leitrim (h); Mar 17 Carlow (h); Mar 24 Wexford (a).
: Paddy Christie used 28 players in the O'Byrne Cup including promising newcomers Oisin O'Toole, Daire Duggan, Bryan Peters and Darragh Finlass. Cathal McCabe, Man of the Match in the final, is in his debut season too.
: Longford man Cosmos Gilmore from Rathcline has returned to his roots, replacing James Glancy as a selector. Gilmore lives in Galway and coached the 2020 All-Ireland U20 winning team.
: Longford retained the O'Byrne Cup by beating Dublin but only won two games after last year's pre-season triumph. They need a strong January to provide a springboard to spring success this time.
: First - promotion. A top-two finish and promotion looks well within Longford's capabilities. Four home games boosts their chances.
: Paul Kelly (first season)
: TBC
: Mark Russell, Stephen Quirke and Conor Sweeney could miss the early league games with injuries.
Jan 27 Carlow (h); Feb 4 Longford (a); Feb 18 London (a); Feb 25 Laois (h); Mar 3 Waterford (h); Mar 16 Wexford (h); Mar 24 Leitrim (a).
: Paddy Creedon, who hurled for Tipp in the 2023 NHL, is an interesting addition. He played in the McGrath Cup, as did Shane Neville who was a Clare SFC winner last October with Cratloe. Thurles man Kieran Costello is another promising rookie.
: Munster title winning captain Conor Sweeney missed most of last year with a cruciate injury but is back for 2024.
: New boss Paul Kelly previously managed Kildare kingpins Naas and has convinced Jack Rodgers, backup goalie for last month's Leinster club finalists, to join Tipp under the parentage rule. Evan Comerford limped off against Limerick in the McGrath Cup and Rodgers came on. A league start could follow.
: Fourth. An immediate return to Division 3 is the target. The Rounds 2 and 4 ties against Longford and Laois stick out from the fixture list.
: Paul Shankey (first season)
: Liam Fennell (McGrath Cup)
Conor Murray, Brian Looby, Brian Lynch, Darragh O Cathasaigh and Eoghan Butler are out for 2024.
Jan 28 Leitrim (h); Feb 3 Carlow (a); Feb 17 Longford (h); Feb 24 Wexford (a); Mar 3 Tipperary (a); Mar 16 London (a); Mar 24 Laois (h).
Alan Dunwoody, Caoimhin Walsh (both Kilrossanty), Caolan MacCraith (An Rinn), Willie Beresford, Conor McCarthy (both Ballinacourty), Robbie McGrath (Ballinameela) and Jason Sheehan (Sliabh gCua) are among the rookies that played in the McGrath Cup.
: The availability of all three Currys - Jason, Michael and Stephen - is significant. Stephen, who didn't feature last year, scored 0-2 recently against Cork in the McGrath Cup.
: Former boss Ephie Fitzgerald talked of Deise football being at 'crisis point' last year. It took several months to find his replacement. Officials even had to clarify they'd definitely field a team in 2024.
: Seventh. Two narrow Championship losses to Tipp last year suggest Waterford can be competitive. But they've only won one league game in two seasons. Finishing above London is a realistic initial target.
: John Hegarty (second season)
: Liam Coleman
: Robbie Brooks, John Tubritt, Jim Rossiter, Brian Cushe, Alan Tobin and Craig McCabe are unavailable for various reasons this year. Injuries could sideline Michael Furlong and Brian Molloy for extended spells too.
: Jan 28 London (a); Feb 3 Laois (h); Feb 18 Leitrim (a); Feb 24 Waterford (h); Mar 2 Carlow (a); Mar 16 Tipperary (a); Mar 24 Longford (h).
: John Hegarty looked at close to 30 players across three O'Byrne Cup outings. Cathal Walsh remains one to watch. He netted against Dublin but went off injured. Cian Hughes and Dylan Furlong are greenhorn talents too.
: Ben Brosnan, 36, with three kids under four, is back and will continue to chase down Brian Malone's appearance record. He needs six more outings to match Malone's 174.
: Wexford are an attractive team to watch and are going places under John Hegarty. Promotion and even a run to the Leinster final aren't impossible dreams. But can they capitalise?
: Second - promotion. Drawing with London in Round 1 cost Wexford last year. They can't afford a repeat if they're to push for Division 3 football.
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