Weekend Previews: Will half-forwards benefit most from football's new rules?
Galway's Paul Conroy and Mayo's Stephen Coen. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho
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Too early to believe half-forwards will benefit the most from the new rules? The tallies from play of Oisín Conaty (0-4), Seán Bugler (0-7), Paul Towey (0-4, 1 tpt), Keith O’Neill (0-4) and Ciarán Murtagh (1-2) last weekend were interesting. Tyrone also scored 2-4 from their starting defence. Their embracing of risk in contrast to the conservatism Armagh showed last weekend makes them rightful favourites here. : Tyrone.
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It's a strange set of circumstances that while Dublin’s record in Ballybofey is dreadful and Jim McGuinness as Donegal manager has never lost a season game there, it was the Dubs who relegated Donegal there with a Paul Mannion equaliser in 2013. It’s a notoriously difficult place to go and with Donegal set to play two home championship game there later in the season McGuinness will want to keep it fortified. : Donegal.
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A point looked extremely unlikely for Tipperary for long parts of their game against Carlow in Round 1. That they salvaged something will boost them for the visit of Longford but it may be another share of the spoils. : Draw.
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James Horan mentioned on the “Irish Examiner” football podcast earlier this week that teams who have sampled the rules are already at an advantage. Waterford come in cold while Carlow want to make up for a dropped point. : Carlow.
Almost seven months have passed (actually six months and 25 days but who’s counting?) have passed since Limerick’s five-in-a-row bid was ripped up by Cork. People’s hunger for more of that excellent semi-final and epic provincial round game two months earlier is illustrated by the huge crowd expected in Cork on Saturday evening. The home crowd sense this team of theirs is going to win things but for now they can squeeze past a Limerick side that is more unfamiliar than theirs. : Cork.
Kildare will want to get the disappointment of losing to Down out of their systems as quick as possible. It’s a good squad that John “Tweek” Griffin brings to Newbridge but the hosts may have more incentive for two points. : Kildare.
Pulling off big wins in Ballycran is one thing but Down have to start backing them up against good opposition. Derry have been making strides but Down can stop them. : Down.
An early top-of-the-table tussle and this one should go the way of the home side. : Wicklow.
Sligo should benefit from their run-out last weekend to pick up their first points. : Sligo.
: Louth.
The margin between Tyrone and Derry last weekend was seven points and yet it felt flattering for the defending Division 1 champions. Derry are clearly playing catch-up as former Kerry coach Paddy Tally gets to know his group. Fortunate for them, Kerry are still without a lot of mainstays but there is enough potential in the visitors’ attack to believe they can make this competitive. : Draw.
Brought forward because of the floodlights issue at the venue, Mayo find themselves under a bit of pressure despite a decent showing in Croke Park to pick up points. Castlebar hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them whereas Galway have no hang-ups about the place. They might not be fully playing to their strengths but what they do have is composure and more seasoned players available to them than Mayo. : Galway.
The first of three trips to Ulster for John Cleary’s men and their fine record against Down will give them a fillip. Despite losing so many players over the winter, Cork were able to pick up the first opening day win in Division 1 or 2 since 2016. Down scored for fun against Roscommon but were caught regularly in defence and it could be another good afternoon for Chris Óg Jones, who scored 1-4 last weekend. Cork.
It's no stretch to say these two could be facing each other again in a Division 2 final at the end of March. The change of venue from Ardee due to storm damage is a slight issue for Louth when they have been a formidable team at the St Mary’s club. Louth should have had it easier against Westmeath. Roscommon are likely to hurt them more. : Roscommon.
With several established players lining out, losing at home to Monaghan would have been a stinging one for Cavan. Their wiliness didn’t count for enough but it might claim them something in Navan against a Meath team still learning their way under new manager Robbie Brennan. : Draw.
As much as it appeared at times that Rory Beggan was running the game in Kingspan Breffni last weekend, the victory over Cavan was an early vote in confidence for a refreshed Monaghan side. There are going to be bumps along the road but they can back up that win with another. : Monaghan.
Clare have designs on promotion and more this year but to lose in Belfast was a humbling experience. Expect them to take out those frustrations on a Leitrim side yet to see action. : Clare.
Offaly didn’t beat Sligo so much as Tony McEntee’s men beat themselves in Tullamore last weekend. Nine second-half wides was an awful return. Unfortunately for them, Kildare appear to be in mean form. Kildare.
Kieran Donnelly intimated there was a gulf in physicality and coniditioning between Fermanagh and Kildare last weekend. It should be more of an even contest here but coming back from a chastening defeat will be tough. : Antrim.
Offaly will make the short trip to Portlaoise full of belief and Laois’ resources have depleted since last season. An edgy derby in prospect but if Keith O’Neill fires again Offaly can win. : Offaly.
The Exiles are a different side in Ruislip, which is just as well because the version they sent to Wexford last weekend were disappointing. Wicklow should make the trip worth it, though. : Wicklow.
Wexford probably didn’t benefit from their Round 1 win as much as Limerick’s draw in Longford. Having said that, they will head to Rathkeale sensing they can land a blow in their promotion bid. : Wexford.
It had been said that Galway were sharp in a recent challenge game against Clare but last Sunday they were a poor second to Tipperary. Just like it was during his early time in Dublin, Mícheál Donoghue requires patience but being relegated would not go down well in his home county. Kilkenny’s win over Clare came courtesy of their character more than anything else. If Galway knuckle down here to make a game of this, it can be the difference again. : Kilkenny.
Rory O’Connor’s suspension deprives an already depleted Wexford side of their best forward outside of Lee Chin, who only returned to training last week. So little went right for Wexford against Cork although a couple of debutants picked off scores. Tipperary, as they look to win back followers, won’t be taking things easy on them. : Tipperary.
It was a difficult managerial debut for Davy Fitzgerald in Croke Park against Dublin but this is a team that grows a few inches taller in Belfast. Fitzgerald comes up against his former selector Seoirse Bulfin. : Antrim.
It was a point gained for Carlow in Tullamore last Saturday and the result never mind the game gives them a slight advantage over Waterford as Peter Queally takes charge of his first season fixture. The Déise are down several players but the result should finish in their favour. : Waterford.
The Faithful County were far from convincing in being by Carlow at home but Laois are working out their own issues too at the moment. The postponed game against Westmeath doesn’t help matters. : Offaly.
Two teams used to taking points off each other. Donegal to take the bragging rights this time.: Donegal.
Armagh have yet to get up and running whereas Roscommon want to recover from a loss to London. : Roscommon.
: Longford.
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: Warwickshire.
Armagh’s explosive qualities were key as they took advantage of Kerry’s All-Ireland hangover. They will follow it up with two more points in Lurgan. : Armagh.
The new Dublin era commenced last weekend with a win over Mayo and the short trip to Newbridge can provide them with another. : Dublin.
Both teams struggled for scores in Round 1 yet it was Clare who came away with a point. A draw with Donegal was a decent result for The Banner. : Clare.
A couple of teams that will fancy their chances of jumping back to Division 1 as quickly as possible. Both started as they mean to go on although Galway could sneak this encounter. : Galway.
Tipperary’s best players are plying their trade in Australia and they were beaten comprehensively by Galway. The margin should be tighter this time. : Monaghan.
If Donegal are to be in the promotion hunt with Cork and Galway, they have to be making light of trips like these. : Donegal.
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