Division 2 leads the way so far in Gaelic football's two-point era

Galway's Shane Walsh has scored the most two-pointers in Division 1.

SHARPSHOOTER: Down's Pat Havern has scored the most two-pointers in Division 2 with eight.  Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

More two-pointers have been scored in Division 2 so far than in Division 1 and 3 combined.

A total of 81 scores have been kicked from play or frees (not 45s or deflected scores) from outside the new 40-metre arc in the three rounds thus far in Division 2. That’s compared to 48 in the top flight and 31 in Division 3. In Division 4, 39 orange flags have been raised.

The explosion of two-pointers in the second tier is an outlier that may rectify itself in the next four rounds but all eight Division 2 counties have scored at least one two-point score in each of their three fixtures thus far.

Subtract Galway’s seven two-pointers against Mayo in Castlebar earlier this month and the Division 1 figure would be depleted substantially. The Meath-Cavan clash in Páirc Tailteann is the one game that has provided the most orange flags so far with 10. Producing nine two-pointers were Armagh v Tyrone, Down v Cork and Roscommon v Down.

No game has yet to go without a two-pointer, although Mayo’s meetings with Dublin and Tyrone contributed just one in each game, both of them recorded by Mayo. Division 3 team Leitrim have produced just one orange flag so far. In the same group, high-flying Offaly have also gone two of their three outings without earning a two-pointer.

The two-pointers score difference is proportional to the success of Division 1 table-toppers in Galway (+11) but not so much in the two divisions below. With a +3 difference, Louth have the best record in Division 2 but currently lie fifth and Westmeath (+2) are behind them and have yet to pick up a win.

In Division 3, another team without a victory Sligo are seventh in Division 3 despite enjoying the best difference of four two-pointers. However, leaders Kildare (+3) are right behind them.

Wexford and Tipperary’s healthy two-point returns of +3 and +4 respectively in Division 4 are reflected in their current league positions, first and second.

Galway star Shane Walsh is currently topping the individual two-point charts in Division 1 with eight. Kerry’s Seán O’Shea is among those following him with four, having scored at least one in each of his three matches thus far.

In Division 2, Down sharpshooter Pat Havern also has eight and leads the likes of Roscommon forward Diarmuid Murtagh and Westmeath’s Luke Loughlin who each have six.

Strikingly, goals are also up over 100% in Division 2 from this stage last year, 33 goals compared to 16 last year. The number of three-pointers are marginally up in Division 3 and 4 too, 25 in Division 3 from 23 in 2024 and 27 in the lower division also from 2023 last season.

However, four fewer goals have been scored among the elite eight, 17 in contrast to 21 at this juncture 12 months ago. Division 1 leaders Donegal and Sligo and Leitrim are the only teams yet to find the net. Galway, Offaly and Laois’ goals have yet to be breached.