Allianz Football League Division IV Previews
David Power
As usual, Division IV of the Allianz Football League will be hugely competitive this year.
With Wexford having suffered successive relegations, the Model County should be one of the stronger outfits, but Antrim will also be pushing hard for one of the two promotion spots.
Allianz Football League Division IV Previews
Sunday, January 31
**Louth v London, Darver, 12.30pm **NOTE late change of venue
Relegated from Division III last year, Louth begin their bid for promotion back to the second tier with a home tie against London, who finished bottom of the entire league structure last year. The Wee County performed well in the O’Byrne Cup, overcoming an early defeat to Offaly to beat Kildare (2-11 to 0-8) and DIT (3-19 to 1-9) fairly comprehensively.
London traditionally struggle at the start of campaigns given their natural turnover of players, but with new manager Ciarán Deely, who is a former Wexford footballer, in place things are likely to have had an extra pep this year. Captained by Down man David McGreevy, the Exiles’ ambitions for the campaign will be to pick up a few wins ahead of the Connacht Championship.
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Frank Fitzsimmons
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Carlow v Antrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
Antrim were unlucky not to win promotion out of Division IV last year, and Frank Fitzsimmons’ charges will be kicking themselves if they don’t manage that feat in 2016. Without doubt one of the strongest teams in the lowest tier, they proved that by beating Laois in the Qualifiers last summer.
After a great start last year, Carlow finished in mid-table in Division IV, but manager Turlough O’Brien says his side are capable of making the step up this year. “Our goal is to get promotion,” he said. “We feel we have a chance but all eight teams think they can get out of that division. It is one of the most competitive of all the divisions.”
Wexford v Leitrim, Bellefield, Enniscorthy, 2pm
Wexford were in Division II as recently as 2013 so David Power’s side will have to get used to life in the lower reaches and accept just how hard a battle it will be to emerge from the most competitive division of the lot. PJ Banville and Daithí Waters are back on board this year, but Graeme Molly has retired and manager David Power expects wholesale changes from the squad he utilised last year.
Leitrim, now in year two under Shane Ward, won three and drew two of their seven games last so any sort of improvement would have them in the promotion shake-up. Having used the FBD League to run the rule over a host of new players, Ward has laid down the gauntlet to his squad ahead of the start of the League: “Now it is game time, now is competition time and I’ve told the players their apprenticeship is over, it is time to perform,” he said.
Wicklow v Waterford, Aughrim, 2pm
Both sides had pretty miserable campaigns in 2015, finishing just ahead of London towards the bottom of the table on three points. Wicklow have lost a host of experienced players to retirement and for manager Johnny Magee, 2016 may be all about transition.
Waterford have Ephie Fitzgerald on board as a coach, but were comprehensively beaten by Cork in the McGrath Cup, having won the pre-season title ahead of last year’s campaign.
