The Allianz National Football League kick off with a Croke Park double-header tonight. Cork will be aiming for a fourth league title in succession but Dublin, Kerry, Mayo will be among the teams that are primed to stop them.
Ger Gilroy will also be joined in studio by Ryan McMenamin, Billy Joe Padden and Conor Deegan to preview the 2013 campaign in a special panel from 4pm.
Cork
It’s easy to forget but in 2012 Cork were having a reasonably successful year prior to their All Ireland semi-final meeting with Donegal.
The Rebels completed an impressive three-in-a-row when they defeated Mayo 2-10 to 0-11 in the Division 1 final.
Then in the summer, they romped to a Munster title, seeing off Kerry along the way and brushed aside the challenge of Kildare as they homed in on a second possible Sam Maguire success in three years.
But Cork were ultimately out-thought by Jim McGuinness’ Donegal in the semis, losing by a narrow two point margin in an intense match.
Cork may have also lost out to Tipperary in the 2013 McGrath Cup, but a shot at a four-in-a-row in the league should give Conor Counihan’s men the required motivation to get their 2013 campaign up and running.
With their recent pedigree in the competition, the Rebels will rightly be one of the favourites for the league, although they will be missing Daniel Goulding (knee) and Paddy Kelly through injury.
Donegal
In contrast – and like in 2012 - the league may well be used as a platform for experimentation by Jim McGuinness. With Donegal adhering to the staggered ban on training, followed by a team holiday in January, the Allianz league campaign will be used to rebuild core fitness and also to work on tactics to keep the team ahead of the chasing pack in what could be a long summer.
Jim McGuinness has a few injury concerns including 2012’s All Stars Football of the Year Karl Lacey sidelined, while Mark McHugh is a major doubt.
But Mark’s talent brother Ryan McHugh has joined the panel after winning a Donegal minor title while St Eunan’s clubman Mark McGowan comes in from the cold after declining a call up in 2011 due to commitments in the US.
Mayo
Speaking of events Stateside, the Mayo team spent their team holiday in Miami which affected their FBD form as they lost to Leitrim in the early rounds.
James Horan will be looking to build on some of the advances made in 2012 where they reached the Division 1 final, retained the Connacht Championship and put a spirited showing in yet another All Ireland final defeat.
The panel has been strengthened this year with the inclusions of Conor O’Shea, Cathal Freeman and Tom Cunniffe but because of disruptions to their preparations, they may suffer inconsistent league form early on. However if they can build momentum it will leave the men from the west well placed when the Championship season rolls in.
Kerry
While 2012 could be classed as an excellent year for Donegal and a promising one for Cork and Mayo, it wasn’t the same story for Kerry.
The Kingdom might have reached a Division 1 semi-final but the summer was anti-climactic. The 36-times All Ireland champions lost out to Cork in the Munster Championship and fell short to Donegal in the All Ireland quarters despite mounting a comeback.
But there is optimism going into 2013 under new manager Eamon Fitzmaurice. Kerry started the year off in good form by comfortably winning the McGrath Cup with youngsters like Paul Geaney and Jack Sherwood particularly lively.
But Fitzmaurice’s case is helped by the retention of experienced heads within the panel like Tomas O’Se, Paul Galvin and Colm Cooper as Kerry renew their twin assaults on the league and the Championship.
Dublin
Dublin are also under new management with Jim Gavin replacing Pat Gilroy. The core of 2011 All Ireland winning panel remain with youngsters Cormac Costello and Paul Hudson among the graduates from last year’s All Ireland winning minor and U21 crop.
Ciaran Kilkenny’s decision to forego an AFL career will also be a boost for Gavin as he tries to come up with a formula to improve on 2012.
Early experimentations this year yielded an O’Byrne Cup final where they lost to Kildare in a thrilling encounter. But the new manager’s first challenge will be to work on Dublin’s league form. The Dubs were inconsistent in Division 1 last year and failed to beat any of the teams that finished above them.
Kildare
Division 2 Champions Kildare have made a fine start to 2013 by winning the O’Byrne Cup as they prepare for life in the top pier for the first time since 2008.
Last year the Lilywhites reached the Leinster semi-finals and the All Ireland quarter-finals and coupled with their recent form there will be some optimism that they can ensure survival.
But they do face the last four All Ireland champions at the start of the league campaign which will give them an idea of where they stand this year.
This term Kieran McGeeney can call upon former Cavan forward Seanie Johnston for a league campaign after he completed his transfer in time for 2012’s All Ireland qualifier series.
Tyrone
Kildare are joined in the top tier by Tyrone who won all seven games in Division 2 last year before losing the final to the Lilywhites.
Mickey Harte enters his 11th year in charge of the Red Hand County and got 2013 off to a flyer by claiming the Dr McKenna Cup.
It’s a changing of the guard in Tyrone as key members of recent All Ireland winning squads make way with exciting young prospects like Conor McAliskey coming into contention. But triple All Ireland winner and four-time All Star Sean Cavanagh also returns after an injury-riddled 2012 to provide much needed experience.
There will be great hunger in Tyrone to re-establish themselves at the top end of Gaelic football after a 2012 which saw them exit the Championship to Kerry at the qualifier stage, while a semi-final defeat to Donegal ended their Ulster title ambitions.
Down
Tyrone will hope to open their league account at home to Down. The Mournemen had a very strong Division 1 campaign in 2012 by reaching the semi-final after suffering two defeats in their first three matches.
James McCartan’s side then went on to reach the Ulster Championship final where they – like many others – were overcome by Donegal. Down would have felt confident of possibly causing an upset against Mayo in the All Ireland quarter-finals but were ultimately trounced easily enough, going down by 12 points.
They have started 2012 off in solid fashion, with good wins over Armagh and Cavan to get to the McKenna Cup semis.
But Down have injury worries ahead of a tough league campaign with Daniel Hughes and Dan Gordon missing some of the spring and Ambrose Rogers out with a serious knee problem.
©INPHO/Donall Farmer
©INPHO/Donall Farmer
