Team-by-team profiles: Louth's National Football League Division Three opponents
Allianz National Football League
LOUTH
MANAGER
Wayne Kierans (season two)
CAPTAIN
Bevan Duffy
STAR MAN
ONE TO WATCH
Eoghan Callaghan
FIRST GAME
Longford (a)
PEDIGREE
Emerged as surprise promotion contenders last year, only losing out on the final day. Look weaker overall given the loss of key players, with several league rookies set for inclusion against Longford on Sunday. A good start is crucial if a demotion scrap is to be avoided.
PREDICTION
Unfortunately, a relegation battle looms unless there is an improvement on pre-season form.
DOWN
Paddy Tally (season two)
Darren O’Hagan
Donal O’Hare
Cory Quinn
Tipperary (a)
Paddy Tally looks to have got the best players in Down back in the fold, with Ross McGarry, who helped Warrenpoint to the senior final in 2019, returning to the squad. The Kilcoo crew will filter back, meaning Down will get stronger as spring develops.
Qualified for the McKenna Cup semi-final and should be in the promotion shake-up after falling short last year, with promotion the priority.
TIPPERARY
David Power (season one)
Conor Sweeney
Jack Kennedy
Down (h)
Tipp will expect to be among the leading pack in Division Three, having lost their second tier status 12 months ago. High profile players have departed, but they still possess quality, with David Power, the man who led Tipp to All-Ireland minor glory in 2011, at the helm.
Promotion.
LEITRIM
Terry Hyland (season two)
TBC
Ryan O’Rourke
Killian Gaffey
Derry (a)
Hammered by Roscommon in their FBD League game, conceding seven goals in the process. The spring schedule could be a gruelling one for Leitrim, who will be without Emlyn Mulligan, their star player for so long.
Prime candidates to lose their third tier status having been promoted last year.
CORK
Ronan McCarthy (third season)
Ian Maguire
Cathal O’Mahony
Offaly (h)
The only Division Three team with experience of the All-Ireland Super 8s. Ronan McCarthy’s team were riveting to watch in last year’s championship and will be eager to step out of this tier at the first attempt.
Champions.
DERRY
Rory Gallagher (season one)
Shane McGuigan
Odhrán Lynch
Leitrim (h)
Expect nothing but dour spectacles under new manager Rory Gallagher. Should bore enough teams to death to ensure survival. Have class forwards in Ryan Bell and Christopher Bradley.
Mid-table.
LONGFORD
Pádraic Davis (season two)
Donal McElligott
Darren Gallagher
Oran Kenny
Louth (h)
A solid outfit who have been consistently steady in this division over a number of campaigns. Pádraic Davis’ side recently defeated Dublin in
the O’Byrne Cup - before winning the competition - and can go close to promotion.
Promotion challengers.
OFFALY
John Maughan (season two)
Eoin Rigney
Peter Cunningham
Cian Johnson
Cork (a)
John Maughan’s men were impressive in going the whole way to the end of the O’Byrne Cup, beating Louth along the way. Have battled against relegation in recent times, but have the chance to get safe early on current form.
Hard to know exactly what to expect, but they’ll likely finish somewhere between fourth and seventh.