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Away we go again; football’s better side on show again<\/p>\n
We’re getting used to it now, the split season and all that. It’s exactly 26 weeks since the last meaningful inter-county clash. No disrespect to the pre-season competitions, but you know what I mean.<\/p>\n
Fans and scribes alike no doubt singing off the same hymn sheet, giving the line ‘It’s good to be back’ some gusto.<\/p>\n
And back we are for year two of the rules that resuscitated a game that was badly in need of such resuscitation. And while the 2025 championship ended on a bit of a whimper, there was no denying that it gave us more than a few matches where we watched on, almost to the point of wonder at a code transformed.<\/p>\n
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\nKerry captain lifting the Corn Mh\u00edch\u00edl U\u00ed Mhuircheartaigh after the defeat of Mayo last March<\/p>\n
Standout game?: Down v Galway in that All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final gets the slight nod.<\/p>\n
After not making use of the two-point route for most of the league and early on in the championship, Kerry’s liking for the orange flag was more evident at the business end. David Clifford’s point before half time in the All-Ireland stunning in its simplicity.<\/p>\n
Division 1 preview: Who wants to win phoney war?<\/a><\/p>\n And so the league begins. And we want more of those momentum-turning scores. The club campaign ended with a few two-pointers that would ultimately decide games. A seven or eight-point lead is nothing anymore.<\/p>\n Said it before, we’ll say it again<\/p>\n Promotion and relegation: two up and two down.<\/p>\n If two teams are level on points at the conclusion of the league phase, the head-to-head rule will apply.<\/p>\n If more than two teams are level on the same points, score difference will apply.<\/p>\n At the end of the league, the finishing positions in Division 1 and Division 2 will make up the 16 teams that will contest the Sam Maguire. True, to a point. However, if Kildare are relegated to Division 3 they will still be involved in the summer’s top-tier by virtue of them winning the Tailteann Cup in 2025. In that case then, one of the promoted teams will lose, unless they reach a provincial final.<\/p>\n The divisional finals will be played at Croke Park on the weekend of 28\/29 March. The outcome of those game will determine the overall rankings when it comes to All-Ireland series and Tailteann Cup. The Division 3 decider, perhaps will be the most keenly fought, with the winner putting themselves in a stronger position to contest Sam.<\/p>\n Division 2 preview: Mighty scrap expected at both ends<\/a><\/p>\n Unlike the previous three campaigns, there will be a gap of one week between the conclusion of the league and the start of the championship. No games then on the Easter Weekend of 4\/5 April. A week later sees the highly anticipated meeting of Armagh and Tyrone in Ulster.<\/p>\n New bakers dozen at the helm<\/p>\n A total of 13 new managers, some appointed early on, with Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O’Hara ratified in Sligo on the day after the All-Ireland final. At the end of the following week, Ger Brennan was handed the keys in Dublin. It was the middle of September before Declan Bonner was confirmed as the new Fermanagh boss.<\/p>\n DUBLIN: Ger Brennan – Worked his magic in Louth but he can he make the Dubs real contenders for the big prize again?<\/p>\n MAYO: Andy Moran – A popular appointment. After cutting his teeth in Leitrim and Monaghan, Moran will seek to rise the green and red boat again, this after a 2025 which saw a heavy defeat to Kerry in the Division 1 final and a costly defeat to Cavan in the All-Ireland round-robin.<\/p>\n DERRY: Ciar\u00e1n Meenagh – Took the county to an All-Ireland semi when he replaced Rory Gallagher for a few months in 2023. Was involved with Down for the last couple of years. Promotion back to Division 1 would be the perfect start for the Tyrone native.<\/p>\n ROSCOMMON: Mark Dowd – The Rossies have looked to one of their own, turning to Dowd who had success at U-21 level and has also been part of the senior management set-up in recent seasons.<\/p>\n LOUTH: Gavin Devlin – The Wee County did not have to cast the net that wide, with Devlin previously part of Mickey Harte’s backroom team while also working as underage co-ordinator in the county.<\/p>\n Division 3 preview: More than promotion on the line for counties<\/a><\/p>\n CAVAN – Dermot McCabe – A year with Westmeath, where McCabe watched on as the Lake County fell to a number of narrow defeats. The home place came calling and he answered the call.<\/p>\n WESTMEATH: Mark McHugh – After being part of the ticket under Dermot McCabe, the Donegal All-Ireland winner steps up. With O’Byrne Cup silverware already in the bag, Westmeath are one of the favourites to get promoted from Division 3.<\/p>\n CLARE: Paul Madden – After Peter Keane stepped way, the Banner went for the man who coached \u00c9ire \u00d3g to three county titles.<\/p>\n SLIGO: Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O’Hara – Former players who have enjoyed some coaching success at club and county level will be looking to give the Yeats County a spark that was missing last year.<\/p>\n FERMANGH: Declan Bonner – The former Donegal player and manager has already made it clear that promotion to Division 2 will be the target.<\/p>\n ANTRIM: Mark Doran – Coaching experience with Sleacht N\u00e9ill and with his native Down and Roscommon the launching pad for Doran to take on the Saffron post. Will be expected to oversee an escape route from the bottom tier.<\/p>\n TIPPERARY: Niall Fitzgerald: After the sad passing of Philly Ryan, the Tipp board turned to Moyle Rovers clubman Fitzgerald, who previously spent three seasons in charge of the county’s Under-20 side and also managed their minors.<\/p>\n WATERFORD: Ephie Fitzgerald – The Cork native, who takes over from Paul Shankey, led his county to the the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship in 2016. He was previously in charge of the D\u00e9ise in 2022-23, before opting against a third year in charge.<\/p>\n Expectations<\/p>\n Where do we start? In Division 1, will we again see teams pull up the handbrake in early March? Safety secured and all that. Let’s get some nice warm-weather training in before provincial combat.<\/p>\n![\"12](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/00235403-614.jpg\"\/)
\nAs Tailteann Cup holders, Kildare are guaranteed a spot in this year’s Sam Maguire<\/p>\n![\"3](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023c80b-614.jpg\"\/)
\nAndy Moran’s Mayo take on Galway in their opening game<\/p>\n![\"Westmeath](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023c9f6-614.jpg\"\/)
\nMark McHugh recently oversaw Westmeath battle back late on in pipping Kildare to O’Byrne Cup crown<\/p>\n
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