rather than be swamped with all the higher profile matches in higher divisions where many players are rested and the games aren't truly reflective of their current standings... just thought it would be a good idea to set up a NFL division 3 forum for all counties obviously in Div 3. There are some big county names in it this year and it should be a great league..so from 1st game on Sunday 27th Jan lets be having your views on each game and prospect for next game etc...I see something similar set up for Div 2 hence the idea...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 15/01/2019 16:12:31    2157356

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 16/01/2019 19:56:59    2157635

I don't think we (Louth) will be relegated. The mood has already improved from the dark days of Pete McGrath. I see Laois have lost home advantage for the match against us but not sure why it is now a triple header in Croke Park.

AC (None) - Posts: 318 - 17/01/2019 09:38:18    2157693

I think Down will win div 3 as having 4 home games especially playing Westmeath and Laois in Newry could swing it for them and with new manager paddy tally there the lads will be extra hungry.
Going up with them this will go to the wire but I've a sneaky feeling for Laois some nice forwards, they played well last year so I'm expecting them to really go for it.

Bottom 2 think sligo and Offaly for me with Louth just staying up.

Lots of nice Leinster battles here which they could all cut each others throats.

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 705 - 17/01/2019 13:42:17    2157769

thanks to all who have contributed..I thought for a while it was a "non runner", we will be bombarded with the so called bigger counties progress etc. over the coming weeks/months so I said why not have our own Div 3 forum..some good matches in store..Offaly Westmeath, plus most teams playing against Down will be good games, pity to see Down down(that was always going to happen: Down down)in Division 3 but a lot of other counties will claim likewise...Sligo under Paul Taylor and Offaly under John Maughan will be interesting to see how they go...it will be competitive surely, and all will benefit from that...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 17/01/2019 17:17:54    2157835

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 766 - 17/01/2019 18:15:48    2157843

FairPlay. Good idea to look at the so called lesser lights, but there are 3 former All Ireland Champions in Division 3, admittedly some of those victories go back to the 50's to the 90's.
Couldn't leave you the sole Offaly man.
All counties have at least one provincial championship.
Less history, prediction time.

Down, Westmeath, Laois and Longford promotion contenders. Down and Westmeath favourites.
Louth, Sligo, Offaly and Carlow in relegation struggle. Offaly and Carlow relegation candidates, hope I am wrong.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 17/01/2019 19:31:54    2157866

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 18/01/2019 12:21:14    2157990

Down, laois and Westmeath for promotion places. Unfortunately Longford will be well below full strength at the start so will struggle. 6 points could get you relegated here as I reckon a lot of games could go anyway.

catchturnscore (Longford) - Posts: 149 - 18/01/2019 15:54:14    2158041

We'll survive anyway.

LooseCannon (Offaly) - Posts: 86 - 18/01/2019 16:21:55    2158046

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1005 - 18/01/2019 23:41:47    2158116

THE_SNAPPER (Louth) - Posts: 2019 - 19/01/2019 00:46:42    2158130

Although Laois had our number well and truly last year I don't think they will be promoted. It is a really rough division and I also don't think Down are that far ahead of the rest.
I am really looking forward to it. Even more so if the hand pass rule was got rid of

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 19/01/2019 08:25:37    2158141

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 19/01/2019 15:49:52    2158218

This will be a great thread once league kicks off
Great news ( for us at least that hand pass rule has being withdrawn for league )

How are the counties shaping up ? - we have the strongest ever but then we started from a very low ebb.

Any key players missing or new exciting names on the scene in your county
For Carlow we will have to line out without Sean Choo Choo Murphy as he got hamstring injury against Wexford . So we may not have him for at least first 3 games which is a big loss

In regatd to new faces - they have being on panel a while but I think the intro of Walker and Lunney will make a big difference in attack in league.
looking forward to next week

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 20/01/2019 20:17:37    2158507

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 20/01/2019 21:02:48    2158523

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 878 - 21/01/2019 17:30:45    2158709

For my own county the game next sunday against offaly is vital . Offaly will have no fear of westmeath in tullamore. We will be favourites after the o Byrne cup but we only drew with offaly . This game will determine our season I think westmeath and laois will be promoted

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1802 - 21/01/2019 19:27:22    2158743

The division looks a close one, Id be hopeful Carlow will line out at full strength on Sunday, good reports coming back on injuries so fingers crossed, laois Vs down looks like the pick of the round although Westmeath Vs Offaly also looks like a good one, no team is safe and there doesn't look to be a stand out choice for promotion either although Westmeath certainly have the pre season form I think Longford will have a big say in this division, roll on the weekend, for many of us in Carlow this will be the first time we seen our county play outside division 4

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1593 - 21/01/2019 23:44:10    2158803

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 22/01/2019 00:45:42    2158810