After 2 games and a 3 week break coming up what are peoples' opinions on how the group is shaping up and how do you feel it will go once teams come back .
Laois look like they will struggle given the fixtures they have left and are probably favourites for relegation now . Kildare are struggling but the break may suit them . Galway and Roscommon look to be setting the pace and I would have them as bookies favourites for promotion at this stage , still a long way to go though .
As for my own Cavan , very happy with the start we made with 2 away games . Hopefully if we can get a couple of home wins it will set us up nicely for mid table safety - that would be our aim for this year . Apart from long term injuries and departures from the panel , we are still waiting on a few players back which should leave us a little stronger .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 08/02/2015 18:55:22    1691319

Very disappointed with Meath so far, Galway were lucky enough to beat wmeath today, Meath v Kildare was a terrible game but we got the win. A win in Roscommon and we very much back on track , i hope with 3 weeks break the return of e Wallace and the imminent return of Gillespie things may start to look up, haven't given up on promotion yet but plenty to do.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 08/02/2015 19:08:46    1691333

RD
Hard to see where our scores are going to come from, need a decent corner forward who can get 2/3 points a game

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2135 - 08/02/2015 19:19:18    1691340

I wouldn't read too much into early league form. Most county squads are missing players through injury and club commitments at this time of the year, and many of the older/experienced county players are simply given time off to rest before what is a long season. Division 2 is shaping up to be very competitive, with every team capable of beating each other. There are no great shakes in the division. Unlike last year when Donegal and Monaghan had realistic aspirations of playing football deep into August, much of division 2 is made of teams who would see making an AI quarter final as major progression.

In terms of my own county, my expectations have dipped massively since 2010. The foundation of success just doesn't exist in Down. Our underage structures are mediocre, hence we have had mediocre county teams since the early 90's. I expect us to have a topsy turvy league campaign. Promotion is not an unrealistic target, but I would've expected us to beat Roscommon at home(especially after our morale boosting win in Newbridge) if we were serious about promotion. But the realism is that division 2 is Down's level at the moment, and if we were promoted we would most likely be relegated back down again next year.

However, after the 3 week break we will see the serious championship teams come to the fore. Match intensity will be upped, team selections will be stronger, and form will start to take shape.

Here's hoping the men in Red n Black will stand up and be counted in the latter stages of the league, and show our long suffering support that we might just have a longer summer than is anticipated throughout the county.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 08/02/2015 21:03:58    1691427

A very tight competitive division as it usually is, teams will all take points off each other and home form is crucial. Galway have stolen a march although Westmeath gave them their bellyful today, but will be favourites to go up. Kildare will be very dissapointed, they could have 4 points now too as they should have beaten Down and could have won last night but they have a battle in their hands and promotion chances seem slim, Cavan and Roscommon will be delighted with their starts and will be tough opposition for anyone. Laois seem in real trouble and confidence appears very low with them while Westmeath will be optimistic of at least retaining Division 2 status. Meath have a crucial few games after the break and getting something in Roscommon is crucial with two home games in a row after that, hopefully last night will help to improve confidence and belief and we will be more fluent in our play. Down are a team I fancied for promotion although my faith in them is waning a bit, Kildare let them back into the first game and Roscommon weren't so generous last night. I'm hoping Meath & Galway go up but lots of twists and turns to go in this division and making predictions is a hazardous task.....

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 08/02/2015 21:52:17    1691458

Delighted to get away from Mullingar with a win. This is the type of game we have been losing by a point for as long as I remember. With 6 likely championship starters (between Corofin and injured players) missing cannot ask for any more from Kevin and his charges. I know it is early days but with the Rossies winning I wonder is there a change of the guard slowly happening in the West. In terms of the rest of the league I still think all teams will take points from each other. Next we are up against our recent league nemesis in Laois and if we can bury the ghost of the last 2 meetings in Porlaoise sets us up nicely for the big trip to Newry in March.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 09/02/2015 10:07:09    1691522

I can see this division go down to the wire in April but I think it's too early to predict, delighted for Galway and Roscommon with the way things are going

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1667 - 09/02/2015 10:27:02    1691533

I realy hope Galway and Roscommon get promoted, two proper footballing teams.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 09/02/2015 10:52:02    1691555

What is a "proper footballing team" exactly?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 09/02/2015 16:00:46    1691722

it looks like a poor standard in div 2
galway have 4 pts but still conceding soft goals in evry game
galway have to correct this problem
they can score plenty from play though
i think the rossies and cavan are the teams to beat
then we will know where galway stand

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 09/02/2015 16:39:51    1691738

Kingdomboy do you mean teams that still play the game like it should be played? You can throw Meath into that too.
What a pity Kerry have abandoned it :).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/02/2015 16:40:30    1691739

Kingdomboy

To be honest Galway were un-Galway like when they played Meath,they had a lot of players back..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 09/02/2015 16:56:01    1691747

Galway will be stronger with the return of the Corofin players, (unless they beat Vincents) , Paul Conroy to come back from Injury too.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 09/02/2015 17:14:09    1691760

Only two games played this weekend but Kildare and Laois look to be in a bit if bother . Top 2 very hard to call !

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 02/03/2015 14:09:01    1698325

Hardtimes
County: Cavan
Posts: 201

1698325
Only two games played this weekend but Kildare and Laois look to be in a bit if bother . Top 2 very hard to call !

True, Kildare are in must win territory against Cavan next weekend, lose that game and I think their goose is cooked especially with the likes of Galway & Roscommon still to play, similarly Laois need points against Roscommon but that is no easy task and hand away games against Galway & Meath still to come. Galway should take one promotion place with the other really up for grabs now with Meath/Westmeath/Down/Roscommmon all in the mix, meath have must so games at home to Westmeath & Laois over the next two Saturday nights and provided there are no slip ups there we could be in good fettle heading to Roscommon for the refixed game......

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 02/03/2015 14:31:20    1698346

I'd agree with that Richie but it's a must win game for us as well ! Kildare look to be at a bit of a crossroads after years of relative stability .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 02/03/2015 14:42:08    1698353

I had a sneaky feeling that Westmeath would make a difficult game for any team, id rate it as Galway are promoted, with Westmeath Cavan and down along with Meath fighting for the second spot, Meath must win next two home games.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 02/03/2015 15:13:57    1698365

Looking at Division 2 so far this year, the promotion fight will be between Down, Roscommon, Galway and Cavan.
If I was to pick 2 I reckon will go up, I would say Down and Roscommon. But I wouldn't rule out either Galway or Cavan either.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 03/03/2015 09:08:16    1698570

Cavan had damaging home defeat last weekend I'll be surprised if they are in the promotion push. Meath will likely finish on 9 or 10 points meaning down and Galway look the most likely top two. Relegation will be tougher to predict not sure what has happened to Kildare but they are in real danger of falling through the trap door.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 03/03/2015 10:30:17    1698591

Promotion between Roscommon,Down and Galway. Weatmeath also showing well in the early stages although i dont expect them to be in race for promotion i wouldnt rule them out.Relagation between the other four i expext laois to go down bottom of the table they have been hopless so far this year and need change of management i believe.I have feeling meath may also make the drop as they just dont have the players for top divisons football and going back to divison 3 may help them in long run where they would been playing teams more at there level.

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts: 568 - 03/03/2015 11:03:44    1698609