strange division this year again and while it's too early to call my adopted county (Westmeath) look good value to go up who with is still the question, galway are ay sixes and sevens same as last year and ended up been unlucky not to go up with kildare getting a lucky draw on last day, seems wide open and have to admit the most interesting division of them all due to unpredictable matches

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/02/2013 10:33:20    1338396

A 12 team div one and two is a good idea with the rest in division 3, why not go for an 11 game league? its more games that people want, doubt players would complain either! Start in mid feb and it would be ran off by end of april, cant understand why league is finished at start of april. If you wanted you could have a "rest" week or two built in. I think the gaa should go with this idea!! it doesnt always have to be 4 teams of eight!

Ben (None) - Posts: 108 - 24/02/2013 11:50:42    1338414

RD I think you are right about it being a tight division. I think the last game could be a swinger for many teams win to go up or lose to drop. It was like that in Div3 a few years ago where a scraped win in Waterford meant Div2 and a loss was a drop to Div4. Probably the most important overlooked result in Fitzers time.

ged (Louth) - Posts: 319 - 24/02/2013 12:17:04    1338420

If Louth can consolidate their position in Division 2 again then it will be a great acheivement. Just like last year six points will be enough to stay up, so we need two more wins.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 24/02/2013 12:37:43    1338425

Some league for predicting results,
Is there any counties really struggling with injuries amd players not available.
Understand armagh were without cross lads earlier.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 24/02/2013 13:33:05    1338444

Big win for Louth yesterday and fully deserved too, puts them back in with as good a chance as anyone else now.

There won't be many counties who'll beat Galway by six points this year.

An Lú Abu.

THE_SNAPPER (Louth) - Posts: 2019 - 24/02/2013 21:09:26    1338688

I know ourselves have been missing 4 of our starting 6 forwards from last year, the 2 Bardens, Kavanagh and Mulligan as well as Declan Reilly and Colm P Smyth in the backline. Paul Kelly hasn't been fit enough to start either so in total missing at least 7 starters!! And for a small county like us thats a lot!!

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1361 - 25/02/2013 16:12:44    1338981

Spinx
County: Longford
Posts: 511

1338981 I know ourselves have been missing 4 of our starting 6 forwards from last year, the 2 Bardens, Kavanagh and Mulligan as well as Declan Reilly and Colm P Smyth in the backline. Paul Kelly hasn't been fit enough to start either so in total missing at least 7 starters!! And for a small county like us thats a lot!!

Was wondering alright, thats too much for any county.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 25/02/2013 19:04:37    1339088

Armagh v Longford...........ARMAGH
Laois v Louth....................LAOIS
Wexford v Derry..............WEXFORD
Galway v Westmeath........GALWAY

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 28/02/2013 17:26:52    1340499

Home advantage is obviously big for you Ollie

gaafarmer (Wexford) - Posts: 280 - 28/02/2013 20:44:05    1340590

gaafarmer
County: Wexford
Posts: 212

1340590
Home advantage is obviously big for you Ollie

Not for Louth last year. Louth had 6 points in the league and 4 of them came away from home.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 28/02/2013 21:49:37    1340631

Its such a competitive division. You could make a case for any team to beat any other team.
For the weekend I'd say wins for Armagh, Derry and Galway and a draw in Portlaoise.

AC (None) - Posts: 318 - 01/03/2013 09:12:32    1340657

ARMAGH
Laois
Derry
Westmeath

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 01/03/2013 09:43:49    1340672

Armagh should beat Longford, Wexford and Derry - i'll go fro an away win. Laois and Louth could be a decent game. Was impressed with Louth last week. They took their chances and fairly ripped us apart in the 2nd half. I'll go for another away win Louth to snatch it.

As for ourselves and Westmeath, well hopefully with the changes made to the team it breathes some new life into the boys. We should have enough to take Westmeath at home, but you just never know with Galway at the moment. If we get a good start we'll win.

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 01/03/2013 11:50:29    1340753

Good call AC so far

Arover1 (Louth) - Posts: 72 - 02/03/2013 20:58:07    1341381

omahant
County: USA
Posts: 216

1338363 Who thinks the top 4 belong in a 12-team Div One and the lower 4 should be merged with the next division in a new 12-team Div Two ?
Divide each dozen into four seeded pots - each ream plays two from each pot for an 8-game program - a draw producing three groups, each team hosts one of the other groups, plays away at the other and avoids the three in its own group.
Playoffs - 2nd hosts 3rd to decide who plays away to 1st in each league final - 2up- 2down.

==============================================

DroimIarainn (Cavan) - Posts: 15 - 02/03/2013 21:55:34    1341454

omahant
County: USA
Posts: 216

1338363 Who thinks the top 4 belong in a 12-team Div One and the lower 4 should be merged with the next division in a new 12-team Div Two ?
Divide each dozen into four seeded pots - each ream plays two from each pot for an 8-game program - a draw producing three groups, each team hosts one of the other groups, plays away at the other and avoids the three in its own group.
Playoffs - 2nd hosts 3rd to decide who plays away to 1st in each league final - 2up- 2down.

============================

There may be the basis of a good idea there but it's impossible to tell as the explanation is barely intelligible. Please explain your systems more clearly and give examples of how they might work.

DroimIarainn (Cavan) - Posts: 15 - 02/03/2013 22:02:50    1341467

That was some comeback from Westmeath today. They were 8-2 down at half time and were winning with a few minutes to go in the 2nd half. Draw the fair result and suits Westmeath. Galway will be disappointed with that score. Westmeath still top of Div 2. Did not expect that.

iarmhiman (Westmeath) - Posts: 140 - 03/03/2013 16:00:39    1341704

Westmeath peaking too early uh oh.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1718 - 03/03/2013 18:34:39    1341860

Another big win for Derry today 19pts away from home progressing well with a young squad hope they keep it up next week v Armagh.

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 03/03/2013 20:13:38    1341963