Division 2 2023

I hear feely is way ahead of schedule

Am I right in saying we need to finish in the top 4 to be definitely in the Sam Maguire this year ? Due to the Connaught draw and Westmeath being the winners of last years talinte cup winner

The weaker side of the Connacht draw means it's the only province that should see a team from Divisions 3 or 4 make a provincial final.

You'd imagine Ulster will be an all Division 1 and / or Derry final. Down and Cavan would need to beat Donegal and Armagh, and Fermanagh would need to beat both Derry then the winners of Tyrone v Monaghan to make the Ulster final. Not impossible for 1 of the above to happen but a little unlikely.

Cork, Clare and Limerick are all on the opposite side to Kerry so unless Tipp pull off a massive shock it's another all Division 1/2 final.

Meath and Westmeath should be favourites to make the Leinster semi. Meath v Dublin would be another all Division 1/2 final whilst Westmeath are already automatically qualified regardless of league or Leinster performances.

7 places go to the top ranked league teams and 2 of those will be Galway / Mayo / Roscommon. One of the Munster teams in Division 2 should qualify through the provincial final route, likewise Meath or Westmeath should make the Leinster final, which will free two of the best league places for other Division 2 teams.

Even allowing for a shock in Ulster you're still looking at the top 5 in Division 2 qualifying for the All Ireland.

Cue Kildare now finishing 5th and ending up in the Tailteann cup while a team relegated from Division 2 makes a provincial final to qualify for the All Ireland that way...

That looks correct to me, Top 6 from Div 2 should qualify for Sam Maguire, barring a shock in Ulster but you couldn't write that off as Cavan did it 2 years ago, If Cavan or a Div 3 team were to win Ulster then top 5 in Div 2 would make Sam Maguire. The big plus for us this year is that it makes the Leinster Championship irrelevant for progress in Sam Maguire (unless we finish outside top5/6 in Div 2), and given we are in Dublin's half of the draw that is a good thing. Just for a reminder the Sam Maguire will be made up of this years 8 Provincial finalists plus Westmeath as Tailteann Cup winners and the next 7 teams based on league finishing positions. These will be then split into 4 groups of 4 with Provincial winners seeded 1. The group winners go through to QF, with 2nd and 3rd in group to preliminary QF

It will make Div 2 even more competitive and the most competitive division with every team playing for their championship future, every game will be a dog fight, our last fixture home to Meath could have a lot riding on it

I know the O'Byrne Cup thread is up and running but they are glorified trial games. Looking ahead to the new year I think that the only full backs are nailed on if fit and available.

Houlihan Ryan and O'Grady worked really well as a unit and they seem to have a lot of trust between themselves.

Honestly think in a lot of other places there are spots up for grabs. Maybe FF line could be settled with Kirwan Dan and Jimmy...but Dan not always staying in.

Kevin Flynn worked well in the middle before being put back, but maybe Beirne is a decent option there as a willing runner.

There is a lot of ifs, buts and maybes and a lot of very good teams down with us...

I do worry about our midfield somewhat without Feely. We lack someone who can really dominate aerially. I thought Masterson was going to be that man but I don’t think he has kicked on from some of his fantastic performances at U20 level. From what it seems atm, it looks like two from Kevin Flynn, Kevin O Callaghan, Masterson and Alex Beirne. Am I missing anybody?

Most teams don't have a Feely so mobility tends to be more important than aerial ability these days. Beirne is a strong runner and they are obviously looking at him. K Flynn was excellent at times too.

Ideally I'd like a defensively minded player as part of the two. If this isn't too much of a curveball...Hyland? He is a greyhound and has played there at club level.

I don't think the Dubs will be caught on the hop in the 1st game and I am not sure we will get promoted as it is a very competitive division, but getting them out of the way first and then building some winning momentum towards the championship is key.

Two weeks out from the start of the league. Anyone with any insight into the panel/ potential team to take on the Dubs?

What do reckon the spread will be against Dublin? Very difficult start and could set tone for the league. Surely they'll be 10+ points favs. Need to limit the goals for any chance of anything. They'll be hungry Saturday night under croker lights and eager to get back to div1. I think they will steamroll every game in div2.

Last week of January is different to summer football, 1st round is a good time to play the Dubs, we beat them in league last year and that has to be the ambition again for 2 weeks time, Cork likely to be a tougher proposition this year and will be buoyed by their win over Kerry, Louth showing they are a very organised outfit and will be difficult for everyone, Div 2 will be a dogfight, every point will be crucial including the 1st two against the Dubs

Folks, do u16s need a ticket for Croke Park next Saturday. I see they are free into all other venues but I dont see any option for next Saturday only adult tickets.

There are juvenile tickets available in Cusack stand for €5, Students OAPs €15 Adults €18

Fair play to anyone who will travel for this match. I'm not sure I could ever face it again after the latest humiliation last summer. Would love to see a totally negative performance where we actually tackle and pick off scores when chances arrive. The naive approach adopted last year still haunts me and I've witnessed a lot of defeats in Croke Park.

murof wrote:

Fair play to anyone who will travel for this match. I'm not sure I could ever face it again after the latest humiliation last summer. Would love to see a totally negative performance where we actually tackle and pick off scores when chances arrive. The naive approach adopted last year still haunts me and I've witnessed a lot of defeats in Croke Park.

Fully agree. Lock it down!

The key is that we have to stop them and not fool ourselves into thinking we can go toe to toe with a much better team.

The whole 'Croker is a kip' craic is a total cop-out as we need to learn to shore things up on that pitch. It won't be a kip if we can actually win a few games there!

Being honest, I am really worried. The League win last year didn't prove anything when it came to championship and I think that win last year is no bar to how it will go.
Grand saying - 'let's go out and tear into them' - but even their subs have numerous All-Irelands.

I just want us to keep it tight and then take some positives but I reckon we could take a pasting. But of course I haven't a clue as we are now playing behind closed doors and no panel seems to be named.

Not much word from inside the camp now with less than 2 weeks to go until the Dublin game. Agree that we need to keep it tight and get plenty of bodies back, it won’t be pretty viewing but it’s necessary. From looking at the 2 O’Byrne Cup games we were getting bodies behind the ball but when attacking we didn’t attack with pace and numbers. That won’t suffice against the Dubs in an open Croke Park.

This is where we find out what exactly the management team learnt from last years Leinster Final. Interesting listening to Dan Flynn on the Lilies Living podcast saying he believes his best position is at the top of the D.

I will always say that is his best place to do damage and upset opposition defences. Any full back line would be delighted to see him out the field. If it's very clogged he can mix it up and drift out at times.
Look at the Dubs and Kerry games in the poxy weather and he did a lot of dirty work and threw his weight around for the others to profit. He does have serious brain farts but he never hides.

It's up to the other forwards to then feed off him or make themselves available. He gets stick but others were nowhere to be seen despite not getting the extra attention he does.
It doesn't look like he will be involved so let's hope Jimmy, Kirwan and Woodgate (if that's the FF line) can get some joy.

Flamingo wrote:

I will always say that is his best place to do damage and upset opposition defences. Any full back line would be delighted to see him out the field. If it's very clogged he can mix it up and drift out at times.
Look at the Dubs and Kerry games in the poxy weather and he did a lot of dirty work and threw his weight around for the others to profit. He does have serious brain farts but he never hides.

It's up to the other forwards to then feed off him or make themselves available. He gets stick but others were nowhere to be seen despite not getting the extra attention he does.
It doesn't look like he will be involved so let's hope Jimmy, Kirwan and Woodgate (if that's the FF line) can get some joy.

Id be going with Robinson, Kirwan and Woodgate.

Whoever it is, they will need to be willing to run the other way too...

Think it depends on the game; in some matches he ends up being a bit wasted at 14

Ah yeah. But start inside and drift as needs be.
It will be interesting to see who lines out overall. We kinda have a free hit versus the Dubs, but then we need to be motoring straight away.

Is Dan injured ? (just in relation to 'it doesn't look like he will be involved' comment above)

He was on the Lilies Living pod and seemed vague if he was in the mix. But it's a guess as we don't know who is even on the panel.
Surely an official panel will be released, or when does it need to be registered?

4/1 to be promoted looks a bit of value with Paddy Power, 9/4 with Boylesports.

Paddy’s having us 4th favourites to be promoted behind Cork is a bit of an insult considering that they were a kick of a ball away from being relegated last year.

I know Division 1 was mad tight last year but Division 2 is always madness.
The Dubs should blow most away and Derry won Ulster. Logically they should be heading up...

Ourselves Cork and Meath will blow hot and cold so it's hard to know. Clare will also take some scalps too, hopefully not ours.