Thought I said this thread up for division, 4 teams seeing as I couldn't see one, already. How do you rate your county's chances so far after the first round of fixtures? And the second round almost complete?

The way that the fixtures are falling this year- means that Leitrim have three away games and four home games. Two of our away games are in our first three games. I have thought from the start that if we get a result in each of our first three games that we would get promoted. We have won two games now out of two and have another away game against Wexford next. If we get a result in that, I really think we will be promoted. Especially with Sligo and Laois our last two games in the division at home, who on paper are two of the best teams in the division hopefully one of them will be taken out of the equation by then.

Keith Beirne is unstoppable at the moment and hopefully we can push on. London double marked him today and he still scored 1-7 and he got 1-10 against Waterford. He's one of the best forwards in the country. We are lucky to have him. Sam Mulroy from Louth beat him to the top scorer in league football last year but Sam only got something like 7 points from play during the league - Keith scores heavily from both play and frees.

Anyone can beat anyone in this division though and it's a long road yet. I really think that getting out of division 4 is harder than staying in division 3

leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 698 - 05/02/2023 14:47:29    2456550

Good to get the win today but we will have to improve greatly to even win in Wexford Park in a fortnight never mind challenge for promotion . We were in control of that game a man up and 7 up in the last quarter and ended up hanging on for the win. As in previous years we are conceding too much and we will have to shore our defence up somehow if we are going to challenge for promotion. Hopefully some of our injuries clear up before the Wexford game.

JimmyNail (Leitrim) - Posts: 282 - 05/02/2023 15:05:14    2456552

I still feel that the promotion is, between leitrim, Laois and Sligo
On our own chanches we have, a very young team which if they stick at it will reap benefits in coming years.
I would be absolutely delighted if we got 2 points, from next 2 games home to Laois and away to Leitrim.
A win against London an Wexford would give us possible finishing total of 9 points. Not enough to get promoted but decent enough
I think Sligo will improve as league moves on
So final places could be
SLIGO 12
LAOIS, 12
LEITRIM 10
CARLOW 9
WICKLOW 7
WEXFORD 5
LONDON 3
WATERFORD 0

I am being optimistic about Carlow but why not.
I think in Jordan Morrissey we have the best player in the Division

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 755 - 05/02/2023 19:05:54    2456708

Wicklow won't do much anyway, between clubs holding back players and a manager too interested in podcasts it'll be the same old, as it's proving to be.

FrankieJoe (Wicklow) - Posts: 97 - 06/02/2023 16:35:40    2456877

I didn't see much yesterday that would inspire confidence... the first half wasn't great... just did enough to be ahead. Leitrim started the second half well and were in control until the sending off. I'm not sure how London were able to get back into the game... I'm afraid you won't get away with that against stronger teams. The London goal was an absolute calamity... schoolboy stuff. That being said I think we're good enough to get promoted... assuming we keep Keith Beirne fit and sort out our back line.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1303 - 06/02/2023 21:31:10    2456930

Very happy to see Laois bouncing back a bit this year. There's no doubt confidence was shaken last year where fine margins really cost us, conceding a 72nd minute equaliser to Antrim and losing to Limerick with the last kick of the game were the 2 moments that relegated us really and when we started to slip we just couldn't get our feet under us again. Wicklow exposed that brittle confidence in the first round of Leinster, but it's easy to forget we were 3 points up against Westmeath in the second half of the Tailteann Cup game until we had a man sent off, so we weren't too far away.

Billy has introduced a few new faces this year, I think only one of the back 7 who has started the league games this year played in that position last year. Getting Robbie Piggott and Timmons back in defence has been a great lift and Colum Murphy has probably been the best forward in club football in the county for the past 3 years so it'll be a big asset to get him back involved. The team also seems to have a clear way that they want to play now with quick direct kick passing into the forwards and the likes of O'Carroll, Kingston, Barry and Lowry should cause issues for any defence this year.

Two big wins so far, Sligo were slight favourites with the bookies in the opening match and great to get the monkey off the back last weekend, getting a win at home for the first time since Feb 2020! I definitely thought Wexford had more about them than Sligo, much sharper and more direct way of playing and Wexford kicked some great scores especially in the first half with the wind.

I think Laois still favourites for promotion but the derby games against Carlow are always tight and Leitrim in Carrick is looking like a very tough game as Leitrim are flying.

The manager will be keeping the feet on the ground, he made a point of saying Laois weren't 5 points better than Wexford last week and it was only our fast start that eventually carried us through. As always with the league though injuries could yet play a key part, so I'm sure there's lots of twists and turns to come.

Laoisvillian (Laois) - Posts: 89 - 08/02/2023 11:05:34    2457205

As predicted the local derby with Carlow turned into a dog fight! Carlow definitely rattled us but to be 5 points down 10 mins into the second half and to win by 6 shows great heart. Paul Kingston kicked 1-10, super scoring at any level.

Missing at least 3 lads now for the Wicklow match between injuries and suspensions. Wicklow coming off a morale boosting win and having beaten us in the Championship last year they'll fancy their chances next week.

No surprise to see Wexford win, I thought they were very good in patches against Laois.

Bad defeat for London, but still 6 teams in the hunt for 2 spots, all still to play for.

Laoisvillian (Laois) - Posts: 89 - 19/02/2023 17:49:11    2459103

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15721 - 19/02/2023 20:43:09    2459210

Big win for Wicklow. The division is wide open now.

letsgosligo (Sligo) - Posts: 105 - 25/02/2023 21:09:10    2460156

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2100 - 25/02/2023 21:21:42    2460159

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15721 - 26/02/2023 08:24:24    2460183

Wicklow result on Saturday has really put the cat among the pigeons. Luckily for Laois they play Waterford this weekend so should get the show back on the road with a win.

5 teams fighting it out for the two spots which should become 3 teams on Sunday evening with Leitrim playing Wicklow and Wexford facing Sligo. The losers of those two fixtures you'd think will then be all but out of the running. Still think Laois and Sligo are best placed to go up

juande_ramos (Leitrim) - Posts: 95 - 27/02/2023 12:56:17    2460639

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15721 - 28/02/2023 15:12:38    2460990

Oh it's anyone's to win now!

I hate to admit it but I had a few euro on Wicklow on Sat night, Laois were missing 3 key players and didn't play very well against Wexford or Carlow and Wicklow kicked the lard out of us last year in Aughrim, 4/1 for a Wicklow win was a crazy price!

Still expect Laois to beat Waterford and London, but don't fancy us to go to Carrick and win, that would leave us on 10 points. Wicklow will have to win their remaining 3 to beat us which I wouldn't put past them, and if they do that the final round game between Leitrim and Sligo could decide second place.

It's nicely poised

Laoisvillian (Laois) - Posts: 89 - 28/02/2023 15:44:58    2461002

Champotime18 (Leitrim) - Posts: 442 - 28/02/2023 18:51:16    2461040

juande_ramos (Leitrim) - Posts: 95 - 01/03/2023 09:03:39    2461080

Laoisvillian (Laois) - Posts: 89 - 01/03/2023 09:47:15    2461089

Today's results put Sligo and Laois in poll position
I would not discount Wicklow yet

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 755 - 05/03/2023 15:10:38    2461945

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 05/03/2023 15:54:32    2461962

Encouraging we fought to the end and only ended up losing by 6. Our chances of promotion are pretty slim but our last 2 games are at home which is usually a big advantage in the League. At least our points difference isn't as bad as it was looking like being at the 3/4 game mark.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15721 - 05/03/2023 16:01:31    2461971