Fintan O'Toole
CARLOW
A change of manager? A fourth season in charge is on the horizon for former Westmeath and Longford boss Luke Dempsey.
How's the skipper chosen? It's the same again wwith Tinryland's Shane Redmond getting the nod.
Anyone injured? Thomas Walsh has emigrated to the USA but Carlow have no other major injury worries to report.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Shane Redmond caught the eye last year in defence and has also impressed for UCD in the Sigerson Cup.
Fixtures: Feb 12th v Leitrim (h); Mar 4th v London (a); Mar 11th v Clare (h); Mar 18th v Kilkenny (a); Mar 25th v Wicklow (h); Mar 31st v Waterford (a); Apr 8th v Fermanagh (h); Apr 15th v Limerick (a).
Odds: 14/1
Did you know? Carlow?s Leinster SFC victory over Louth last summer was their first championship victory since 2006.
A successful league will be: Challenging in the top half of the league table come April which can be the launchpad for a productive championship campaign.
CLARE
A change of manager? Micheal McDermott is at the helm of the Banner county for a third year.
How?s the skipper chosen? St Joseph?s Milltown-Malbay player Gordon Kelly will again captain Clare this season.
Anyone injured? Attacker David Tubridy and defender Graham Kelly have both been dogged with injury complaints during the month of January.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Cratloe youngster Podge Collins is a highly-rated player who was also part of the Clare minor hurling team that reached the 2010 All-Ireland final.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Waterford (h); Feb 12th v Fermanagh (a); Mar 4th v Limerick (h); Mar 11th v Carlow (a); Mar 18th v Leitrim (h); Mar 25th v London (a); Apr 8th v Kilkenny (h); Apr 15th v Wicklow (a).
Odds: 15/2
Did you know? Clare were defeated by next Sunday?s opponents Waterford in both league and championship in the Fraher Field in 2010.
A successful league will be: Three years into McDermott?s reign, finally achieving promotion out of Division 4 will be high on the Banner?s agenda.
FERMANAGH
A change of manager? The departure of John O?Neill preceded the installation of former Tyrone great Peter Canavan as the new boss in the Erne County.
How?s the skipper chosen? Experienced defender Ryan McCluskey, who has spurned a soccer career with Dungannon Swifts to rejoin Fermanagh, has been chosen as captain by Canavan.
Anyone injured? Former All-Star Marty McGrath will miss the opening rounds of the league as he needs further treatment on an injury.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Midfielder Eoin Donnelly from Coa is a physical player with plenty of potential.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v London (a); Feb 12th v Clare (h); Mar 4th v Kilkenny (a); Mar 11th v Wicklow (h); Mar 18th v Waterford (a); Apr 1st v Limerick (h); Apr 8th v Carlow (a); Apr 15th v Leitrim (h).
Odds: 11/8
Did you know? Fermanagh?s attacker Seamus Quigley, the star of their Dr McKenna Cup campaign, was recently described by Joe Brolly as a man ?with the touch of Maurice Fitz and the social life of Ricky Hatton.?
A successful league will be: After the turmoil of last spring, stability will be the first objective as Canavan seeks to blend a team together and they have the talent to chase promotion.
KILKENNY
A change of manager? Following Dick Mullins decision to vacate the post, his former selectors John McGrath and Jim O?Connor have stepped into the breach.
How?s the skipper chosen? McGrath and O?Connor only recently assumed the managerial reins and are still in the process of assembling a panel.
Anyone injured? See above
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? See above
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Wicklow (h); Feb 11th v Waterford (a); Mar 4th v Fermanagh (h); Mar 10th v Limerick (a); Mar 18th v Carlow (h); Mar 25th v Leitrim (a); Apr 1st v London (h); Apr 8th v Clare (a).
Odds: 1000/1
Did you know? Kilkenny have not registered a football league victory since April 2008 when they defeated London.
A successful league will be: Getting points from any of their games will be an achievement.
LEITRIM
A change of manager? Mickey Moran stepped down from the position due to illness with George Dugdale and Barney Breen stepping into the breach as joint managers.
How?s the skipper chosen? Dugdale and Breen have the responsibility of selecting a captain but are still mulling over that choice.
Anyone injured? Star forward Emlyn Mulligan recently underwent knee surgery and will miss opening rounds of the National League.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Allen Gaels defender Alan Wynne showed up well during the FBD League.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Limerick (h); Feb 12th v Carlow (a); Mar 11th v London (h); Mar 18th v Clare (a); Mar 25th v Kilkenny (h); Apr 1st v Wicklow (a); Apr 8th v Waterford (h); Apr 15th v Fermanagh (a).
Odds: 14/1
Did you know? Both Dugdale and Breen were part of the squad that famously claimed the Connacht SFC title in 1994.
A successful league will be: With a new management team finding their feet and several long-serving players having departed, a mid-table finish would be progressive for Leitrim.
LIMERICK
A change of manager? Maurice Horan is the manager for a second year with former Kildare defender Brian Lacey now the team coach after Ephie Fitzgerald took over as county minor manager in his native Cork.
How?s the skipper chosen? County champions Monaleen have nominated star attacker Ger Collins to captain the side.
Anyone injured? John Galvin is not expected back until the end of the league as he recovers from cruciate damage while Jim Donovan, Paul Kinnerk and Eoin Joy are others facing injury difficulties.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Damien Quaide, who has previous inter-county underage experience, is set to graduate to the senior stage against Leitrim by making his first start at left corner-back.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Leitrim (a); Feb 12th v London (h); Mar 4th v Clare (a); Mar 10th v Kilkenny (h); Mar 18th v Wicklow (a); Mar 24th v Waterford (h); Apr 1st v Fermanagh (a); Apr 15th v Carlow (h).
Odds: 10/3
Did you know? Limerick midfielder Paul Kinnerk is also a coach to the Clare senior hurling side.
A successful league will be: For a team with their championship record in recent seasons, Limerick will want to escape from the basement division and a good start will be key to achieving that.
LONDON
A change of manager? Roscommon native Paul Coggins is still in charge of the Exiles.
How?s the skipper chosen? Coggins has yet to decide on his captain for the coming season.
Anyone injured? Kieran O?Leary has been battling injury while Paul Geraghty will be unavailable as he is serving a 48-week ban for striking a referee in a club game last October.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Fulham Irish player Lorcan Mulvey could be a useful addition to the squad.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Fermanagh (h); Feb 12th v Limerick (a); Mar 4th v Carlow (h); Mar 11th v Leitrim (a); Mar 25th v Clare (h); Apr 1st v Kilkenny (a); Apr 8th v Wicklow (h); Apr 15th v Waterford (a).
Odds: 50/1
Did you know? London will be without 2011 full-back Mike Moloney as he has returned to Ireland and will feature for his club Dr Crokes this year.
A successful league will be: After last summer?s historic All-Ireland qualifier victory over Fermanagh, confidence levels in London have risen and both players and management have spoken openly about targeting three victories in the league.
WATERFORD
A change of manager? John Owens continues to guide D�ise county?s fortunes for a third season.
How?s the skipper chosen? Talisman Gary Hurney will captain the side from attack this year.
Anyone injured? Owens has injury concerns over Brian Wall and Paul Whyte while midfielder Tommy Prendergast is a long-term absentee.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? Gavin Nugent from Rathgormack is likely to be given an opportunity to stake his claim in attack.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Clare (a); Feb 11th v Kilkenny (h); Mar 4th v Wicklow (a); Mar 18th v Fermanagh (h); Mar 24th v Limerick (a); Mar 31st v Carlow (h); Apr 8th v Leitrim (a); Apr 15th v London (h).
Odds: 9/1
Did you know? Team captain Hurney first lined out in the senior football championship for Waterford in 1999.
A successful league will be: Without the O?Gorman twins in defence, a replication of their promotion charge two years ago may be beyond Waterford and a top four finish would signify progress.
WICKLOW
A change of manager? The legendary Mick O?Dwyer has stepped down in the Garden County with Harry Murphy now filling the hotseat..
How?s the skipper chosen? No decision made yet on the captain.
Anyone injured? Mervyn Travers, Patrick McWalter and Jacko Dalton are all still sidelined through injury while Paul Earls, Ciaran Hyland and Mick McLoughlin are nearing a return to full fitness.
Who?s the young bolter to keep an eye on? How Niall Gaffney fares trying to fill the full-back position will be interesting.
Fixtures: Feb 5th v Kilkenny (a); Mar 4th v Waterford (h); Mar 11th v Fermanagh (a); Mar 18th v Limerick (h); Mar 25th v Carlow (a); Apr 1st v Leitrim (h); Apr 8th v London (a); Apr 15th v Clare (h).
Odds: 4/1
Did you know? New manager Murphy steered Rathnew to the Leinster Club SFC title in 2001.
A successful league will be: His predecessor Mick O?Dwyer may not have paid huge attention to the league but Murphy is likely to target a promotion charge this spring.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/9qwSfLQWzQQ/post.aspx
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