LIMERICK
2012 was… confusing. How do you classify a team that lost out to Clare in the Munster semi-final but recovered in the qualifiers to stage a successful raid away to Longford and nearly sprung a major upset against Kildare?
Their heart-warming moment… Their extra-time win in round two of the qualifiers against Longford. Their opponents had made major progress this year but Limerick grabbed a draw courtesy of a Derry O’Connor point and maintained that momentum to triumph by 1-21 to 1-15 after extra-time.
Their gut-wrenching moment… They were seconds away from a famous victory over Kildare in round three on July 21st. But as they clung to a 0-12 to 0-11 lead, Kildare fashioned a last-gasp equalizing score from Emmett Bolton and a clearly jaded Limerick team fell away in extra-time.
They discovered that… Ian Ryan is back to the form of his breakthrough season in 2008. This year in four championship games Ryan registered 1-29, 1-10 from play, and was the go-to guy for Limerick in their attacking endeavours.
Turning to 2013… Maurice Horan will continue to hold the managerial reins and his first objective must be an attempt to get his team out of the basement league division. They have young players with good potential and will hope to welcome John Galvin back from injury at some juncture. Yet the Munster championship draws is a severe test with Cork awaiting them in the opening round.
LONDON
2012 was…repetitive. London suffered narrow championship losses to Leitrim (one point) and Antrim (two points) in a summer where the theme was disappointment after the progress made in 2011 when they enjoyed a historic success over Fermanagh.
Their heart-warming moment…Not much to choose from here for the Exiles. In the league either their 28-point thumping of Kilkenny or the draw they eked out against Waterford, represented rare bright spots.
Their gut-wrenching moment…The Connacht championship defeat against Leitrim. Twelve months on from falling just short against Mayo, London suffered another hard-luck story. They had the scent of victory when they lead by four points during the second-half but ultimately lost out again.
They discovered that…That the theory they will benefit from an influx of Irish players due to emigration, is unfounded at the moment. For instance this year London saw Kerry duo Shane Doolan and Mike Moloney return home. Playing for the capital side requires huge commitment and it is hard sell to get players to buy into it.
Turning to 2013…Division 4 football beckons again and they will welcome Sligo to Ruislip for the championship. They are at least becoming competitive rather than the championship beatings they frequently encountered in the past.
LONGFORD
2012 was… optimistic. For the second successive year Longford were rewarded for a league focus, this time in the shape of a Division 3 title in Croke Park. They began the championship brightly by getting the better of Laois in their Leinster opener, and even though their form tailed off notably by the end of the season as they lost out to Limerick, 2012 was still a marked success.
Their heart-warming moment… Their Leinster championship victory over Laois. The county was already in a buoyant mood after their Division 3 final win over Wexford. The feel-good factor was maintained by their narrow win against Justin McNulty’s side, which they celebrated rapturously.
Their gut-wrenching moment… Losing the provincial quarter-final replay against Wexford. They were in control of the game as a semi-final joust with Dublin beckoned but a three-point lead with nine minutes left ultimately transpired into an agonising one-point defeat.
They discovered that… that they have a blue-chip forward in Seanie McCormack. The attacker’s marksmanship has always been impressive but the quality of his performances were elevated this year. With both Longford and his club Emmett Óg Killoe, who enjoyed a glorious run at the end of the year, McCormack was a shining light.
Turning to 2013… Longford now have a solid core for development and most crucially they have retained the services of Glenn Ryan, who will cut his managerial teeth with the Midlands county for another season. How they fare in Division 2 of the league will be revealing.
Longford’s Paul Barden in action against Stephen Kelly and Sean Buckley of Limerick. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
LOUTH
2012 was…regressive. In the final year of Peter Fitzpatrick’s management, Louth saw themselves humbled by Dublin in their Leinster quarter-final meeting before Westmeath dumped them out of the qualifiers at the first stage.
Their heart-warming moment…David O’Connor prodding the ball to the net for the dramatic injury-time goal that gave Louth a 2-9 to 0-14 win over Westmeath in the Leinster first round. Victory had been achieved in an unlikely fashion.
Their gut-wrenching moment…The afternoon spent chasing shadows in Croke Park as Dublin toyed with them in their provincial last eight clash. 16 points separated the teams at the finish and encapsulated the gulf in standards that existed between the teams.
They discovered that…the 2010 Leinster final loss is firmly in the past. The departure of Peter Fitzpatrick reaffirmed the view that this is a county that, while clearly wronged two years ago, needs to try to move on in their football.
Turning to 2013…With Fitzpatrick gone, it is Armagh’s Aidan O’Rourke who slips into the hotseat after stints learning the managerial ropes alongside Kieran McGeeney in Kildare and James McCartan in Down.
MAYO
2012 was…sorrowful. Despite the huge positives to be wrought from the year in which James Horan moulded his team to become All-Ireland finalists, the season concluded with Sam Maguire once more eluding them on the biggest day in September.
Their heart-warming moment…Their All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin and most pertinently the phase between the 28th and 52nd minutes when Mayo outscored them by 0-11 to 0-3. Their play was electric in that period, and while they had to withstand a Dublin fightback, it was a day that Mayo announced themselves under Horan’s guidance.
Their gut-wrenching moment…Leaking two goals in the opening 12 minutes of the All-Ireland final. Mayo needed a steady start but instead saw Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden both whip the ball past David Clarke. That blast established a gap between themselves and Donegal which proved too great to bridge.
They discovered that…they are still a leading forward away from landing the Holy Grail. In the All-Ireland final, Mayo simply did not have anyone to match the scoring power provided by Murphy and McFadden.
Turning to 2013…They made great progress this year with players like Lee Keegan, Barry Moran and Kevin McLoughlin improving immeasurably. The return to fitness of Andy Moran will be a huge boost. While the loss of Cian O’Neill as coach has been offset by the arrival of Donie Buckley. However climbing the last couple of rungs of the ladder will be a tough task.
MEATH
2012 was…bizarre. Meath fans endured every type of emotion with the uncertainty over Banty’s managerial future, the relegation to Division 3, the victory over Kildare in the Leinster semi-final, running Dublin close in the provincial decider before succumbing against Laois in the qualifiers. It’s hard to truly gauge their standing after 2012.
Their heart-warming moment…The rousing win over Kildare, which was founded on the youthful effervescence of Donal Keogan, Donncha Tobin, Conor Gillespie and Alan Forde, was a rewarding experience for a management and team who had been written off.
Their gut-wrenching moment…Not reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Progress had certainly been made in the games against Kildare and Dublin but that was undone by their inability to match the level of challenge posed by Laois in Tullamore.
They discovered that…there are many in the county who are simply happy being guided by a local. Cue the chain of events that saw Banty’s colorful two-year reign draw to a close and the low-key figure of Mick O’Dowd being chosen as a replacement.
Turning to 2013…Escaping from Division 3 would be a positive start to O’Dowd’s tenure and they have the capacity to do that. Other aims include ensuring some of their youngsters do not suffer from second-season syndrome and getting old lynchpins back to form.
