Division Two A almost impossible to call
In a season that has seen the top two divisions reach new levels of competitiveness, the third tier of the league surpasses even those divisions in how close it is between the top with just four points dividing the top three. Anyone of the four teams behind them can take points off any of the top three and ironically, Courtown Hibs, who sit bottom of the table with no points, are playing some of the best football of their existence
Below is some thoughts on how teams are performing so far and how the remainder of their season is likely to fare out
St Leonards
The Ballycullane based outfit finished second to Bree United in a very exciting Division Two B last season but it is St Leonards who are enjoying life in the higher division this season ans currently lead the way going into the break. It is their ability to grind out results in difficult matches, especially at home, that has seen them lead the way by three points and have only lost one game this season so far. A club with a great future as they have teams competing at all levels of underage, they also have a youthful adult team and if they can build like they should, they are a team capable of making it all the way to the premier. Jo Rossiter seems to be the player most relied on for goals and scored some spectacular long range efforts over the past two seasons but its probably the teams ability not to concede that see them head out of 2014 at the top of the division.
Verdict: They will be in the mix right to the bitter end but could get pipped for the title, either in a play off or by a very small margin !!!
Verdict: They will be in the mix right to the bitter end but could get pipped for the title, either in a play off or by a very small margin !!!
All Blacks
Some of the All Blacks players have been around for a very long time and that little edge of experience is what could stand to them when the chips are down at the end of the season. They currently sit second, three points behind St Leonards but with a vital game in hand and the battle when the two meet will go a long way in deciding the fate of the title. As a club, All Blacks have been around almost since the beginning of the league and won their first Gaynor Cup way back in 1988 and won the Premier Division in 1994 so they have a very impressive history. If they had not dropped out of the league for a year, they would have the honour of being the oldest club in the league. Similar to St Leonards, they have a fantastic underage set up which bodes well for the future and are another club who will be pushing for a higher level in the not too distant future. With players of the calibre of Roisin Murphy, Aoife Traynor and the experienced Tina Colloton, they could be the team capable of pipping St Leonards for the title
Verdict: Their edge of experience could see them as the team to pip St Leonards for the title although it will be very very close.
Camolin Celtic
Another club who have enjoyed reasonable success in the lower divisions and were well in the challenge for this division last season also, Camolin sit just a point behind the top two and will be hopeful of remaining in the title hunt right up to the finish. Of the three title challengers, they are probably the one who are the most capable of grinding out a result when under pressure as they proved when overcoming Bree 2-1 with a late goal despite having a player sent off. Unfortunately, they are also capable of dropping points against some of the lower teams as was shown when beaten 4-3 by Cloughbawn in early November. When at full strength and when Niamh O Leary and Megan Murray are in scoring form, they are a hand full for any team and their two home games against the teams above them will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the league title. As a club they are working hard at underage but struggling to get numbers for to consistently have teams at all age levels. However, they are a team who will be competitive and if they do not finish in the top two themselves, they wont be far away
Verdict: Wont be far away but might have to settle for third this time around but definitely a good bet for the divisional cup
Verdict: Their edge of experience could see them as the team to pip St Leonards for the title although it will be very very close.
Camolin Celtic
Another club who have enjoyed reasonable success in the lower divisions and were well in the challenge for this division last season also, Camolin sit just a point behind the top two and will be hopeful of remaining in the title hunt right up to the finish. Of the three title challengers, they are probably the one who are the most capable of grinding out a result when under pressure as they proved when overcoming Bree 2-1 with a late goal despite having a player sent off. Unfortunately, they are also capable of dropping points against some of the lower teams as was shown when beaten 4-3 by Cloughbawn in early November. When at full strength and when Niamh O Leary and Megan Murray are in scoring form, they are a hand full for any team and their two home games against the teams above them will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the league title. As a club they are working hard at underage but struggling to get numbers for to consistently have teams at all age levels. However, they are a team who will be competitive and if they do not finish in the top two themselves, they wont be far away
Verdict: Wont be far away but might have to settle for third this time around but definitely a good bet for the divisional cup
Bunclody AFC
Another club with a long history, Bunclody won Division One in their debut season in 1994 and have also won the Premier title twice, in 2000 and 2002, they went through major changes during this summer with a change of manager and a more youthful look to the team for the new season. They began very well with three wins and a draw from their opening four games and are the only team to have beaten St Leonards this season. However their youthfulness has seen them fall away in recent weeks as they came up against more physical teams and heavier pitches and have only one win to show from their last four games. They are probably out of the title race now unless results in other games all go their way but their young side definitely has a great future and the club also has a very strong future as they are involved in all age groups. Britney Conroy has taken to the Senior stage with gusto and has scored in almost all matches she has played in while Louise Carton has also shown herself to be very capable at this level. They are capable of giving the divisional cup a decent run and their young squad will show no fear of anyone
Verdict: Mid table finish this season but definitely a team to watch in the coming years and another side capable of lifting the divisional cup
Another club with a long history, Bunclody won Division One in their debut season in 1994 and have also won the Premier title twice, in 2000 and 2002, they went through major changes during this summer with a change of manager and a more youthful look to the team for the new season. They began very well with three wins and a draw from their opening four games and are the only team to have beaten St Leonards this season. However their youthfulness has seen them fall away in recent weeks as they came up against more physical teams and heavier pitches and have only one win to show from their last four games. They are probably out of the title race now unless results in other games all go their way but their young side definitely has a great future and the club also has a very strong future as they are involved in all age groups. Britney Conroy has taken to the Senior stage with gusto and has scored in almost all matches she has played in while Louise Carton has also shown herself to be very capable at this level. They are capable of giving the divisional cup a decent run and their young squad will show no fear of anyone
Verdict: Mid table finish this season but definitely a team to watch in the coming years and another side capable of lifting the divisional cup
Corach Ramblers
After a couple of seasons when they struggled to be competitive, Corach have pulled themselves into a mid table position and although they are unlikely to catch the top three this season, they are currently on a seven match unbeaten run. Too many draws has been their downfall this season as they drew four of their nine games and if they had picked up even two wins in those games, they would have been a lot closer to the leaders. Sinead O Connor, Tracey Sinnott and Trina Sinnott have all been impressive for Ramblers this season and a 2-2 draw away to local rivals St Leonards showed just what this team is capable of. Depending on how well they keep this squad together, they look very likely to be title contenders next season and a good tilt at the Boland Carpets Cup this season
Verdict: To finish in top four this season and a good bet for the divisional cup
Verdict: To finish in top four this season and a good bet for the divisional cup
Bree United
Last seasons Division Two B winners, Bree United will be disappointed with how this season has fared out for them as they currently find themselves in the relegation zone with just two wins and a draw from their nine games. I have no doubt they will pull away from that precarious position and will consolidate their place in this division for next season as they are definitely a better team than their current positions suggests. They have the basis of the squad that won the league last season but are just not getting the breaks so have struggled to pick up results in close games and those dropped points have proved crucial. Niamh Sinnott and Shonagh Spratt Murphy are scoring regularly and even though they have not produced the desired results, they will finish in safety and will be one of the teams pushing for the title next season
Verdict: To safely avoid relegation and push on for next season
Verdict: To safely avoid relegation and push on for next season
Cloughbawn B
Cloughbawn second team have drifted into the relegation zone despite putting in some good performances including a surpise 4-3 win over title challengers Camolin Celtic. They have put in some good performances over the season but finding it difficult to pick up points and as we go into the new year, they find themselves drifting into the danger zone. They are capable of the big result as they proved when beating Camolin and they also drew with St Leonards in Ballycullane which proves they are a side who can put it up to the best when in form. They are a side who work very hard for each other and are difficult to break down as any of the top sides will confirm and Jessica Martin is making a name for herself as being a clinical goalscorer. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see them pull away from the bottom two but they wont go down without a fight although they have a slightly tougher run in than their rivals Bree
Verdict: Unfortunately it is difficult to see them pull away from the bottom two
Verdict: Unfortunately it is difficult to see them pull away from the bottom two
Courtown Hibs
Despite playing some of their better football since joining the league, Hibs find themselves at the bottom of the table with no points and look to be rapidly heading for Division Two B. Although they are sitting at the foot of the table, they have never made life easy for any of their opponents but they are finding goals difficult to come by and this is a problem that could take a year or two to rectify. They have a strong underage structure at the younger ages so it will take another few year for those players to filter through to the senior team. To be fair to the team, they have enjoyed limited success as a senior team but have stuck to the task and very rarely find themselves in a situation where they could not field a team. Only a miracle will see them avoid relegation this season but a return to the lower division will do no harm and it is envisaged they will be more competitive next season
Verdict: Sadly relegation to Division Two B is almost unavoidable at this stage
As with the other divisions, this is only my opinion and it is up to the players to prove me wrong and as I said at the start of this review, there is going to be one exciting conclusion to this division
Predicted Final Table
1: All Blacks
2: St Leonards
3: Camolin Celtic
4: Corach Ramblers
5: Bunclody AFC
6: Bree United
7: Cloughbawn B
8: Courtown Hibs
(c) BricBrac Publications 2014
Despite playing some of their better football since joining the league, Hibs find themselves at the bottom of the table with no points and look to be rapidly heading for Division Two B. Although they are sitting at the foot of the table, they have never made life easy for any of their opponents but they are finding goals difficult to come by and this is a problem that could take a year or two to rectify. They have a strong underage structure at the younger ages so it will take another few year for those players to filter through to the senior team. To be fair to the team, they have enjoyed limited success as a senior team but have stuck to the task and very rarely find themselves in a situation where they could not field a team. Only a miracle will see them avoid relegation this season but a return to the lower division will do no harm and it is envisaged they will be more competitive next season
Verdict: Sadly relegation to Division Two B is almost unavoidable at this stage
As with the other divisions, this is only my opinion and it is up to the players to prove me wrong and as I said at the start of this review, there is going to be one exciting conclusion to this division
Predicted Final Table
1: All Blacks
2: St Leonards
3: Camolin Celtic
4: Corach Ramblers
5: Bunclody AFC
6: Bree United
7: Cloughbawn B
8: Courtown Hibs
(c) BricBrac Publications 2014
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