1. The impact of John Heslin
The former AFL player has missed out on much of the league and Sigerson Cup competition this year through injury, but he has been named to start against Louth.
Having scored 2-16 against reigning champions Garrycastle, en route to winning the Westmeath county championship for his club St Loman’s, Heslin has now reverted from midfield to the full-forward line for the county team. He’s back to where he began his inter-county career at U16 level.
It’ll be interesting to see how one of the country’s finest midfielders over the past two years, still only 21, adapts back in to the forward line. Combining with Dessie Dolan and Dennis Glennon, it makes for a lethal trio close to goal.
But equally interesting; the last time Heslin played through an injury concern was against Dublin in the league. He’s barely played since. So will Paul Bealin’s risk pay off this time?
2. Have Longford hit a wall?
After a dismal league campaign, and in the aftermath of Glenn Ryan’s departure, it all seems to have fallen apart for Longford.
In 2011 they were promoted, and won the Division 4 league. A year later they did the same in Division 3, meaning they were a Division 2 side last year. Next year they’re back in Division 4.
For a county who have impressed at underage level, the highlight of which a Leinster minor championship in 2010, the future had looked very promising.
But if league form is anything to go by, have Longford hit a wall?
3. Tyrone’s next generation
Their are eight changes from the side which lost to Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final in this weekend’s Tyrone team.
Niall McKenna starts at full forward, six years after he shone in the county’s minor All-Ireland success. Kyle Coney, another key player on that team who went on to have a short stint in the AFL, also gets the nod inside.
Mattie Donnelly is named at centre back, while Conor Clarke has been picked to partner Colm Cavanagh in a new midfield, and spine of the side.
Tyrone have won three All-Ireland minor titles in the past decade, not to mind six Ulster titles between minor and U21 grades. Perhaps it is time for change then.
Or maybe Mickey Harte will revert back to the old guard with a host of positional and possibly personnel changes shortly before throw in?
4. Leitrim’s next big hope
Seamus Quinn, Leitrim’s last All-Star retired in 2004 ten years after they famously won the Nestor Cup.
Ten years later a new hope is emerging, a similarly enormous figure at the edge of his square, equally capable of playing ball further afield.
Donal Wrynn is still only 20 years-old, but after Seán Hagan took over the realm this year he’s been fixed on converterting the attack minded midfielder into the rock in their defence.
Wrynn won a freshers All-Ireland with DCU in 2012, and broke in to the Sigerson team this year – like Quinn, shuffling between attack and defence.
He excelled in marking Senan Kilbride in the FBD league semi-final clash against Roscommon earlier in the season, and he’s definitely one to keep an eye out for this weekend.
5. New midfield options for Laois
Laois have been spoiled for choice with high-fielding, athletic midfielders in recent years.
Brendan Quigley emerged as one of the country’s outstanding midfielders in recent years, but at just 27 he’s now in New York.
Before him Laois could call on the services of Padraig Clancy, who was ably assisted by big Noel Garvan. But Clancy, like Garvan a few years earlier, called time on his county career in November.
For this weekend’s game Laois have named John O’Loughlin and Kevin Meaney in the middle, while Colm Begley remains an astute option. All three would bring very different qualities then that of the high fielding prowess of previous 8′s and 9′s.
But in the modern game are they better off with two adaptable players manning the middle? Expect big things from the all-action John O’Loughlin.
