NHL DIV 2B PREVIEW Promotion the goal for Meath

Meath hurling supporters will be looking forward with lots of optimism to the first round of the NHL Div 2B against Down next Sunday as part of a double-header at Páirc Tailteann, 1pm.

The hurling will be the curtainraiser to the NFL Div 2 game between Meath and Derry at 3pm, a game that will be hugely important for the footballers.

After an encouraging series of games in the Walsh Cup, manager Martin Ennis and his selectors have plenty of reasons for optimism and the goal is promotion.

It won't be easy with teams of the calibre of Down (beaten in last year's final by Armagh), Derry (relegated from 2A), Mayo, Roscommon (promoted from 3A) and Wicklow.

The first objective will be to make it to the final - that will feature the top two teams - and at first glance it would be reasonable to suggest that Derry and Down could be the main opposition.

The result of Sunday's opening game against the Mourne men will be hugely significant by the time the positions are finalised in the fifth round of fixtures on Sunday 26th March.

Going into Sunday's opener the manager has plenty of selection headaches with both Darragh Kelly from Ratoath and Kiltale's Mark O'Sullivan ruled out through injury while Tipperary man Ronan Sherlock has had to withdraw from the panel also.

On the positive side, Kilmessan's Steven Clynch appears to be ready for action although he might not be capable of making a 70-minute contribution, it is certainly a major boost that he is available.

The position of dual player James Toher could be problematic for Ennis and at the moment it is not clear if he will be available as he is also in Andy McEntee's footall panel. However, the Trim man didn't feature against Kildare in the NFL Div 2 opener last Sunday.

“We lost Darragh (Kelly) and Mark (O'Sullivan) to injuries in the Walsh Cup against Kildare and they will not be available for Sunday, Ronan Sherlock has also left the panel due to a combination of work commitments and an injury.

“Ronan played for us in the Walsh Cup, but he told me last week that he would have to opt out of the panel as he is also under pressure from his club in Tipperary (Silvermines) and he is trying to get back to full fitness.

“Despite all that, I believe that our squad is stronger now than it was 12 months ago and we will just have to cope with these things, that's sport, that's the way things go.

“I wouldn't rule out any of the other five teams, Wicklow can't be discounted and Roscommon gave Antrim a scare in the Christy Ring Cup last year, we know all about Down and Mayo and then you have Derry, relegated last year, they will be expecting to go back up at the first attempt.

“We have the two Ulster teams at home and we are away to the Connacht teams and then we finish up at home to Wicklow - it could all come down to results in the final round of games, it will be very tight.

“When you look at the teams in 2A and 2B there isn't a major amount of difference between most of them and we are all trying to get promotion, it's very competitive, but that's they way you want it.

“At the moment all we are focused on is next Sunday and the first round against Down, we are all looking forward to playing in Páirc Táilteann again and maybe the football supporters will get there early and support us as well.

“We have been knocking on the promotion door now for a few years, last year we went into the final round needing a win against Down in Ballycran to make the decider, the previous year we got to the final and before that there was a few final appearances also.

“Consistent performances will be important, if we can achieve that then we will be in contention and that's all I can look for at the moment,” he concluded.

FACTFILE

2017 WALSH CUP

First round - Offaly 3-10, Meath 2-12.
Second round - Meath 1-19, Kildare 1-18.
Third round - IT Carlow 4-18, Meath 4-17.

2016 NHL Div 2B RESULTS

First round - Meath 2-22, Wicklow 0-13.
Second round - Mayo 0-19, Meath 2-9.
Third round - Meath 2-35, Donegal 0-9.
Fourth round - Armagh 0-26, Meath 1-10.
Fifth round - Down 2-17, Meath 1-14.

2017 FIXTURE FOCUS

Sunday 12th February - Meath v Down; Mayo v Derry; Roscommon v Wicklow.
Sunday 19th February - Meath v Derry; Down v Roscommon; Wicklow v Mayo.
Sunday 5th March - Roscommon v Meath; Derry v Wicklow; Mayo v Down.
Sunday 12th March - Mayo v Meath; Derry v Roscommon; Wicklow v Down.
Sunday 26th March - Meath v Wicklow; Roscommon v Mayo; Down v Derry.

THE OPPOSITION

DERRY
Lost to Carlow, Antrim, Westmeath and London in 2A last year, but went into the final game knowing that a victory over Kildare would secure their status, they lost that game by five points (1-16 to 2-18). Derry will be expecting to bounce back at the first attempt and they have to travel to Castlebar to face Mayo on Sunday. The result of that game will provide plenty of information for the Meath management team ahead of Derry's visit on Sunday week. Derry might be too strong for Meath at this stage, but not by the time the final comes around on the first weekend in April.
DOWN
The Mourne men made it to the final last year where they were beaten by the surprise team of the 2016 competition, Armagh. It was an all-Ulster final and Armagh were worthy winners by 0-20 to 1-15. Down's top scorer in the decider was Danny Toner, he was also the top scorer when Meath travelled to Ballycran for the fifth round - he sent over nine points on that occasion, seven from frees. Down will be eager to make a winnign start when they arrive in Navan on Sunday. This will be a tight game and Meath can shade the verdict on Sunday.
MAYO
When Meath lost to Mayo in the second round in Trim last year it was a major surprise and this time around Meath will have to travel to Castlebar on Sunday 12th March for what is likely to be a crucial game. Mayo missed out on a place in the final when they lost in the last round against eventual champions Armagh and they will be hoping to improve on that in 2017. However, Meath can take maximum points from this encounter.
ROSCOMMON
Promoted from Div 3 last year after beating Donegal in a promotion / relegation play-off. The form suggests that it will be easy enough for Meath when they visit Athleague. However, Roscommon ran Antrim close in the Christy Ring Cup last year. Athleague is a venue that has always proved challenging for Meath teams in the past and it won't be any different this time around, but maximum points can be expected.
WICKLOW
You never know what you might get from Wicklow. Using last year as a gauge they have no chance, but then Bray Emmetts had a good run in the Leinster Club IHC last year. They could be the surprise team in the grade this year, but Meath will not have to face that challenge until the fifth round and with home advantage it has to be viewed as a game the Royal County can win.