New brooms sweep in fresh enthusiasm and optimism

WITH the exception of a handful of postponed matches and the final Division Four programme, the Church & General National Football League goes into its winter break with few great surprises in any of its top three divisions.

The best performances in Division One have not surprisingly come from counties with new managers, Kildare and Cork. During his last spell in charge, Mick O'Dwyer brought Kildare some immediate tangible reward with a League run that took them to the final where they were narrowly beaten by Dublin.

This time around, without stepping up training too much, Kildare have made an encouraging start and unveiled one or two promising players. Last weekend's defeat in Cork won't cause too much distress and the county will fancy themselves for the play offs.

As will Cork whose conviction during Larry Tompkins's opening months has been impressive. The only unbeaten team in the division their new year schedule includes bottom teams Cavan and Tyrone who each have a match in hand due to postponements.

Meath have done well in the absence of their suspended players aid, even if they lose their outstanding match, will have it all to play for after the break. Kerry's decline was the big story in the division and made their win over Donegal a definite surprise.

Now on four points, they have recovered some ground and will wait anxiously to see what the next few weeks bring. If the Gaeltacht players are suspended for their part in the New York final and Laune Rangers defeat Clonakilty in the Munster final, Paidi O Se is going to have a complicated life in the new year.

Cavan, without manager Martin McHugh for the first half of the League, have started badly and need something from the postponed match against Derry to have any sort of a chance to avoid relegation.

Fellow strugglers Tyrone will welcome the break as new manager Danny Ball has been stretched with injuries and suspension considerably diminishing his hand.

Next Sunday, they play Meath who have coped manfully with their suspensions. Tyrone should win and get a long distance vote to join Cork, Kildare and Donegal in the quarter finals next spring.

Division Two has been evenly contested and unpredictable. The top four, Laois, Louth, Leitrim and Dublin, are all in good positions to push for promotion and Armagh can join them in contention by winning their outstanding match against Monaghan who along with Clare look the leading candidates to be relegated. Armagh and Laois are the tentative predictions for the quarter finals.

Dublin and Mayo have struggled, but remain within striking distance and well placed for the serious going in the new year.

Division Three has gone largely according to plan, with Down galloping away on full points with only fellow promotion probables Roscommon in attendance. The surprise here has been the wretched showing of Galway. Wexford already look doomed and Westmeath are marginally fancied to accompany them.

. Some of the matches postponed because of bad weather at the weekend have been refixed. Next Sunday will see the Division One meeting of Tyrone and Meath go ahead in Omagh. In Division Three, Westmeath will play Antrim in Mullingar.

The following Sunday is likely to see the Cavan Derry Division One match take place, although this has to be confirmed today. In the second division, Monaghan's match with Armagh is also likely to be arranged for the same day.

Fermanagh and Tipperary, however, will probably have to wait until after Christmas to fulfill their Division Four match as there is a full programme in the division next weekend and the week after Fermanagh have their All Ireland B final replay with Longford. The Leinster club hurling championship final between O'Toole's of Dublin and Laois's Camross has been rescheduled for Nowlan Park next Sunday.