GAA legend Diarmuid Connolly believes Louth manager Mickey Harte will have eyes on “a higher level of football” than National League Division Three this season.
Louth prepare to begin their campaign at home to Laois this weekend, and the Wee County are only third favourites in the third tier behind Westmeath and Laois.
But former Dublin star Connolly is refusing to rule them out of an upset of the odds ahead of their opener against the O’Byrne Cup finalists in Ardee on Sunday. Have a watch, below!
DIARMUID CONNOLLY'S TIPS FOR NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
DIARMUID CONNOLLY'S TIPS FOR NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR
“The Mickey Harte factor at Louth could be something to keep an eye on, I wouldn’t write them off,” Connolly told BoyleSports this week.
"They didn’t do too much in the O’Byrne Cup, but I wouldn’t look into that too much with the amount of training at this time of the year and Mickey Harte is a shrewd operator.
“He’ll be looking at this league and hoping to get into Division Two and build a bit of momentum running into the summer.
"I’d say that was his mandate when he came into the job last year; to get up the divisions and start at a higher level of football. He’s already taken the first step with promotion last season.”
ALL YOUR GAA ODDS FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ARE ON BOYLESPORTS.COM
Connolly also noted improvement in Louth’s opening opponents, who caught the eye despite coming up five points short in last weekend’s O’Byrne Cup Final against Dublin.
“Laois had a great start to the season getting to the O’Byrne Cup Final, they have four good matches into the legs of the players and they’re trying to build a newer squad this year," said Connolly.
"They didn’t look too shabby in the final, even though Dublin had a man sent off. They have a new manager in too and that can shake things up, especially for some lads on the fringes who may get more game time.
“But they were beaten heavily in the Leinster Championship last year by Westmeath and they would be the favourites for me.
"Antrim and Fermanagh are dark horses too as they both had good seasons last year, but Westmeath are still the ones to beat in Division Three.”
National Football League Division 3 ~ Outright Betting. (Place terms: 1/3 odds, 2 places)
9/4 Laois
5/2 Westmeath
11/2 Louth
8/1 Fermanagh
8/1 Longford
10/1 Antrim
10/1 Limerick
28/1 Wicklow
*Prices correct at time of publication
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Safer Gambling
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More about the author:
Diarmuid Connolly is a six time GAA All-Ireland Football winner with Dublin. During his illustrious career he also won two All-Star awards. He retired from inter-county football in October 2020.
The 6' 1" forward still plays for club team, St Vincent's, with whom he won five Dublin Senior Football Championship titles.
Connolly also won ten Leinster Senior Football Championships with St. Vincent's as well as four National Football League titles.
He also joined the Dublin hurling panel as a dual player where he won an U21 Leinster medal.
Louth prepare to begin their campaign at home to Laois this weekend, and the Wee County are only third favourites in the third tier behind Westmeath and Laois.
But former Dublin star Connolly is refusing to rule them out of an upset of the odds ahead of their opener against the O’Byrne Cup finalists in Ardee on Sunday. Have a watch, below!
DIARMUID CONNOLLY'S TIPS FOR NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
? "They'll still be out in front. But I wouldn't write off..."
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) January 24, 2022""
? How does Diarmuid Connolly see National League Division 3 shaping up in our GAA preview? Who's his tip? ⬇️
Outrights ? https://t.co/nG52oHdj8A#GAA @dermoc123 @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/nquV0lyNdN
DIARMUID CONNOLLY'S TIPS FOR NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR
“The Mickey Harte factor at Louth could be something to keep an eye on, I wouldn’t write them off,” Connolly told BoyleSports this week.
"They didn’t do too much in the O’Byrne Cup, but I wouldn’t look into that too much with the amount of training at this time of the year and Mickey Harte is a shrewd operator.
“He’ll be looking at this league and hoping to get into Division Two and build a bit of momentum running into the summer.
"I’d say that was his mandate when he came into the job last year; to get up the divisions and start at a higher level of football. He’s already taken the first step with promotion last season.”
ALL YOUR GAA ODDS FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ARE ON BOYLESPORTS.COM
Connolly also noted improvement in Louth’s opening opponents, who caught the eye despite coming up five points short in last weekend’s O’Byrne Cup Final against Dublin.
“Laois had a great start to the season getting to the O’Byrne Cup Final, they have four good matches into the legs of the players and they’re trying to build a newer squad this year," said Connolly.
"They didn’t look too shabby in the final, even though Dublin had a man sent off. They have a new manager in too and that can shake things up, especially for some lads on the fringes who may get more game time.
“But they were beaten heavily in the Leinster Championship last year by Westmeath and they would be the favourites for me.
"Antrim and Fermanagh are dark horses too as they both had good seasons last year, but Westmeath are still the ones to beat in Division Three.”
National Football League Division 3 ~ Outright Betting. (Place terms: 1/3 odds, 2 places)
9/4 Laois
5/2 Westmeath
11/2 Louth
8/1 Fermanagh
8/1 Longford
10/1 Antrim
10/1 Limerick
28/1 Wicklow
*Prices correct at time of publication
CHECK OUT OUR LATEST PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS HERE.
Safer Gambling
Remember, please always gamble responsibly. Check out BoyleSports' dedicated Safer Gambling information.
More about the author:
Diarmuid Connolly is a six time GAA All-Ireland Football winner with Dublin. During his illustrious career he also won two All-Star awards. He retired from inter-county football in October 2020.
The 6' 1" forward still plays for club team, St Vincent's, with whom he won five Dublin Senior Football Championship titles.
Connolly also won ten Leinster Senior Football Championships with St. Vincent's as well as four National Football League titles.
He also joined the Dublin hurling panel as a dual player where he won an U21 Leinster medal.