In theory Tullamore should be coming good and having James Keane for the full year will be a big help, but I'd still agree with Hocker in that I'd have them outside the first three. My gut feeling, albeit after not seeing much football this year.....
Rhode Not really much debate here.
Clara Edged out Shamrocks last year and as such deserve second on account of that, but would still only be evens against them if they were to play again tomorrow.
Shamrocks A lot depends on how Ward fits in. If he beds in well he'll give them a serious extra cutting edge up front, or he could upset the whole apple cart either. Now is also the time for Derek Molloy to step forward and become a serious senior player too. If that happens, they'll be clear second favourites and will be equipped to give Rhode plenty of it.
Tullamore Great young players, a few serious old heads and still not a lot in the middle. Undoubted potential, but I remain unconvinced.
St. Brigid's Its very hard for clubs picking off the scraggy ends of parishes to keep it going. Ken Casey will be a seriously marked man next year and I don't know how they're going to handle it if and when he gets shut out.
Ballycumber Still capable of blistering 15 minute spells, but they haven't really added to the existing panel of players with any game breakers from the underage ranks in a while. Club spirit is as strong as ever, but for me it's easier to see them dropping down this order than moving up.
Ferbane Have steadied the ship after a few years of serious decline, but still hard to fancy them to score more than ten times in any game. Potential semi finalists maybe, then if the championship got delayed into the arse end of November you never know.
Tubber Momentum will carry them a long way, and with the club on a high and a serious corps of young players they should secure senior status next year. Will probably go out in the quarters against a decent side, having led at half time and got reeled in.
Shannonbridge Hopefully this year will be the spur to finally make them realise that they aren't immune from the drop, and that they are capable of some good football if only they could prepare well and not be held back a select few not keeping their heads or not being in prime condition. A new attitude could see them becoming a very decent team, the same attitude as 2006 will see them go down.
Erin Rovers Demolished a badly prepared and depleted Doon side before digging deep to edge out Gracefield. The rest was pretty horrendous. Have a few good youngsters there that might do enough to keep them up.
Gracefield Too dependent on O'Neill for scores and have regressed hugely in the last few years. This reeks of one of those posts where I bring a jihad onto myself from a whole parish when I don't say that all is well, but they strike me as a club in real danger right now. Edenderry fans don't need to be reminded how a strong history is not enough to save you if things aren't going well.
St. Rynagh's Targetted the Shannonbridge game last year and retained their senior status on account of it. Will do very well to repeat the trick with two more clubs going down this year.