Yesterday Geordie McGuckin looked at the management teams in place in division 1 of the ACFL for 2022 and today he moves on to those in charge in division 2 for the coming season and the potential of those clubs.
Division Two Football Managers
All Saint’s Ballymena
All Saint’s came close, but not close enough last term when they finished runner’s up in both championship and league behind the men from Tir na nOg in both competitions.
The Ballymena side will hope to take a step further this term and they have appointed former Saffron manager Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley as manager with highly rated Cookstown man Jason Quinn as assistant.
The ‘Baker’ most certainly needs no introduction to the Antrim folk and his charges will start amongst the favourites to top the table in the second grade.
Con Magees Glenravel
The Glensmen have taken a step away from tradition this term as they have looked outside of the club to appoint former Bellaghy player Joe Cassidy to take charge with local man Ian Hynds as assistant.
Con Magees have been ascending the ratings quietly over the past few seasons and having collected the Under-20 football title 2021 they do look on the brink of senior success.
Some would suggest that the Glenravel date with destiny may be a few years in the future but they may well be making a challenge for such this term.
Cuchullian’s Dunloy
Dunloy are the reigning Senior Hurling champions and their focus will be to continue in such position well into the future and the ‘big ball’ activity will remain as second choice within the ranks of more than a few of their talented dual star individuals.
They are more than capable of making challenge on the football front and long term manager Anthony Mc Quillan will look to lead them on that direction .
Patrick Sarsfield’s
Sarsfield’s are quite capable in the second grade but the dual nature of the Stewartstown road side possibly counts against in both codes.
The Paddies do have a strong youth policy and success may well be around the corner for the ‘Bear Pit’ residents.
Colm Toal, Tommy Logan, and Niall Banks have been installed as a managerial team for 2022 and will ensure Sarsfields will be in the mix for honours.
St James Aldergrove
Aldergrove have experience life in the top division in the not too distant past and have been knocking on the door in attempts to regain such status in the past few years.
The Crumlin men have looked ‘in house’ for management this term and have installed Chris O’ Kane, Paul Cushley, Fearghal Burke, Joe Donnelly and Declan Hanna as the men to lead the way in 2022 and they are not to be discounted.
St Pauls
Shaw’s road based St Paul’s are seeking a road back to the top grade and the former Senior champions having been seen to gain in improvement in the recent past have retained the services of Paddy Linden and Seamus Toomey to lead them further on the positive trail.
St Paul’s are working hard on the Juvenile front at present and they did come within a whisker of taking the minor (U17) title last year and such policy will reap reward in the future if not in 2022.
St Teresa’s
Glen road based St Teresa’s have struggled of late to regain their long held place in the top division and they have again handed the reins to long time manager and former player Liam Mc Goldrick to lead their challenge this term.
The West Belfast side have not been seen at their very best in recent times but they are more than capable of giving most in this grade a run for their money.
Kickham’s Ardoyne
North Belfast based Kickham’s Ardoyne did give a good account in their new niche last term when they finished mid table in the second division ratings and they will aim for improvement in 2022.
County Down man Ross Carr, former All Ireland winner retains the reins at the Kickham’s assisted by Patrick Rice and they may well bring about further improvement with the 2020 Junior champions now in the Intermediate grade.
Michael Davitt’s
Davitt’s are more than capable in this grade but the west Belfast side remain unpredictable in their offerings over the past few seasons.
Sean Mc Kenna holds on to the reins in charge and although improvement is required his charges are more than capable of holding their own when in the mood.
St Joseph’s Glenavy
Glenavy endured an underwhelming 2021 season and finished much too close to the bottom of the ratings for any degree of comfort.
The Chapel Hill side will be seeking improvement aplenty this term and they have looked to former players Martin Clenaghan, and Gavin Philips to lead them back to success and such is well within their capabilities.
St Mary’s Rasharkin
Rasharkin claimed the division three league title last term and are on the way up again as they look forward to life in the second grade with new management on board with Adrian Dougan and his former team mate and long-time friend Ciaran McCartney installed as a management team.
The Dreen residents have shown improvement in 2021 where they reached the JFC final before losing to St. Comgall’s and the new management team can bring about further improvement in 2022.
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass
2020 Intermediate Football Champions Moneyglass have Hugh Carey as manager this season with Simon McCloy as trainer and Dessie McCann and Paul Campbell as Coaches. St Ergnat’s played their Championship football in the Senior ranks last season and after a poor start began to show some of the form which took them to the Intermediate title the previous year. The were badly plagued by injuries in 2021, but if they get their main men back again they will be one the favourites to gain promotion this time around.
‘