By Eugene Kyne

THE junior division is the biggest in the New York GAA, and by many accounts the toughest to win.

This is certainly true for the last three or four years, with tremendous battles on the way to the final of both the A group and the B. The A section in the last three finals has been decided by a total of six points, with Meath in 2004, St. Barnabas ‘05, and Down in ’06, all successful over a gallant Armagh club.

The B division has had St. Raymond’s, Offaly and Stamford as its victors in those years, and while Ray’s were all concurring in 2004, the other pair was pushed by Dublin and Cavan all the way at different stages of the championship.

This year there are 10 teams in each group and six qualify for the playoffs, with the top two in the group into the semifinals, the other four into the quarters.

The John Joe McGovern Memorial Knockout Cup is also at stake at Junior B level, with the John Brady Memorial Knockout Cup available for grabs at Junior A. Dublin and Astoria are the holders respectively.

Stamford move into the A section courtesy of their win in the B championship final, with Down moving up into the senior grade after they annexed the A title.

So to 2007, and where will the silverware land at the end of another exciting season? We shall try and sift through all the knowledge and decipher it to plot the course. And as an old boss from Roscommon used to say, “I was only wrong once before!”

Junior A

Championship

Armagh: Forever the bridesmaid and never the bride. This year the Orchard men will change their luck and finally take home the Charlie Sweeney Cup after three years of knocking on the door.

They pushed a brilliant Meath team all the way in 2004, and then were unlucky in extra time against St Barnabas in ‘05. Down were up by four when Noel McPartland punched to the net with the last play of last season’s game, so it was not as close as the one point reflected.

They will return with Collie Fearon, Sean Kelly, Lee Kelly, Kieran Traynor, Paddy Maguire and Eoghan McPartland as their backbone, and the fire inside will be even higher. The cup on the mantle at the end of this season for Armagh!

Tyrone: They were in the mix throughout last season and reached the quarterfinal where Kerry and a couple of sending-offs did them in. Deon Gallagher, Conor Skeffington, Barry Brogan and Barry McElduff are all quality players, with the first two on the New York panel at points this season.

McElduff when he stays focused is as dangerous a forward as there is at this level. He averaged more than four points a game last year from full forward and was unlucky to miss out on the all-star team. They will push their northern neighbors all the way, with possibly the KO cup in Tyrone’s reach.

Astoria Gaels: They beat seven of eight teams in the group last year to finish top of the group. They then went to a replay with Armagh before bowing out at the quarterfinal stage. They did take home the John Brady Cup and will look to go further in the championship this year.

Kieran Cull is the man on the line with county panelists Sean Munnelly and Alan Foley, Leitrim natives and the heart of the team. Niall Sugrue, Sam Yore, Derek McKenna and Nester Allen add up to an impressive squad which means no one will look forward to their encounters with the Gaels.

Stamford/Clare: Stamford took home the Junior B title with an uncompromising display against Cavan last September and march into the A division with a bountiful supply of players due to the addition of the Clare club to their cause.

Justin O’Halloran, Keith Hennessy, Sean Collins and the Williams boys will be supplemented by Cathal Loughnane, Turla Keaveney, Eoin Crowley and Tony McTigue. Tough assignments for the opponents in this division.

Why are we placing them fourth in our pick, then? Well, they haven’t played together yet and as the sanctions come in things have a way of evening out. Certainly a team that can spring a surprise, however.

Rangers: Their home base includes Tomas Maher, Cormac Murray, Sean Twomey and Mike Bishop, and they always bring quality summer signings with the Bomber Liston’s son in town last year and a link to Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes down through the years. A dangerous team in the playoffs as they proved last season when they made it to the semifinal. Certainly capable of reaching the quarter finals this year.

Kerry: Never doubt the Kingdom, and when the playoffs arrive be on your toes as they have experience and history on their side. Willie O’Donnell, Finbarr Flood, Anthony Glackin and Shane Langan will make things very difficult, and as Tyrone found out last year ignore them at your peril.

Brooklyn/Long Island, Donegal, St. Raymond’s and Roscommon round out the group, and all will make it difficult for the top six at various points during the year.

St. Rays will be without C.J. Doherty and Gary Dowd. their long time midfield pairing. but have the reigning under-21 championship team to build on. Donegal also are building with youth, with Kieran Patten, Rory Creegan, C.J. Molloy and Shane O’Connor coming through the Celtics ranks together.

Roscommon reached the quarter finals last year and also the KO final and may be a dark horse who can knock of a top dog. One of the cleanest fielders of the ball in NY, John Walsh is alongside Padraig Carney and Danny O’Sullivan for the Rossies, and they may sneak the six spot. Brooklyn/LI are a team that can play spoiler with an outside shot at the playoffs.

Junior B Championship

Dublin: They lost a heartbreaker in Rockland in the pouring rain to eventual winners Stamford at the semifinal stage last season, but took home honors in the John Joe McGovern Cup.

They added Kevin Fitzgerald to their panel and immediately have a player of the year candidate. They have a brilliant keeper in Alan O’Reilly, Keith Murray and Fergal Mulvanney to lead with experience, and will add the necessary students to help the squad the final steps of their way.

The Dubs are back in 2007 with the Junior B title heading across the Liffey, or at least to the Heritage!

Cavan: If any team deserves to be upset with the results from last season it was the Breffni boys, who came away with runners-up medals in both the championship and the KO cups.

Dessie O’Reilly and company gave many evenings of terrific entertainment, and they pushed both of their conquerors, Dublin and Stamford, to the wall. Michael Smith is a superb center half at this level, Brian Dennehy, Gene Reilly, Kevin Shalvey and sideline leader Francie Sheridan will want to go one better in at least one of the competitions. A wounded animal is a dangerous beast, and that can be Cavan this year.

Offaly: They arrive down from Junior A, and they will look to rebound from a tough year last season to get back to winning ways. Brendan Moran, Brian Delaney, and Danny Leavy will lead, and they will be in with a shout at year’s end.

Fermanagh: They held their own for a couple of seasons and took their lumps. They are now back with some quality transfers, with Colm Shannon and Brian Murray coming across from Down. Both are natives of Fermanagh.

Sean Melly and Brian Friel will complement them as they hope to get back into the silverware.

FDNY: Another team who took more than their fair share of losses and never complained once. They finally received help at transfer time, with Barry Annette and Dean Kiely an automatic midfield pairing. Add in Pat Lyons and Tomas Flynn from St. Barnabas and the team has a foundation for good fortune.

It would be novel indeed to have a city agency contesting one of New York’s county finals, and this team could be primed for a KO run of success as their side of the draw keeps them away from the big three.

Rockland: One of New York’s home-grown teams, they will be good enough to reach the playoffs and can cause a surprise when they get there. Tommy Furlong is a terrific keeper; some of the younger players will be coming through the ranks this year with Noel O’Connell at the helm. They will look to break the top ranks.

St. Barnabas, Galway, Monaghan, and Na Clairsigh round out the division, with Monaghan the biggest threat to the top six as they regrade from Senior B.