Meath and London will meet in the opening round of NHL Div 2 at Trim on Saturday. Photo: David Mullen

COUNTY BY COUNTY FOCUS

Tom Gannon

Published: Fri 23 Jan 2026, 6:00 PM

MEATH

This league campaign is a real opportunity for this young Meath side to build some momentum for 2026. Promotion is possible but so is relegation. Most of the teams in the division are going through a similar transitional period as the Royals and if Johnny Greville’s side can set the tone by picking up a few wins early on in the campaign, it will give them a great platform to build on for the rest of the year.

Manager: Johnny Greville; key players: Lorcan Byrne, Darren O’Higgins; 2025 Results: NHL Div 2 - Meath 2-12, Donegal 1-14; Tyrone 2-14, Meath 2-22; Meath 2-30, Down 4-21; Kerry 1-20, Meath 0-20; Derry 1-27, Meath 1-23; Meath 1-14, Kildare 1-27; Christy Ring Cup - Meath 0-21, London 5-18; Meath 2-29, Tyrone 2-15; Derry 1-22, Meath 3-17; Wicklow 3-17, Meath 0-16; Meath 3-14, Donegal 0-28; prediction: third.

LONDON

It is always hard to know what to expect from London but if they are to be any way competitive in the Joe McDonagh they will want to hit the ground running in the league and that starts with their first clash against Meath. Meath will have a point to prove against them after their shocking performance in the first round of last year's Christy Ring Cup.

Manager: Eoin O’Neill; key players: David Devine, Enda Egan; 2025 results: NHL Div 3 - London 1-15, Roscommon 1-10; Wicklow 1-17, London 1-18; London 1-19, Cavan 1-10; Mayo 1-17, London 2-16; London 2-20, Sligo 0-18; Armagh 0-10, London 2-15; final - London 1-8, Mayo 0-14; Christy Ring Cup - Meath 0-21, London 5-18; London 1-18, Derry 2-19; Wicklow 2-17, London 2-17; Donegal 1-15, London 2-19; London 4-20, Tyrone 1-13; final - Derry 1-24, London 1-27; prediction: fourth.

WESTMEATH

Westmeath are a county that have historically hurled to a decent level but have been quite inconsistent over the last 12 months or so. Kevin O’Brien's side are going through a transition at the moment but they will still feel they are a level above a good few teams in the division.

Manager: Kevin O’Brien; key players: Killian Doyle, David O’Reilly; 2025 results: NHL Div 1B - Antrim 2-25, Westmeath 1-19; Westmeath 0-18, Dublin 1-22; Westmeath 1-19, Laois 4-18; Offaly 1-22, Westmeath 0-19; Westmeath 0-24, Waterford 7-34; Carlow 3-15, Westmeath 3-18; Joe McDonagh Cup - Laois 3-25, Westmeath 1-22; Kildare 3-24, Westmeath 2-21; Westmeath 2-24, Down 0-20; Westmeath 4-22, Carlow 7-23; Kerry 1-14, Westmeath 2-28; prediction: second.

DERRY

Meath and Derry played out two cracking games last year in the league and in the Christy Ring. Expect this year to be no different. They are similar to the Royals in that consistency is something that they lacked and badly needed in 2025.

Manager: Johnny McGarvey; key players: Cormac O’Doherty, Meehaul McGrath; 2025 results: NHL Div 2 - Tyrone 0-14, Derry 1-13; Derry 0-13, Down 2-26; Kerry 5-20, Derry 1-12; Derry 0-17, Kildare 2-25; Derry 1-27, Meath 1-23; Donegal 0-9, Derry 2-23; Christy Ring Cup - Derry 1-21, Donegal 1-17; London 1-18, Derry 2-19; Derry 1-22, Meath 3-17; Tyrone 0-11, Derry 1-30; Derry 2-30, Wicklow 1-13; final - Derry 1-24, London 1-27; prediction: sixth.

MAYO

Mayo are a team on the rise and came very close to completing a league and championship double last year, albeit the Div 3 league and the Nickey Rackard. Participation of players from the All-Ireland club IHC finalists Toreen will be crucial.

Manager: Ray Larkin; key players: Shane Boland, Liam Lavin; 2025 results: NHL Div 3 - Mayo 1-26, Cavan 2-14; Sligo 0-13, Mayo 1-12; Mayo 1-17, London 2-16; Mayo 3-25, Roscommon 1-12; Armagh 1-18, Mayo 3-21; Wicklow 2-15, Mayo 4-15; final - London 1-8, Mayo 0-14; Nickey Rackard Cup - Mayo 1-21, Roscommon 1-14; Armagh 0-11, Mayo 1-29; Mayo 2-25, Louth 2-18; Mayo 1-32, Sligo 1-17; Fermanagh 1-22, Mayo 3-16; final - Mayo 1-21, Roscommon 3-16; prediction: seventh.

LAOIS

Most definitely the strongest side in the division. They will be warm favourites to win the division. Tommy Fitzgerald is retained as manager and anything apart from promotion will be seen as a big failure in the O’Moore County.

Manager: Tommy Fitzgerald; key players: Tomas Keyes, Paddy Purcell; 2025 results: NHL Div 1B - Westmeath 1-19, Laois 4-18; Laois 1-15, Offaly 1-24; Waterford 1-27, Laois 0-20; Laois 0-29, Carlow 2-26; Antrim 4-22, Laois 0-21; Laois 0-13, Dublin 2-21; Joe McDonagh Cup - Laois 3-25, Westmeath 1-22; Laois 6-36, Down 1-12; Laois 5-28, Kerry 1-21; Kildare 4-20, Laois 1-18; Carlow 2-17, Laois 1-20; final - Kildare 2-26, Laois 1-19; prediction: first.

KERRY

Kerry are another side who lacked consistency in 2025, a common theme among plenty of the contenders in the NHL Div 2. They would like to think of themselves alongside the two favourites in Westmeath and Laois. The reality is they are probably a lot closer to the level of Meath, Derry and London than they would like to admit.

Manager: John Griffin; key players: Padraig Boyle, Oisin Maunsel; 2025 results: NHL Div 2 - Kildare 2-28, Kerry 0-17; Kerry 5-20, Derry 1-12; Donegal 5-14, Kerry 3-16; Kerry 1-20, Meath 0-20; Kerry 1-23, Down 0-28; Tyrone 1-13, Kerry 1-19; Joe McDonagh Cup - Kildare 0-19, Kerry 1-17; Kerry 0-17, Carlow 3-27; Laois 5-28, Kerry 1-21; Down 2-26, Kerry 2-19; Kerry 1-14, Westmeath 2-28; prediction: fifth.