Football rankings: how does your county rate?
March 28, 2014
Croke Park awaits in 2014
1. DUBLIN (no change)
Despite having suffered Division 1 defeats to Cork and Derry, all the evidence points to Jim Gavin's men being the team to beat again in 2014. They suffered a blow with the news that Ciaran Kilkenny is out for the season having sustained a cruciate ligament injury but they boast an enviable strength in depth in their panel that will help them absorb the loss of the exciting play-maker. Bernard Brogan is on the verge of making his seasonal bow and it would be a brave man who would bet against the men from the capital making it two Sam Maguire Cup successes in-a-row.
2. CORK (up 3)
The mass retirements of experienced players such as Graham Canty, Pearse O'Neill, Alan Quirke, Noel O'Leary, Paudie Kissane and Alan O'Connor looked to spell trouble for the Rebel County but new manager Brian Cuthbert has got his rein off to an impressive start and they currently occupy the top spot in the Division 1 table with four wins from five outings to their credit. Ciaran Sheehan's abdication to Aussie Rules was something Cuthbert could have done without but the return of Colm O'Neill from his cruciate ligament hell is a massive plus.
3. MAYO (down 1)
The defeated All-Ireland finalists got their league campaign off to an inauspicious start when losing to Kildare but they have bounced back with three wins to put themselves in the frame for a place in the last four. They brought Cork's winning run to an end last time out. One thing for certain is that James Horan's side will be there or thereabouts come the business end of the Sam Maguire Cup race. The Connacht SFC should pose little difficulties for them but can they finally land that elusive All-Ireland SFC title?
4. DERRY (up 7)
The Oak Leaf County shoot up the rankings courtesy of their surprisingly strong showing in Division 1. Brian McIver's men would have been fancied for an immediate return to Division 2 before the ball was thrown in for this year's Allianz Football Leagues but they have surpassed all expectations by winning three, and drawing one, of their five outings. Eoin Bradley has decided to throw his lot in with soccer but his gaelic football team-mates have made light of his absence and the highlight of their league campaign to date was the round 5 victory over league and All-Ireland champions Dublin.
5. TYRONE (down 1)
The Red Hand County were left red-faced in Killarney when they were on the receiving end of a 3-15 to 0-9 hammering at the hands of Kerry. They got themselves back on track against Westmeath in the last round but it will be interesting to observe if there are any lasting scars from their Kerry humiliation in the weeks ahead. Captain Sean Cavanagh apologised to Tyrone supporters for their dismal showing against the Kingdom but they face two big games against Cork and Dublin in the coming weeks.
6. DONEGAL (up 1)
Jim McGuinness certainly can't be accused of not taking the league seriously this year and their Division 2 promotion bid remains very much on course despite their defeat to Ulster rivals Down last Sunday week. They also dropped a point against Meath in round 4 but it would represent a lost opportunity if they fail to secure a return to the top flight from their current position. Bottom-of-the-table Louth are the visitors to Ballyshannon this weekend.
7. MONAGHAN (down 1)
Malachy O'Rourke's charges have continued where they left off in 2013. The Ulster champions have promotion in their own hands with seven points from a possible 10 to their credit. They drew with Down and lost to Donegal but will be expected to register victories against struggling Laois and Galway in the final two rounds. A second successive promotion in the leagues would stand them in good-stead before the start of the defence of their Anglo Celt crown against the winners of Tyrone and Down.
8. KERRY (down 5)
Colm Cooper's cruciate ligament injury has cast a dark shadow over the Kingdom. Coming on top of the retirements of Tomas O Se and Paul Galvin, it's difficult to see Eamonn Fitzmaurice's men being serious contenders for the Sam Maguire this year. James O'Donoghue has already proven that 2013 was no flash in the pan from a personal point of view but he seems to be ploughing a lone furrow up front. Their attacking options will be bolstered by the imminent return of Kieran Donaghy and Declan O'Sullivan but a Gooch-less Kerry won't hold too many fears for opponents.
9. CAVAN (down 1)
Having narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 2 12 months ago, the Breffni County have made no mistake this time around, with five wins from as many outings. Their success at U-21 level in recent times has generated much optimism regarding their future senior prospects. An Ulster SFC opener against Armagh will give a better indication of their worth but it's a case of so far so good for manager Terry Hyland and his players.
10. DOWN (up 2)
James McCartan deliberated long and hard over whether or not to stay on as manager of the Mourne County and now he is on the verge of guiding them back to Division 1. There's a lot of football to be played before the top two teams in Division 2 are decided but they are very much in contention along with Donegal and Monaghan. After that they will turn their attention to an Ulster SFC preliminary round clash against Tyrone.
11. MEATH (down 2)
The wheels came of the Royal County's promotion bid following defeats to Monaghan (round 2) and Armagh (round 3) but Mick O'Dowd's men have bounced back to record a morale-boosting draw with Donegal and a victory over Laois since. Eamon Wallace's cruciate ligament injury has robbed them of a potent attacking threat as they bid to cement their position as the second best team in Leinster.
12. KILDARE (down 2)
Confidence was high in the Lilywhite camp following their O'Byrne Cup success and opening round victory over Mayo but new manager Jason Ryan and his players have found the going tough ever since. Ryan in on record as saying they are currently in the middle of a learning curve but they will need to return to winning ways against Derry and Westmeath if they are to have any hope of avoiding the drop.
13. ARMAGH (up 5)
The addition of Kieran McGeeney to Paul McGinley's backroom team has instilled a steely determination in the make-up of this Armagh team which was conspicuous by its absence in 2013. Exacting revenge for last year's championship defeat to Cavan is their ultimate objective in 2014 but they will be happy enough with the performances of their young team in Division 2 to date. Ethan Rafferty looks a real prospect around the middle third of the field.
14. ROSCOMMON (up 7)
John Evans has steered the Rossies into Division 2 football as they have seen off all challengers so far. This Saturday's clash with Cavan will determine who finishes in pole position in the table but there is likely to be an element of shadow boxing to the clash as neither team will want to show their full hand ahead of a decider in a few weeks time.
15. WESTMEATH (no change)
Pat Flanagan's replacement as manager Paul Bealin has endured a baptism of fire in Division 1 and they won't have long to lick their wounds before taking on Louth in the Leinster SFC. John Heslin's groin injury has compounded the Lake County's woes .
16. LAOIS (down 3)
Victories over Louth and Galway have been the highlights of the O'Moore County's participation in Division 2. New manager Tomas O Flathartha has a difficult task on his hand as Laois are drawn in the same side in the Leinster SFC as holders Dublin.
17. GALWAY (down 3)
Galway lurched from one crisis to another before a surprise round 4 victory over visitors Down lifted the cloud of doom that has hung over Alan Mulholland's team. Their cause hasn't been helped by the forced withdrawal from the panel of key forward Michael Meehan due to his ongoing injury problems.
18. WEXFORD (down 2)
Manager Aidan O'Brien would have been expecting a better return than two wins from five outings in Division 3. The Model County bagged their second win against Sligo in round 5 and will be hoping to finish the campaign off in style against Fermanagh and Offaly.
19. LOUTH (down 2)
The Wee County need a miracle of Lazarus-like proportions if they are to avoid the drop to Division 3. Aidan O'Rourke's team have just two points - draws against Armagh and Galway - to show for their efforts so far this year.
20. TIPPERARY (up 6)
Peter Creedon's side have blazed an impressive trail to the summit of the Division 4 table with four wins and a draw to their name.
21. FERMANAGH (down 1)
It has been a difficult couple of weeks for new Erne County manager Pete McGrath following the training ground bust-up with the Quigley brothers but the win over Limerick in Newcastlewest came as a welcome respite.
22. CLARE (up 7)
Colm Collins has breathed a new lease of life into Banner County football and they are very much in the frame to secure promotion to Division 3 with games against Carlow and Antrim to come.
23. LEITRIM (up 7)
Leitrim manager Sean O'Hagan has described this weekend's clash with Tipperary as the county's biggest league game in six years. A win in Carrick-on-Shannon would move them a step closer to Division 3 football.
24. LONGFORD (down 1)
Jack Sheedy's rein as manager of Longford has yet to spark into life with just two wins - versus Fermanagh and Offaly - to their name in the third division.
25. LIMERICK (down 6)
Despite having claimed the scalps of Longford and Offaly, the Shannonsiders currently occupy one of the two relegation berths in Division 3.
26. SLIGO (up 5)
Former All Star Charlie Harrison has emerged as a doubt for the Connacht SFC after dislocating a shoulder. Pat Flanagan's men have four points from a possible 10 in Division 3.
27. OFFALY (down 3)
The Faithful County are destined for Division 4 football in 2015 and, on the evidence of their league form, it's unlikely they will make an impression in the Leinster SFC.
28. LONDON (down 6)
Last year's surprise packets have just managed a win and a draw in Division 4 but the Exiles won't lose any sleep over that as they look ahead to the summer months.
29. WICKLOW (down 2)
The long-awaited return of Leighton Glynn to action has been the positive for the Garden County so far in Division 4 although, mathematically, they are not out of the running for promotion.
30. WATERFORD (down 2)
A 1-13 to 0-11 round 5 victory over Leitrim will have given Niall Carew and Waterford encouragement as they approach their final two games against Wicklow and Carlow respectively.
31. CARLOW (up 1)
The addition of injured Irish rugby star Sean O'Brien to their backroom team has failed to yield the desired impact on the Barrowsiders' performances on the field.
32. ANTRIM (down 7)
Currently propping up the Division 4 table, Liam Bradley will write off their Division 4 campaign as one to forget as the Saffrons now turn their attention to their Ulster SFC quarter-final against Fermanagh.
33. NEW YORK (no change)
Former Laois midfielder Brendan Quigley has been announced as New York's captain as they prepare to take on Mayo in the Connacht SFC at Gaelic Park in their centenary year. Tweet
