Leinster SFC preview: a one horse race
May 14, 2015
At the launch of the 2015 Leinster SFC were, l/r: Kildare's Eamonn Callaghan, Donal Keegan of Meath, Paul McConway of Offaly, John O'Loughlin of laois, Denis Bastick of Dublin, Kevin Diffley of Longford, Dean Healy of Wicklow, Ciaran Lyng of Wexford, Adrian Reid of Louth and Kieran Nolan of Carlow ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
11 teams will take their place at the starting line for the Leinster SFC which gets underway this weekend but, in reality, it's a one horse race.
Throughout the last decade Dublin have enjoyed a monopoly on the provincial championship, winning nine out of the last 10 titles, and, on recent evidence, there is no reason to suggest that there will be any other outcome than Stephen Cluxton lifting the Delaney Cup on Sunday, July 12th.
The overall state of gaelic football in the eastern province is a cause for concern for the GAA hierarchy. As Dublin have raised the bar consistently on an annual basis, the rest have been left trailing in their wake.
Jim Gavin and his backroom team appear to have addressed the defensive frailties which cost them in last year's year's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Donegal.
There was a meaner streak about Dublin as they picked up the Division 1 crown for the third year in a row and they boasted the best defensive record in the top flight during the spring months.
The attacking options available to Gavin have been well documented and, although they won't admit it publicly, they have bigger fish to fry this year and are most likely channelling all their preparations towards the months of August and September.
The holders open their campaign on Sunday, May 31st against the winners of Offaly and Longford who renew acquaintances this weekend following the Division 4 final.
Pat Flanagan's Faithful County ran out convincing 4-16 to 1-12 winners on that occasion as the midlanders struggle to plug the holes created by the absence of experienced duo Paul Barden and Sean McCormack.
On the same side of the draw, Laois make the short trip to Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday to take on Carlow and it would be a major surprise if Tomas O Flatharta and his players, who successfully managed to preserve their Division 2 status, fail to come away with the win.
Kildare await the winners of that tie in the last eight and it will be interesting to observe how Jason Ryan and his players react to a second successive league relegation.
The Lilywhites' fall from grace was one of the main talking point from the recent league competition and there are major question marks hanging over their appetite for the battle.
Elsewhere, in the other half of the draw, Westmeath will be gunning for revenge against Louth when they square up to one another in Drogheda on Sunday.
The Wee County inflicted a 1-14 to 1-9 defeat on the Lake County 12 months ago but, since then, Louth's hand has been seriously weakened by the retirement of talismanic midfielder Paddy Keenan.
The winners will advance to a quarter-final meeting with Wexford while Meath, runners-up for the last three years, will fancy their chances of overcoming Wicklow on home soil.
The Royals have cemented their place as the number two team in Leinster in recent times but, as last year's final proved, Mick O'Dowd's charges have failed to keep up with the pace set by their arch rivals.
PREDICTIONS:
Champions: Dublin; Runners-up: Meath
ODDS (supplied by Paddy Power)
Dublin 1/6; Meath 13/2; Kildare 14/1; Laois 33/1; Westmeath 50/1; Wexford 80/1; Louth 150/1; Wicklow 200/1; Longford 250/1; Offaly 250/1; Carlow 1000/1
FIXTURES
First round
Saturday, May 16th: Offaly v Longford, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 7pm
Saturday, May 16th: Carlow v Laois, Dr Cullen Park, 7pm
Sunday, May 17th: Louth v Westmeath, Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, 3.30pm
Quarter-finals
Sunday, May 31st: Dublin v Offaly/Longford, Croke Park, 4pm.
Saturday, June 6th: Kildare v Laois/Carlow, tbc, 7pm.
Sunday, June 14th: Wexford v Louth/Westmeath, tbc, 3.30pm
Sunday, June 14th: Meath v Wicklow, Pairc Tailteann, 3.30pm
Semi-finals
Sunday, June 28th: Louth/Westmeath/Wexford v Wicklow/Meath, Croke Park, 2pm
Sunday, June 28th: Offaly/Longford/Dublin v Laois/Carlow/Kildare, Croke Park, 4pm
Final
Sunday, July 12th: Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner, Croke Park, 2pm
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