Ill go for Dublin. Id like to see Mayo win ( terrible thing for a Galwayman to say, I know) but a fresher and fitter Donegal would be my second favourites.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 25/01/2014 16:30:22    1536488

A very open championship in prospect this year, just like every other year. While making predictions for the championship before the league even starts is a lottery it is also good fun.

1. Dublin. Best team in the country but winning back to back titles is difficult & evens the playing field.

2. Mayo. Great panel & good manager. Belief is the big issue & if they can get over that then they are in the mix.

3 Tyrone. Four years since their last Ulster title but have started the year really well & have the best manager in the country.

4. Kerry Winning Sam is in their DNA & they will be there or thereabouts

5. Donegal Need everything to go their way, especially injuries which they can't afford. Some top class players & a good manager in their favour. Div 2 is a tough spot to win from.

6. Cork Big changes in personnel, both playing & management means that an AI will be beyond them.

At this point in time I don't see anyone else in the frame in any meaningful way, but who knows. I didn't see Monaghan winning Ulster last year so anything is possible.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 26/01/2014 15:30:52    1536730

JMK
County: Kerry
Posts: 157

1535832 A lot of people are saying that IF Donegal are fully fit they will challenge. And of course they will, but that is a very big IF. The fact that I (and I assume some others too) are writing them off to a certain extent is due to the fact that they have limited depth in their panel, and with the amount training teams are doing nowadays injuries are inevitable. Dublin are heads above the rest of the country because of their depth. If Brogan is injured more forwards are capable of stepping up. Take a look at Kerry, 2nd or 3rd ranked in a lot of peoples books, watch that ranking drop ferociously if Gooch got injured. It's all well and good to say if Donegal get lucky and get no injuries they'll challenge. But is that really a good enough argument to say they are genuine title contenders??

To be fair to Donegal, they lost quite a few "Key men" in 2013. Karl Lacey, Christy Toye, Mark McHugh, Neil Gallagher, Frank McGlynn, Anthony Thompson were 6 men who constantly struggled with Injuries throughout 2013, and upon their return to action they were months of championship pace.

Having depth is one thing, but to lose that number of first team players in one season is extremely difficult to cope with. I maintain that very few of the top 6 or 7 sides in the country could lose 5 or 6 key players and still challenge for an All Ireland.

Dublin's depth is most located in the forward & half forward positions. But say if MD MacCauley, Paul Flynn, Jack McCaffrey, Stephen Cluxton, Ger Brennan and maybe Ciaran Kilkenny all had niggling Injuries at the one time!!
While yes Dublin could replace them with excellent replacements, I don't think they could win the All Ireland missing such key players.

The same rule applies to Mayo, Tyrone, Kerry etc.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 27/01/2014 11:37:25    1537166

Dublin to become 1st back to back winners in over 20yrs.

Kildare would be my idea of darkhorses this year, a lot of talented young footballers on that panel and under Ryan they will be allowed express themselves. After establishing a much vaunted professionalism in the panel Geezers pro-longed run in Kildare may just have been a wee bit stifling, I think they might just fly this year.

downredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 567 - 27/01/2014 12:17:06    1537190

downredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 52

1537190
Dublin to become 1st back to back winners in over 20yrs.

Kerry 2006/2007

D'oh!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 27/01/2014 12:21:18    1537193

D'oh indeed, my bad

downredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 567 - 27/01/2014 12:39:27    1537207

Maigh Eo are the definite favourites.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 05/02/2014 09:30:58    1541613

No chance, Dublin on a mission to do 5 in a row.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 05/02/2014 09:39:00    1541615

I am going to go with my heart and (brain) on this.

Dublin are in a good position to win this.
Mayo
Cork.

Outside curved ball team to go all the way. Meath (one has to be very impressed with Micko, quite and unassuming but ruthless, has Meath playing nice football).

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 05/02/2014 10:11:00    1541625

Dublin's to lose.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 05/02/2014 10:21:30    1541632

Dublin favourites, but expect Tyrone and Cork to fiqure

Labhras (Cork) - Posts: 29 - 05/02/2014 10:57:43    1541645

Why are Corcaigh being rated so highly by people this year? Is there something the rest of us don't know about?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 05/02/2014 11:16:50    1541656

Cork won't be near it , Dublin will win it and it's between Kerry Mayo Donegal and Tyrone for runners up spot.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 05/02/2014 11:37:07    1541668

It's Dublin's to lose, I cannot see anyone touching them in Croker.. the thing is if they were to lose to say Kildare or Meath in Leinster, and if taken outside the Pale in a qualifier well then anything can happen, but in all honesty I think they are ahead of everyone at present.

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 05/02/2014 12:25:03    1541691

Dublin at a canter this year - they should win every game by 10 points+. Hardly worth worth other tems while travelling to Dublin for games this year - saving on the spend and the humiliation!

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 05/02/2014 12:45:42    1541707

The black card is a game changer.....I think Donegal will win the A.I. with Mayo and Dublin in close contention...not sure who the surprise packets are this year, maybe Derry

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1669 - 05/02/2014 12:53:06    1541711

Horsebox even if we were beaten by Meath or Kildare and taken outside of Dublin who would realistically beat us? Like if Kerry Cork Tyrone Donegal were to lose against each other and go into the qualifier and draw Dublin the game would be played in Croker.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 05/02/2014 12:57:52    1541714

If Donegal win the All-Ireland this year it will be some achievement, even more so than the win in 2012. I personally doubt a Div 2 team can win the All-Ireland though.

Cute_Kerry_Hoor (Kerry) - Posts: 2518 - 05/02/2014 13:00:30    1541719

Think it is between Dublin, Donegal or Kerry.
If a winner comes from outside those 3 I will be very surprised.

bobby_shane (Dublin) - Posts: 106 - 05/02/2014 13:01:21    1541720

blacknamber
County: Kerry
Posts: 76

1541707 Dublin at a canter this year - they should win every game by 10 points+. Hardly worth worth other tems while travelling to Dublin for games this year - saving on the spend and the humiliation!
___________________
Quite right blacknamber, we should all take ourselves off on a nice holiday with all the money we'll save from not following your county to their inevitable defeat at the hands of the champions elect. I might tune in September time just to see Cluxton lifting Sam again on their way to that 5 in a row that Clondalkindub keeps reminding us if.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 05/02/2014 13:47:34    1541747