It has probably been commented on here already but a glance over the final standings in the league tables would suggest that Leinster counties are in real trouble. Traditional forces like Kildare, Meath and Laois are all going backwards it seems and those that seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough some years ago, like Louth and Wexford, seem to have really fallen back.

http://sportsnewsireland.com/gaa-sports/league-tables/

Provincial lowlights include...

- only one representative in Div 1
- three teams propping up Div 2
- Meath's failure to get out of Div 2, I would have fancied them to top Down and the Rossies but fair play to those counties
- two teams propping up Div 3
- only London preventing a Leinster team, Wicklow, from being labeled the worst in the country and in fact they are the worst on the 'main land', at least in terms of league standing

So all in all a depressing sight. What is going so wrong in Leinster? It must be a huge concern for the GAA big shots seeing the largest province in such a poor state.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 11/04/2015 15:12:58    1713001

For a while leinster was in great shape,what with the like of Meath,Kildare,laois,Westmeath etc. all winning the thing,but in reality,only Meath and Dublin have a tradition of winning all Irelands from leinster.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 11/04/2015 15:33:22    1713007

Leinster semi-finalists receive a bye to the quarter-finals in the following year. They are also seeded then to avoid each other. I think while they receive the bye, the quarter-finals should be an open draw.

While Leinster counties aren't doing so well. Ulster counties have pushed on to the top two divisions. Tipperary, Limerick and Clare have pushed on to remain in Division 3. Roscommon have advanced under Evans. This has seen Leinster counties drop league places.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7890 - 11/04/2015 16:41:31    1713032

I wouldn't pay much heed to the league or worry too much about overall strength of Leinster. I know Westmeath and Kildare had another bad season, and Meath fell short. But another a year or so could see that picture take a major turnaround.

Thinking back to the 2012 National league, somebody on here had a thread about "The death of Ulster football".

No need to panic

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 11/04/2015 16:58:40    1713038

Leinster has definetly gone backwards,although Dublin have moved further. but in the challenge for provincial title . Kildare are dismissed out of hand in Leinster, because they are gone into div3 ,Meath given no chance who are Div 2 ( unlucky this year not to gret to Div 1 ). Yet Armagh are tipped to win Ulster by some posters yet were Div 3 this year.
Would Armagh be tipped if they were in leinster.
Would Meath be dismissed if they were in Ulster. .

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 11/04/2015 17:25:50    1713051

I dont think Meath would cope very well in Ulster. Donegal would be the only Ulster team that wouldnt be dismissed in Leinster because Dublin are absolutely dominant.

joeteor (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 11/04/2015 17:41:47    1713056

AthCliath
County: Dublin
Posts: 3629

1713051 Leinster has definetly gone backwards,although Dublin have moved further. but in the challenge for provincial title . Kildare are dismissed out of hand in Leinster, because they are gone into div3 ,Meath given no chance who are Div 2 ( unlucky this year not to gret to Div 1 ). Yet Armagh are tipped to win Ulster by some posters yet were Div 3 this year.
Would Armagh be tipped if they were in leinster.
Would Meath be dismissed if they were in Ulster. .

I think this thread and topic was most likely based on League positions and then teams abilities to compete with Dublin for the Leinster title. And at the minute, neither Meath or Kildare are in a position to challenge Dublin.

While I don't look too deeply at league positions/divisions, I can honestly say that excluding Dublin, Meath are the only side in Leinster who could possibly make a decent tilt at the Ulster title at the minute.

I

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 11/04/2015 17:56:32    1713062

I understand neutrals dismissing Meath's chances of challenging Dublin this year on the basis of last year but to be fair last year was just one of those days where every possible thing that could have went wrong for Meath did, mainly poor tactical decisions from our manager and missing both key midfielders and E Wallace from 2013. We couldn't afford to lose those players, Dublin to be fair have great strength in depth and can cope with a few injuries.

Having said that there's no denying that Dublin are well ahead of the rest in Leinster at the minute, but Dublin have always been the main team in the east, it's just that they haven't had this level of total dominance in a long time, so it's up to the other counties to play catch up. Speaking from a Meath point of view I have to say we've had a lot of poor county boards, they never moved on with the times and I think we were producing top class players in the 80s & 90s in spite of them rather than thanks to them so it's no real surprise that we are where we are.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/04/2015 18:16:53    1713071

Leinster was traditionally almost a 3 tier province. You always had two or three capable of competing at the business end of the championship and these usually from Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Laois. You then had those capable of causing an upset in Leinster and when the qualifiers came in, capable of taking out a fancied team from another province. These Leinster teams were usually made up of Westmeath, Wexford, Louth. The remaining counties have been also rans for some time, Longford, Carlow, Wicklow etc.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 11/04/2015 18:17:39    1713073

Well for years it was Dublin and Meath,Leinster has slowly gotten worse because of Meaths demise to be honest..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/04/2015 18:23:05    1713076

Joxer

I would not ssay Meath are going backwards though

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/04/2015 18:23:47    1713077

Joxer

Traditonally Laois were competing at the business end of the championship?? They have only won 6 Leinster titles! As said before only Dublin and Meath have a tradition of competing and challenging for all-ireland titles.Kildare last won one in 1928..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/04/2015 18:27:57    1713080

just a poor all round stand in the province..the only team of note is the dubs and this has been the case for some years..some very embaressing county boards doesnt help things but look at how the ulster counties often seem to get the best out of themselves

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 11/04/2015 19:09:46    1713093

I don't think many of the Ulster teams are as good as people think. Kerry, Cork, Mayo, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal and Cork have been the teams to beat. Wouldn't matter where they are playing, the AI winner will be likely found amongst them.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 11/04/2015 19:36:36    1713105

It's very hard for those outside the province to understand the psychological hold the dubs in particular have over the vast majority of the lesser Leinster teams. What I would say is that over the last few years some of the most open, entertaining games of championship football I have seen have involved Leinster teams. It may not necessarily be modern 'winning' football but then again how many counties have actually won anything over the last few years. As a Longford man , over the last decade or so with a half decent side we have had many good performances/wins against teams outside the province but have done nothing within the province. The system breeds inferiority and hopefully will be looked at and changed to an NFL style championship but with two tiers with promotion and relegation.

catchturnscore (Longford) - Posts: 149 - 11/04/2015 20:14:19    1713118

The demise of Kildare is extraordinary and hopefully they can recover in the championship. Dublin's placing is obvious but Meath are showing signs of a revival from a low enough point. I'd of expected better of Laois but it never really materialised from their very good underage sides as of yet. In current standings the province is at a low point in football. Funnily enough by national standards i'd rank the top three Leinster teams in Hurling to be higher than than those in Football.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1658 - 11/04/2015 20:20:00    1713122

there not but the average ulster team is a somewhat decent side....none of them are that special but outside of the dubs most of them are better than whats in leinster

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 11/04/2015 20:21:49    1713123

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 2616

1713080
Joxer

Traditonally Laois were competing at the business end of the championship?? They have only won 6 Leinster titles! As said before only Dublin and Meath have a tradition of competing and challenging for all-ireland titles.Kildare last won one in 1928..

----
Yeah probably stretching it a bit there Ziggy. They were decent from mid 90s to mid 00s though, senior and minor, and had a formidable club side in Portlaoise. I think the raw materials are there and they possibly just need to get the structures in place at underage level.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 11/04/2015 20:22:27    1713126

Joxer

Agree,but senior county football is what we are talking about. :)

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/04/2015 20:45:33    1713133

The strength and power of the Dubs has not helped Leinster. Also there has been a big growth in Soccer and Rugby in the last 10 years. Both the Republic Soccer team and the Ireland Rugby teams are basically Dublin and Leinster with a few thrown in. So it has not been easy for other counties. That said Meath should really be up there. Meath are a traditional GAA county and should be challenging the Dubs.
How to turn this around? I don't know. Maybe play some games outside of Croke park and ditch the provincial championships.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2522 - 11/04/2015 20:49:57    1713136