It's probably been mentioned on this thread already but if the football championship was designed like the hurling one, a lot more counties could plan ahead and prepare for life in the big time. Why not divide the football championship into 3 tiers with 12 in the top tier, 2 groupsw of 6. This idea that all teams have an equal shot at winning it at the start of the year is nonsense.

With regard to Dublin, not their fault they are doing well, but this 'dominance' is 2 All-Ireland's & 3 NFL's in 5 seasons. When they have won 4 in a row and are denied a 5 in a row by a lad who jumps around like a legend in an iconic moment, then we should talk of true dominance.

I don't think the Dubs will win the All-Ireland this year, I think it will be Mayo, but I've been saying that for 5 years now.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 29/04/2015 09:52:09    1718791

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 7236

1718652
Those who believe that Dublin have a tough Leinster Championship probably still believe the Earth is flat, the moon is made of cheese and leprauchans sit minding the gold at the end of the rainbow. It sits right up there on the ridiculous shelf alongside Dublin and Kerry aren't cynical and don't play defensive football.

Thats not true, everyone knows its the Dublin CB that minds that pot now :)

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 29/04/2015 10:55:28    1718821

Sensible post Slayer until you stated that you think Mayo will win this year.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 29/04/2015 12:04:09    1718848

For all those who say the league doesn't matter, there are only 3 counties that have been in division one since the year after the reshuffle.
Anyone guess the three?
Dublin, Mayo and Kerry, with 5, 5 and 4 provincial championships respectively in those six years.

m_the_d (None) - Posts: 1099 - 29/04/2015 13:04:08    1718887

Donegalman

Yeah you are right,especially regarding Meath.Leinster always needs a good Meath and Dublin team.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 29/04/2015 13:12:00    1718893

Dublin arent helped by the decline of Meath and Kildare. Any other county never really haven't troubled Dublin in Leinster in recent years, with (maybe Laois under Micko) but Dublin still always came through. I cant even begin to imagine what Dublin will do to either Longford/Offaly when they play them in the summer soon.

ShortGrass_1 (Kildare) - Posts: 223 - 29/04/2015 14:34:30    1718938

Offaly are a coming team, and could very well challenge in a few years, i expect them to be promoted next year to div 2. They have a excellent management and while they wont beat dubs i cant see a hammering

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 29/04/2015 15:00:52    1718952

Good to see Bryan Cullen showing respect to the other Leinster counties and not falling into the trap of kicking a dog when it's down.........NOT

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 30/04/2015 10:59:09    1719140

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 6316

1718790 Ah the Dubs know it's in the bag, this is their greatest ever period of dominance in Leinster while all the other counties just aren't up to it, walkover again lads and you's know it.

Wrong it wont be a walkover and its not in the bag , sport isn't like that , the history of sport and upsets tell us that . Honestly all things being equal if we play to our potential , bring our A game ,key players stay free of injury then IMO we will win Leinster

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 30/04/2015 11:33:06    1719158

Still look back with hurt that Wexford didnt take the 2011 all ireland winning team in leinster, poxy goal cost us! And in 2010 when we threw away lead having played again 13/14 men for a lot of 2nd half to lose in ET.. Those days seem long behind wexford football now unfortunately.

hownow1 (Wexford) - Posts: 3 - 30/04/2015 12:40:24    1719180

I indeed htaem.
Id say they will easily top last years 17 point average margin in Leinster???
I do feel that perhaps whoever is in final should not turn up, the easiest Leinster title off all time, can you imagine the shockwaves if they didn't win it it would be akin to Kilkenny bean beat by Meath in hurling, it just ain't going to happen, Whelan has said last Sunday is their hardest game until august , walkover indeed.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 30/04/2015 12:52:30    1719183

Not sure which is worse... Meath people thinking they can still live with Dublin or Dublin people letting on that Meath will give them a game.

Dublin at -10 last year was easiest money I ever won

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 30/04/2015 13:16:04    1719191

tiobraid
County: Tipperary
Posts: 1356

1719191 Not sure which is worse... Meath people thinking they can still live with Dublin or Dublin people letting on that Meath will give them a game.

Dublin at -10 last year was easiest money I ever won


Meath people who have spent for ever talking up the dubs and saying Meath wont win , only to get offended when a Dubs says the same thing , make your minds up .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 30/04/2015 13:26:38    1719199

tiobraid
County: Tipperary
Posts: 1356

1719191
Not sure which is worse... Meath people thinking they can still live with Dublin or Dublin people letting on that Meath will give them a game.

Dublin at -10 last year was easiest money I ever won

Of course we can live with them, I married one I've no choice but to live with them :-)

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 30/04/2015 13:28:32    1719202

Damothedub

Meath people who have spent for ever talking up the dubs and saying Meath wont win , only to get offended when a Dubs says the same thing , make your minds up

Nah we won't get offended, in fact there's nothing better than listening to an opponent dismiss your team's chances, it means they're becoming complacent. Now we may not even get to the Leinster final but if we do then we're going to need Dublin to have a real off day and we're going to have to play out of our skins to even have a chance of getting within 10 points of the Dubs so the more complacency the better.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/04/2015 13:50:04    1719209

True richieq. I am married to one too, a very beautiful one at that too (better than anything i could have ever wished) .
We can live with them but it's never easy, just tell them what they want to hear, play the game and while they think there winning its not until its too late that they realise what's happening. :)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 30/04/2015 14:03:59    1719215

Leinster teams were shown last year what they have to do.

Grow a pair & stick with it even when things are not going well, once Dublin see that you are not going away they will fade away like mist on a sunny morning.

Show moral weakness & you are finished.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 30/04/2015 14:16:19    1719220