who do people think will be the dark horse this year?? I can see Roscommon doing well but I don't know if they'll actually beat mayo if they both get to the Connacht final, but I could see them reaching a quarter final anyway, I'm probably being biased here but I could also see my own county learning from their mistakes over the past few years and actually getting to the quarter final this time and maybe the semi depending on who we get if we do get that far.

meathalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 789 - 17/05/2015 19:42:49    1724671

Meath and Roscommon may or may not reach the QFs, but that'll be that. Neither of those teams would beat that Tyrone team, they could be the dark horse!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8603 - 17/05/2015 19:55:14    1724684

I think Laois could be dark horses to get through to a qf through the backdoor, I think they'll beat Kildare and give Dublin a better go than Meath wil in the semi final.

Victorious87 (Wicklow) - Posts: 597 - 17/05/2015 20:07:26    1724694

Yes, well Laois played some lovely stuff in the 1st half against us last year, just couldn't keep it up for 70 mins, which is a big ask against this Dublin team, but you could be right about them!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8603 - 17/05/2015 20:11:29    1724697

Dublin could be the dark horses this year.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 17/05/2015 20:12:40    1724698

Armagh are well set up by a manager who's been there before. They're definitely capable of reaching a quarter final, possibly semi final this year

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2394 - 17/05/2015 20:38:26    1724714

I don't think there are any real dark horses in the real sense of the expression. Dublin and Kerry are favourites, followed by Mayo, Tyrone, Donegal. The likes of Cork and Mayo will get to SF stage and no further. Then you have the teams that might do well but won't really challenge: Roscommon, Meath, possibly Galway, possibly KIldare, Laois and one or two others.

In other words, same'ol same'ol.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 17/05/2015 20:47:52    1724722

I dont know festinog. If Tyrone get a good run going in the qualifiers, build up confidence and cut out the unforced errors theyll take some beating.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 17/05/2015 20:53:01    1724727

Tipperary

Connolly (Dublin) - Posts: 138 - 17/05/2015 20:59:14    1724731

I agree with festinog. The days of a smaller county getting to the latter stages of the Championship are over. One can sit here in May and with some confidence predict 5 of the quarter-finalists (Cork, Kerry, Dublin, Mayo, Donegal). The Championship needs urgent re-structuring. I would ditch the qualifiers, which were brought in supposedly to help the weaker counties but all they've done is give the bigger counties a safety net. At least in the old days you were guaranteed only one of the Munster 'big two' would reach the semi-finals. Now they usually both get that far.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 465 - 17/05/2015 21:01:25    1724733

Agreed with some of above posts, to me Laois and tyrone are the dark horses.....

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 17/05/2015 21:11:14    1724741

I would give Galway,Roscommon,Meath,Tipperary and Armagh a good shout of having a good run this year.All good teams.As are Tyrone,Monaghan,Cork(on their day) and Kildare.All of these are a bit behind the big 4 for me.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 17/05/2015 21:33:50    1724756

Really? Kildare ranked in that bracket just behind the big 4 after a terrible league campaign

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 17/05/2015 21:42:00    1724759

Well poppin, if Meath are there, Kildare deserve to be too, only a g** hair between ye!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8603 - 17/05/2015 21:46:12    1724763

Meath and Roscommon are nearly guaranteed to get to their provincial finals. which means they are in the last 12 even if they lose final.
So really either team needs either 1 favourable draw or a good performance to make last 8. Although ive a feeling Armagh and Tyrone will be facing Meath and Roscommon in last 12 and their journeys will end there.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 17/05/2015 21:57:18    1724771

There won't be any dark horses winning any titles it's Dublin or Kerry for Sam, it'll be Donegal or Monaghan for Ulster, Mayo, Galway or Rossies for Connect, Kerry, Cork Munster, Dublin Leinster

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 17/05/2015 22:00:10    1724774

No 'dark horses' in the true sense of the phrase in my opinion.Sam is between Kerry,Dublin and Donegal and take your pick from Cork, Tyrone ,Mayo & Monaghan for next best.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 18/05/2015 09:16:19    1724795

To be dark horses ( to have a chance of winning/competing) - one needs massive sponsorship, players need to be able to take 3/4 weeks off from work/life to go on training breaks, the club championship needs to be suspended until mid-November and hurling needs to be banned (at least the players must not play it at any sort of decent level) and the backdoor needs to be scrapped. The final point will not happen so effectively teams need to be professional or 'shamateur'. The league is interesting as there are big games. The championship is boring and predictable until August until we get big games again.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 18/05/2015 10:28:15    1724851

Galway, Laois and Tyrone for me are good bets to get to the quarters and maybe take a scalp.
Not sure if they meet eachother in the qualifiers should they all end up there?

Laois gave Dublin a good rattle last year for long periods.
Tyrone were decent yesterday just not clinical enough. If they get a good run and blood in the younger lads they could surprise a few this and next year.
Really like Galway's forwards, I think they could threaten any team on their day, probably lacking a bit physically and defensively but really enjoy watching them.

Wouldn't have any team as dark horses to win it tho. Dublin or Kerry for me, Donegal after them 2. Not really sure where Mayo are at this year.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 18/05/2015 11:51:16    1724897

I reckon Laois have the capabilities to make a dent. I watched them against us in Portlaoise in the league and they were on a horrible run of form but they destroyed us that day. Donie Kingston is some talent, and I was very impressed with John O'Loughlin at midfield. If the Dubs weren't in the way, I'd fancy Laois for Leinster.

Reckon Monaghan could potentially take out one of the big 5 and make it to a semi-final or even a final if they can keep their big players fit and firing. Tyrone similiar if they cut out the bull**** that they were at in Ballybofey yesterday (Donegal were at it too, I know), as I reckon their cards will be marked by refs now for the rest of the year.

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 18/05/2015 12:03:11    1724908