Dublin & Kerry look well ahead of everyone else but my tip for a dark horse who could have a good run this year would be Cavan.

Nobody has mentioned them at all but they are now a Div 1 side who seem well managed & they are my tip.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 12/04/2016 10:14:04    1844527

I don't know how anyone can suggest Mayo as a realistic Championship contender when they've faltered consistently year on year.
greatpoint

Faltered consistently - at the semi final or final stage, generally against the eventual winners, and only ever by a narrow margin, often after a replay...

Funny, another person might consider that as being consistently in contention. Strange how people view things in completely different light.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts:15307 - 12/04/2016 09:49:27

What way do you view it ?

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 12/04/2016 10:33:56    1844546

Cork, Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 12/04/2016 11:57:16    1844614

Nobody has said Mayo are a dark horse as we have been around the block a long time.
Until we do win it though doubt will remain as to our ability to get over the line, that's just a fact.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11237 - 12/04/2016 11:58:08    1844616

Cork have massive talent base and a tradition to boot. If they can focus and pull together consistently they could surprise any team.............IF !!

Massive talent base?, true 5-10 years ago, don't see it now at all.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 12/04/2016 12:23:58    1844641

Tyrone aren't enough of a goal threat to trouble the top counties in my view.

They used to be quite a slow team and would go to sleep in games for long periods but seemed to get over that last year. Conor Gormley's retirement probably helped.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 12/04/2016 12:26:13    1844643

A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.

Above google translation , no one can say little is known of Mayo counts them out , in football if Dublin don't do it would love the winner to meet the criteria , don't see it happening but Id run with Cavan Mayo or Tyrone
More so in the hurling theres a chance of dark horses emerging ,for me Id put Clare up as real contenders , with Limerick good outsiders, Waterford Id have in same boat as Mayo they are known but probably not expected to win but may surprise

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 12/04/2016 12:28:27    1844647

Massive talent base?, true 5-10 years ago, don't see it now at all

you haven't seen their recent underage teams much so, cork are always competitive at underage their minor teams of the last two years were very good people just didn't get to see them gave Kerry the only interesting match last year, and two years ago were the best team besides Donegal Kerry played also.

coopersleftfoot (Kerry) - Posts: 91 - 12/04/2016 12:38:06    1844658

When was the last time a 'dark horse' won the AI?
You'd be looking at the likes of Cavan, Roscommon or Galway to win it outright.
I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 12/04/2016 12:43:41    1844664

When was the last time a 'dark horse' won the AI?
Lockjaw

Galway in 1998 probably....while looking back were very talented, nobody excepted them to even beat Mayo in Castlebar the first day out.
Mayo in division 3 in 1996 nearly won the All Ireland....

I don't think we will see teams coming from nowhere like that anymore....the top teams are so well ahead and tuned. You nearly have to reach a semi final first and then build for the following year.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11237 - 12/04/2016 12:57:11    1844671

There wont be any.

Dublin will win the all ireland, If not them, then Kerry.

Neither of which are dark horses.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 12/04/2016 13:29:39    1844688

True, and a fine Galway team it certainly was looking back. I suppose if Down had won it in 2010 they could have been considered a 'dark horse' winner.
Yeah it nearly takes 2 years of conditioning and dedication to get up to speed with the likes of Mayo, Kerry and Dublin. Like you could be the handiest under 21 player in Ireland, but if you're not at it in the physicality stakes you may forget about it. It's sad in a way that footballing talent alone isn't enough.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 12/04/2016 13:37:28    1844691

I look forward to Dublin winning Sam again in September.The only county I can see preventing this are Kerry.I am a Dubliner and a Dublin fan but have to say this is a sad state of affairs.
If there is a 'dark horse' and I don't think there is, its Tyrone.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 12/04/2016 13:41:19    1844692

It's a bit too early for Cavan imo.
They will need the experience of playing in Div 1 before mounting a challenge i'd say.

Roscommon would be my outsiders.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 12/04/2016 13:56:52    1844697

Dublin will win the all ireland, If not them, then Kerry.

Neither of which are dark horses.

Well that would be a nightmare which is also a dark horse.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 12/04/2016 17:22:10    1844853

Dublin will win the all ireland, If not them, then Kerry.

Neither of which are dark horses.

Well that would be a nightmare which is also a dark horse.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts:2790 - 12/04/2016 17:22:10

Offsite_Rule: Best post of the year by far !!!!

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 228 - 12/04/2016 18:41:39    1844887

I must admit I spent half a minute looking at the screen saying WTF before it came to me. Well done my friend.

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 12/04/2016 19:56:47    1844918

Not exactly a dark horse but I strongly fancy Mayo to win Sam. From 5-9 Mayo are the strongest team bar none.I think Evan Regan is the real deal and a player ready to explode this summer.He could be the key to unlock the holy grail for Mayo.My only concern for Mayo is that they wont be tested in any way in Connacht.

That said,Especially Dublin then Kerry and Tyrone will take some serious beating.
Donegal and Monaghan are a bit behind.And any one of 12 teams after that could beat each other on the day.

salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 12/04/2016 20:16:26    1844927

Not exactly a dark horse but I strongly fancy Mayo to win Sam. From 5-9 Mayo are the strongest team bar none.I think Evan Regan is the real deal and a player ready to explode this summer.He could be the key to unlock the holy grail for Mayo.My only concern for Mayo is that they wont be tested in any way in Connacht.

That said,Especially Dublin then Kerry and Tyrone will take some serious beating.
Donegal and Monaghan are a bit behind.And any one of 12 teams after that could beat each other on the day.

salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 12/04/2016 20:31:22    1844940

Its a bit early for us I think. Will be interesting to see how we fare out against Tyrone in Croker.

As a surprise packet, Clare are doing fairly well and could take a scalp in the qualifiers. Hard to look past Dublin, Kerry and Mayo.

I would think that Galway have the potential to cause any team problems if they can unite. Roscommon still up there after a good year and will have learned from the Kerry game.

Reformation (Cavan) - Posts: 356 - 12/04/2016 20:52:28    1844949