I think monaghan have some fine young forwards coming through
As we saw in recent under 21 match there pretty good too
be interesting to see how they link in with conor mc manus and hughes

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 27/04/2016 20:46:23    1850266

Like many I see a Mayo vTyrone Semi Final.This would be a really close battle where I would see Mayo winning narrowly. Mayos middle third will swing it as long as Cillian OConnor gets more support up front which I believe he will this year in the shape of Evan Regan.Altough Tyrone have better finishers overall in McAlisky,ONeill,Cavanagh etc and in McCann an awesome attacking half back I still take Mayo to win.
Kerry v Dublin will be an epic game. I greatly admire Dublin,They have incredible depth all over, the best forwards bar none and a midfielder in Fenton who is on the way to being an all time great.Dont be fooled by Kerry they have an ability to throw a few young guys in at the deep end who will make big impacts. If they ditch the rough stuff and play fast attacking football (which will need personnal changes)they will give Dublin loads of it but it wont be enough.
Dublin v Mayo final with Mayo to shade an epic game.

salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 27/04/2016 21:04:09    1850278

It would be something else to reach back to back finals

If Dublin are fortunate enough to get there...I don't really care who we face...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 28/04/2016 11:32:38    1850363

In fairness to Cork last year I think they were most unlucky.They should have beaten kerry the first day and if memory serves I think they only had 6 days after losing the replay to kerry before they played Kildare.
They have the players to make it to a semi at least.They also have won an All ireland recently.

Condorman (Dublin)

They might have the players, but you're just not going to win an AI if you blow as hot and cold as Cork do.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 28/04/2016 13:18:05    1850413

Not sure on the popular outcomes, Dublin have been found out in the past when expectations are high and the loss defintely of ROC and possibly Jack in the latter part of the championship i expect to be better scrutinised. Certainly after coming up against Murphy, O'Shea and Donaghey doesnt concern me with the highball i think that mth has been dispelled, tactically Dublin are set up and would prob hope other counties fall into that trap. Flooding the forward positions could be an option, ssupported by attacking half/full backs - but then your playing Dublin at their own game and always vulnerable to the space in behind with pace. The expectation worries me the last time the word dominence was used the sucker punch hit Dublin. If a county can come up with a way of overwhelming the back line and penetrating and manageing the space that leaves in their defense they will stand a chance.

Ive been left with a lingering thought all week, Kerry are well known for their "championship management" and pragmatic approach to achieving success, would they be better placed perhaps not winning Munster and thus making the pathway to Dublin more ambigous in the hope another team may take the scalp, certainly if Dublin can be avaoided they would be quitely confident of sneaky another all Ireland. As we know Kerry are often there most dangerous uinder the radar, ill be looking at the desire and motivation to win the Munster championship with interest. Cerrtainly i think the abandonement of the traditional beutifull they play and the broad county philosphey of how the game should be played shows that Kerry fear this Dublin team in a way ive never seen a kerry team fear another county before - well maybe Tyrone in thier pomp.

As such i wouldnt be surprised to see some big teams in the draw for the Quaterfinals and think those games will be of a higher calibre, who ever comes out of Ulster - and i think tyrone will, will leave strong teams in the hat; Monaghan, Fermanagh, Cavan and Donegal. I expect the Rossies to give Mayo a game this year and i expect they will be quietly confident of a Connaght title. If so Mayo could be hat for the quaters as well.

So i think there are many twists and turns and its a hell of a long way until Sept, i expect more competitive and tougher Quaterfinals with a few big names in there, Munster and Connaght championships i think could throw up a few surprises on the winners for different reasons, while Ulster will leave a lot of big names in its wake in the qualifiers and subsequently the quater finals, i think we are set for a ding dong of a championship - definitely not procession many are predicting.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 29/04/2016 11:51:01    1850646

I think those suggesting Tyrone could make a challenge for the All-Ireland this year need to be more realistic. Tyrone need to work on winning a big game in Croke Park first - when was the last time that happened?

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 29/04/2016 13:38:11    1850692

Last year? quarter final, when they comfortably beat the Ulster champions?

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 29/04/2016 15:36:50    1850715

Monaghan have a terrible record outside of Ulster and bad record against Tyrone in general. You really consider that a big game for Tyrone?

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 29/04/2016 16:25:48    1850725

Greatpoint, yes, I would consider it was a big game for them. Take history out of the equation as you can make your own history. You're playing what's in front of you, not the statistics of yesteryear. An AI QF against the champions of your province? I would suggest any Tyrone player who didn't consider that a big game probably shouldn't have turned up.

MedwayIrish (Wexford) - Posts: 2324 - 29/04/2016 17:21:02    1850747

Lot of talk about this tyrone this year..havnt seen much of them bar their div 2 decider with cavan..looking at them i thought they were a decent enough team but a few years off a serious all ireland challenge..think they might have enough in them to win ulster and maybe get to the A.I semi final..id say their main goal this year is reclaiming ulster..anything else a bonus..

GGdub (Dublin) - Posts: 260 - 30/04/2016 09:46:11    1850826

I predict a last four of Dublin v AN Other and Mayo v Tyrone in the other semi, a young fast hungry Tyrone team to catch the dubs in the final.
Kerry have some serious rebuilding to do this year.

royce (UK) - Posts: 30 - 30/04/2016 11:26:18    1850847

Tyrone to clash with Dublin in the QF is my prediction and if that happens there could be a shock. If Dublin get past the QF I think they will meet Mayo. In a final anything can happen.
Dublin aside, as I think they are an excellent team, league form will mean little for the other counties. Mayo and Donegal's training regime's have been altered this year and the start date was moved from November to March so I'd expect both these counties are happy to have retained Div 1 and now look forward to improving for the championship. Rossies could end up like Derry a few years ago and possibly thought they had to be in top form to retain Div 1. Tyrone will improve too, they have used lots of players in the league and have a fine young team. I don't think they will win ulster. Kerry and Cork, who knows!! Cork might find some of the U21's to give them a lift, Kerry likewise have some fine young players coming through but the fact we haven't seen them makes me think Fitzmaurice isn't going to give them a shot.
Back to the title of the thread, yes, Dublin v Mayo final is likely and if so it could be Mayo's year but if Dublin meet Tyrone or indeed Donegal in the QF we could have anyone as champions in 16.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 30/04/2016 12:33:03    1850868

Very early on in the year to be predicting all ireland finalists anything can happen! But if I was thinking along the lines of who could dethrone this Dublin machine it would have to be Tyrone. Kerry are a spent force and to be honest they should be worried down in the kingdom. The old guns arent producing anymore they've gone to the well too many times. Time to give youth its chance. O'Mahony marc o se and the likes have given great service but its time to go. Definitely a transition phase in store.
Mayo will come again with real gusto. They will win connacht hands down. But they lack the stomach on the big day when it really matters. Mayo possibly have been the best side in the country over the last few years but where is the silverware to prove it? I think if someone like Down, Meath, Galway or Tyrone had their current team they'd win an all ireland. Mayo just lack that bit of cockiness you need to win a final. They dont believe enough.
Tyrone are the real dark horses this year. If it came down to a game between them and dublin I'd fancy the red hands to pip them. They have so much belief in their system, manager and themselves.
Im also very interested to see how Cavan will fair this year. They're a very good side. Interesting championship in store thats for sure.

Lyreenside (Carlow) - Posts: 21 - 30/04/2016 14:29:25    1850894

It is hard to see Dublin stumbling before the All Ireland final, but its very much up in the air on who they might face.

Tyrone are the favourites for Ulster this year, on the back of their All Ireland Semi Final in 2015 and their promotion from Division 2. However despite their big improvement in 2015, I still think they would prefer to avoid Donegal in Ulster. Tyrone have excellent full forwards in McCurry, McAliskey, Ronan O'Neill, and superb support play in Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly, Sean Cavanagh and Tiernan McCann. Their weakness is the full back line, I don't think they are as gritty as some other sides, but Colm Cavanagh has been superb as sweeper. I don't see them as a dark horse in Ulster, as everybody has a fair Idea of what they bring.

Mayo have added Regan to their full forward line, and I think this will bring them a different dimension. I wouldn't rule Mayo out just because of the traditional thinking of "Mayo will never win an All Ireland", as I think anything is possible and they are good enough.

Donegal have been written off as not having the legs or being too old, but yet have a similar age profile to Dublin, Mayo and Kerry. I think they are 18-1 for the All Ireland, which is based on a poor ending to the national league after they secured div 1 status in their opening 3 games. I seen them experiment a lot in those game they lost, and probably haven't featured their full strength team. I would be wary of writing this team off, a lot of new blood and a lot of losses to study and learn from.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/04/2016 15:15:18    1850906

It's funny how one game can influence the whole year.
Kerry are the closest to Dublin when we have our strongest 15.
A poster from Carlow says we have gone to the well to many times but Mayo will come strong.
Well if that's not a contradiction I don't know what is.
A ball hasn't been kicked yet lads.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 30/04/2016 16:14:47    1850924

I would disagree that Kerry are second to us, I would put Mayo ahead of them and would fear playing them far more.

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 30/04/2016 17:07:23    1850935

I think Mayo have come closer to beating Dublin in recent games can't argue with that.
However I'd argue Kerry have better forwards when all are fit and a better Midfield.
Gooch/JOD/Geaney is the best outside Dublin at present.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 30/04/2016 17:14:28    1850940

I meant to add that from a Kerry perspective arguing of who is second to Dublin is depressing.
My overall point being it may end up Dub v Mayo in September given the nature of the draw, but it's early doors and if Cork were to beat us then who knows how the draw will go.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 30/04/2016 17:29:49    1850944

There is no doubt Kerry have better forwards but Mayo can keep up with us and that's dangerous!

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 30/04/2016 17:42:18    1850947

Yes but when they can't kick the ball over the bar those that matter?
No disrespect to Mayo but outside the O Connors the lack scoring threats.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 30/04/2016 17:48:42    1850950