1. Dublin - Seemed to be running out of steam as the season went on and this will give everyone else hope
2. Kerry - Should be stronger this year and best of the rest
3. Donegal / Tyrone - Nothing between these 2 Donegal should have beaten us in Ulster this year and they seem to have more Youth coming through whereas Tyrone lack full forward line. Expect a bug Ulster push from Donegal this year
5. Mayo - Falling back into the pack too many miles on the clock they have been on the road since 2011
6. Cork - Always capable of a big upset and should be more organised this year
7. Cavan - Could have Beaten Tyrone this year and with the new manager in place can push on
8. Tipp - Can be dangerous in the qualifiers again
9. Fermanagh - Very Dangerous for anyone again, dark horse for Ulster, should have beaten Mayo this year only for some dreadful sportsmanship in the Mayo Camp
10. Meath - Will they be stronger now with McAntee in charge? Im not so sure they dont seem to have anything coming through.

Clare, Derry, Monaghan, Roscommon would be best of the rest
Realistically only Dublin, Kerry, Donegal and Tyrone can challenge

ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts: 114 - 13/10/2016 12:57:13    1925685

Cork appear to be in a shambolic state at the moment although they weren't that far away from beating Donegal and Tipp were a far better side last season than any of us knew at the time they beat Cork.

Like Galway last year when they beat Mayo Cork are always capable of shocking Kerry but they certainly wouldn't have a chance of winning an All Ireland from where they are currently. Winning a munster title and making a semi would be a good year for Cork.

As for the rest Cavan are back to square one with a a new manager, they'll target an Ulster title but don't see them winning it but if they can make a quarter final it will have been a good year dependent on who they beat along the way, remember a poor Galway team made a quarter final in 2014 only because they good a lucky draw.

Monaghan aim will be to regain the Ulster title and make the final 4, don't see them going any further although we'll see how some of these u21's get on before ruling them out.

Roscommon haven't beaten Galway or Mayo since 2001, they need to get that monkey off their back first. Beat one of the two and make a quarter final and they'll have progressed.

My own county need to win a game in Croker, we haven't won there since 2001; Simply not good enough and it needs to change. Mayo will be hot favourites if we are to meet next summer but both teams are always capable of providing a shock when the other is going well. Winning in Connacht is obviously the easier route but I see success next summer as winning in Croker against a team who are ranked higher than us whether its a round 4 qualifier or quarter final. I'd like to think the Tipp game was a one off and that won't be repeated again. We should see the return of Lundy & O'Currain this summer and hopefully C Sweeney will be injury free as he was our best defender in 2015, I would expect the likes of Kieran Molloy, Peter Cooke & Michael Daly to be pushing hard for a place in the team. We've improved year on year with Kevin Walsh, there was a lot of new faces in 2016 and most of them impressed and I'd like to think their will be further improvements next year. I do think we are well placed for promotion from Div 2 and that has to be the first aim of the season.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 13/10/2016 13:09:41    1925692

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4232 - 13/10/2016 13:18:16    1925696

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2016 13:21:32    1925699

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 13:34:05    1925705

I left Fermanagh out of my OP and they should be mentioned. Gotmillk had gotten me thinking. You'll always leave some team out though. Tyrone83 said they could be dark horses for Ulster. They are a very consistent well managed side with some top players. I don't think they are as good as the 00s Fermanagh team. It would be some achievement if Fermanagh won an Ulster. 2008 drawn game v Armagh (i could be wrong on the year) was the best chance i ever remember Fermanagh having.

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 13:38:32    1925706

Cavan have made progress in the last few years following their work at under 21 level and it may be interesting to see how ex-Tyrone man Mattie gets on. He has good club /schools experience over the years and sometimes it takes a new face to push a county on. Cavan must make the best of Division One football and should make a good push for the Ulster Championship. They pushed Tyrone all the way in the league clash in February and the drawn game in June.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 13/10/2016 13:43:37    1925710

It seems Meath are the only county in Ireland with fantastic youth players coming through.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12120 - 13/10/2016 13:51:27    1925715

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2016 14:02:41    1925725

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/10/2016 14:27:43    1925742

1 Mayo
2 Kerry
2 Tyrone
All three with some r are capable of winning Sam next year.

After that;
Donegal out on their own followed by lots of teams that could beat each other on a given day. The best of which would be probably be Tipp, Monaghan,Galway, Femanagh.

Surprise teams this year could be Laois or Meath.

salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 13/10/2016 14:42:12    1925751

After looking at the Laois SFC semi finals you wouldn't be too hopeful of progress. We seem to have a good management team though.

The drawn Laois hurling county final last week would suggest we have a better chance of moving forward in hurling than football.

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 14:49:54    1925753

What have Tyrone done to be considered as serious pretenders?? They scrapped past a tired Donegal team in the Ulster Final and couldn't beat a Mayo team that were far from their best. They are still completely reliant on Sean Cavanagh and have no inside forward line yet they are seen as genuine challengers - I don't see it myself.

Back to the question - very little between Dublin and Mayo, Kerry next but a bit behind and after that take your pick from Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone, Cork, potentially Cavan and maybe Galway - none of whom will win the All Ireland in 2017

Bermuda Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 106 - 13/10/2016 16:42:14    1925821

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 17:00:45    1925836

The draw tonight will tell us a lot too, will be interesting to see how Tipp and Clare build on their respective runs this year they both certainly have talent to work with particularly Tipp. Cork are as unpredictable as the weather yet if they get on a run could be dangerous, I will watch Cavan with interest as the new management there might push them forward. Galway were progressing well until the Tipp game, like Meath promotion from Division 2 will be a certain aim for them. Roscommon appear in turmoil off the pitch with the management scenario and there appears to be no unity there at present, big opportunities being lost there I feel. Monaghan and Donegal both need fresh faces/legs and whilst Tyrone will most likely be favourites for Ulster they themselves need a forward or two if they want to claim back the big prize. Meath, I hope, will be a different proposition under McEntee and whilst Rome wasn't built in a day I think promotion to Division 1 with four home games is a realistic target with competitive showings in the championship and a last eight place combining to produce a positive year. Laois are eternal underperformers but when suitably motivated can cause problems and Westmeath's cause in 2017 will not be helped by playing Division 4 football regardless of what they say. Kildare lack strength and bite but have had good underage teams of late and will look to blood some of them in the next year or two. Overall I think Sam will rest in Dublin, Mayo or Kerry when 2017 is done and dusted, others may improve and challenge but a semi final spot would be the best the rest can achieve, the big prize will allude them for a while yet.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 13/10/2016 17:36:22    1925849

It would be good for the game if a football-obsessed county like Cavan/Roscommon/Kildare could develop into serious contenders. Unlikely though. As refreshing as Tipp were this year, the fact you could fit all their supporters onto the team-bus left a sour taste.

GallantJohnJoe (Cavan) - Posts: 329 - 13/10/2016 18:06:51    1925862

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2016 19:16:06    1925877

Great draw for Meath. Leinster final is very attainable.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4232 - 13/10/2016 22:52:53    1925942

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2016 23:02:16    1925953

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4232 - 13/10/2016 23:10:59    1925959