National Forum

2017- Challengers to the 'Big 5'

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To be on the opposite side of the draw to Dublin is great. Longford beat us in the first round in 2012. Nothing for granted there. A good championship team. It'll be all about getting a bit of momentum.

Was just listening to the football pundits talk about the fall from grace of Leinster teams like Meath and over a longer period Offaly. Infact Kildare are the team that have fallen the most. A kick of a ball from the all-ire final in 2010 against Down. And losing in the quarter in extra time to Donegal in 2011.Kildare have really fallen in a few years. They were the last team in Leinster to put it up to the Dubs.

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 23:24:26    1925969

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Longford have had some good qualifier results in recent years at least, they'd have some hope of beating Laois. Louth should account for Wicklow handily. I really wish Leinster got good again we need some more good games earlier in the season."
If Louth have to go to Aughrim they mightn't get anything handy at all, a tough intimidating place it can be particularly if Wicklow are in the mix with 15-20 to go

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 13/10/2016 23:47:28    1925984

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Replying To Richieq:  "If Louth have to go to Aughrim they mightn't get anything handy at all, a tough intimidating place it can be particularly if Wicklow are in the mix with 15-20 to go"
Wicklow gave us a good game in Portlaoise this year. We got goals against the run of play. They seem to be improving

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 14/10/2016 00:19:34    1925996

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Replying To ulster83:  "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"
Your post makes no sense. How are Tyrone and Donegal ahead of mayo or cavan/Meath ahead of monaghan/roscommon?

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 14/10/2016 00:30:54    1926000

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Replying To Laois76:  "It was the year alright. Armagh were on the wane a little from the heights of the early to mid 00s. Wexford caught them in the quarter final.

We live in hope but when you're from counties like Laois or Fermanagh you have to take your chance when it comes. We should probably have won more than one Leinster in the 00s but then again TG we won 1.

I'd imagine Gotmilk you'd probably have swapped an Ulster for the 2004 semi appearances, or would you? Laois haven't been in a football semi since 1946.."
Without a shadow of a doubt.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 14/10/2016 00:34:18    1926003

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Replying To Richieq:  "If Louth have to go to Aughrim they mightn't get anything handy at all, a tough intimidating place it can be particularly if Wicklow are in the mix with 15-20 to go"
Louth came out of the hat first so we should get home advantage.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 14/10/2016 00:46:29    1926006

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Replying To Laois76:  "Wicklow gave us a good game in Portlaoise this year. We got goals against the run of play. They seem to be improving"
The last time wee played Wicklow in the championship was in 2007 and we beat them after two replays. The first match was in Croke Park. The replay was in Parnell Park. The second was in Croke Park. Wicklow were very unlucky in the first two matches. The third match they ran out of steam.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 14/10/2016 00:49:37    1926008

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Replying To OLLIE:  "The last time wee played Wicklow in the championship was in 2007 and we beat them after two replays. The first match was in Croke Park. The replay was in Parnell Park. The second was in Croke Park. Wicklow were very unlucky in the first two matches. The third match they ran out of steam."
Ollie , perhaps you can tell me, is there a arrangement between Louth and Meath regarding home away? Id imagine if Louth should prevail v Wicklow that Meath v Wicklow will be played in navan? As this year it was Louth home venue but they decided to bring it to Parnell.
On the draw itself, well I am sure Andy will take it one game at a time with the hope of a Leinster final v the auld enemy the ultimate goal but Louth Laois and Kildare will all be thinking the same, no disrespect to the other counties

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 14/10/2016 07:21:31    1926030

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Ollie , perhaps you can tell me, is there a arrangement between Louth and Meath regarding home away? Id imagine if Louth should prevail v Wicklow that Meath v Wicklow will be played in navan? As this year it was Louth home venue but they decided to bring it to Parnell.
On the draw itself, well I am sure Andy will take it one game at a time with the hope of a Leinster final v the auld enemy the ultimate goal but Louth Laois and Kildare will all be thinking the same, no disrespect to the other counties"
Royaldunne there is no home and away arrangements in Leinster. The team usually out first get home advantage unless their home ground cannot hold the expected capacity. Louth v Wicklow could be in Drogheda. Meath v Louth/Wicklow could be in Navan.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 14/10/2016 08:26:29    1926039

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Replying To OLLIE:  "Royaldunne there is no home and away arrangements in Leinster. The team usually out first get home advantage unless their home ground cannot hold the expected capacity. Louth v Wicklow could be in Drogheda. Meath v Louth/Wicklow could be in Navan."
If its Meath V Wicklow I would expect it to be Aughrim as we had them in Navan in 2015, a Meath v Louth clash I would expect and hope to be in Navan alright.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 14/10/2016 08:52:26    1926046

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Replying To ROS1:  "Your post makes no sense. How are Tyrone and Donegal ahead of mayo or cavan/Meath ahead of monaghan/roscommon?"
The post is about 2017 not 2016.
Tyrone and Donegal are better equiped to challenge Dublin and Kerry than Mayo are.
Mayo will struggle to go again and where lucky in 2016. All the really beat was a poor Tyrone team who didn't know how to attack, that will change this coming year and Donegal will be stronger mark my words.

Cavan and Meath both have made excellent manager appointments and will be stronger.
Mononghan are a one man outfit and will struggle to make the Ulster final from the preliminary round. They will have to beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh probably to even make the final. Roscommon are very poor as they proved in this years championship.

ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts: 114 - 14/10/2016 09:19:26    1926056

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I think Cavan, Galway and Roscommon can really push on next year. They all have a good group of young players and have the potential to improve. It would be asking too much for them to win the All-Ireland next year but maybe within 5 years. Tipp look like they could be the real deal but would need to get themselves out of Division 3. Cork are another team who have some great players but just can't get their act together.

As for the top 5, I think it is really a top 4 of Dublin, Mayo, Kerry & Tyrone. There is very little between Donegal and Monaghan and I guess they have the potential to beat any of the top 4 sides but they would need to improve dramatically next year.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1876 - 14/10/2016 09:25:33    1926062

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Replying To ulster83:  "The post is about 2017 not 2016.
Tyrone and Donegal are better equiped to challenge Dublin and Kerry than Mayo are.
Mayo will struggle to go again and where lucky in 2016. All the really beat was a poor Tyrone team who didn't know how to attack, that will change this coming year and Donegal will be stronger mark my words.

Cavan and Meath both have made excellent manager appointments and will be stronger.
Mononghan are a one man outfit and will struggle to make the Ulster final from the preliminary round. They will have to beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh probably to even make the final. Roscommon are very poor as they proved in this years championship."
So you think our attack won't improve but the Tyrone attack will definitely improve. Donegal will also improve you say. So explain why you think this. I'm not saying you're wrong, you know Ulster football better than me. But I don't agree that we won't improve in the second year of Rochford's tenure, with few retirements and plenty of talented young players to push to get into his squad.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7352 - 14/10/2016 09:30:25    1926066

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Replying To ulster83:  "The post is about 2017 not 2016.
Tyrone and Donegal are better equiped to challenge Dublin and Kerry than Mayo are.
Mayo will struggle to go again and where lucky in 2016. All the really beat was a poor Tyrone team who didn't know how to attack, that will change this coming year and Donegal will be stronger mark my words.

Cavan and Meath both have made excellent manager appointments and will be stronger.
Mononghan are a one man outfit and will struggle to make the Ulster final from the preliminary round. They will have to beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh probably to even make the final. Roscommon are very poor as they proved in this years championship."
Mayo were not lucky in 2016.

Their defence was excellent. Whilst their attack was a bit weak I don't think they'd swap theirs for Tyrone's. They'll challenge again this year.

Tyrone are solid but they really seem to rely on the likes of the Cavanaghs, Harte and Donnelly to see them through. Their support cast, McCarron excluded, to those players really needs to improve for them to be in proper contention.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4232 - 14/10/2016 09:32:08    1926067

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One of Dublin, Mayo or Kerry will win All Ireland. Tyrone may challenge but I'd be surprised if they can beat any of the top 3. Rest of teams are also rans (in terms of winning All Ireland) and I'd be very surprised if any of them get within an arses roar of the top 3 once we get to Quarter Final Stage.

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 14/10/2016 10:05:39    1926084

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Mayo were not lucky in 2016.

Their defence was excellent. Whilst their attack was a bit weak I don't think they'd swap theirs for Tyrone's. They'll challenge again this year.

Tyrone are solid but they really seem to rely on the likes of the Cavanaghs, Harte and Donnelly to see them through. Their support cast, McCarron excluded, to those players really needs to improve for them to be in proper contention."
Tyrone have plenty of good footballers other than those you mention. You have to remember the likes of Bradley, McGeary, Meyler, McShane etc would have gained plenty of experience this year and will be better for it. I would liken Tyrone to ourselves in 2011 last year. They have a good crop of talented players coming through from a successful u-21 team and they played a fairly defensive game. If Mickey Harte can marry this with a more sophisticated attacking plan next year it will take a damn good team to beat them.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 14/10/2016 10:26:52    1926101

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Anyone saying that Dublin will be there or thereabouts next year cannot then in the same post discount Mayo.

Mayo were a point behind Dublin after 2 games this year. They'll be in or around again next year.

Quality team. Some posters putting Mayo behind the likes of Tyrone and Donegal. Don't get me wrong two very good sides but Mayo beat Tyrone this year and I don't think if Dublin had have been down to 13 players against Mayo that there would have been 5 points in it at the end! Unless it was a Mayo win by 5!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13713 - 14/10/2016 10:43:39    1926113

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Mononghan are a one man outfit and will struggle to make the Ulster final from the preliminary round. They will have to beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh probably to even make the final. Roscommon are very poor as they proved in this years championship.
ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts:19 - 14/10/2016 09:19:26 1926056

We may be a one man outfit but we are one hell of a one man outfit. And i tell you this we are enough of a one man outfit to brush past Fermanagh Cavan and Armagh because in all seriousness there isn't one player in these counties that comes near to being able to mark our ONE MAN.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 379 - 14/10/2016 11:01:40    1926124

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Replying To monaghanmad:  "Mononghan are a one man outfit and will struggle to make the Ulster final from the preliminary round. They will have to beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh probably to even make the final. Roscommon are very poor as they proved in this years championship.
ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts:19 - 14/10/2016 09:19:26 1926056

We may be a one man outfit but we are one hell of a one man outfit. And i tell you this we are enough of a one man outfit to brush past Fermanagh Cavan and Armagh because in all seriousness there isn't one player in these counties that comes near to being able to mark our ONE MAN."
Well at least you admitted it. .


I think we'll be playing ye in Breffni and I think the winner will make the Ulster final. It's a long way away, but I really fancy our chances

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 14/10/2016 11:14:53    1926136

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Replying To OLLIE:  "Royaldunne there is no home and away arrangements in Leinster. The team usually out first get home advantage unless their home ground cannot hold the expected capacity. Louth v Wicklow could be in Drogheda. Meath v Louth/Wicklow could be in Navan."
Id say Louth v Meath would be in navan should it happen the wee beat Wicklow, if Wicklow prevail I expect it to be in aughrim .
I do think the potential meeting between ourselves and Louth and Kildare and Laois would be a excellent double header.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 14/10/2016 11:18:54    1926140

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