Plenty of talk about Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Mayo, Cork and Monaghan so far in 2015........But what about the rest, now that the 2015 National league is finished.

Roscommon and Down both very look strong, and I think it would be foolish to write off Tyrone or Derry come Championship time.

We also have teams like Cavan, Meath, Galway, Armagh, Fermanagh and Tipperary who have shown strong potential this season so far. As we already know the Provincial Championship draws, and the teams mentioned above are IMO the most likely to cause upsets.

Who will shake & bake come Championship and cause upsets?
Are there teams that didn't perform well in the league that can come good in Championship?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 27/04/2015 14:13:24    1718007

Roscommon will give Mayo a good rattle this year and they would be well worth a Q-final place. But Down were very poor yesterday can't see them making much of an impact.

Keep an eye on Tipp or Armagh having a decent run in the qualifiers.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 27/04/2015 14:27:05    1718018

The summer will tell if we're a top 6 side. Our scoring power so far isn't filling me confidence and if Cafferkey starts the championship at fullback I'll have less hope again and normally I'd be optimistic.

I don't think Tyrone should be ranked outside the top 6. It was a one off game yesterday and Dublin were class but for a team I was tipping to do well Cork's performance was poor. Cuthbert says he doesn't know why. He needs to find out fast so it doesn't repeat itself because they have a lot of talent.

Beware of Rossies in the long grass, particularly when they have a Kerryman hiding them !

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 27/04/2015 14:41:43    1718032

Roscommon were impressive yesterday. Very well organised, and looked more of a team than Down did. However, it would be foolish to judge teams on league merit alone. This time last year Derry were favourites to win the Ulster championship after impressive league displays. The league is important, but every team/county must be judged on their particular set of circumstances i.e. Down - new manager, chopping and changing team weekly, inexperienced players adjusting to county football, getting used to new system/ideas. Derry - decimated with injuries, missing Slaughtneil contingent, inexperienced teams fielded throughout league, learning lessons from last year etc. It's very difficult to know where either team really stands in terms of rankings.

Thus far, Roscommon and Armagh are the teams who are the most hyped up after the league. It will be interesting to see how they carry this weight of expectation, which is coming from both inside and outside their respective counties.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 27/04/2015 16:18:06    1718078

Roscommon have had my backing for a Connacht title this year, as their back to back promotions may have brought them on a little further than many believe. I didn't think there was much between them and Down until the sending off, but In saying that I believe both sides are very good.

Down have massive potential as a team, and I could them shock a lot of people this summer. Down fear nobody, and have the mental strength to come out of nowhere this summer a produce a magical Championship run.

I went over to see Meath play Donegal in Ballybofey last season, and was really Impressed with some of Meath's players. In my opinion, Meath have the core talent of a team that could be relatively successful in the next few years and with a little more time and development. However last summers Championship defeat to Dublin knocked the stuffing out of them.

Cavan are another up and coming team, who I expected to step up last season, however the brawl before the Armagh game knocked the stuffing out of them, losing arguably their most productive forward last year in Martin Dunne in the brawl. However they are a solid outfit, and a lot of their players are well used to beating every other Ulster team at underage level. I would not be surprised if they make a breakthrough at senior level this season.

Tipperary are definitely Improving the Gaelic football pedigree, and I expect them to move up to Division 2 next season. They need a good run in the Championship this season, and they are capable of causing a shock in Munster. A good run in the Qualifiers which perhaps ends up in Croke Park, would bring them on 10 fold.

Galway have some superb attacking footballer's, however their full back line would concern me a little. Still they are a work in progress, and are getting better. I wouldn't rule out an Connacht title this year, It is certainly not beyond them.

Tyrone were unlucky to get relegated this year from an exceptionally strong Division 1, and an Ulster title is not beyond them. If they managed an Ulster title, they could prove exceptionally hard to stop down the road.

And while Derry definitely deserved to go down, they didn't show their true ability and definitely didn't focus on the league.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 27/04/2015 17:06:21    1718115

The only team worried about Roscommon this year is Mayo, and Mayo will still beat them. Even if ros pull off a surprise win they will go no further after that.

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 27/04/2015 17:10:57    1718117

I think Meath are as good Down and Roscommon to be honest..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 27/04/2015 17:13:40    1718119

Yeah i think that's the top 6 and in fairness you could pick the finalists of all provincial finals
Cork v Kerry
Monaghan v Donegal
Roscommon v mayo
Meath v Dublin

And as much as it pains me to say this the winners if those are Kerry , Dublin:( , mayo, and hardest to predict but probably Donegal.
That will leave Meath Roscommon Monaghan and cork to play 4 qualifiers, i actually think its the most predictable all ire run in many a long year. The really interesting part for me is what 4 qualifiers will emerge to play the loosing provincial finalists who as we all know will have a hang over from getting beat, if i was to call it now (assuming they avoid each other in draws) Tyrone, Kildare ,Armagh Galway.
From a Meath perspective id like to avoid a ulster county and if a little derby game against Kildare couldn't lift the team then nothing would.

But barring some major shock those are the province finals and thus meaning they all in last 12.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/04/2015 17:42:10    1718134

I was quite impressed with Armagh on saturday. some lovely touches, great foot-passing and a decent panel of players. Jamie Clarke is such a cultured player. I would put him in the same league as the gooch and bernard brogan. The sending off did effect Down as it was still in the first half and up to that point there wasn't a whole lot in it. I also think Meath are a very strong team with good big strong players all over the field. no-one will fancy getting them in the last 12.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 27/04/2015 18:05:53    1718148

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 3410

1718148 I was quite impressed with Armagh on saturday. some lovely touches, great foot-passing and a decent panel of players. Jamie Clarke is such a cultured player. I would put him in the same league as the gooch and bernard brogan. The sending off did effect Down as it was still in the first half and up to that point there wasn't a whole lot in it. I also think Meath are a very strong team with good big strong players all over the field. no-one will fancy getting them in the last 12.

I was actually very Impressed with Fermanagh's general performance, although they looked a little naïve against a cuter Armagh outfit.
Examples of this, was Fermanagh constantly running into tackles and thus allowing Armagh to force turnover's quite easily. But some of Fermanagh's movement was a joy to watch.

While Armagh are clearly a stronger outfit and certainly more cohesive under McGeeney, I still think they are slightly lacking somewhat in the attacking department. Their success this year will depend on them winning arm wrestle defensive matches, which are really a war of attrition. And while they will beat some teams at this strategy, we still have stronger teams like Donegal and Monaghan who are more experienced and comfortable playing this way.

I still rank Armagh behind Tyrone in Ulster.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 28/04/2015 17:30:09    1718639

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 2713

1718119 I think Meath are as good Down and Roscommon to be honest..

I think Meath have the potential to be as good or better than those sides, but are quite pulling in the one direction at present.
Meath in my opinion, currently have the players to win Leinster and challenge for an All Ireland. I was extremely Impressed with them last season in the league, and admired some of their passages of play. Sadly that loss to Dublin set them back a year or two in their development.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 28/04/2015 17:33:54    1718643

Cavan are probably a team who have been out of the spotlight this year, despite a decent Division 2 campaign. I reckon they are team about to come of age, and a win over Monaghan would not surprise me.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/04/2015 19:41:03    1719336

Gary in some respects I wish you were right about Armagh. Although McGeeney has improved their defensive system the defence is still not the strongest. A bit more physicality is still needed. Midfield is still the key area of concern. In general though Armagh play a fluid game with defenders attacking at speed when they can. In Dyas, Campbell and Clarke they have lovely footballers in the forward line but lack a player who can rake up big scores on his own.
On Saturday Fermanagh played the same way they did in the earlier league match. Armagh learnt from this and won the final.
Tyrone are likely to play the dire defensive football. It will cause teams real trouble but in the end I feel it will win nothing. Personally I feel they would be better of letting their players play more. It may lead to more pain in the short run but could succeed in the longer term. They have some very good players.

Armaghball (Armagh) - Posts: 96 - 30/04/2015 21:36:41    1719361

Gary

I'm too sure about that to be honest,there is defo is a confidence issue,but the good news is(at the moment) we have nowhere near the injury problems we had last season

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 30/04/2015 21:50:56    1719366

If Galway could get their defence sorted, I think they could hop into the top 4, taking Mayo's place. they play lovely football and one of very few teams that have not adopted the negative (blanket defence/ Puke football) approach that has come to the fore in recent years

sxckev (Mayo) - Posts: 211 - 01/05/2015 09:18:32    1719382

One of Kerry, Mayo, Dublin or Donegal will win the all Ireland. The rest just won't count when it comes to the end of the year. Mayo look the most fragile but it's probably too early for anyone in their province to beat them. Kerry and Dublin will win their provinces. Going by the league game, Tyrone are miles from Donegal. If Tyrone were in another province they might cause bother but their record against Ulster teams in the last couple of years in the league and championship is pathetic. One win against a poor Down team after drawing with them first is the only victory we can show from 7 games in the last 2 years. Monaghan are the only team capable of surprising Donegal. Armagh surprised everyone last year but their rough house style will be being watched more closely this year. I expect the last 8 depending on draws to include the big 4, Cork, Roscommon, Monaghan and 1 other Ulster team (probably Tyrone or Armagh).

MB1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 360 - 01/05/2015 10:40:14    1719402

Kildare and Meath are now a little like Offaly and Wexford when they held their own against Munster counties during Kilkenny's dominance......miles off Dublin but certainly capable of beating anyone outside the Mayo/Kerry/Donegal/Cork/Dublin axis.....

sportsfan14 (USA) - Posts: 281 - 01/05/2015 12:14:42    1719447

Armaghball
County: Armagh
Posts: 43

1719361 Gary in some respects I wish you were right about Armagh. Although McGeeney has improved their defensive system the defence is still not the strongest. A bit more physicality is still needed. Midfield is still the key area of concern. In general though Armagh play a fluid game with defenders attacking at speed when they can. In Dyas, Campbell and Clarke they have lovely footballers in the forward line but lack a player who can rake up big scores on his own.

I think Ciaran McKeever is about as physically Imposing as you can get, definitely a hard case full back.

Clarke is probably that player who can rack up big scores, but the modern game has negated that aspect. 2 points from play is generally a good day's work by top forwards in the game when playing other big guns. It is very much a team effort, and so that one player racking up a big score is not likely to happen that much anymore.

Armagh have an advantage of getting to watch Donegal v Tyrone and tailor their training to that QF date against the winner, time they will use to really good effect. So If it is Donegal they get, then they will definitely be well drilled to cause problems.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 01/05/2015 14:32:40    1719497

sxckev
County: Mayo
Posts: 30

1719382 If Galway could get their defence sorted, I think they could hop into the top 4, taking Mayo's place. they play lovely football and one of very few teams that have not adopted the negative (blanket defence/ Puke football) approach that has come to the fore in recent years

Galway are definitely getting there, albeit they might not be consistent enough yet to sustain another good run this year. Definitely a team on the up, although I agree about their defence.

While I have back Roscommon to possibly catch Mayo on the hop, I still think Mayo are the strongest side in Connacht and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 01/05/2015 14:50:47    1719504

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 2719

1719366 Gary

I'm too sure about that to be honest,there is defo is a confidence issue,but the good news is(at the moment) we have nowhere near the injury problems we had last season

Having a clean bill of health can be a massive bonus to any team, and that can bring the other players on that bit more.

Meath have some excellent players at the minute, they just need an Inspired run to set the ball rolling for them.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 01/05/2015 15:07:35    1719515