Who do you think are the dark horses in the Championship this year?

I think Tyrone could pose a real threat this year. They may not win Ulster but I think they will could get to the semis and possibly reach the final.

aidan64 (Kerry) - Posts: 665 - 11/04/2016 16:51:12    1844383

yeah only possible bolter I reckon tyrone

coopersleftfoot (Kerry) - Posts: 91 - 11/04/2016 16:59:13    1844389

Westmeath

XPAC (Westmeath) - Posts: 86 - 11/04/2016 17:01:19    1844391

Quite fancy for Limerick in hurling.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 11/04/2016 17:07:58    1844396

If by championship winners then it will come from Dublin, Kerry, Mayo or Tyrone. Most likely the winner will come from Dublin/Kerry but with both due to meet in a semi final this year it opens up the possibility for a new team to get into a final. which if I was betting right now would be ourselves or Tyrone.
Roscommon could still make a quarter final and I think that would be a good year for them. Galway it is hard to know....I would be confident we will beat them but still weary.....they are very quiet and Galway friends tell me things are not going well and there seems to be a debate about the lack of north Galway players in the squad.

Some unfancied team usually goes on a bit of a run....it was Fermanagh last year so who know's..

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 11/04/2016 17:24:36    1844404

Don't really think Tyrone could be considered a dark horse though as they are fancied by many to do quiet well this year and always give championship a good go. If on the other hand you are looking for a team that might do better than in recent years I would put a small wager on Cavan. Now they may not win anything but they could well beat one or two more fancied teams.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 11/04/2016 18:11:26    1844417

Tyrone, most definitely. A young team that Mickey Harte has done a great job of bringing on. They look to have their eyes firmly on the big prize too.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 11/04/2016 18:20:10    1844419

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

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 11/04/2016 19:07:55    1844426

Agree with Tyrone

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 11/04/2016 19:17:47    1844428

Tyrone for football & Clare for hurling.

Tyrone were unlucky to lose to Kerry in the AI semi-final last year & Clare's 2013 squad now maturing nicely as they played their way through Division 1A and into the league semi's and will come on again from the Kilkenny game irrespective of result.

dingle2 (Kerry) - Posts: 278 - 11/04/2016 19:18:32    1844429

Tyrone are in a position that they could have a good run or flop like in 2014. I do not feel they have an outstanding player who could carry them when having an off day. They are also hardly dark horses. If Cavan continue the way they are playing they could have a good run. Would like to see Mayo win eventually.

Armaghball (Armagh) - Posts: 96 - 11/04/2016 20:45:47    1844455

Kerry are better then last year and are the only realistic team to trouble the dubs. Dark horses there are none!

1rossiejim (Roscommon) - Posts: 80 - 11/04/2016 21:01:40    1844463

Don't think Cork footballers are in as bad a shape as people suggest and they could still spring a surprise this summer. They ended the league with the same number of points as Monaghan, Mayo and Donegal, and though they had 2 dreadful performances against Roscommon and Donegal they also had some promising results. An All-Ireland U-21 win is a possibility as well which would surely be a big boost to them.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 11/04/2016 21:13:21    1844465

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

greatpoint (USA) - Posts:15 - 11/04/2016 19:07:55 1844426

The same could have been said of Dublin coming into the 2011 championship.

Mayo are one of only 3 teams who's odds are less than 10-1. I'd consider that to be a good indication that Mayo are challengers.

If you disagree you can always back Dublin and Kerry or some of the outsiders.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4219 - 11/04/2016 21:35:41    1844473

Most people including some in the media seem to think that this year's All Ireland will be between Dublin /Kerry
The thing is if both keep winning then they meet in the semi final so one would be gone
So whatever team got through from the other half of the draw (Mayo Roscommon Tyrone Cavan Donegal or even Monaghan ) they would have a chance , however small of winning Sam
Look at last year and how Kerry should have been beaten in Munster in the first game ( Cork were unable to repeat their performance the second day) and indeed how Mayo could have won the first meeting with Dublin. So to me it's on the day and I still think Tyrone could put it up to either of the big two
Indeed with a little bit of luck last year they could have beaten Kerry
Injuries also affect teams as Tyrone had to do without their chief defensive organiser Joe McMahon who IMO if he had been fit Tyrone would have won the game
I can't see Cavan making big inroads this year , have they the power to win Ulster never mind Sam
If Donegal are gone , it's hard to tell where they are at then Tyrone along with Mayo are the only other teams who have a chance of Sam
Donegal might have no chance of winning it but they could knock a big team out , similar to 2014 but get beat in the next game
What we are nearly hundred per cent sure of is that Dublin or Kerry and indeed Mayo won't be going through the back door Unfortunatly it will be different for Ulster counties.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 11/04/2016 21:36:11    1844474

Cork - no real hope of outright success but unpredictability could mean on one Sunday during the summer they could throw the cat among the pigeons. Said cat will then get crushed by a bus the week after. It's a predictable unpredictable.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/04/2016 21:44:08    1844478

How could mayo be classed a dark horse. Dark horses come from nowhere and Mayo have been there, or there abouts for many years.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 11/04/2016 21:53:51    1844486

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

ponga (Mayo) - Posts: 649 - 11/04/2016 21:55:21    1844487

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: 16187 - 12/04/2016 09:49:27    1844512

this year is yet again a great chance for mayo would be favourites at the moment to make the final, regan has been a great find and with COC back are a totally different team besides Dublin they are the team I would be most worried about

coopersleftfoot (Kerry) - Posts: 91 - 12/04/2016 10:12:36    1844525