Football rankings: no budge from Dubs or Kingdom

July 27, 2017

The Croke Park pitch
©INPHO/Oisin Keniry.

It is the latest instalment of football rankings.

1. DUBLIN (no change)

Looking back on it, a record seventh Leinster SFC title in-a-row felt like stroll for the Dubs this summer, even without the services of Diarmuid Connolly. Last Sunday week's provincial final may have saw Kildare put up 1-17 but the Lilywhites were always second best to Jim Gavin's side by a good distance and that doesn't bode well for their quarter-final opponents (either Down,  Monaghan or Armagh) next month. At this point, it's hard to see anyone denying them a three-in-a-row, especially with their strength and depth seemingly becoming more evident with each game.

2. KERRY (no change)

The Kingdom have won every competition they've entered so far in 2017 and bookmakers fancy them to be back on another final stage come September. With 11 points to spare over Cork in the Munster final, Eamonn Fitzmaurice's men enter into Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-finals as 2/9 favourites over Galway (4/1). A another 'big meet' between themselves and Dublin is looking more and more inevitable to decide where Sam Maguire rests for 2017 and, of course, they can only cross swords on final day.

3. TYRONE (no change)

Similar to the two above them, Tyrone have crushed the opposition in their province this summer and now await the winners of Kildare and Armagh to see who they face in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The Ulster champions were halted by Mayo late on in last year's last eight stage but they're an improved outfit since then and undoubtedly the third best team in the country on current form. Should they meet the Lilywhites next month, as scripted, it would likely mark an intriguing battle at headquarters.

4. MAYO (up 3)

Things weren't looking great for Stephen Rochford's side at the time of our last ranking, having lost out in another Connacht semi-final to Galway, but through they're sheer resolve they remain in the hunt for Sam Maguire. Last Saturday marked their second extra time victory in this year's qualifiers, with Cillian O'Connor's 0-11 contribution over the 90 minutes helping put Cork to the sword. It'll be a fascinating tie with Roscommon in this Sunday's quarter-final double-header at Croker, where last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists might be that bit more familiar with their surroundings.

5. KILDARE (up 3)

The Lilywhites have only hit one bump in the road in this summer's championship and they will have taken plenty of positives from that nine-point defeat to Dublin in the Leinster final. Cian O'Neill's men were fairly impressive in their provincial wins over Laois and Meath prior to that, especially in attack, and it's part of the reason why they are 1/2 favourites to book a quarter-final berth against Armagh this weekend.

6. GALWAY (no change)

All had been going well for Kevin Walsh's charges this season until they let their Connacht title slip from their grasp by falling flat against Roscommon in the western province's final. They bounced back brilliantly last Saturday by demolishing Donegal in Sligo, but still require further improvement to topple Kerry this weekend for a place in the last four of the All-Ireland series. It would mark the Tribesmen's first championship win at Croke Park since winning it all in 2001.

7. ROSCOMMON (up 4)

The Rossies may have only won two games this summer but one of those victories reaped a first Connacht SFC title in seven years. That nine-point victory over Galway in Salthill quickly erased the disappointment of league relegation and should they score a win over Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-finals this weekend then it surely will be a season to remember for Kevin McStay and his players. 

8. MONAGHAN (down 3)

This year's Ulster championship did not go according to script for the Farney men, but victories over Wexford and Carlow gives them the opportunity for revenge against conquers Down again this weekend. With an All-Ireland quarter-final spot at stake, will it be the stage that Jack McCarron finally shines on this summer?

9. DONEGAL (down 5)

Galway made sure it was a summer to forget for Donegal last Saturday after dishing them out a 15-point hammering at Markievicz Park. Incredibly, it could have been much worse for the Tir Chonaill County but for Paddy McBrearty's contribution and plenty feel that it may well have been Rory Gallagher's last in charge.

10. DOWN (up 4)

These last 12 months have saw quite the turnaround for the Mourne men, with their rousing Ulster semi-final win over Monaghan catching the eye of many neutrals nationwide. Defeat to Tyrone in the northern province's final means they must repeat the trick against the Farney County again this weekend if they are to reach the last eight for the first time in seven years.

11. CORK (down 2)

Cork may have died with their boots on against Mayo in what was the game of the championship thus far in Limerick last Saturday, but their 11-point loss in the Munster final is what sees them slip down the pecking order here. On the lookout for a new manager, the Rebels will have to rebuild again next season.

12. ARMAGH (up 6)

Kieran McGeeney's side looked to be in dire straits after losing a first round derby to Down but deserved wins over Fermanagh, Westmeath and Tipperary are what sees them still in the championship hunt. 'Geezer' now plots against former charges Kildare for a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

13. TIPPERARY (no change)

Things looked to be rosy again for Tipp when they went up to Cavan, climbed back from a six-point half-time deficit and came home from the Breffni County with another memorable qualifier victory. However, a home defeat to Armagh soon brought Liam Kearns' men crashing back down to earth, so they maintain the status quo here.

14. MEATH (down 3)

Meath were no match for Kildare in their Leinster semi-final and they failed to get a qualifier run going as a win over Sligo was followed by a one-point defeat at home to Donegal. Andy McEntee will have hoped for a longer summer than that for the Royals and one would imagine that promotion to Division 1 will be top priority for them next season.

15. CAVAN (down 5)

Mattie McGleenan's first season in charge of the Breffni County reaped just two wins from 10 outings between league and championship and they exited the latter in disappointing fashion to say the least. Leading by six points against Tipperary at half-time, the Blues fell a part in the second-half to see another season crumble in early July.

16. DERRY (up 4)

Derry ran into another Tyrone haymaker in round one before dispatching Waterford and pushing Mayo to the pin of their collars in the backdoor. An early extra time blitz made the difference for the home side in Castlebar in the end, ensuring it was Damian Barton's last game at the helm for the Oak Leafers.

17. CLARE (down 1)

The Banner men gave Kerry somewhat of a scare in Munster before ripping Laois a part on their own home turf in the qualifiers. Goals from the O'Connor brothers in Ennis helped Mayo to show them the exit door and it's now back to the drawing board for Colm Collins and his players ahead of 2018.

18. CARLOW (up 6)

The surprise package of this year's championship hit the ground running against Wexford before battling bravely for the first 35 minutes against all-conquering Dublin in Portlaoise. The Barrowsiders accounted for London and Leitrim in the backdoor ahead of giving hot-favourites Monaghan the fright of their lives down in Newatch Cullen Park.

19. SLIGO (no change)

The Yeats men put up 0-22 on Antrim after their exit from Connacht and pushed Meath all the way in Navan, where Michael Newman's late contribution proved crucial for the hosts. Their qualifier win over the Saffrons saw them hit an impressive twelve consecutive points, so there's plenty for Niall Carew and his players to build on looking ahead to next season.

20. WESTMEATH (down 3)

A 31-point hammering in the championship is almost always impossible to lift yourself from, but the Lake men very nearly did it only to be denied by Armagh late on in Mullingar. They're another county on the lookout for a new boss after Tom Cribbin's decision a little over a week ago.

21. LONGFORD (up 4)

The Midlanders make the climb here after upsetting Louth in Drogheda in the first round of the qualifiers and running Donegal close up in Ballybofey, where the visitors looked like producing another giant slaying for long stages.

22. LOUTH (down 7)

League and championship proved to be two very different landscapes for Louth in 2017. The Wee County's only positive this summer came in the form of an unconvincing five-point win over struggling Wicklow. Afterwards Meath put 0-27 up on them and Longford ended their season in an upset in Drogheda. Colin Kelly's resignation quickly followed.

23. FERMANAGH (down 2)

The Ernesiders conceded a whopping 1-40 in their two championship outings this summer and last month's defeat to Armagh would see Pete McGrath eventually resigning his managerial post, having originally indicated that he was staying at the helm. They'll be hoping that a new man in charge can bring better fortunes in 2018.

24. LAOIS (down 2)

Crushed by Kildare in Leinster, things went from bad to worse for Peter Creddon's men in the qualifiers after only edging by Wicklow in Round 1A. In the end, 10 points separated themselves and Clare in Portlaoise on July 1st. Certain club delegates called for Creedon to stand down and he duly handed in his notice shortly afterwards.

25. OFFALY (down 2)

Offaly will have a new man over them next season after Pat Flanagan's departure came off the back of championship defeats to Westmeath (after a replay) and Cavan.

26. ANTRIM (up 1)

Totally outclassed by Donegal the first day, the Saffrons ended up conceding 0-22 to Sligo at Markievicz Park, where they had led at half-time before Jack Dowling's sending off. 

27. WEXFORD (down 1)

Seamus McEnaney's championship bow with Wexford saw him gaining only one win (over Limerick), with Carlow upsetting them in the first round and his native Monaghan emphatically bringing down the curtain on their season.

28. LEITRIM (no change)

No move from Leitrim here as their 17-point loss to Roscommon was backed up by defeat to Carlow.

29. WATERFORD (no change)

That Munster quarter-final against Cork must seem like a distant memory to Deise fans now with Derry having ended their season more than a month ago.

30. LIMERICK (no change)

Limerick pushed Clare close in round one but failed to seize their opportunity against Wexford at the Gaelic Grounds, where they went down to the Model men by a point in the end.

31. WICKLOW (no change)

It was two games and two defeats for Wicklow this summer and last month saw manager Johnny Magee step down after three years in charge of the Garden County.

32. LONDON (no change)

The Exiles went down by a single score to Leitrim in Connacht before doing the same against Carlow on their home patch.

33. NEW YORK (no change)

New York made it difficult for Sligo for long periods in May's championship opener but when the fitness levels kicked in the Yeats men were able to take home a 1-21 to 1-13 victory from the Bronx.


Most Read Stories