The intercounty season is at an end and we have our final football rankings of 2014.

1. KERRY (no change)

All-Ireland number 37 is in the bag for the Kingdom and what an amazing achievement that is for Eamon Fitzmaurice and his players. Missing Colm Cooper, with a host of early season retirements and an injury list that limited the availability of key men Bryan Sheehan, Declan O'Sullivan and Darran O'Sullivan - Kerry had the odds stacked against them.

They made hard work of getting past Clare before blitzing Cork in the Munster final, and had a straightforward quarter-final win over Galway. It was in their next three games that we saw their true worth as they salvaged a draw with Mayo before winning the game of the season - the replayed All-Ireland semi-final.

Against Donegal they were pragmatic enough to take the Ulster men on at their own game and beat them. The All-Ireland final was trench warfare and Kerry showed that not only are they the best at free flowing football, but if they need to they can get down and dirty and be masters of that as well.  Try and think of one other county who could do that.

The saying goes that Kerry hoover up the easy All-Irelands but this was no easy title to claim. It took skill, fortitude and that bit of luck that all champions enjoy.

With Tommy Walsh and Cooper back in 2015, it will take a good team to stop them successfully defending their title.

2. DUBLIN (up 1)

The Dublin juggernaut was stopped in its tracks by Donegal and nobody saw it coming. Jim Gavin's side were 1/10 on to beat Donegal in the All-Ireland semi-final and had Dermot Connolly first half goal effort gone in when they led 0-9 to 0-4, they might have justified those odds. Instead Donegal outscored them by 3-7 to 0-3 in the following 25 minutes as Dublin were picked apart.

Complacency played its part but with key players dominated by their direct opponents, the Dublin machine began to misfire.

Only one county - Kerry in 2007 - has retained an All-Ireland during the past 24-years. That puts into perspective how difficult it is to put back to back Sam Maguire successes together. One upside is that Dublin won't have that problem next year.

They claimed the league and Leinster titles in great style and despite that off day against Donegal, deserve to be ranked as the second best team in the country.

3. DONEGAL (down 1)

It's a game of inches and had Colm McFadden's last second palmed effort hit the net rather than rebound off a post, Donegal could have earned themselves a draw against Kerry in the All-Ireland final. Who knows what would have happened after that.

But the reality was that they suffered an off day in the decider and were beaten by a team that spent three weeks practicing a system that Donegal had perfected over four years. The Ulster champions have a team filled with brave footballers, but what happens now if teams - and we mean the big teams - decide to take them on at their own game? If the system is king but everyone uses the same system, does the team with the best players win out?

Make no mistake, Donegal's future depends on what Jim McGuinness does next. It is impossible to imagine them maintain their levels of brilliance without their maestro. But with him on board, then they will believe anything is possible in 2015.

4. MAYO (no change)

Mayo seemed to have one foot in the All-Ireland final when they led Kerry by five points with six minutes remaining in the drawn semi-final. Kieran Donaghy then caused mayhem as the Westerners full back line collapsed under pressure and those weaknesses came back to haunt them once again in the replay.

After last year's swashbuckling wins over Galway, Roscommon, Donegal and Tyrone; Mayo were forced to dig out results against Roscommon and Cork in championship 2014. We thought that doggedness might stand them in good stead but now the county are looking back on this year as another one that got away.

James Horan's departure is a major blow, and despite the furore over the appointments procedure, Noel Connolly and Pat Holmes look a good fit to carry on his work. But there are no guarantees that they won't regret passing up on Kevin McStay and Liam McHale.

5. CORK (no change)

Brian Cuthbert and his young Cork team had a rude awakening in the provincial decider but they got back on track with a workmanlike win over Sligo in the qualifiers. They looked rudderless for long spells against Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final but when the full time whistle had blown, they had pushed the Connacht champions to the pin of their collar.

This has been a year of change and Cuthbert put his mark on the side, but when push came to shove against Mayo it was men from Conor Counihan's time such as Donncha O'Connor who threw them a lifeline.

Is the new era of Cork players on a par with the All-Ireland winners of 2010? That's what we will find out in the next couple of years.

6. MONAGHAN (no change)

The Ulster final loss rankled with Monaghan, they took huge pride from being Anglo Celt holders. Their extra time win over Kildare showed a willingness to give every last ounce of effort for the jersey. They didn't do themselves justice in the All-Ireland quarter-final as the concession of two quick goals gave Dublin the oxygen they flourish on.

The top four of Donegal, Kerry, Mayo and Kerry look that bit better than the rest at the moment but of the chasing pack Monaghan look best equipped to join the top table.

7. ARMAGH (no change)

From league relegation to running Donegal within a point in the All-Ireland quarter-final, it was a year of contrasting emotions for Armagh. Defensively naive in 2013, the Orchard implemented a full court press when it came to a blanket defence and reaped the rewards almost immediately. Wins over Cavan, Tyrone, Roscommon and Meath showcased their potential and with Kieran McGeeney taking over the reins, their future looks bright.

8. GALWAY (no change)

A mixed Connacht campaign was followed by an impressive qualifier win over Tipperary. Given little chance against Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Galway recovered from a nightmare start and the game was still up for grabs entering the final ten minutes. Kerry showed their composure at the end but Galway's stock was up on the back of that display.

Alan Mulholland has since departed but his body of work has left the county in a stronger place. Kevin Walsh is a legend in Galway football and his appointment gives them a great chance of making the step up.

9. TYRONE (no change)

It has been a championship campaign to forget for supporters of the Red Hand County who watched their side slip down the rankings following defeats to Monaghan (Ulster SFC) and Armagh (All-Ireland SFC qualifiers). Their poor form has called Mickey Harte's management into question but the three-time All-Ireland winning manager has stated he intends to stick around to oversee the rebuilding process.

10. MEATH ((no change)

Getting to an third consecutive Leinster SFC final seemed to be progress for the county but their capitulation at the hands of Dublin will be remembered as a low point in their proud history. Once again they failed to reach the last eight of the All-Ireland, as a laboured second half display saw Armagh outpoint them in a round 4 qualifier.

Mick O'Dowd is in the middle of a rebuilding process that was not helped by season ending injuries to Eamon Wallace and Conor Gillespie, and the ongoing complaints that reduced the effectiveness of Michael Newman.

You feel that 2015 will be make or break for this current crop of Royal footballers.

11. KILDARE (no change)

There was much disappointment at their display against Meath in the Leinster semi-final but Kildare picked themselves up the qualifiers with wins over Down and Clare. The Banner pushed Jason Ryan's side all the way but they produced their best display of the summer against Monaghan in the round 4 qualifier.

They seemed to be through to another All-Ireland quarter-final only for Conor McManus to send the game to extra time from which Monaghan escaped with the spoils.

They will benefit from stability with Ryan in his second year.

12. ROSCOMMON (no change)

John Evans' emerging side ran Mayo close in the Connacht SFC semi-final and enjoyed a comfortable qualifier victory over Cavan in Breffni Park. They came up short in round 3 of the qualifiers against Armagh, however, and the Kerry native's future is up in the air. Supporters of the Rossies will console themselves with the fact that there is plenty of underage talent coming through the ranks.

13. TIPPERARY (no change)

The All-Ireland minor football success of 2011 appears to be rubbing off on the Tipperary senior football side. They ran Cork close before claiming the scalps of Longford and Laois in the qualifiers and you get the impression that there is more to come from Peter Creedon's emerging young side.

14. DERRY (no change)

Derry's impressive league showing proved to be a false dawn as Brian McIver's men exited the Ulster SFC at the hands of eventual winners Donegal. A three point defeat to Jim McGuinness' men is nothing to be embarrassed about but they subsequently suffered the ignominy of a qualifier loss on home soil to Longford and the same old doubts have reared their ugly head again.

15. LAOIS (no change)

For 50 minutes of their Leinster SFC quarter-final clash against Dublin, Tomas O Flatharta's side gave as good as they got. It was probably the best they could have hoped for travelling up to headquarters that day but the O'Moore County fans were left frustrated after Tipperary sent them packing from the qualifiers.

16. CLARE (no change)

Colm Collins' charges came agonisingly close to pulling off an upset against Kildare in round 3 of the qualifiers but they can be satisfied with a year which saw plenty of progress made. They are looking forward to Division 3 football next year but the dual player debate is a cloud hanging over their potential to make further improvement.

17. DOWN (no change)

The Mourne County have appointed Jim McCorry after James McCartan said enough was enough following their qualifier loss to Kildare in Newry. They failed to build-on the promise of McCartan's first year back in 2010 when they lost the All-Ireland final by a solitary point to Cork and it's back to the drawing board for Down football.

18. CAVAN (no change)

After securing promotion to Division 2 for next year, Cavan's season unravelled when they succumbed to Armagh (Ulster SFC) and Roscommon (SF qualifier) in the championship. After the high of reaching the quarter-final stages last year, the championship defeats were bitter pills for the Breffni faithful to swallow.

19. LOUTH (no change)

Aidan O'Rourke's tenure as Louth manager came to an end following their heavy qualifier loss to Tyrone in Healy Park. The writing was on the wall for the former Armagh All-Ireland winner following the heavy Leinster SFC defeat they shipped at the hands of Kildare.

20. WESTMEATH (no change)

Paul Bealin's first and only year as Westmeath senior football manager failed to deliver a win in either championship or league and Dessie Dolan brought the curtains down on his illustrious gaelic football career. It was a year to forget for Lake County followers.

21. SLIGO (no change)

Qualifier wins over Wicklow and Limerick put the buzz back into Sligo football after a disastrous 2013 but Pat Flanagan's charges were found wanting against Cork in round 4 of the qualifiers.

22. WEXFORD (no change)

Another team that felt the full force of Dublin's attacking arsenal, the Model County resembled a sitting duck when Laois arrived in Wexford Park for the qualifier clash.

23. FERMANAGH (no change)

Antrim brought Fermanagh's Ulster SFC ambitions to an end at the quarter-final stages before Pete McGrath's side fell at the first qualifier hurdle away to Laois.

24. LIMERICK (no change)

Qualifier wins over London and Antrim were the highlights of Limerick's year and manager John Brudair has grounds for optimism looking ahead.

25. LONGFORD (no change)

Longford pulled off, arguably, the shock of the back-door series when coming away from Celtic Park with a 2-16 to 2-14 win over Derry in round 1 but Jack Sheedy's side were left red-faced when they finished up on the wrong end of the 2-17 to 0-6 scoreline against Tipperary in round 2.

26. ANTRIM (no change)

Liam Bradley's men put Fermanagh to the sword in the quarter-final of the Ulster SFC but had no answer to Donegal in the last four. Their involvement in this year's championship came to an end following 0-15 to 3-11 defeat at the hands of Limerick. Frank Fitzsimons takes over at the helm for 2015.

27. WICKLOW (no change)

Harry Murphy side's report card reads two championship defeats (Laois and Sligo) and one win (Offaly). The popular Rathnew man stood down during the summer with the baton set to be passed to a new face.

28. LEITRIM (no change)

Leitrim failed to keep the ball kicked out to Down in the round 1 qualifier at Newry and it was a long trip home west for Sean O'Hagan and his players following their 0-9 to 4-18 reversal.

29. OFFALY (no change)

Emmet McDonnell was the first managerial casualty of the year following the Faithful County's 0-17 to 3-12 qualifier defeat in Aughrim.

30. CARLOW (no change)

The Barrowsiders' restored some pride to the jersey following their 28-point hammering to Meath when getting the better of Waterford but they finished a distant second to Clare next time out.

31. WATERFORD (no change)

The Deise were unlucky to lose out to Clare in the Munster SFC after a replay but there was no excuses following their qualifier defeat to Carlow.

32. LONDON (no change)

It was always going to be a big ask for Paul Coggins and his players to repeat their heroics of 2013 and defeats to Galway and Limerick are all they have to show for their efforts.

33. NEW YORK (no change)

May saw New York heavily beaten by last year's All-Ireland finalists in the Connacht SFC. For all that, there is still plenty to be said for keeping them involved in the championship.

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