doublehop
County: Kildare

I would agree with trimmer. Limerick would have been a match for most teams this year but were unfortunate to get Cork in the qualifiers after the Munster final. Might be tougher this year with the hurlers back but I think they are there or thereabouts.

I would consider Kildare in with a shout but would probably have to beat one of the big three or Dublin before they can be classed as definite contenders. Talk about us reaching our peak is absolute nonsense though as was said by the Sallins chap above. Of the older players Roley went very well for Moorefield, Johnny is still flying like a young lad and Earley effectively only had one leg last year. No peaks there in my opinion.

I think the potential shocks you could possibly see are Carlow versus Louth in Leinster and possibly New York vs Roscommon in Gaelic Park. Now they are dark horses...
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Carlow will be no push over, Louth and indeed previous AI winners from Leinster have struggled past Carlow in first round games in the past. First round games are games that you need to hit the ground running because if you don't then there's a very real possibility that you will struggle. New York will not pose any real problems for Roscommon to be fair.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 20/01/2011 13:31:16    850237

could u name the previous aI winners from leinster who struggled past carlow in the first round please?

7stars (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 20/01/2011 14:24:47    850291

I'm actually offended that we are considered dark horses by some.
We're one of the horses up at the front of the race.
One of the fast ones I mean.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 20/01/2011 15:00:10    850327

7stars
County: Meath

could u name the previous aI winners from leinster who struggled past carlow in the first round please?
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MEATH............. look up the stats.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 20/01/2011 15:00:51    850328

PomeroyPlunkett
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2348

849680 2011 will prove that Down are a one season wonder, they'll sink back into mediocrity where they belong

What do you mean we are a one season wonder.We have alot of talent on this team that we didn't have in recent years and how are you supposed to become a good county team challenging for All-Irelands if you dont go on the kind of run we did last year. Wise up lad,why cant you just face it that were back?????

squareball_99 (Down) - Posts: 55 - 20/01/2011 15:48:59    850352

Coylers , I would go as far as to say that Meath arent very dark Horses at all. Distinctly Palamino I would say. Fast ones!

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 20/01/2011 17:09:49    850430

Cork Kerry and Tyrone its theres to win. dark horses Meath,Kildare Dublin and Mayo.

Down and Louth will get serious 2nd season syndrome,they both over performed lst year.expect Down to go out in 3 or 4 th round qualifiers.

Louth will have to tread carefully in first game with Carlow,but i think Offaly or Westmeath will put pay to them before the Leister final,and they will get knocked out of the qualifiers by some mediocre team.

Louth are another Wexford or Fermanagh.There underage set up is abysmal to say the least,they havent contested a Leinster minor final since 1971 and havent won a minor title since 1953.
Even Carlow,Wicklow and Wexford have reached Leinster Minor football Finals in the last 15 years,and Longford won a leinster title at minor level in 2002.They havent won an U-21 tile since 1981 and havent reached afinal for 14 years.
Point is when you are in a county with nothing coming through from underage and you lose 3 fist team players through emigration you have to admit that this talk of a possible quatrer final place for Louth is pie in the sky!

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 869 - 20/01/2011 19:03:48    850543

What year did we struggle past Carlow in the first round then Balls?
Humour me.
I'm too lazy to do any research on this.

Coylers Elbow (Meath) - Posts: 1075 - 20/01/2011 19:44:47    850589

A bit harsh there Dickie even if I would agree that they're unlikely to come close to what they achieved last year. It should be remembered that Louth have won Leinster at junior level for the last two years so there are other players there although probably not of the same quality as those who have left.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 20/01/2011 20:05:22    850609

Coylers Elbow
County: Meath
Posts: 385

What year did we struggle past Carlow in the first round then Balls?
Humour me.
I'm too lazy to do any research on this.
_____________________

1986 was one year.

It was a q/final but it was the first game for both counties in that years championship, Meath scraped passed Carlow on a score line of Meath 1-15 1-12 Carlow .

Meath came very close to exiting the championship at the first hurdle, however they subsequently went on and defeated Dublin in the Leinster final of that same year 0-09 to 0-07.

Have I amused you CoylersEblo ?.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 20/01/2011 20:17:33    850632

PomeroyPlunkett is back after the winter training ban! Let the wind begin!

I think Louth will struggle after losing a few key players which is a pity because they were a breath of fresh air last season. I'm not sure Galway should be talked up either given their record over the last few years. Armagh should be in better shape this season, especially if they stop playin' half-backs in the half-forward line and Kerry will be back with a vengeance after Down embarrassed them last year (although they were missing key players). It'll be interesting to see how Donegal and Derry get on with their new managers too.

Favourites: Cork, Kerry, Tyrone

Outsiders: Down, Armagh, Meath, Dublin, Kildare

peter_venkman (Down) - Posts: 320 - 20/01/2011 20:23:31    850642

Down, the aristocrats of gaelic football, will win the All Ireland in 2011, and they will do so playing stylish, classy football. The other provincial winners will be Kildare, Cork and Mayo

Brendan Bowens (Galway) - Posts: 164 - 20/01/2011 21:26:26    850738

dickie10
County: UK
Posts: 49

"Even Carlow,Wicklow and Wexford have reached Leinster Minor football Finals in the last 15 years,and Longford won a leinster title at minor level in 2002."
_____________________

Longford are actually the current Leinster Minor Champions lets nots forget. They beat us in the 2010 final.

But back to your original point, I agree that Louth are probably just a 1 or 2 year flash in the pan team. I've never thought about it before but now that you mention it, it does appear that their underage structure is non-existent. You never hear of their minor or u-21 teams doing well

OffalyBigBall (Offaly) - Posts: 635 - 21/01/2011 08:51:29    850801

Tír Conaill are my dark horses. If they get a few wins under mcGuinness he will delve deep into their heads and not emerge til september.

FrChewyLooey (Leitrim) - Posts: 123 - 21/01/2011 10:45:41    850871

OffalyBigBall
County: Offaly
Posts: 103

But back to your original point, I agree that Louth are probably just a 1 or 2 year flash in the pan team. I've never thought about it before but now that you mention it, it does appear that their underage structure is non-existent. You never hear of their minor or u-21 teams doing well
________________

Louth's u-21 team brought the current u-21 Leinster and AI champions Dublin to extra time in the championship last year. Wee could have won that game in normal time. Wee let a 4 point lead slip away in the last minutes of normal time. Conceding late scores would be appear to be our achilles heel, so if wee can get that sorted out then wee will be no push over for the so-called big boys in Leinster.

I would also say that we are moving in the right direction and wee are learning as wee go. Given the draw for this years Leinster championship wee have every chance of making back to back Leinster finals. Our chances of winning it however will depend on who emerges from the other side of the draw, anyone but Dublin and wee are in with a shout.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 21/01/2011 11:34:51    850913

BallsMcQ
County: USA
Posts: 586

850632 Coylers Elbow
County: Meath
Posts: 385

What year did we struggle past Carlow in the first round then Balls?
Humour me.
I'm too lazy to do any research on this.
_____________________

1986 was one year.

It was a q/final but it was the first game for both counties in that years championship, Meath scraped passed Carlow on a score line of Meath 1-15 1-12 Carlow .

Meath came very close to exiting the championship at the first hurdle, however they subsequently went on and defeated Dublin in the Leinster final of that same year 0-09 to 0-07.

Have I amused you CoylersEblo ?.


Again, you have done nothing but illustrate that you can use google. Well Done balls. Thats some achievment for you.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 21/01/2011 14:52:59    851120

Jinxie

I've shown the very thin line that exist often between failure and sucess.

BallsMcQ (USA) - Posts: 941 - 21/01/2011 15:05:07    851138

I think it could be the Dubs year.. Cork will find it hard to put back to back titles together.. Kerry will always be challenging but I think their midfield is as weak as its been in a good few years.. Dublin are solid but if they are to take the next step they need help for Bernard Brogan up front.. Maybe Davoren?

A decent outsde bet might be Meath.. Tyrone may find the emotion too much for them this year.. like in 2004 after mcanallens tragic passing..

Galway are short players in too many positions to mount a challenge.. Ourselves in Mayo are building a new team but dont expect too much too early..

Donegal could surpise a few people up north

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1223 - 21/01/2011 15:05:58    851142

galway for a double

dan.the.man (Galway) - Posts: 3 - 21/01/2011 15:12:03    851152

BallsMcQ
County: USA
Posts: 587

851138 Jinxie

I've shown the very thin line that exist often between failure and sucess.

Yeah, Its called the goal line, Joe Sheridan gave you a perfect example last July. Remember that? Of course you do kid... :=>

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 21/01/2011 15:23:34    851169