Dont rule Mayo out, they will make semi at least

culmore (None) - Posts: 1398 - 21/01/2011 15:50:45    851219

football: Provincial winners: Armagh, Sligo, Cork and Meath. Dark horse Donegal/ kerry/ Dublin AI winners....Down beating Dublin in final!!!!!!!!!!!

Hurling: Provincial winners: Tipperary, Kilkenny. Darkhorses Limerick/ cork/ offaly AI winners Tipperary beating Galway in the final!!!!!!!!!

dont take my word for it :)

pridengalway (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 21/01/2011 16:44:56    851306

pridengalway
County: Galway
Posts: 224

851306 football: Provincial winners: Armagh, Sligo, Cork and Meath. Dark horse Donegal/ kerry/ Dublin AI winners....Down beating Dublin in final!!!!!!!!!!!

Hurling: Provincial winners: Tipperary, Kilkenny. Darkhorses Limerick/ cork/ offaly AI winners Tipperary beating Galway in the final!!!!!!!!!

dont take my word for it :)

Kerry-dark horses?
1 bad year and we're outsiders all of a sudden.

mikeoc (Kerry) - Posts: 567 - 21/01/2011 17:32:01    851347

mikeoc
County: Kerry
Posts: 187

In the same way, one good season and we're being tipped for the All-Ireland, not much logic in it. The 2011 Championship is a whole different ball game, anyone can beat anyone. And i expect Kerry to be there or there abouts come August time, although i think it will be another year or two before Kerry win Sam again, its a re-building process for them for the time being.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 21/01/2011 18:15:07    851394

Yes Kerry are rebuilding but that doesn't mean what it would anywhere else. Any team with the Gooch and Donaghy is always going to be there or thereabouts and that's not to mention Declan O'Sullivan, Galvin and the O'Se's. Most of the young players coming in have had success at underage level. They might not be outright red-hot favourites for a change but around half their team would walk on to most teams in the country. As Gerry Adams would say "They haven't gone away you know"...

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 21/01/2011 19:38:26    851462

If recent history is anything to go by, Kerry will come back stronger than ever in 2011 - in years when they haven't won the AI (2003, 2005, 2008) they've generally come back to win it the following year. A lot will be expected of Kildare after making the quarter finals in 2008 and 2009, and the semi-final last year; Dublin will be a force to be reckoned with, I really think Pat Gilroy is doing a very impressive job although in 2011 there'll be a level of hype and expectation that seemed to elude the team, to their own advantage, for most of last year. Who knows with Down? Shocking to say but we have barely strung two good seasons together for the bones of 30 years. On one hand the team gained vital big-game experience last summer but on the other, we are no longer a surprise package and there is no longer the advantage of being underestimated by anyone. It's difficult to say how the likes of Donegal, Derry, Meath, Monaghan and Mayo will do until the league, which normally gives a good indication of how teams are shaping up for the championship.

Gabriel. (Down) - Posts: 412 - 21/01/2011 21:33:48    851530

Lads regarding your queries into my down and kerry selections, im goina stick by them. ok it will be very open in 2011 but kerry are off the mark this year i think due to rebuilding. cork have the best overall squad in munster and probably ireland however with their scrappin through games by a point last year, back-to- back for them is outta the question imo as kerry or any team on their day coul beat them.
down came on will last year and i believe will tighten up their issues such as a loose defence and play THEIR game despite teams tryin to alter their strageties to try an beat them.
in connacht it will be probably the best province for entertainment, but only because all 5 teams (no offence new york) are at the same average playing level im sorry to say.
limerick in munster/ dongeal and armagh in ulster/ kildare, meath and dublin are the rest.

i cant wait for this year but seeing the same 4 semi-finalist as last year wouldnt suprise me at all......

pridengalway (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 21/01/2011 22:00:02    851556

I think Kildare will continue to make strides and are a good bet for an All-Ireland Semi-Final or Final. McGeeney, to me, dosen't place a large emphasis on the Leinster Championship so expect them to be in the BackDoor after they play Meath or Dublin but they'll eventually come good.

Kerry should bounce back with a new look to their team. I'm waiting for a new age of footballers to come on stream in the Kingdom, the likes of Anthony Maher and David Moran have large reputations but so far haven't been able to get in the first team. Maybe 2011.

Cork I think enjoyed a large slice of luck last year and may pay for their success by disappointing a small bit. I still expect them to be in Croke Park in August but a team outside the so called big three would have their match in my opinion.

Tyrone have had an unthinkable start to their season. It's no reflection on a wonderful team if they struggle this year.

That leaves teams like Meath, Dublin, Down, Armagh, Sligo and Limerick in a position to challenge. Dublin are not too far away but the point made about a lack of forwards is slightly mis-leading. The big problem is a poor defence, and not as often pointed out, assistance for Bernard Brogan. The images of Philly McMahon rushing up the pitch to kick brilliant points on Dublin's march to an All-Ireland semi-final last year was nice to see but defensively himself and his colleagues are not good enough. There are good forwards there for sure but Gilroy's hand is forced by having to pick backs in forward positions. A return to pre-2008 form of Alan Brogan would be seen as a major boost in my opinion.

Teams I don't see challenging include Galway and Mayo. Grand within the cosy confines of Connaught for years but almost always disappointing outside of it. Now that a good Sligo team have arrived on scene, I suspect even Connaught will prove a futile excercise for them. Up North, John Brennan will have his work cut out to take Derry football back to the halcyon days of Eammon Coleman. Some lovely footballers but mentally, they are weak and Donegal aren't going anywhere fast either.

Connaught - Sligo
Leinster - Louth
Munster - Kerry
Ulster - Tyrone

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 22/01/2011 11:28:51    851603

Loyal2TheRoyal - its CONNACHT not connaught (the way the english spelt it)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11752 - 22/01/2011 12:03:49    851615

In spite of my earlier comments i actually dont think kerry will win it this year. My tip would be down,they really impressed me last year. Usually when down have a good team they make use of it. Given the tragedy in tyrone,i find it hard to give an honest assesment on how i think they'll do but i do think that whoever wins ulster has a great chance.

mikeoc (Kerry) - Posts: 567 - 22/01/2011 12:26:43    851622

Realistic Football Contenders: Down, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Cork, Tyrone....(Kerry to lift Sam)

Realistic Hurling Contenders: Cork, Tipp, Kilkenny, Galway, Waterford..(Kilkenny to lift Liam)

Supermacs88 (Galway) - Posts: 248 - 22/01/2011 12:47:39    851632

I actually predict Cork to be very dangerous this year. You have to take into consideration the huge pressure they were under last year whilst carrying the favorite tag but to finally stumble over the finish line was a tremendous boost for them. I reckon we'll see a lot more of Cork now that the pressure is off them and don't be surprised to see them playing better than ever.

Kerry will be hungrier than ever this year but their real challenge is establishing a good midfield. A massive gap has been left in the wake of Dara O'Se and so midfield remains a concern for them. A lot of emphasis will be put on their youth and it'll be interesting to see if they can blood any of these into the starting line up. I reckon they'll go out against Cork in Munster and have a tough run in with the qualifiers. They'll be there or there abouts as always though.

Its hard to see where Down can go from last year.. the question for them is consistency and whether they're able to fend off the so-called weaker teams in their province and become one of the elites of the current crop. We'll see from their progress this year whether they're a one-trick pony or the real deal.

Its hard to see how Tyrone cope this year.. it'll either be one of two extremes. They'll either be gunning for an All-Ireland as a tribute to Micky Harte's grievances which would be great for the county and for the man himself.. or they'll either throw in the towel early on in the championship.

From a Dublin perspective they'll feel that they're chance really came last year and the question whether they can repeat that feat remains to be seen. There won't be any emphasis on Leinster with them but expect to see them coming through the qualifiers building a head of steam. However, I feel there will be some pressure on them this year from how they progressed in 2010.

Kildare, as stated previously won't give Leinster much thought so I predict Meath to maybe beat them if they meet in the provincial championship so expect to see them give a good run in the qualifiers. Provided they avoid tough away clashes against stronger teams like Cork, Kerry etc I'd expect to see them reach the quarter final stages. For me they'd go down as real dark horses for 2011.

In Connacht I can't see any team making it big outside the province apart from Mayo. They've a talented squad and with their new manager they could gel a good team together. I don't think Galway have the talent at the moment nor do I believe Sligo can make an impact against any other top tier teams. I predict Mayo to win Connacht and a good bet to reach the latter stages of the championship. But then again this could be all tripe come the start of the championship but if I were to put any bet on a Connacht team it would be Mayo.

Meath could prove to be a potent force this year IF we sort out our half back line and midfield. We have the talent up front but Banty has a massive job to build a good defense. If this is worked on and our defense is tightened then Meath could go quite far in my opinion. We were badly exposed in the second half against Kildare. Corner backs were off the pace and our middle third was eaten alive. But as Aerosmith's "Dream On" quotes, "You got to lose to know how to win.." And yes, dream we will..

Roll on Championship 2011

RoyalClass (Meath) - Posts: 790 - 22/01/2011 14:45:14    851697

kildare

banterladhi (Donegal) - Posts: 502 - 22/01/2011 15:07:19    851715

Why are people even mentioning Louth?
They wont even make a Leinster final

KimKardashian (Offaly) - Posts: 9 - 22/01/2011 15:43:05    851732

Dublin: despite having a huge deficit in genuine quality (would Eoin OGara or Paul Flynn get into a Down or Tyrone panel?), they have the best forward in the country, and immense support.

Meath: if they can get more mobility in the forward line, (which Grimly will doubtlessly do).

Kildare: one of the best attacking teams, but without Peter Kelly there are no top class man markers, and are short on midfielders. Early will be 34 this year. We will entertain and maybe beat one or two or cork Tyrone Dublin down or Kerry along the way, but defensive frailty will probably be the achilles heel.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1172 - 22/01/2011 15:54:29    851738

Sligo will win everything.

farmer2 (Sligo) - Posts: 442 - 22/01/2011 15:59:12    851743

hey am from louth nd am going to be brutally honest louth wont do well this year alot of new young players in i think it will be an expiermental year but i really do wreckon louth will push for leinster next year ...like its going to be the same as any other year its a either between cork kerry tyrone nd possibly dublin i personally would love to see dublin win it cause they seem ther going to do it then its taken away from them..

Seandun (Louth) - Posts: 55 - 22/01/2011 16:02:30    851745

i think louth will win sam, only another wobbery could prevent it.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 22/01/2011 16:24:08    851755

Get on the Bas to dublin, bye a couple of Maas baas go to the pachers then back to toin!

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 22/01/2011 17:53:43    851795

watchout for the boys in red and black . beat by 1 point last year and dont get the rub of the green . i wonder what excuses kildare will use this year and to the kingdom clan we can only beat whats on the pitch . roll on the c/ship backdoor frontdoor we"ve keys for both coulter and clarke

weebob (Down) - Posts: 6 - 23/01/2011 12:45:34    851990