As a kerry friend of mine once stated: "Yerra, mayo will win nothin"!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 22/12/2013 19:20:28    1526065

I'm worried sick Master, it's gonna ruin my Xmas :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8744 - 22/12/2013 19:23:06    1526069

Rockies
County: Cork
Posts: 42

1526014 Honestly: Only 2 teams can win All Ireland...Dublin and Kerry. Mayo missed the boat. Cork and Tyrone are team building. Donegal are a second division team who won an All Ireland through tactics and fitness, but are on a slippery downhill slope.Derry might be a long shot, but honestly the Dubs can win it for the next 5 years

Kerry? I don't think so.

Worth noting that Donegal, Mayo and Kerry were all in line for relegation on the last day of the National League. And a last minute point by Dublin to draw, along with an unlikely Mayo win down in Cork and an weird game in between Tyrone and Kerry in Omagh.

I would put Dublin, Mayo and Donegal in the top bracket. With Tyrone, Kerry and Cork close behind them.

After that we see Monaghan, Kildare, Derry, Down, Meath, Galway and Cavan in the next tier. Out of those, only Monaghan or Meath could potentially win an All Ireland, with a bit of belief. Couldnt see anybody else outside the top 6 teams I listed.

2014 will be between Dublin and Donegal in my opinion. Just a feeling.......

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 22/12/2013 20:59:21    1526092

Very insightful stuff again lads.

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 22/12/2013 21:36:06    1526104

No; this Mayo squad, while talented footballers, have lost the mental battle and won't recover from it. They have shown that they are brittle when the pressure is on and don't have the steel and fire in their bellies when it's needed. If truth be told an ageing, injury prone Tyrone team tore them apart at times in the first half and if they hadn't tired and been on the end of some poor refereeing decisions would have beaten Mayo.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 23/12/2013 14:22:13    1526202

All they have to do is to beat Galway, then the field in Connaught. A quarter final against anyone of the like of Kildare, Cork, Donegal or Tyrone. A semi v Kerry. A final v Dublin. Easy.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 27/12/2013 12:47:50    1526281

Change the record Ulsterman.

Lazy analysis- bringing everything back to the mysterious, indefinable factor of "mental bottle".

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 27/12/2013 13:08:16    1526285

It depends who they meet. Their big problem is not being able to put in two big performances in one year. Their best performance of this year was against Donegal, then they played fairly well against Tyrone. They needed another Donegal-like display for the final but couldn't manage it.
If they got handy teams all the way to the final they could win it but since the introduction of the qualifiers you are bound to meet at least two very good teams if you win the AI so that is unlikely.

fonzi (Cork) - Posts: 14 - 27/12/2013 13:40:50    1526291

Mayo didn't beat Dublin because they are not as good as Dublin. I don't see anything changing in the next 9 months to alter that.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 27/12/2013 14:40:08    1526298

Kerry are rebuilding and Cork have been rocked with retirements and Sheehan leaving. Although if they get Colm O'Neill back they definitely have a match winner there. I'd give a hesitant vote for Cork in Munster.

Mayo will come out of Connacht again but I saw shoots of improvement from Galway last year. It would be nice to see them improve further as they are a good side to watch when in full flow. If Mayo could unearth a Bernard Brogan or a Michael Murphy I'd probably make them AI favourites but I just can't see it.

In Leintser it's hard to look beyond Dublin again. Meath, like Galway last year, showed improvement and I'd like to see what kind of shape Ryan puts on Kildare. But Dublin's sheer talent and strength in depth tips the scales in their favour for me.

In Ulster, Donegal look to have a kind draw. But let me tell you they'll get nothing handy in Celtic Park against Derry. The other half of the draw is a minefield. Put the names in a hat and you could pull out any winner there. I'll let my heart rule my head a wee bit and say that Donegal will win it again.

Then for the AI series it's anyone's guess depending on the draw. But if pushed to pick an overall winner I'd have to say Dublin again. The winners from 2011 are older and wiser and I think they'll be way more focussed defending their crown in 2014 than they were in 2012, no disrespect to all conquering Donegal that year. I can see the young lads pushing for places and Gavin won't let them rest on their laurels.

Dublin to beat an emerging Cork team well in the final.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9746 - 27/12/2013 15:44:08    1526311

fonzi
County: Cork
Posts: 1

1526291
It depends who they meet. Their big problem is not being able to put in two big performances in one year. Their best performance of this year was against Donegal, then they played fairly well against Tyrone. They needed another Donegal-like display for the final but couldn't manage it.
If they got handy teams all the way to the final they could win it but since the introduction of the qualifiers you are bound to meet at least two very good teams if you win the AI so that is unlikely.

They put in very good performances against galway and a very good second half v tyrone when it counted. I think that they played as well as they could have in the final. I would have to credit the dubs as showing bottle and resolve. Mayo would have beaten anyone else in the country that day, the dubs were totally out of it for the first 25 minutes. Dublin came back into it and never looked back. They did the same v kerry. I think that this is more the reason why mayo lost the final than anything that they did or didnt do against the dubs. They gave it their best shot, and were not as good.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 27/12/2013 16:05:40    1526314

Ulsterman, people used say the same about Dublin and their lack of "bottle". Fact is that teams get beaten by better teams on the day. Yes, there will be bad decision making and luck involved along the way, but teams don't lose All Irelands because of a lack of 'moral character.' Mayo brought Dublin down to the wire, just as Dublin did Kerry and Tyrone in years they were alleged to have 'bottled' it. That's sport. A bounce of a ball often decides matters.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 27/12/2013 16:50:19    1526317

I reckon whoever wins Division 2 in 2014 will be a very real contender for the 2014 All Ireland Championship.

With 2013 Ulster Champions Monaghan, 2013 Leinster Championship runners up Meath, 2013 Ulster Championship runners up and 2012 All Ireland champions Donegal. Not forgetting Down, Armagh, Laois, Galway and Louth.

Meath and Monaghan really Impressed me in 2013, and Galway looked superb against Cork. I expect whoever wins Division 2 to be a very real challenger for the 2014 All Ireland.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 27/12/2013 17:09:06    1526321

Normally agree with a lot you say Gary but not this time, Meath and Monaghan have no hope whatsoever and Donegal would put it up to anyone on their day but I think their day is gone away. Cork let Galway play as they pleased as far as I can remember.

These teams are still a long way off, hard to dismiss Donegal after what they achieved but we'll see!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8744 - 27/12/2013 17:28:20    1526324

PACE AND PACE AND MORE PACE needed in the forward line. At the moment Mayo have too many one paced forwards.

Brinsley Swartz (Mayo) - Posts: 2225 - 27/12/2013 17:39:05    1526328

Meath really Impressed me against Dublin, and then again in qualifiers against Tyrone. Not the finished article by any means, but certainly a talented outfit with strong potential. Another strong run in 2014 could see them take major strides in the right direction.

Monaghan are a very tough outfit. Noted as a very physical outfit, but a team with many talented players in it. I felt they would take Mayo in the AI SF had they managed to overcome their bogey team Tyrone. But I didnt see them being a match for Dublin in the final. Tyrone outfoxed them in the AI QF, but if you watch the at game again, Monaghan did look slightly stronger than Tyrone in much of the game. If Monaghan strengthen their team just a little in 2014, I feel they will do serious damage. Conor McManus is a super talent, as are the Hughes boys.

Donegal had a nightmare for most of 2013. Their normally outstanding half back line was absent for most of the season, with Lacey, McGlynn and Thompson crippled, super Sweeper Mark McHugh, Midfielder Neil Gallagher and reliable sub Christy Toye all being plagued with Injuries. Without the super alternating half back line of 2012 and McHugh's non stop running, the Donegal full forward line were left Isolated and they're full back line was also exposed. Still a very strong team, and definite challengers if they can maintain a full strength outfit in 2014. Wrote off in 2013 without a proper detailed analysis of why they weren't playing well.

But regardless, Dublin are the Undisputed All Ireland Football champions. They set a new standard in 2013, a standard the rest will strive to match in 2014. Mayo, Tyrone, Cork and Kerry are most often mentioned as main potential challengers in 2014, but I don't see Cork or Kerry challenging in 2014. Tyrone and Mayo will be there or thereabouts.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 27/12/2013 18:22:03    1526332

Yes Gary, nice optimism pointed in those teams direction, but all I saw was Dublin waking up when the realised that Meath were playing out of their skin and that was that, Monaghan are a VERY one-dimensional side who would be gone if McManus gets injured.

Can Donegal get it going at that level again, bis ask and they're a bit static, unless that McGuinness can come up with something!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8744 - 27/12/2013 18:55:46    1526336

27/12/2013 12:47:50
Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1045

1526281
All they have to do is to beat Galway, then the field in Connaught. A quarter final against anyone of the like of Kildare, Cork, Donegal or Tyrone. A semi v Kerry. A final v Dublin. Easy.

Yes and all they had to do in 2010 was beat Sligo or 2001 all they had to do was beat Roscommon or 1994 or they had to do was beat Leitrim. There is a reason why Mayos three in row Connacht titles this summer was their first since the mid 50s.

Saying all that Mayo should win another Connacht title in 2014 however the only way is down for them now.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3602 - 27/12/2013 19:41:31    1526338

27/12/2013 17:09:06
GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 789

1526321
I reckon whoever wins Division 2 in 2014 will be a very real contender for the 2014 All Ireland Championship.

With 2013 Ulster Champions Monaghan, 2013 Leinster Championship runners up Meath, 2013 Ulster Championship runners up and 2012 All Ireland champions Donegal. Not forgetting Down, Armagh, Laois, Galway and Louth.

Meath and Monaghan really Impressed me in 2013, and Galway looked superb against Cork. I expect whoever wins Division 2 to be a very real challenger for the 2014 All Ireland.

Its what 2002 Armagh since a div 2 team won the All Ireland?

Monaghan,Meath were div 3 this year they won't suddenly become All Ireland contenders.

Galway are work in progress will be a few years before they are All Ireland contenders remember they were shocking poor against Mayo,Waterford.

Donegal are the only maybes in div 2 but how do you motivate a side that has already achieved what they set out to do? the passion,desire to win from 2011-2012 has been lost and may never be found again.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3602 - 27/12/2013 19:50:52    1526339

Gerry I'd agree very much with your points I really think this years div2 will be very strong.
Meath are still a work in progress, and I can't see them challaging for ai this year but they will I expect be around come august. Next year might be the year that whoever beats Meath will go a long way

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/12/2013 21:56:54    1526348