GAA Football Teams to Watch in 2015

keane2097 · 24-09-2014 10:55am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Not sure who is suggesting that Kerry got a 'soft All Ireland'
I reckon they had to fight hard for it.

Donegal were no slouches, they were there on merit and beat the greatest team that every set foot on a field in any sport in the history for the modern and ancient worlds

Even though Donegal were brutal on the day Kerry were not a whole let better, some of their execution was terrible, and in the end the result of the Durkan error being the difference between them

Plus they had it tough in two games v Mayo.

The last soft All Ireland was won by Cork in 2010, their opponents were not seen for years before and have not been seen since

There's a few of the "every county has them" sort of Mayo fans dribbling around the place the last couple of days.

keane2097 · 24-09-2014 10:57am

Dublin are rightly favourites for next year IMO, they still have the best panel and but for a singularly terrible tactical set up in the SF would have been heading into an All Ireland final as big favourites this year.

Having been stung badly this year and with guys like Kilkenny and O'Brien coming back as well as a lot of underage talent coming through they will take stopping.

DoctaDee · 24-09-2014 11:54am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

.........Donegal were no slouches, they were there on merit and beat the greatest team that every set foot on a field in any sport in the history for the modern and ancient worlds ........

The fact that we in Dublin can live with our defeats but you can't live with our success is a poorer reflection on you .....

Farmer Pudsey · 24-09-2014 12:03pm

Who ever beats Kerry will win the All Ireland and if no one beats them, then Kerry will win. That the way it has being panning out now for a while. We will be up against it next year. Very hard to do back to back wins. Very hard after a winter of acting the b0llax to get back on track and if you did like Dublin and win the league you can become over conifidant.

Kerry are facing the Ulster champions if they win straight throught to the semi's. If Dublin go the back door they might catch them on the hop. Gooch and Walsh will add hunger to Kerry next year and a few younger players coming through as well.

It will be hard on Mayo to reach a semi again, Donegal are bound to have retirements. Micheal Murphy might take a year out who knows.

Ahh yes I see it now, lose to Cork in Munster SF, struggle against weaker opposition in the qualifiers, handy QF against Mayo who fall apart. Semi- again Dublin who are odd on favourites for Sam after poor Kerry preformances.

3rd Sunday in September ''come on you boyo's'' handy one against Tipperary who have come straight through as Munster champions.

If Carlsbergs did championships..........................................................

Sheldons Brain · 24-09-2014 12:05pm

Other than the teams mostly mentioned, Derry are a team that should have done better than they did this year, they should be clear of Tipp, Laois etc but were very disappointing.

DoctaDee · 24-09-2014 12:06pm

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

...........If Carlsbergs did championships..........................................................

Thanks jaysis .. thought you were serious there, just the drink talking ....:D

Fr Tod Umptious · 24-09-2014 12:10pm

DoctaDee wrote: »

The fact that we in Dublin can live with our defeats but you can't live with our success is a poorer reflection on you .....

What are you on about ?

I honestly don't know what you are trying to say ?

Explain.

corny · 24-09-2014 12:14pm

keane2097 wrote: »

Dublin are rightly favourites for next year IMO, they still have the best panel and but for a singularly terrible tactical set up in the SF would have been heading into an All Ireland final as big favourites this year.

Having been stung badly this year and with guys like Kilkenny and O'Brien coming back as well as a lot of underage talent coming through they will take stopping.

Agreed. I think the bit in bold will be an important factor for the Dubs. Don't think any of them enjoyed losing like that to Donegal.

Kerry will make as good a fist as any as defending champions.
Mayo might actually be better for new management but still will find one too good.
Donegal will be threat to all but as discussed in another thread lots of their key players are pushing on.
Armagh are best of the rest but the winner will again come from the top 4.

Dublin will do the League and Championship double imho.

homerjay2005 · 24-09-2014 12:32pm

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Who ever beats Kerry will win the All Ireland and if no one beats them, then Kerry will win. That the way it has being panning out now for a while. We will be up against it next year.

1995 was the last time that the team who knocked Kerry out of the championship, didnt make the final. i think since 2002, either Kerry or the team who has beat us, has won the all ireland apart from 2010.

2014 - champions
2013 - beaten by winners Dublin.
2012 - beaten by winners Donegal.
2011 - beaten by winners Dublin in final.
2010 - beaten by runners up Down.
2009 - Champions.
2008 - beaten by winners Tyrone in final.
2007 - Champions.
2006 - Champions.
2005 - beaten by winners Tyrone in final.
2004 - Champions
2003 - beaten by winners Tyrone.
2002 - beaten by winners Armagh in final.
==========================
2001 - beaten by runners up Meath
2000 - Champions.
1999 - beaten by runners up Cork.
1998 - beaten by runners up Kildare.
1997 - Champions
1996 - beaten by up runners Mayo.
==========================

some record, especially since 2002.

Fr Tod Umptious · 24-09-2014 1:31pm

corny wrote: »

Agreed. I think the bit in bold will be an important factor for the Dubs. Don't think any of them enjoyed losing like that to Donegal.

Kerry will make as good a fist as any as defending champions.
Mayo might actually be better for new management but still will find one too good.
Donegal will be threat to all but as discussed in another thread lots of their key players are pushing on.
Armagh are best of the rest but the winner will again come from the top 4.

Dublin will do the League and Championship double imho.

Championship yes, I'd expect them to be very good in 2015

But I don't think winning the league would be on their radar.
They need to become a more rounded team in 2015, they cannot rely on hammering away until they get a goal or two and then wait for the opposition to collapse as we saw on numerous occasions this year.

I think they should use the league to develop the defense and not worry to much about winning it.

ProudDUB · 24-09-2014 1:38pm

They should also use it to shore things down up front and have a more or less settled line up, heading into the AI champo. At the business end of the season, you are facing better defenses and goal chances are few and far between. That is when you need a set of forwards who have been playing together as a unit all year long. I don't want to see as much chopping & changing up front in 2015. Just because we have 89,764 quality forwards, it doesn't mean that we should be giving each and every one of them a run out, each and every game. If Jim Gavin needs to be more ruthless there next year, than so be it.

corny · 24-09-2014 2:11pm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Championship yes, I'd expect them to be very good in 2015

But I don't think winning the league would be on their radar.
They need to become a more rounded team in 2015, they cannot rely on hammering away until they get a goal or two and then wait for the opposition to collapse as we saw on numerous occasions this year.

I think they should use the league to develop the defense and not worry to much about winning it.

Based on previous experience that won't be correct. In the years they've won the AI (2011,2013) they've topped the standings in the League proper, only losing one game. They lost the final in 2011 by a point and won the league in 2013.

They might not sit down at the start of the year and say lets move the earth to win the league but nonetheless, on form its highly likely they'll be the team to beat.

Dubliner28 · 24-09-2014 3:27pm

Going to stick my neck out here and call a Dublin Kerry final,

Not sure what way the semis line up next year?

is it LeinstervConnaught / Ulster v Munster or LeinstervMunster / North/West

homerjay2005 · 24-09-2014 3:50pm

semi final match up are as follows.

Munster V Ulster.
Connacht V Leinster.

Dublin are the team to beat for me....they should be odds on favourites.

Joekers · 25-09-2014 1:38am

homerjay2005 wrote: »

1995 was the last time that the team who knocked Kerry out of the championship, didnt make the final. i think since 2002, either Kerry or the team who has beat us, has won the all ireland apart from 2010.

2014 - champions
2013 - beaten by winners Dublin.
2012 - beaten by winners Donegal.
2011 - beaten by winners Dublin in final.
2010 - beaten by runners up Down.
2009 - Champions.
2008 - beaten by winners Tyrone in final.
2007 - Champions.
2006 - Champions.
2005 - beaten by winners Tyrone in final.
2004 - Champions
2003 - beaten by winners Tyrone.
2002 - beaten by winners Armagh in final.
==========================
2001 - beaten by runners up Meath
2000 - Champions.
1999 - beaten by runners up Cork.
1998 - beaten by runners up Kildare.
1997 - Champions
1996 - beaten by up runners Mayo.
==========================

some record, especially since 2002.

Same can be said for Dublin really aswell since 2002 whoever has beat them has either gone on to win it or being runner up in the final

2014 - beaten by runners up Donegal
2013 - Champions
2012 - beaten by runners up Mayo
2011 - Champions
2010 - beaten by winners Cork
2009 - beaten by winners Kerry
2008 - beaten by winners Tyrone
2007 - beaten by winners Kerry
2006 - beaten by runners up Mayo
2005 - beaten by winners Tyrone
2004 - beaten by winners Kerry
2003 - beaten by runners up Armagh
2002 - beaten by winners Armagh

Probably the reason why Dublin and Kerry people can take their losses so graciously

Blue giant · 25-09-2014 7:05pm

Joekers wrote: »

Same can be said for Dublin really aswell since 2002 whoever has beat them has either gone on to win it or being runner up in the final

2014 - beaten by runners up Donegal
2013 - Champions
2012 - beaten by runners up Mayo
2011 - Champions
2010 - beaten by winners Cork
2009 - beaten by winners Kerry
2008 - beaten by winners Tyrone
2007 - beaten by winners Kerry
2006 - beaten by runners up Mayo
2005 - beaten by winners Tyrone
2004 - beaten by winners Kerry
2003 - beaten by runners up Armagh
2002 - beaten by winners Armagh

Not really the same at all :rolleyes:

zetecescort · 25-09-2014 8:21pm

sure us in Cork must have the best record of all, beaten by our neighbours for (almost?) all of their AI wins

The_Honeybadger · 25-09-2014 11:43pm

It's one of Dublin or Kerry for 2015 I think, mayo or Donegal could be outside bets but need to find forwards, they are far too dependent on their marquee men. Dublin will be strong favourites with the best panel in the country and a serious hunger after making a balls of the sf this year. It will take a serious team to beat them.

Kerry should have cooper and Walsh back if reports are to be believed and will be stronger than this year, especially in attack. They also have a top class manager. The younger players will have more experience and some new guys will be brought in after retirements. Hard to know with them though. Winning this year was a real overachievement and it will be hard to repeat if they come up against Dublin.

Outside of those four there is no team with a realistic shot at the title in 2015 IMO.

shrewdness · 26-09-2014 12:21am

deadybai wrote: »

They were completely outplayed in the Ulster final, struggled vs Kildare and hammered by Dublin.They took a step forward in 2013 but two steps back this year. Id expect Armagh and Tyrone to pip them in Ulster. I actually support Monaghan in the football but just being realistic. Id like to see them do well. They are a decent team but every team near their level has raised the bar and I just see them being squeezed out

At the end of the day, the only two teams to beat them in league or championship were 2 of the top 4, Donegal and Dublin. They may have struggled in both those championship games but they got their match ups and tactics all wrong, plenty there to work on obviously.

But outside of the top 4 they're still among the best of the chasing pack. They won Division 2 and top tier football will help the development of their younger players. They beat both Tyrone and Armagh so I don't see the basis on these teams being rated higher. Tyrone are in transition and while Armagh are much improved, I'd still fancy Monaghan if they met again. Despite the manner in which they exited the championship, it was still a positive year overall. They may not have won Ulster again but they had a far greater chance to reach an AI semi in 2013 than this year. Don't get me wrong, I don't see them winning Sam, but they've a great chance of winning Ulster again. Their big worry though is midfield, badly need some fresh blood there.

Farmer Pudsey · 26-09-2014 8:00am

mickeyk wrote: »

It's one of Dublin or Kerry for 2015 I think, mayo or Donegal could be outside bets but need to find forwards, they are far too dependent on their marquee men. Dublin will be strong favourites with the best panel in the country and a serious hunger after making a balls of the sf this year. It will take a serious team to beat them.

Kerry should have cooper and Walsh back if reports are to be believed and will be stronger than this year, especially in attack. They also have a top class manager. The younger players will have more experience and some new guys will be brought in after retirements. Hard to know with them though. Winning this year was a real overachievement and it will be hard to repeat if they come up against Dublin.

Outside of those four there is no team with a realistic shot at the title in 2015 IMO.

Is winning an AL ever an over achievement for Kerry. Losing is often under achievement

JFlah · 27-09-2014 8:29pm

Considering this is about teams to watch in 2015 .... based on league and performance v's Kerry in Ennis I would expect Clare to show continued improvement next year.. relatively speaking.

Bunk Moreland · 28-09-2014 7:53am

There must be another county in Ireland called Armagh that I don't know about because they sure as hell won't be anything special next year. They got relegated to division 3 in the league this year and had a poor Ulster Championship. They beat a poor Tyrone side in the qualifiers and had favourable fixtures right up until the quarters.

The biggest surprise in Ulster next year will be Down. New manager with Clarke and Mooney coming back from Australia will transform Down.

realweirdo · 01-10-2014 8:33pm

It's hard to look past the big 4 again next year.

Cork, Armagh and possibly Galway might make the breakthrough and reach semi finals.

But the professionalism of the big 4 always seems to see them through most quarter final matches.

I see Armagh as a team peaking in 2 or 3 years time under McGeeney.

Monaghan are a team that allow the big Croke Park occassion get to them. Either failing to put away big teams or else just not showing up. So I don't see them making the breakthrough.

homerjay2005 · 02-10-2014 12:15am

Tipperary, if managed correctly, are my prediction for the up and coming team in 2015.

if they can get a decent draw to the Munster final, they are only one game away from a 1/4 final and for them, that would be a sensational achievement.

Always_Running · 02-10-2014 3:26am

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Tipperary, if managed correctly, are my prediction for the up and coming team in 2015.

if they can get a decent draw to the Munster final, they are only one game away from a 1/4 final and for them, that would be a sensational achievement.

They were one win away from a quarter final this year but their defence eventually let them down against Galway. Good wins against longford,laois to look back on though.

nice_guy80 · 02-10-2014 7:59am

Wait till the draw

BonnieSituation · 02-10-2014 8:31am

Will Thursday just hurry up? Jaysus.

Boom__Boom · 02-10-2014 8:34am

JFlah wrote: »

Considering this is about teams to watch in 2015 .... based on league and performance v's Kerry in Ennis I would expect Clare to show continued improvement next year.. relatively speaking.

One thing is that they've lost Paudie Kissane as their coach - I was very impressed with how fit they were for a team who'd been playing in Division 4 against Kerry. The thing is besides Armagh Division 3 is wide open in terms of promotion.

I think Cavan are another side how could surprise a few people next year - they had a horrific year with injuries but I really think 2015 could be a bounce back year for them.

homerjay2005 · 02-10-2014 9:48am

Boom__Boom wrote: »

One thing is that they've lost Paudie Kissane as their coach - I was very impressed with how fit they were for a team who'd been playing in Division 4 against Kerry. The thing is besides Armagh Division 3 is wide open in terms of promotion.

I think Cavan are another side how could surprise a few people next year - they had a horrific year with injuries but I really think 2015 could be a bounce back year for them.

when you look at counties like Clare, Tipp, Cavan and one or two more, is there anything that can be done for these counties in terms of championship? they are at that level where they are not good enough to be in the top flight, but likewise they are too good for the "lesser" teams (Leitrim, waterford, carlow, antrim etc etc)

they generally leave the provincial championship fairly early as they constantly are drawn against the big boys and then after such big efforts, go out in the qualifiers against other big teams (clare beaten by Kildare and Tipp beaten by Galway for example).

i wonder, could a round robin championship be set up to replace the first two rounds of the qualifiers, to give teams at least 3 championship games, as opposed to just 1?

so you have 4 groups of 4, played off over 3 weekends and the top 2 teams in each group, then goes into the next round, where they playoff then to meet the 8 losing provencial semi finalists who themselves would have their own group to make things a bit more fair and interesting?

Fr Tod Umptious · 02-10-2014 10:36am

homerjay2005 wrote: »

when you look at counties like Clare, Tipp, Cavan and one or two more, is there anything that can be done for these counties in terms of championship? they are at that level where they are not good enough to be in the top flight, but likewise they are too good for the "lesser" teams (Leitrim, waterford, carlow, antrim etc etc)

they generally leave the provincial championship fairly early as they constantly are drawn against the big boys and then after such big efforts, go out in the qualifiers against other big teams (clare beaten by Kildare and Tipp beaten by Galway for example).

i wonder, could a round robin championship be set up to replace the first two rounds of the qualifiers, to give teams at least 3 championship games, as opposed to just 1?

so you have 4 groups of 4, played off over 3 weekends and the top 2 teams in each group, then goes into the next round, where they playoff then to meet the 8 losing provencial semi finalists who themselves would have their own group to make things a bit more fair and interesting?

A lot of it has to do with the provincial draw and whether that draw is seeded or not.

In the qualifiers the team that loses a provincial semi-final enters the qualifiers at Rnd 2, which means that they have to win 3 games to get to a AI QF
Teams that lose a provincial final however enter the qualifiers at Rnd 4 and only have to win 1 game to get a to a AI QF

So in the case of Munster 2014 where both Kerry and Cork were seeded teams like Tipp and Clare had to win 3 games to get to an AI QF
But if they were not seeded and Kerry v Cork was a SF game then teams like Tipp etc could get to a Munster final and then be only one win away from an AI QF.
So the key is to remove the seeding.

Munster is not seeded in 2015 but Cork and Kerry do have byes to the SF stage

GAA Football Teams to Watch in 2015

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