GAA Football Predictions 2012

RickRoll

Thought I'd set up a predictions competitions for the coming year to make it a little more interesting, this is purely FOOTBALL.

Entries to be posted before February 1st. (if someone has a small prize to donate that would be great)

NFL
Winners

Division 1:Cork
Division 2:Tyrone
Division 3:Antrim
Division 4:Limerick

Championship

Leinster:Kildare
Munster:Cork
Connacht:Mayo
Ulster:Armagh

All-Ireland Champions:Cork

Top Scorer (from placed balls and play): Johnny Doyle (Kildare)

Happy predicting

corcaigh07

RickRoll wrote: »

Thought I'd set up a predictions competitions for the coming year to make it a little more interesting, this is purely FOOTBALL.

Entries to be posted before February 1st. (if someone has a small prize to donate that would be great)

NFL
Winners

Division 1:Cork
Division 2:Tyrone
Division 3:Antrim
Division 4:Limerick

Championship

Leinster:Kildare
Munster:Cork
Connacht:Mayo
Ulster:Armagh

All-Ireland Champions:Cork

Top Scorer (from placed balls and play): Johnny Doyle (Kildare)

Happy predicting

a lot of faith in Cork! think they will be in rebuild mode for the league at the very least, hopefully they can do it in such a way that they peak in August/September.

corcaigh07

predictions

Division 1: Kerry
Division 2: Kildare
Division 3: Wexford
Division 4: Limerick

Munster: Kerry
Leinster: Dublin
Connacht: Roscommon
Ulster: Down

All-Ireland: Cork

Think Cork may start slow this season and build up momentum. With the likes of Goulding, O Neill and Sheehan back to full fitness and sharpness, it will add a lot to the side who looked hopelessly out of ideas in attack against Mayo last Summer.

A few new backs will need to be blooded in too, hopefully a few players from the successful Junior side of last year will get their chance. Would love to see Kevin Harrington, Sean Kiely and Kevin Hallissey get their shot at the team for at least the league.

RickRoll

corcaigh07 wrote: »

a lot of faith in Cork! think they will be in rebuild mode for the league at the very least, hopefully they can do it in such a way that they peak in August/September.

More to do with Kerry's downfall TBH, I think Kerry are a spent force. Also I just can't see Dublin doing anything of note this year so that leaves Cork for the All-Ireland.

corcaigh07

RickRoll wrote: »

More to do with Kerry's downfall TBH, I think Kerry are a spent force. Also I just can't see Dublin doing anything of note this year so that leaves Cork for the All-Ireland.

in fairness, everyone including Kerry have been saying that since 2009, they will be hungry again after losing in such a way last Sept. can't write them off, i agree that its one of the poorer Kerry sides of recent times but a bad kerry side can beat anyone, including Cork.

The_Kew_Tour

Kerry could have the under 12 playing in AI Final and I would still fear them. Never ever write off Kerry.

If Cork do keep injury free of key players though I genuinely think Cork can win back Sam.

Dont think it will go outside Cork, Dublin or Kerry this year.

Donegal and maybe Mayo could do well again, but semi at best.

RickRoll

^^ No predictions?

The_Kew_Tour

NFL
Winners

Division 1: Dublin
Division 2:Kildare
Division 3:Roscommon
Division 4:Limerick

Championship

Leinster:Kildare
Munster:Cork
Connacht:Mayo
Ulster: Derry

All-Ireland Champions:Cork or Dublin (oops)

Just An Opinion

NFL
Winners

Division 1: Dublin (Another strong league run, seeing the job out this time)
Division 2: Derry (I feel a big year from Derry starting with promotion to Div 1)
Division 3: Sligo (A toss up between themselves and Roscommon)
Division 4: Fermanagh (Canavan to revive The Ernesiders after a forgetful 2011)

Championship

Leinster: Dublin (Unless Kildare can finally cross the line? No other outcome)
Munster: Cork (Big players returning Cork will be hard bet)
Connacht: Mayo (Plenty of promise shown last year, O`Connor & Dillon key)
Ulster: Derry (As mentioned above I have a real feeling about Derry in 2012)

All-Ireland Champions: Kerry (A wounded animal is at its most dangerous)

Really looking forward to it all, bring it on!

premierstone

RickRoll wrote: »

More to do with Kerry's downfall TBH, I think Kerry are a spent force. Also I just can't see Dublin doing anything of note this year so that leaves Cork for the All-Ireland.

Kerry were the better team in last years AI for 60+ mins and looked all over the winners untill Dublins brilliant final salvo, how exactly are they a spent force?? They still have the best collective forward line in the country and tbh its not even close, their FB line would worry me considerably but to label then a spent force seems a bit premature.

keane2097

premierstone wrote: »

Kerry were the better team in last years AI for 60+ mins and looked all over the winners untill Dublins brilliant final salvo, how exactly are they a spent force?? They still have the best collective forward line in the country and tbh its not even close, their FB line would worry me considerably but to label then a spent force seems a bit premature.

What you've got here is the fact that the media have been saying the same thing since the end of 2008 and are basically too stubborn or embarrassed to reassess based on performances rather than "tired legs" clichés. The public in many counties are impatiently waiting for the demise of the team that has dominated the sport for over a decade and latch onto any seemingly authoritative suggestion that the end is nigh and get to parroting out the same stuff.

The reality is that, at least to my knowledge, more Cork players have retired since the end of last season than Kerry players, and given their miserable performance last year that was something they could scarcely afford.

Incidentally, how would you rate Tipperary this year? Are they close/equal to Limerick you think?

premierstone

keane2097 wrote: »

Incidentally, how would you rate Tipperary this year? Are they close/equal to Limerick you think?

They are not far off Limerick tbh, we have gotten a rotten draw again but such is life, Evans is doing great work to be fair and the recent underage suceccess will hopefully give everything a further boost, Barry Grogan, Philip Austin, Ciaran McDonald and Hugh Coughlan I would rate as good as any footballers in the country, however the age old problem exists in Tipp football and is likely to always exist, Hurling will always be the No. 1, Sean Carey last year defected from a certain starter with the footballers to be a bit player with the hurlers, and there are many other members of the hurling panel who would walk onto the football team.

Last years minor captain, Liam McGrath, is also an incredibly talented hurler and will inevitably choose hurling over football, its a given in Tipp and no matter how much resources are pumped into Tipp football, it is a drain than no county could sustain.

Dubliner28

NFL
Winners

Division 1:Cork (beating Dublin again in the final i think)or maybe a kerry Dub final.
Division 2:Tyrone
Division 3:Antrim
Division 4:Tipperary

Championship

Leinster: Dublin (noone else even close at the moment) Only big match will be kildare if they get through there side)
Munster:Cork(Will have too much for Kerry I feel)
Connacht:Roscommon
Ulster:Down

All-Ireland Champions:Wont say but its clear its 1 from 3 again

RickRoll

Dubliner28 wrote: »

Leinster: Dublin (noone else even close at the moment) Only big match will be kildare if they get through there side)

They beat Kildare by a point last year year courtesy of a dubious free so I wouldn't say theres no one even close.

keane2097

Didn't exactly bury Wexford either.

Stevecw

Dubliner28 wrote: »

NFL
Winners

Division 4:Tipperary

Tipp are in Div 3!

Jimmy Macnulty

Leinster:Kildare
Munster:Kerry
Connacht:Mayo
Ulster:Tyrone

All-Ireland Champions:Kerry
Dark Horses: Mayo

RickRoll

RickRoll wrote: »

They beat Kildare by a point last year year courtesy of a dubious free so I wouldn't say theres no one even close.

With 14 men. In the roughly 80 minutes that Dublin have faced Kildare with 14 men in the Leinster Championship over the last few years Kildare have outscored Dublin by 1 point. Hardly an indication that Kildare are vastly superior.

That said they could well beat Dublin this year, Kildare certainly are a side growing year on year and have some classy footballers in their side however your point was just too silly to let stand. Dublin are the best side in Leinster. Once somebody consistently performs above them then that will change. Most likely contender by some distance is Kildare.

RickRoll

Deleted User wrote: »

With 14 men. In the roughly 80 minutes that Dublin have faced Kildare with 14 men in the Leinster Championship over the last few years Kildare have outscored Dublin by 1 point. Hardly an indication that Kildare are vastly superior.

That said they could well beat Dublin this year, Kildare certainly are a side growing year on year and have some classy footballers in their side however your point was just too silly to let stand. Dublin are the best side in Leinster. Once somebody consistently performs above them then that will change. Most likely contender by some distance is Kildare.

Who said Kildare were vastly superior?

Eoghan O' Gara was sent off last year, he was hardly having a great game up until he got red. I would nearly go as far as to say he did Dublin a favour.

What is it with Dubs "fans" and their superiority complex.

Fr Tod Umptious

League = Donegal

Ulster = Donegal
Munster = Cork
Connaught = Mayo
Leinster = Dublin

All Ireland = Cork, beating Mayo in the final

keane2097

Donegal are going to find it pretty tough in the League with Michael Murphy out for the duration and Colm McFadden missing at least the first two rounds.

Tough to see them winning Ulster either as it's very rare for a team to win it out when they have to come through the extra preliminary round game, never mind with Derry, Tyrone and Armagh all on the same side of the draw as them before they ever get to the final.

FWIW, Cork will be very hard to beat this year IMO. Almost hope Kerry lose in Munster and get a couple of tough games in the qualifiers to fine tune. Years (like last year) when we've cruised to the final we tend to come unstuck.

celticbest

NFL,

Division 1 : Baile Átha Cliath, if they go for it & don't experiment to much
Division 2 : Tir Eoghain / Cill Dara
Division 3 : Aontroim
Division 4 : Cill Mhantáin

Championship,

Leinster: Dublin Baile Atha Cliath
Munster: Kerry Carrai
Connacht: Sligeach
Ulster : Dún na nGall

All-Ireland Champions - Baile Átha Cliath

kevmy85

keane2097 wrote: »

What you've got here is the fact that the media have been saying the same thing since the end of 2008 and are basically too stubborn or embarrassed to reassess based on performances rather than "tired legs" clichés. The public in many counties are impatiently waiting for the demise of the team that has dominated the sport for over a decade and latch onto any seemingly authoritative suggestion that the end is nigh and get to parroting out the same stuff.

The reality is that, at least to my knowledge, more Cork players have retired since the end of last season than Kerry players, and given their miserable performance last year that was something they could scarcely afford.

Incidentally, how would you rate Tipperary this year? Are they close/equal to Limerick you think?

I'm not going to write off Kerry but anybody who thinks this Kerry team is as good as they were 3+ yrs ago is deluding themselves. They've lost Kennelly, Dara O' Sé, Tommy Walsh, Tommy Griffin, McCarthy and Scanlon. I don't think they have players of that calibre to replace them and other players have more miles on the clock.

So far they gotten by by moving around existing established players (Brosnan to CB, Sheehan to Midfield, O'Sé to FB) but haven't really brought through many good young players. Maher possibly and Darran O'Sullivan is finally playing to his potential.

Tom O'Sullivan (33), O'Mahony (31), T O'Sé (33), Brosnan (32) and even M O'Sé (31/32) are no spring chickens - basically the entire defence - and all of them (bar T O'Sé) struggled at some stage last year. Sooner rather than later time is going to catch up with these guys, even great players can't stop that.

I also think their midfield hasn't completely proven itself.

I thought (hoped against Mayo!) that it might happen last year, I think it will happen this year and if not then it will definitely happen next year.

Having said all that their forward line is still terrifying. Gooch, Donaghy, Galvin and the two O'Sullivans. No-one can match that for outright talent

keane2097

As long as the only back up for the suggestion that players are past it is some number beside their name I'll be happy enough.

Bernard Brogan (27) struggled at stages last season, lot of miles on the clock, had some bad injuries, legs look like they're gone tbh.

Fr Tod Umptious

keane2097 wrote: »

Donegal are going to find it pretty tough in the League with Michael Murphy out for the duration and Colm McFadden missing at least the first two rounds.

Tough to see them winning Ulster either as it's very rare for a team to win it out when they have to come through the extra preliminary round game, never mind with Derry, Tyrone and Armagh all on the same side of the draw as them before they ever get to the final.

FWIW, Cork will be very hard to beat this year IMO. Almost hope Kerry lose in Munster and get a couple of tough games in the qualifiers to fine tune. Years (like last year) when we've cruised to the final we tend to come unstuck.

I agree that Cork will be ones to watch.
They will be over their All Ireland hangover and the injuries they had last year and will want to prove to themselves that they are better than the team that went out to Mayo in 2011.

I would not be convinced that Kerry will fine tune through the qualifiers however.
They did it very well in 2009 certainly, taking a team that looked jaded and using the qualifiers to work on their game.
But the team that will play in 2012 will not be as good as the team in 2009 and they may come up against some real tests in the 3 games they have to play before they get to Croke Park.
And no matter how many times people deny it, many of that team are ageing and do not have the legs they had in 2009.
An eight game route to an All Ireland final will take it's toll on the likes of Marc, Thomas, Tom Sullivan, Galvin, Aidan O' Mahoney, Brosnan etc.
Plus you have more chance of picking up injuries and suspensions.
IMO if Kerry are to win the All Ireland in 2012 they will have to beat Cork in Cork in the Munster Semi-final.

kevmy85

keane2097 wrote: »

As long as the only back up for the suggestion that players are past it is some number beside their name I'll be happy enough.

Bernard Brogan (27) struggled at stages last season, lot of miles on the clock, had some bad injuries, legs look like they're gone tbh.

Unfortunately the number beside the name does make a difference. If it doesn't why aren't there loads of 38 yr olds playing intercounty.

Also Bernard Brogan has nowhere near the mileage of the Kerry lads, he's only a first teamer for 3/4yrs. Alan has much more mileage on him and I'd say he's not got too many yrs left in him.

I also said the reason its a worry for the Kingdom is that the young players aren't coming through to replace the older defenders. Apart from Killian Young and Padraig Reidy there has been no new Kerry defender for at least 7 years I'd imagine.

kevmy85

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

League = Donegal

Ulster = Donegal
Munster = Cork
Connaught = Mayo
Leinster = Dublin

All Ireland = Cork, beating Mayo in the final

+1

Sanity_Saviour

NFL,

Division 1 : Mayo
Division 2 : Kildare
Division 3 : Roscommon
Division 4 : Wicklow

Championship,

Leinster: Kildare
Munster: Cork
Connacht: Mayo
Ulster : Derry

All-Ireland Champions - Kerry

Chucky Norris

fancy kildare for sam