Sam Maguire 2013

Dubchef

Who do you think will win the Sam Maguire 2013 and why. Myself being from Dublin, think we have a great chance of winning it as we have some great young players coming up tru the ranks along with the usual brogan brothers, bastick, connolly etc, but will an outsider emerge the victor???

Always_Running

Cork, They would have won it last year if they didn't run into Jimmy winning matches. I think they will beat Dublin in the semi final and Mayo in the All Ireland final.

Fr Tod Umptious

Always_Running wrote: »

Cork, They would have won it last year if they didn't run into Jimmy winning matches. I think they will beat Dublin in the semi final and Mayo in the All Ireland final.

I think it's between the three you mentioned.

If Donegal were to retain it it would be a a huge achievement, it's very difficult to give it all the effort the year after winning.

Kerry are in a rebuilding phase and are not ready to challenge

The rest are total outsiders.

darragh_haven

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I think it's between the three you mentioned.

If Donegal were to retain it it would be a a huge achievement, it's very difficult to give it all the effort the year after winning.

Kerry are in a rebuilding phase and are not ready to challenge

The rest are total outsiders.

I'd agree until the Kerry statement. Being from cork, I'd still be wary of the Kerry team, they might be in a mini rebuilding phase but still have 9 or 10 of their starting 15 with multiple all-ireland medals in the back pocket. That's some amount of experience to draw on.

Fr Tod Umptious

darragh_haven wrote: »

I'd agree until the Kerry statement. Being from cork, I'd still be wary of the Kerry team, they might be in a mini rebuilding phase but still have 9 or 10 of their starting 15 with multiple all-ireland medals in the back pocket. That's some amount of experience to draw on.

It doesn't matter a damn how many All Ireland's they have, the reality is that they are ageing and the younger lads have yet to prove themselves.

Sure they may win the Munster final, they are playing Cork in Killarney if both reach that stage

But i would not expect them to get beyond the semi final if they win Munstrer, if they loose Munster then they may struggle in a quarter final.

Tom Joad

I can see Dublin winning it as they are best placed to do itand with new management they will be back fresh and hungry for it. They are the best all around team in the championship and with Ciarán Kilkenny back it gives them an added bonus and a lift.

I expect Kerry to be quarterfinalists - they need a bit of time to rebuild and regroup and may be away from finals for 2 or 3 years.

Tyrone will be back stronger and will be best of the Ulster team - fancy them to reach the semi-finals.

I think Donegal will struggle this year - last year and the celebrations and the touring the country etc will take it out of them and they will by quarterfinalists.

Cork, while arguably the best team on paper will again fall short when the big day comes around - I've said it a few times here but expect this Cork team to be remembered as the team that left a few all-irelands behind them.

Think Mayo will be reach the final again but will lose out to the Dubs.

Of the rest, Meath, Longford, Offaly, Clare, Roscommon and Cavan will have good years and will be worth watching.

keane2097

For Kerry it depends on the draw. They're no worse than Dublin and would be correctly favourites against anyone other than Cork and Donegal at any stage of the Championship. Sorting out their tactical approach out this season will be of great importance.

Mayo are still an unknown quantity to an extent. Last year showed a definite improvement on 2011 but remember how far off the pace they were when they met Kerry in 2011. It's not as simple as saying they reached the All Ireland final so are automatically better than X, Y or Z. Down are a nothing team that they put to bed in the manner you'd expect of a top side which was good. The semi-final was less impressive because it was against a Dublin side that were awful for the entirety of the season and missing it's most important player by a distance.

I'd rank the teams Donegal > Cork > Dublin = Kerry > Mayo > Kildare at the moment. Kildare are closer to Mayo than Tyrone are to Kildare. There's not a whole lot between any of the top five.

wonga77

Looking forward to it. I wouldnt write Kerry off anyway as you never know what they will produce. Its hard to see Donegal playing with the same intensity again this year. It will depend on what hunger they have for it. Nonetheless it will take a good team to beat them.
Cork in my mind are a bit like the Dubs, its hard to know what to expect and they can have one excellent performance followed with a poor one. Mayo should be in the mix again but they need to time their momentum a bit better, no point peaking too early.
Other than those 5 I dont see anyone else coming close. The leinster championship will be interesting, can the Dubs be knocked off their perch?

corny

If Dublin can maintain the defensive resilience instilled by Gilroy i'd make them tentative favourites. If the game plan isn't as structured as it was i'd favour Cork and Kerry against them.

Donegal will find, like everyone else, retaining it is unbelievably difficult.

Mayo won't be beaten easily and could make another final but i fancy they'll find one too good again. Wouldn't begrudge another new winner so i wouldn't mind being wrong here.

Of the rest Kildare are going backwards and Tyrone, Meath, Down etc won't be able to live with the teams above when it gets serious.

Luca Brasi

I dont really go for the Kerry can come from nowhere arguement. There is a lot of mileage on the legs and like the period between 1986 and 1987 too many players have not got their chance admittedly because of the good players like the O Se's etc holding their spots. There is a different edge to Mayo but still and all they were naieve against Donegal. Cork are underachievers but could come with a run. Dublin will have the usual easy run through Leinster which wont help. A lot of the others like Tyrone, Donegal Kildare will do damage but wont go all the way. I would go for Cork

Red Crow

I'd have Donegal then Cork then Kerry. I don't think anybody from Leinster will get within an arses roar of Croke Park in September. I think Dublin and Kildare have gone backwards over the past 12 months and Dublin looked very feeble in the championship last year.

DARK-KNIGHT

Obvious4/5 teams that all have mentioned but still fancy the lilies to progress to qf stage at least and with the monkey media off their backs this year who knows. League will tell a lot of stories IMO what div 1 teams show strength and div 2 of course

robbiezero

Always_Running wrote: »

Cork, They would have won it last year if they didn't run into Jimmy winning matches. I think they will beat Dublin in the semi final and Mayo in the All Ireland final.

They probably would have won it last year but for Donegal even in spite of their abject performance in that match.
Last year was a poor enough year in that a lot of the big guns were not at their best.
Was the end of a great Kerry team.
Dublin had a big of an All Ireland hangover and never got near the levels of the previous year.
Tyrone and Armagh still rebuilding.
Kildare had a very poor year and went back a long way.

I can't see Cork winning it next year. I think any of Dublin, Mayo, Donegal will take them or even one of the others if they improve. Corks big men are not the force they were and I wonder what effect their hiding at the hands of Donegal will have had on them.

robbiezero

Eli Manning wrote: »

I'd have Donegal then Cork then Kerry. I don't think anybody from Leinster will get within an arses roar of Croke Park in September. I think Dublin and Kildare have gone backwards over the past 12 months and Dublin looked very feeble in the championship last year.

I'd expect to see a big improvement from Dublin this year. They have plenty players and I think last year did'nt have the hunger when their All-Ireland goal had been achieved.
New manager and the likes of Kilkenny, Costello, Rock putting pressure on for a place should see them improve a lot. They still lack a bit in midfield and half forward line however

Dirty Dingus McGee

Dublin for me.Despite being a little sloppy all year and lacking the drive they had in 2011 they still managed to get to the semi finals and could have snatched it against Mayo.They are solid all through the team and opefull CMCauley is played in midfield this year.Him playing at centre forwrd seriously unbalanced Dublins attack last year.

If Cork had a new manager I would fancy the but Counihan is not a good tactician and Cork hacvstruggled all through his reign with teams who pakc their defence and he still hasnt been able to get them to adapt to playing against teams with very tight defences.Since 09 they have been the best team in Ireland on paper but only 1 all ireland if it ends like that for Counihans reign will have been a disappointment.

Kerry are always dangerous and I would never rule them out they still have the forwards to keep them competeitive but they will leak too many scores and a good team in the quarter finals will probably beat them.

Mayo will improve, and if they can get Andy Moran back at his bes and there forwards improve a bit from lat year they will go cose again.They are a solid team all through the field but just lack a little class in the full forward line , maybe Cillian O'Connor can develope into teh marquee forward they need.

Donegal will be interesting, I wonder will they further eveolve and play a little looser.Playing the high intensity football they play is bound to be draining and I dont know if they would be a bale for a full season of that again.Perhaps McFadden,Murphy and McBrearty may all play in a 3 man full forweard line.That would be great to see.

I think Kildare will be better this year as they will have less off the field distractions,Tyrone will start to improve aswell.down might be decent if they learned how to defend, Galway will probably improve alss I imagine they wont be so naive this year.I cant see anyone utside the top 5 I mentioned winning the all ireland but I can see team springing surpises in the qualifiers and we might have a couple of nexpected teams in the quarter finals.Outside of teh top 5 or 6 there isnt a huge amount of difference between the majority of teams.

Tombo2001

Donegal should be clear favourites in my view.

Kerry next.

Then one of Dublin, Cork, Mayo.

Hard to see anyone else stepping up besides Tyrone but you'd never know.

keane2097

If Kerry had gotten Laois instead of Donegal last year would people still be saying "but they still got to the semi-final" like they are with Dublin?

Red Crow

keane2097 wrote: »

If Kerry had gotten Laois instead of Donegal last year would people still be saying "but they still got to the semi-final" like they are with Dublin?

A Laois side that should of beaten Dublin too.

dcr22B

Eli Manning wrote: »

A Laois side that should of beaten Dublin too.

Should have, would have, could have

Can't see anybody outside of Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Dublin and Mayo winning Sam this year.

Have a gut feeling that Cork will do the business.

sgarvan

Tyrone will be one to watch

corny

keane2097 wrote: »

If Kerry had gotten Laois instead of Donegal last year would people still be saying "but they still got to the semi-final" like they are with Dublin?

Its a weak argument for Dublin and it would be a weak argument for Kerry.

Eli Manning wrote: »

A Laois side that should of beaten Dublin too.

Thats true but surely you're not suggesting thats a fair reflection of the ability of the side? Dublin applied themselves for 15 minutes of last years championship. Sad but true.

keane2097

corny wrote: »

Its a weak argument for Dublin and it would be a weak argument for Kerry.

Yeah that's all I was getting at.

Fr Tod Umptious

sgarvan wrote: »

Tyrone will be one to watch

They could very well win Ulster depending on what Donegal are like in their first outing of the season.

After that I'm not sure, a easy QF draw would possibly put them in a SF but I don't think they will get further than that.

premierstone

Just had a look back at last years thread and one person had mentioned Donegal, and that thread was also including predictions for Provincail honours. And I'm sure if I could find the previous years thread there wasn't too many shouting Down's name from the rooftops as potential finalists.

Kind of makes you laugh at some posters ridiculing peoples selections and been so adamant about their picks, its far too early and the reality is anyone from 10 counties could win it.

All that said if a gun was put to my head I would say Dublin v Mayo final with Cork and Kerry making the semis. Miles on the clock and poor management to ultimatley cost the latter two, although of the two Cork would seem best placed to step up, the unusual practice of Cork dual players selecting football over hurling would suggest that the mood in the county is that there is alot of unfinished business and potential in this squad it will be interesting to see if they can deliver.

robbiezero

keane2097 wrote: »

If Kerry had gotten Laois instead of Donegal last year would people still be saying "but they still got to the semi-final" like they are with Dublin?

No. Kerry are an old team now with a good bit of rebuilding to do and in a different place to Dublin. Dublin are a young established team and should have been a lot better than they were last year.
People would have been saying Kerry got to the semi-final at the peak of their current ability, whereas Dublin got to the semi-final despite being a long way off their best.

Having said that Kerry could rebuild very fast as there is decent talent there to work with although I haven't seen any young versions of the O'Se's, Gooch, Dec O Sullivan Galvin etc, yet.

klairondavis

I can't see Donegal going back-to-back. They will not have the same hunger when it comes down to it in the summer. The same happened Dublin last year. A team needs to be exceptional to win it two years in a row and I don't think Donegal have that sort of scope about them. Their quality will ensure they are still around late in the summer but they will find it harder to sustain the effort this year.

I think it will be between Dublin and Kerry. Dublin will be a refreshed outfit this year and the few changes to the management and the panel will do no harm. Similar story with Kerry. They still have the classiest players around and there is a nice blend of youth and experience there. If they can get Peter Crowley, David Moran and the two Geaneys to settle into their side they won't be far away. If they don't win it whoever beats them will.

Cork are a bit of an enigma. They have some very good young talent but they can seem a bit rudderless at times. The leaders in their team are getting on a bit and a lot of their younger players have not kicked on since 2010. Mayo will be thereabouts in August but lack the class forward who can make all the difference.

Tyrone, Down, Meath, Laois and my own county Kildare are capable of taking a scalp or two but lack the consistency and depth of talent to land the All-Ireland. From a Kildare point of view a Leinster title would be nice but this current Kildare team has never looked like landing the knockout blow against Dublin.

keane2097

Cork's problem is that their back line is woeful. That's been their problem for a while.

rpurfield

far too early in the year to tell and i think people coming on tipping their own county should be made pick someone else!!seeing as meath will do well to be playing football the august bank holiday weekend id honestly say if mayo can get andy moran back firing and learn from their mistakes theyll be there or there abouts.im really interested to see how donegal do this year,i think if a manager can get a team to go back to back itd be jimmy mcguinness.

manofwisdom

Would love to see outsider win it but the winner is going to come from the top four Donegal,Cork,Dublin,Kerry. If Donegal are at the same level as last year they will win it again if not i would fancy Kerry they have new manager with a fresh approach and have the trainer that got Mayo moving the last few years and if they do win the All Ireland it will be their last for a long time as the underage talent coming through isn't what it once was and the key players aren't getting any younger.

manofwisdom

sgarvan wrote: »

Tyrone will be one to watch

They would be the one outsider looking to make a mark. Have been unlucky with injuries the last few years.

nice_guy80

No other team has the quality players needed to win, outside of the top 4/5 teams

yes Donegal came from nowhere the last two years, but they have some serious players who had been underperforming.

I would say that for the tradition alone of coming from nowhere to win, Galway could surprise a lot of people.
and if Cavan harness their underage talent and get past Armagh in the prelim round they could well get to the Ulster final

68Murph68

On the ageing Kerry thing I wouldnt be so sure about writing them off on that basis. The likely members of the squad who will be over 30 are the following.

Tomás Ó Sé 35
Marc Ó Sé 33
Eoin Brosnan 33
Aidan O'Mahony 33
Paul Galvin 33
Declan O' Sullivan 30
Kieran Donaghy 30
Colm Cooper 30

The two O'Ses are the eldest but I cant see many writing them off and I can't see them letting their standards slip in the green and gold.

Eoin Brosnan looks to be ageing well after his mini retirement break.

Aidan O'Mahoney would have to fall into the category of squad player and I wouldnt be surprised to see him struggle to get playing time come the championship.

Galvin is a bit of a mystery and it will be interesting to see how things play out given the manager is married to his sister.

Are people willing to write off Declan, Kieran and Colm as over the hill at thirty?

While there might be a fair few miles on the clock, these lads are all proven winners and know what it takes to bring home Sam.

I think Fitzmaurice will be a massive boost to the team in terms of tactical ability. Anyone who read any of his columns with the Examiner will surely know he has a razor-sharp ability to read a game. Throw in the addition of Cian O'Neil to the management team and I'd imagine there is a sense of freshness around things.

Dont bet against Kerry in football and Kilkenny in hurling is a good motto to live by.

Fr Tod Umptious

68Murph68 wrote: »

On the ageing Kerry thing I wouldnt be so sure about writing them off on that basis. The likely members of the squad who will be over 30 are the following.

Tomás Ó Sé 35
Marc Ó Sé 33
Eoin Brosnan 33
Aidan O'Mahony 33
Paul Galvin 33
Declan O' Sullivan 30
Kieran Donaghy 30
Colm Cooper 30

The two O'Ses are the eldest but I cant see many writing them off and I can't see them letting their standards slip in the green and gold.

Eoin Brosnan looks to be ageing well after his mini retirement break.

Aidan O'Mahoney would have to fall into the category of squad player and I wouldnt be surprised to see him struggle to get playing time come the championship.

Galvin is a bit of a mystery and it will be interesting to see how things play out given the manager is married to his sister.

Are people willing to write off Declan, Kieran and Colm as over the hill at thirty?

While there might be a fair few miles on the clock, these lads are all proven winners and know what it takes to bring home Sam.

I think Fitzmaurice will be a massive boost to the team in terms of tactical ability. Anyone who read any of his columns with the Examiner will surely know he has a razor-sharp ability to read a game. Throw in the addition of Cian O'Neil to the management team and I'd imagine there is a sense of freshness around things.

Dont bet against Kerry in football and Kilkenny in hurling is a good motto to live by.

If Kerry are building their team around the above then they are on a hiding to nowhere, just as they were last year.

I agree that Cian O' Neill is a good addition to the back-room but Fitzmaurice is a poor choice if you ask me, too close to the Jack days, to close to the guys listed above and he was even reluctant to take the job in the first place.

He said himself he felt he had to take it as he may not get the cahnce again, I heard from someone who suggest that the Co Board could not find anyone else for the job and went back to Fitzmaurice after he had turned it down asking him to reconsider.

The guys listed above have not brought home Sam since '09 and have been on the decline ever since.
Kerry in 2012 failed were well beaten by Cork, got the scare of their lives v Westmeath and failed to beat Donegal (as everyone did admittedly)

What makes you think that the 2013 version will be All Ireland contenders ?

In Kerry and I have yet to hear any one other that the blind die hards have any confidence in this team for 2013

Kerry are still a few years away from another All Ireland if you ask me

NIMAN

Going to go against the grain and say Donegal.

OK so I know retaining it is a massive task, but think Donegal can do it.

Fr Tod Umptious

NIMAN wrote: »

Going to go against the grain and say Donegal.

OK so I know retaining it is a massive task, but think Donegal can do it.

Well if they did then fair play to them, it would be a legendary achievement

But can you describe how you think they can

Here is why I think they cannot

1. Hunger - It's only natural for it to fall in the second year, see Dublin 2012, see any of the Tryone teams of the 2000s, see Cork 2011 ( injuries a factor there too also)

2. Jimmy not 100% involved - No matter what people think the fact that he has a pro coaching job in Scotland will have an effect on the 'total buy in idea'

3. Opposition out to get them - Tyrone in their first outing. Sure enough you can use the back-door but it does not help in the planning when you are not sure about what the schedule will be. As we have seen in the past two season winning provincial championships has allowed teams to prepare better for the all Ireland series.

4. Luck - Early goals v Kerry and Mayo set them up this year, they may not get the chances again.

cormac halpin

Kerry to streamroll all in their path.

intellectual dosser

Donegal cited the ambition of retaining the Ulster title as the launchpad for their All Ireland success, I'd imagine they'll start there again this year and wont be thinking of the back door as any kind of safety net. All Ireland Champions from Ulster seemed to have a nack of going out early in the Ulster Championship so it wont be easy, but with the right mindset Donegal should get by Tyrone, who for me are the biggest threat to regaining Ulster.

For me I dont think Jimmy's commitments in Scotland should have a negative effect. Rory Gallagher has had a key role in managing the team over the last two years, a stronger role than most assistants imo, he should be able to keep the ship steady before Jimmy is back 100% for the summer.

Hunger - thats the one thing I dont have an answer for. I also think Donegal will have to tweak/evolve their 'system' a bit because its rare that particular tactics are so effective year over year in Gaelic Football.

My biased Donegal pick aside, I think if Mayo get the right draw, and play the Dubs in the final - its theirs.

iDave

For me its between Donegal, Dublin and Cork. There is something bizzare about both Dublin and Cork in that they both consistently produce quality teams but rarely use it to go the distance.
Mayo as an All Ireland finalist have to be up there of course but it would take a brave man to back Mayo given their history of bottling it.
Will reserve judgement of Kerry for now.
Outside of that no one really, Tyrone are in steady decline, the best anyone else can hope for is do what Down did in 2010.

corny

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

The guys listed above have not brought home Sam since '09 and have been on the decline ever since.

What makes you think that the 2013 version will be All Ireland contenders ?

In Kerry and I have yet to hear any one other that the blind die hards have any confidence in this team for 2013

Kerry are still a few years away from another All Ireland if you ask me

Thats hardly fair.

They lost in 2011 by a solitary point in a game they could easily have won. It was very small margins that day and but for one misplaced pass they'd be going into this year with a 50% strike rate over the previous four championships.

They've questions to answer this year for sure (like everyone else tbf) but only a fool would so vehemently write them off.

robbiezero

corny wrote: »

Thats hardly fair.

They lost in 2011 by a solitary point in a game they could easily have won. It was very small margins that day and but for one misplaced pass they'd be going into this year with a 50% strike rate over the previous four championships.

They've questions to answer this year for sure (like everyone else tbf) but only a fool would so vehemently write them off.

I would give them no chance of winning the All-Ireland.
2011 was the last throw of the dice for that great team.
It is finished now. They need to rebuild and from what I have seen of their new players there is no indication yet that they will be challenging for the All-Ireland for a few years yet.
I would rate Dublin, Cork, Donegal and Mayo ahead of them at the moment. They might make the semi-finals with a good draw and I think that would be a decent return for them this year.

robbiezero

I think its a pity for Cork that they did not change their management. They seem to have one type of game plan and when it doesn't work, there is no plan b. Their management will really have to come up with something different for dealing with massed defences this year.
The second half last year against Donegal, they were absolutely clueless as to what to do, likewise in 2008 (I think) v Kerry, Kerry just packed the defence and ran down the clock with a 4 point lead that never looked in any danger whatsoever.

cormac halpin

robbiezero wrote: »

I would give them no chance of winning the All-Ireland.
2011 was the last throw of the dice for that great team.
It is finished now. They need to rebuild and from what I have seen of their new players there is no indication yet that they will be challenging for the All-Ireland for a few years yet.
I would rate Dublin, Cork, Donegal and Mayo ahead of them at the moment. They might make the semi-finals with a good draw and I think that would be a decent return for them this year.

Quoted for posterity when The Kingdom are raising the canister in the Hogan later this year.

robbiezero

cormac halpin wrote: »

Quoted for posterity when The Kingdom are raising the canister in the Hogan later this year.

I hope they do. There is nothing better to watch than Kerry in full flow bar of course Tipperary in the hurling.

corny

robbiezero wrote: »

I hope they do. There is nothing better to watch than Kerry in full flow bar of course Tipperary in the hurling.

robbiezero wrote: »

I would give them no chance of winning the All-Ireland.

How do you reconcile whats in bold? They're at odds, no?

cormac halpin

robbiezero wrote: »

I hope they do. There is nothing better to watch than Kerry in full flow bar of course Tipperary in the hurling.

Not so sure about Tipp in hurling, only with O Shea were they really an enjoyable team to watch, their history has them as robust hurlers more so than nice wristy ones. Offaly would be the team I used to love in full flow, and even now while down a bit, they can still produce some lovely performances. Off Topic I know, but just sayin' so to speak. You're spot on with Kerry though, a beautiful county of footballers.

robbiezero

cormac halpin wrote: »

Not so sure about Tipp in hurling, only with O Shea were they really an enjoyable team to watch, their history has them as robust hurlers more so than nice wristy ones. Offaly would be the team I used to love in full flow, and even now while down a bit, they can still produce some lovely performances. Off Topic I know, but just sayin' so to speak. You're spot on with Kerry though, a beautiful county of footballers.

Its probably cos I'm from Tipp :-).

cormac halpin

robbiezero wrote: »

Its probably cos I'm from Tipp :-).

Ah fair enough

robbiezero

corny wrote: »

How do you reconcile whats in bold? They're at odds, no?

I would like to see them winning it. I do not think they have any chance of doing so however.
I would also like to see Tipperary win it, I also do not think they have any chance of doing so.

cormac halpin

robbiezero wrote: »

I would like to see them winning it. I do not think they have any chance of doing so however.
I would also like to see Tipperary win it, I also do not think they have any chance of doing so.

Seemed pretty straightforward to me.

On a slightly related topic, I'd love to see the day Tipperary are truly competitive at Senior Football level. Its coming, if they keep the right structures in place, its definitely coming. Much like Westmeath hurling, the right moves are being made, they just need to continue committing to it.

davegrohl48

I think some of the smaller counties would really benefit from having a goal of developing the central positions aimed at individual minor/u21 talent. You can have two great corner backs but they'll never cover for a full back who is too small (Roscommon have suffered from this for some time).
If you look at the best players in the country in central positions it's dominated by the top counties (Donegal, Kerry, Mayo, Dublin, Cork, Tyrone)
FB/CB/MF/CF/FF.
So for counties like Roscommon/Tipp it might be the case of moving a good midfielder early in their career to full back/centre back/full forward.
It takes a few years to really develop in positions.
E.g. it's crazy to have a big midfielder on the bench when maybe the smarter option was years ago to make him the full forward option. But it's not a one season switch, takes planning and years of development.

Always_Running

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Well if they did then fair play to them, it would be a legendary achievement

But can you describe how you think they can

Here is why I think they cannot

1. Hunger - It's only natural for it to fall in the second year, see Dublin 2012, see any of the Tryone teams of the 2000s, see Cork 2011 ( injuries a factor there too also)

2. Jimmy not 100% involved - No matter what people think the fact that he has a pro coaching job in Scotland will have an effect on the 'total buy in idea'

3. Opposition out to get them - Tyrone in their first outing. Sure enough you can use the back-door but it does not help in the planning when you are not sure about what the schedule will be. As we have seen in the past two season winning provincial championships has allowed teams to prepare better for the all Ireland series.

4. Luck - Early goals v Kerry and Mayo set them up this year, they may not get the chances again.

1. Injuries play a big part when defending a title (see Dublin 2012 Cork 2011) If Donegal lose Lacey,McFadden or Murphy it will be harder for them to retain their title.

2. He's got himself a job like 99% of the other managers i don't think that will matter much.

3. Opposition was out to get them last year. Tyrone,Derry had lost to them in 2011 a new year and they couldn't change the results.

4. Donegal didn't have much luck, their All Ireland win was one of the most impressive wins for over a decade. The goal v Kerry was poor defending on their part the first goal v Mayo was one of the goals of the year the 2nd one was a big mistake by Kevin Keane.


If Donegal keep their key players fit i think they will repeat Kerry's 2007 feat. For Mayo how they handle the huge expectations levels in 2013 will make or break them.