Who do you think will win NFL and AI in 2014?

gaffer91

Bit early yes, but always interesting to have a look back on these threads at the end of the season.

I'd personally back Dublin for both. Despite Kerry's victory I would view them as a good team but not a great one, and I don't see them going on to dominate as they did in the 2000s. I think Donegal and Mayo will find it tough to be as competitive after losing McGuinness and Horan and I also simply don't think they're as good a team, and have as good players, as Dublin.

I don't see Dublin losing to anyone in the manner they lost to Donegal in 2014. Throw in their massive unfair population and funding advantage they have over the rest of the country, as well as the advantage they get from playing in Croke Park, and it's tough to see past them.

sob1467

gaffer91 wrote: »

Bit early yes, but always interesting to have a look back on these threads at the end of the season.

I'd personally back Dublin for both. Despite Kerry's victory I would view them as a good team but not a great one, and I don't see them going on to dominate as they did in the 2000s. I think Donegal and Mayo will find it tough to be as competitive after losing McGuinness and Horan and I also simply don't think they're as good a team, and have as good players, as Dublin.

I don't see Dublin losing to anyone in the manner they lost to Donegal in 2014. Throw in their massive unfair population and funding advantage they have over the rest of the country, as well as the advantage they get from playing in Croke Park, and it's tough to see past them.

Agree with you on the football Dublin are heavy favourites but on the hurling front, I would put Tipp, Kilkenny, Clare, Cork and Limerick (Slightly) and maybe Galway ahead of Dublin.

Dirty Dingus McGee

If its not a complete shock AI victory then I hope Dublin win the football All Ireland and win it quiet convincingly as well , hammering teams from the quarter finals on wards.I'd say they'll be sick with how things turned out last year as honestly I'd have them about 10 points a better team than Kerrys team last year, although it should be a great tussle between themselves and Kerry next year with Kerry surely improving with the additions of Cooper and Tommy Walsh.Sadly I think Mayo missed their big chance this year.

I'd fancy Tipp for the hurling but I think Limerick are in with a great chance, if Limerick don't win the All Ireland in the next 3 or 4 years they never will as I think the standards in hurling will be a little lower for the next few years with Kilkenny surely going to decline a bit and Tipp never looking 100% convincing.If Kilkenny win the AI this year it will be Cody's greatest achievement as manager.

CORKDOUBLE

Dublin to win All-Ireland Senior football Championship..........
Cork to win All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship....
Brian Cuthbert to be manager of the year and Black birds to turn White....

deadybai

Kilkenny to win league and Liam (never underestimate the cats)
Hard to know where the football all Ireland is coming from. I'd go with mayo for the league and maybe Donegal for Sam

Browney7

Thinly veiled "let's have a swipe at Dublin getting every advantage under the sun thread". Hard to see past them though in fairness. If Cork had a decent management team they'd be in with a shout. Cant write off Kerry when they will get to a semi final minimum but I'd plump for Dublin. As for the league, no one will realiatically give a crap come September.

thinkstoomuch1

The football this year imo is the most straight forward to call of all, in two only two teams with a realistic chance, by that I mean having a panel of players with a competent management proven in regards winning, not as you will find as season goes on, some lazy journalism, and teams over blown in league but won't have a chances of winning Sam come what championship.
Make no mistake about it some media will over hype some teams in both the hurling and football championship.





Dublin got to be favourites, new energy and fresh voice with sherlock coming to management, Dublin will be fresh after last year but crucially and huge worry to other teams, Jim galvin all credit due had the honesty, bravery to admit Donegal defeat he's to blame for being too naive  , imo great sign manager admits mistake was made and guaranteed Dublin won't make the same again.
You see gavin took the crucial ist step forward from last year, week after loosing he admitted he tactical wise got it wrong so once you admit you have a problem it's far easier to fix.
He also wonderfully imo took the pressure and any doubt Dublin players would have in their own potential by saying lads I got it wrong. He unlike some management showed no ego in admitting he made a mistake and he reminds me of Cody, honesty within like fitzmaurice will make them great management.



Players won't doubt gavin for the mistake simply as he admitted it they will be further behind him for he's honesty but he's record at senior and under twenty one management means he's proven winner so they will still belief in him. He will not panic and change Dublin philosophy of football but he's shrewd enough to acknowledge he must tweak it with a more balanced and structural game plan.
Have no doubt he'll adapt, evolve and learn from mistakes imo.



The driving force of keeping up the great work of the great Andy kettle (rip) will give them more cause and focus to winning the all ireland, added to the fact they won't want kerry retain it added to the fact gavin wants redemption added to serious football talent the Dublin panel has a serious cocktail that will be in with huge chance of winning it.




Kerry young lads have confidence now and will get better and better and they will be fresh in a soft munster title at home to cork they will get all ireland quater final and then peak from then on.
They will be all ireland quater finalists with out breaking a sweat.

Tommy walsh and Gooch will add to them hugely and they will bring in few under twenty ones Last few years that have potential just on badly coached under twenty one teams under darragh o se.

The retention of Sam is a burden looking at the history of winners recently but kerry are well primed to rattle it and they have a brilliant truly brilliant manager in fotzmaurice and o neill as coach and their the one county that traditional past will help them deal with the expectation.

Mayo, at their best in terms of organisation, cohesion, intensity, brilliant skill coach in ed coughlan and brillant james horan couldn't even win it then as had only one top top forward so now without horan, coughlan and going on a fourth year with no all ireland won the energy and drive just won't be there.
This new dual management imo is a dissaster waiting to happen, too many chefs spoil the broth and I have huge doubts the players truly believe in it.
They had horan coughlan and Buckley before so everything was at elite standard, they will notice any drop in standards with dual management and imo dual management lacks ownership and responsibilities and this imo will show on the field In perefermonces.





Mayo will imo be in league relegation battle with cork in the league and wont even win connaught this year imo. Keith Higgins retiring is a huge loss also at a relatively young age still.
He may be considering it anyway who knows but imo new management bound to have a bearing on if a player will commit for another year etc.
I think many players know huge commitment needed last four years with no real awards for it so if they see management coming in and they doubt them quite understandable that wouldhave an input in to them call it a day.




Tough times ahead imo.
Donie Buckley is one positive to be staying with them as imo is one of the best coaches in the country, an absolute genius in football sense and a gentleman off it but shows nice guys can indeed be great coaches as he's ruthless also.


It's different dynamic though for him working with dual management and imo I wouldnt be surprised if he's back in kerr at minor or under twenty one next year as there will be openings for him there.
There's not imo much more he can do in mayo.




Tyrone, Donegal all in transition I can't see them winning it. Yes we will have no doubt read an article blowing up armagh and the greatly over hyped kieran mcgeeney Who the national media just adore, and he's some man all credit due to talk the talk, but they won't come anywhere close to an all ireland win.
Donegal will be competive but old milage will start to take its toll but they will still beat most teams but not an all ireland imo.



As for my own county cork, as browney said talent is there but management imo is way off and with greatest respect to them I'd even doubt they could manage cork junior to all Ireland and that's not exaggeration but purely bases in their poor poor managerial records, and exceptional pat Flanagan is a wonderful coach yes but the dynamic won't fit in the cork set up.
Cork In serious danger of league relegation.
For a county that should have serious all ireland credibility we will struggle to be a top eight team under the current shambles we have.




As for hurling, only two teams will imo have any chance beating Kilkenney and that's clare and cork , and cork may not still win the all ireland but could play Kilkenney in an all ireland semi final as I doubt they want to win munster.
The time to catch Kilkenney is in any game bar the final imo.



Tippeary has a good manager imo o shea but players have in league finals and all ireland finals suffered too many defeats to Kilkenney that there beaten before a sliothar is thrown in.
Mistake tipp made was not making o shea coach after sheedy before declen ryan.
He done well with tipp but o shea really had core bunch lads beaten too many times by Kilkenney when he got the main job the damage imo irreversible as it was, had already been done in Kilkenney have tipps
Tippeeary have made imo a horrendous call by current selector Michael ryan who there seven years ratified manager next year no matter what happens this year , tipp crying out for new voice and ryan won't win all ireland with them.
Seven years in a set up with just one all ireland is too long in players won't belive in it and tippeeary imo will win under twenty one all ireland this year but there young talent will be wasted at senior for the next two year years
If they had any sense Liam o donughe Galway young clarinbridge all ireland winner in back room staff with tipp should been the senior manager imo.




Clare have beaten Kilkenney at under twenty one twice, and lost minior by point they were given no chance in, beat Kilkenney league also last year so there's no inferior complex, but they want Kilkenney as they want to be seen as a great team.
They have a freshness and energy about them, no under twenty ones distraction, have winning belief and young imo they will be realistic contenders with Kilkenney.
Kinnerk is a huge loss but I've seen them train already recently they will be fine.




Cork are outside clare the only team could on a day beat cats as jbm three times as manager in Minor and senior beaten Kilkenney and Kilkenney suit cork style play and cork unlike limerick or tipp won't be beaten before a sliothar is thrown in.

Limerick will be talked up by the media but tj ryan is average manager if you study he's record , actually has done nothing really last year, in forget moral victory v Kilkenney, he lost that game and cork also. Tj ryan record as manager is at under twenty one also quite poor.


Yes fitzmaurice had poor defeat kerry In under twenty one however he actually listened and learned as selectors under jack o Connor in senior, and then appointment proven coach cian o neill helped him greatly , none of which tj ryan has done

Passion and pride in the jersey as admirable as it is with their work ethic and honesty just like munster rugby In Europe is great but you need more to win against the great teams in the big games.



Yes they beat tipp. WExford were beaten before the game started in four week in a row they were out imo.
The lions rugby don't even do four tests series now anymore as even for professional outfit fourgames in four weeks is too tough, ameautear team like WExford had no chance in truth.
This interestingly is a point all too easily forgotten imo by media and some in limerick in regards what I belive over value that win.
This was not a ruthless execution of fire power by limerick, more to do WExford were through no fault of their own flat and tired mentality and physically.
That was no real test for limerick under tj.
He's had three real games imo last year, lost two imo.
In awful weather they had glorious chance to beat Kilkenney who imo were just at eighty per cent in the weather affected the game in no real pace could be added and it became a physical war of attrition that suited limerick yet they lost.


Kilkenney in both all ireland finals were way above the limerick game in the pace and standard they brought in glorious weather they played in yet limerick were at full tilt in slow physical game imo but Kilkenney not in full flow yet they still won.
If Kilkenney meet them next year sun on their backs they will win.




Not one of current limerick manage have any record of proven tactical nous and that will despite having good talent and work ethic etc be their undoing. Combined with as proven last year tj ryan lack ruthless conviction to drop non performing players and he's too loyal to a core group of players highlighted by the recall of two old players he played with in mike Fitzgerald and in particular niall moral imo shows he's judgement is clearly clouded by emotions in picking players.
I can see at least twelve last year starting team starting again.


Limerick won't beat clare and come imo close to an all Ireland imo but I so expect some pundits to belive they will win the all ireland.
I have no doubt about that imo.


Division two will hinder their progress imo also to make that final jump from being just a good team to truly becoming all ireland champions.




Dublin have real chance getting to an all ireland quater final.
WExford could take a scalp or two.
Galway have outgrown cunningham and teams are aware their dangerous In one off games now so I think even the odd one off shock win is beyond them now also.

Laois hurling have got a rejigged management team and added top top coach with cheddar and ger cunningham ul so they will make progress


Cork will be there or there abouts In handy opener v Waterford who have undoubted talents but poor poor management , so In a Munster final just three games to the summit.
Aidan walsh  and cahalane hurling alone huge bonus with Paudie sullivan back but lot depends on does new coach mark landers add tactical nous to the cork set up.
Imo only three teams have a realistic chances winning the all ireland , Kilkenney, Clare and cork.
Others on a given day will be dangerous but I can't see them having consistently excellent standard required to win the holy grail.



Kilkenney retirement bar jj won't affect them. But jj huge huge loss to them and they will struggle to fill that gap but there still a team that can win it.


I agree in football the league is irrelevant in kerry won't give a monkies regards it but the talk will be they want to win it.
Dublin imo will try and win it.
The hurling league will be more a barometer in Kilkenney will try and win it again so imo much more better competition than the farce of munster final.


Clare are targeting the league and having seen how it helps Kilkenney they want to win it.
Cork I hear are taking it seriously and I hope will aim to win it as league is seriously competitive in the top division in hurling unlike the football.
Jbm said cork want to win munster again, said so early imo sure sign he doesn't really put much in to it, in he's just and correctly so talking the talk. Winning a second munster title will do absolutely nothing for The cork group of players imo no matter how much spin doctoring will be put on a Munster title.



And I like many won't be singing banks of my own lovely lee if they do win it, In there's no value in it anymore truth be told in my opinion.




What's certain imo is no team from division two will win all Ireland as since 96 no team has since WExford which in essence shows the value of top league hurling is very relevant to the championship and any team in division two wont win it now imo.
You will learn more in loosing a division one game by four points to tippeeary etc than hammering Offaly by twenty points,, and I genuinely mean no disrespect to Offaly hurling as I have huge time for them.
Staying up in division one imo far more important than winning a Munster title in No team in ten years as won munster and all ireland since cork done it in the same year in 2005 yet no team in division two won all ireland since 96.
The stats don't lie imo.
Getting to a Munster final is important in you have just three games then to summit but your better off loosing munster and trying our few new players for the munster final.
Yes it sad to see munster final becoming so non important but unfortunately it's become that and unless they change things will remain that.

John Cherry

Mayo for NFL and Sam as well.

Realt Dearg Sec

Well, I'm told football is so competitive anyone could win it so...I dunno, Louth?

Hurling if limerick can keep their underpants clean after winning a Munster game might have the ability but their fans expectations will probably scupper them.

The league, honestly who cares? I'll go for Galway.

Yeah I've been drinking.

Always_Running

A fresh voice or voices might bring that extra % improvement that Mayo need. Pat Holmes has already won the NFL don't be surprised if history repeat itself in 2015. As for the championship I'm going for kerry to defend their title Cooper,Walsh returning will make them stronger and their biggest challenge will probably be against Mayo or Dublin in the AI final

zombieHanalei

gaffer91 wrote: »

I don't see Dublin losing to anyone in the manner they lost to Donegal in 2014. Throw in their massive unfair population and funding advantage they have over the rest of the country, as well as the advantage they get from playing in Croke Park, and it's tough to see past them.

Ah jaysus, not this again...

ureds

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Mayo will imo be in league relegation battle with cork in the league and wont even win connaught this year imo. Keith Higgins retiring is a huge loss also at a relatively young age still.
.

Higgins is not retiring.

corny

gaffer91 wrote: »

Bit early yes, but always interesting to have a look back on these threads at the end of the season.

I'd personally back Dublin for both. Despite Kerry's victory I would view them as a good team but not a great one, and I don't see them going on to dominate as they did in the 2000s. I think Donegal and Mayo will find it tough to be as competitive after losing McGuinness and Horan and I also simply don't think they're as good a team, and have as good players, as Dublin.

I don't see Dublin losing to anyone in the manner they lost to Donegal in 2014. Throw in their massive unfair population and funding advantage they have over the rest of the country, as well as the advantage they get from playing in Croke Park, and it's tough to see past them.

So thats not relevant in 2014 but in 2015 it will be? Not logical.

Some predictions.... Donegal will fall back into mediocrity without JM. Mayo will still be hard to beat but as always they'll find one too good. Armagh are the biggest threat from Ulster. Cork will still be in limbo. Dublin will do the League and Championship double and only Kerry can (but won't) stop them.

iDave

Dublin will enter everything as favourites. They just have to finish 4th the league to get a home semi and final. Cant see them losing this. As for the big one, that will be a bit harder for them. Being 4th best wont be good enough but that wont be an issue. The issue is Kerry will be a lot better in Aug/Sep than the Spring. Having thrown away what should of been a straightforward AI for them in 2015 I cant see them letting complacency coming into it this time round.

sean mac

NFL - utterly irrelevant imo.
AI Hurling - Kilkenny in hurling, miles better then other teams: clare without Collins and the ongoing tension in the squad will not attain their potential, cork are 3 players short of it and questions remain about the sidelines game management, limerick don't have the mental strength to win an all Ireland, tipp will win if they avoid kk who they cant beat, galway not good enough, Dublin not good enough, Waterford in crisis, wexford not good enough.

AI Football - Dublin/Kerry joint favourites. Kerry very good team with brilliant manager maximising his resources, Dublin brilliant squad with naïve manager who hasn't got the attack/defend issue sorted and needs a centre back. After that mayo will regress this year, cork are in crisis with an incompetent manager, Armagh are a division 3 team, Donegal squad too small to come again, Roscommon, tyrone, derry, monaghan, tipp all potential quarter finalists

Twoman Fullbackline

Hurling - Hard to look past Kilkenny, hard to know how the retirements will truly affect them as JJ was the only constant starter who has gone. Not as far ahead as they were five years ago for sure, but look at the likes of TJ Reid, Richie Hogan and Richie Power who have stepped up to the mark this year in particular - they still have the marquee players even with all the retirements.

The challengers?
Clare haven't gone away - the short season this year might have done them good and there won't be the hype about 8 game plans, etc etc going into the year. Biggest handicap to them is the livewire wearing the Bainisteoir bib.
Limerick are probably in with their best shout in years - strong team with some serious prospects coming through. Bit of work to be done to extract the required extra 10%, whether TJ is the man to do that remains to be seen.
Tipp will always be there or thereabouts but will struggle to beat the more physical teams KK/Limerick. The one thing is they probably won't have the whole full-back/where do we play Paudie Maher conundrum in 2015. They will be a lot more settled in that regard.


Football - Between Dublin & Kerry. Mayo & Donegal will go backwards and no one else comes close.

thinkstoomuch1

I donein post originally for just winners as per opening post said but if I was to go with a bolter for quater finalists and possibly semi final with good draw I'd be saying Galway are best chance


They have the talent won two under twenty ones Last four years neat good cork sides along the way more importantly have a midfield who can compete with the near and natural scoring forwards




Walsh despite the unlogic outburst by eammon o hara who just thrown he's toys out he's pram done well in no offence to sligo but their poor enough and expectation always low but imo exceeded it by getting to two connaught final in row and also beating Galway and Mayo with limited recourses
He's the last manager to beat mayo in connaught four years ago and with proven all ireland young lads talent well capable of going to mayo and winning in mayo are going go back backwards


Holmes may be a fresh voice, but fresh voices are useless imo unless they sing in tune to the rtymn of the flow In modern intercounty senior football which Holmes last three years were a dissaster with mayo before,he did brillant.He fair win under twenty one beating cork in o6

Walsh also managed sligo junior to all Ireland no mean feat in beat kerry well but no connaught team won junior in ten years before they won it or after them.
In fact connaught have only four or five wins in last forty years or so competition so that was some win


The loss to London was a bad loss but that imo was inevitable as I remember when predict thread was here for that year in competition I went for London to win in sligo had come to end under walsh in unlike other counties you add fresh blood you have talent coming through walsh be fair had little


He got sligo up the division from four to two and beat Galway in Galway and Mayo so he obviously has good unity, cohesion, disclpine within he's team and made poorer team's better imo so yes he's now next challenge is can he turn young better players than he ever had sligo in to winners, imo he will win a connaught title in he's term but will get final this year at least


He's good draw in new York and leitrim should test he's team not unduly so he'll have momentum in facing in to mayo in a semi final
Most Galway lads beaten mayo underage so good management won't fear mayo


He's biggest challenge will be to get balance of fancy fast footloose free style they play at under twenty one to senior where more teams play a blanket defence but having played similar style with sligo as he no choice but to imo he is at this time the right man in the right place for them




Monaghan, be quaterfinals, Donegal, tippeary, and meath if injury free in with a shout with a full strength team could be last eight material.


If walsh does become the manager good enough to win an all ireland then Galway imo nest team with chance breaking the kerry Dublin monopoly imo as the talent is there and yes while monaghan and the Donegal have the system to be competive, the game has now w eloved again from system to actually back to playing talent as kerry proceed to prove once you match system your opponents beat it better footballers will win out
Imo the football game Is changing again and better footballers and depth panels will invariably dominate for the next five years again. Credit to kerry the original purists for changing the dynamic of it again.
They had imo to go other side to actually bring it back to their way.
I'd say in next two years it be less systematic.



Cork imo outside Galway and Tyrone who may need fresh voice even though Harte truly was and is great manager are only one have natural talent to win outside dublin and kerry imo also but poor management this cork team won't even come close to a Munster title or division one title, may win mcgrath cup again though

Kkboy

Review of the hurling year on Setanta now, Eoin Kelly made the point that picking a manager one year in advance is not a good idea.

Realt Dearg Sec

Kkboy wrote: »

Review of the hurling year on Setanta now, Eoin Kelly made the point that picking a manager one year in advance is not a good idea.

What did he mean, one year in advance of what, the new season? Not sure what his logic is in that or maybe I'm misunderstanding it.

Kkboy

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

What did he mean, one year in advance of what, the new season? Not sure what his logic is in that or maybe I'm misunderstanding it.

What he meant was, and in fairness it was an honest answer to a direct question, that it may have been unwise to name Michael Ryan as the Tipp manager for 2016

Realt Dearg Sec

Kkboy wrote: »

What he meant was, and in fairness it was an honest answer to a direct question, that it may have been unwise to name Michael Ryan as the Tipp manager for 2016

Oh, that's a fair point, I actually hadn't realised they'd done that. Bad idea, closing the door on other options that far out.

Mr. Incognito

Kerry and Dublin will meet in the semi final this year.

Kerry to come is as underdogs and beat them.

Then to beat Tyrone in the final.

Kilkenny are hard to look past in the hurling. Tipp or Limerick should have a chance in a semi against them.

Would love to see Galway win one

The_Honeybadger

It's one of Dublin, Kerry or Mayo in that order for the SFC. I think Mayo can do it if their new management teams beds in well and if COC moves up a gear, but they are very much an outside bet.

Dublin have a better squad than kerry and will be chomping at the bit to regain their crown after a very disappointing end to 2014, and would be my choice for the SFC at the moment.

Absolutely no way you can write off kerry though, cooper and Walsh returning is a dream come true for the kingdom, and they may also have Darren Sull fit for the first time in years. If even one or two of the above hit form in 2015 they will be a serious threat.

wackokid

Nobody mentioned the referees, or at least the stinking bad ones.
Them the lads wot will decide where the cups go, just like last year.
Between black cards, yellow cards, red cards and ticks, sure the game of gaelic football is a jungle.
Be interesting to see if the worst ref in Ireland is re employed in 2015?

Realt Dearg Sec

wackokid wrote: »

Nobody mentioned the referees, or at least the stinking bad ones.
Them the lads wot will decide where the cups go, just like last year.
Between black cards, yellow cards, red cards and ticks, sure the game of gaelic football is a jungle.
Be interesting to see if the worst ref in Ireland is re employed in 2015?

employed?

thelad95

There'll be all the usual hype about how the All-Ireland hurling championship is more competitive than ever before we inevitably end up with Kilkenny and Tipp battling it out in September.

Wexford to make a hurling semi this year. They never had a proper chance against Limerick last year.

Have the draw for the football semi-finals been made yet?

Fr Tod Umptious

Like others I think Dublin are rightly favorites.
I also think Kerry have a good chance to get to the final based on their draw, their first real test will be against the Ulster Champions of B side qualifiers in the SF

After that it's hard to know
Mayo could very easily get caught in their first game away to Galway, who at that point would have already played NY and Leitrim.
And their season could end on a Saturday afternoon up north in the B side of the qualifiers
Whomever wins Connaught will play a B side qualifier in the QF, and for inexperienced guys like Roscommon and Galway that may not be easy.
Cork will likely lose the Munster final in Killarney so that will put them in the A side of the draw which is much easier than the B side, but a likely meeting with Dublin awaits in the QF

I have no idea who wins Ulster but the B side of that draw is really tough.

As for the league I think all but Dublin could possibly be relegation candidates deepening of who they play etc.

By the way the A and B sides of the draw are as follows

A
Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Antrim, Offaly, Longford, Loais, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Clare, Limerick, Cork, London, Roscommon, Sligo

B
Donegal, Tyrone, Derry, Down, Armagh, Louth, Westmeath, Wexford, Meath, Waterford, Tipp, Kerry, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim

Leinster and Munster losers go to A side
Leinster and Munster winners play A side if QF.

Connaught and Ulster play B sides.