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1. Dublin - Seemed to be running out of steam as the season went on and this will give everyone else hope ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts: 114 - 13/10/2016 12:57:13 1925685 Link 0 |
Cork appear to be in a shambolic state at the moment although they weren't that far away from beating Donegal and Tipp were a far better side last season than any of us knew at the time they beat Cork. TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 13/10/2016 13:09:41 1925692 Link 0 |
How are Mayo 5th and falling back into the pack. They were 1 point off Dubs over 140 minutes of football. They've a younger team than say Kerry and they just won the AI under 21s. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4240 - 13/10/2016 13:18:16 1925696 Link 1 |
Well we have some fantastic underage players coming up, but we won't see those in 17. However I am curious as to why you haven't included mayo in those to challenge dubs, now perhaps I missed it, but on tho years form of have them as the main challenge
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2016 13:21:32 1925699 Link 0 |
All you can ask for RD is a steelier edge and better work rate and see where the talent will take you then.
Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 13:34:05 1925705 Link 6 |
I left Fermanagh out of my OP and they should be mentioned. Gotmillk had gotten me thinking. You'll always leave some team out though. Tyrone83 said they could be dark horses for Ulster. They are a very consistent well managed side with some top players. I don't think they are as good as the 00s Fermanagh team. It would be some achievement if Fermanagh won an Ulster. 2008 drawn game v Armagh (i could be wrong on the year) was the best chance i ever remember Fermanagh having. Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 13:38:32 1925706 Link 6 |
Cavan have made progress in the last few years following their work at under 21 level and it may be interesting to see how ex-Tyrone man Mattie gets on. He has good club /schools experience over the years and sometimes it takes a new face to push a county on. Cavan must make the best of Division One football and should make a good push for the Ulster Championship. They pushed Tyrone all the way in the league clash in February and the drawn game in June. Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 13/10/2016 13:43:37 1925710 Link 1 |
It seems Meath are the only county in Ireland with fantastic youth players coming through. Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12122 - 13/10/2016 13:51:27 1925715 Link 0 |
Exactly, that's all we can ask for.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/10/2016 14:02:41 1925725 Link 0 |
That was the year, lack of a reliable free taker killed us in both games. Once Armagh got the goal in the replay they won easily but by god we missed some amount of score-able frees on both days. I think we went over 25 minutes without scoring in the replay despite controlling the ball. Anyway maybe this year will be the year.
gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/10/2016 14:27:43 1925742 Link 0 |
1 Mayo salvador (Roscommon) - Posts: 439 - 13/10/2016 14:42:12 1925751 Link 0 |
After looking at the Laois SFC semi finals you wouldn't be too hopeful of progress. We seem to have a good management team though. Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 14:49:54 1925753 Link 5 |
What have Tyrone done to be considered as serious pretenders?? They scrapped past a tired Donegal team in the Ulster Final and couldn't beat a Mayo team that were far from their best. They are still completely reliant on Sean Cavanagh and have no inside forward line yet they are seen as genuine challengers - I don't see it myself. Bermuda Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 106 - 13/10/2016 16:42:14 1925821 Link 0 |
It was the year alright. Armagh were on the wane a little from the heights of the early to mid 00s. Wexford caught them in the quarter final. We live in hope but when you're from counties like Laois or Fermanagh you have to take your chance when it comes. We should probably have won more than one Leinster in the 00s but then again TG we won 1. I'd imagine Gotmilk you'd probably have swapped an Ulster for the 2004 semi appearances, or would you? Laois haven't been in a football semi since 1946.. Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 13/10/2016 17:00:45 1925836 Link 6 |
The draw tonight will tell us a lot too, will be interesting to see how Tipp and Clare build on their respective runs this year they both certainly have talent to work with particularly Tipp. Cork are as unpredictable as the weather yet if they get on a run could be dangerous, I will watch Cavan with interest as the new management there might push them forward. Galway were progressing well until the Tipp game, like Meath promotion from Division 2 will be a certain aim for them. Roscommon appear in turmoil off the pitch with the management scenario and there appears to be no unity there at present, big opportunities being lost there I feel. Monaghan and Donegal both need fresh faces/legs and whilst Tyrone will most likely be favourites for Ulster they themselves need a forward or two if they want to claim back the big prize. Meath, I hope, will be a different proposition under McEntee and whilst Rome wasn't built in a day I think promotion to Division 1 with four home games is a realistic target with competitive showings in the championship and a last eight place combining to produce a positive year. Laois are eternal underperformers but when suitably motivated can cause problems and Westmeath's cause in 2017 will not be helped by playing Division 4 football regardless of what they say. Kildare lack strength and bite but have had good underage teams of late and will look to blood some of them in the next year or two. Overall I think Sam will rest in Dublin, Mayo or Kerry when 2017 is done and dusted, others may improve and challenge but a semi final spot would be the best the rest can achieve, the big prize will allude them for a while yet. Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 13/10/2016 17:36:22 1925849 Link 0 |
It would be good for the game if a football-obsessed county like Cavan/Roscommon/Kildare could develop into serious contenders. Unlikely though. As refreshing as Tipp were this year, the fact you could fit all their supporters onto the team-bus left a sour taste. GallantJohnJoe (Cavan) - Posts: 329 - 13/10/2016 18:06:51 1925862 Link 0 |
To be fair Laois are always a sticky team with some good natural footballers, I never enjoyed playing Laois, they seemed to always either give Meath a tough game or beat us, even during the Boylan era Laois could easily turn us over. A last 8 appearance shouldn't be out of reach for teams likes of Laois, but to be fair it should be a target for most teams. Ye Meath really are lacking steel these days, which does seem incredible to people who saw us in the 80s and 90s but nothing lasts forever. We have to put the work in to re-establish ourselves, McEntee is a very determined character and he won't be found wanting, but do our players have it in them? no signs of it so far but you never know. Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2016 19:16:06 1925877 Link 0 |
Great draw for Meath. Leinster final is very attainable. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4240 - 13/10/2016 22:52:53 1925942 Link 0 |
It's certainly what we should be aiming for but so will the other 5 counties who avoided Dublin's side of the draw. Laois and Kildare will really fancy their chances, Louth love having a crack at Meath and are more than capable of reaching the final as well. No disrespect to Wicklow and Longford but they will probably be aiming to win their 1st round matches and take it from there.
Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/10/2016 23:02:16 1925953 Link 0 |
Longford have had some good qualifier results in recent years at least, they'd have some hope of beating Laois. Louth should account for Wicklow handily. I really wish Leinster got good again we need some more good games earlier in the season.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4240 - 13/10/2016 23:10:59 1925959 Link 0 |