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All Ireland Championship 2020

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Caveat here - we're all too aware of the huge challenge it will be for the 2020 Championship to be completed. But I'm going to be optimistic on this thread. What are your thoughts on how your county will do? What is your realistic expectation?

For Donegal obviously we simply cannot look beyond Tyrone. It's a well worn cliche at this stage but it really will be all on the day. We might have a slight advantage in terms of scoring forwards - I really think Oisín Gallen is primed and ready to make a big statement as to what a superb prospect he is. Add Jamie Brennan, McBrearty, Murphy etc to that list and consider that Tyrone's biggest threat Cathal McShane is ruled out. I'd give us the nod by about 3 or 4 points.

Beyond that, there would be a few tricky games to overcome. Armagh/Derry won't be easy and who knows who will emerge from the other side of the draw in a potential Ulster final.

Another Ulster win to set up a crack against the Dubs (most likely) in the semi final is what I hope to see!"
Tyrone losing Colm Cavansgh recently through retirement. They have Mattie Donnelly back, he would have missed out earlier in the year.Conor Mckenna could be a secret weapon for them

Donegal should shade it. Hopefully Cavan get over Monaghan but will be a battle in Clones.

The Ulster Championship out of the 4, is maybe the biggest risk. Northern Ireland with high cases, Fermangh and Armagh Squads hit by outbreaks.,
It will be interesting to see how they manage it.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2216 - 09/10/2020 09:52:43    2296514

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Replying To Mayonman:  "Kingdom boy ur some man! "if we somehow manage to beat Cork". I don't know how ye keep the football going at all down in kerry at all especially with all that Star Wars crack......... we'll have to have a collection for ye!

Good thread and lets not take about anything medical related and focus on the ball!!

In Galway we are excited. Going well before the break, improving in every game. Like everyone else hard to know where we will be when we get back. The 2 league games will certainly help fine tune things (Mayo & Dublin).

Win 4 games to win an All Ireland. Sligo, Connacht final, Munster Champs, All Ireland Final. Makes it seem achievable but of course the flip side is no second chance and it could be a very short campaign.

We would expect to beat Sligo, and the Connacht final and AI semi final are very winnable but I would imagine Roscommon, Mayo, Kerry and Cork would be thinking something very similar.

Rossies could well win Connacht but I wouldn't see them progressing after that. Mayo or Galway could well go that extra step. Cork could well shock Kerry and potentially beat the Connacht champions.

Buying a new TV for the Championship!!

Gaillimh Abú:-)"
Cork are sticky especially at home. I won't be surprised if they bate us.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 11732 - 09/10/2020 10:12:52    2296516

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Replying To Yourjoking:  "There is no quarter final, you have a walk in to the semi final against ulster champions, so 2 games to win all ireland not exalaty a big surprise or hardship."
Fair play i didnt know that, i just assumed it went back to pre S8 structure. Id be disappointed not to be in a semi so.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3671 - 09/10/2020 10:18:22    2296520

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "My own opinion is Dublin still have a team of winners and still the team to beat. However I think only 3 teams capable of beating them in the championship and that's Kerry Donegal and Galway. However all 3 are capable of being beaten in their province. This of course could be a strange championship if it goes ahead and if teams lose key players due to covid or injury anything could happen"
We have good players definitely as a another poster pointed out, still personally i think the turnover of the squad has been huge - you cant loose Paul Flynn, O Gara, Brogan, Connolly, Daly and Jack from a squad and for it not to have an impact. Thats before we talk of Jim Gavin, i think he gave Dublin an extra 15%. Its the difference between Dublin being competitive in the pack for an All Ireland like 2011 and what they achieved from 13-19 in my opinion. New managers first year and all the grace and patience in the world for me. Its a new backroom team to and that is significant.

If im being honest i was inspired by what i saw in the league this year, maybe Dublin at about 55% so i think Dessie is on a learning curve, in a tough year for a learning curve.

There is a bullet in the post for Dublin for a long time, the dominance simply inst sustainable and given the above, winter ball - that doesn't suit us and no crowds - no point saying with Mayo we aren't the most well supported the team, there are a lot of reasons why i think Dublin will regress. Hopefully we are competitive though and im proven wrong.

Just feel we will regress and the overall panel isnt as strong and that has a massive effect even away from the visible eye of playing games.

I think everyone has a chance this year. The pack is thick and we will be in there. My thinking would be this:

Logical choices:

I think any team with manager in place for a couple of years can be confident.

Kerry: Excellent players, capable of being the best scorers in Ireland if it all comes off, we know their frailties but if they can pull teams into a shoot out and improve the back line they will be confident. Year 2 for Keane, ideas and philosophy well on the way, last years experience will make them hungry. Munster, like Leinster a huge enabling factor.

Mayo: Just capable of taking anyone out on their day. Connacht will be tough, but as seasoned and experienced team no team will look forward to playing. A shorter championship might suit them.

Donegal: like Kerry excellent and developing players, a good few years under Bonnar. I often feel Donegal are better then they believe they are, so psychologically i think they need to start to believe they are contenders and aim for the big prize as a goal rather then a bit of luck.

Tyrone: The real dark horse for me, ill be rooting for Donegal in the Ulster championship. Tyrone are brilliant at winter ball and if they get out of Ulster im going to lump on them to go all the way. I cant think of two many times we've beaten Tyrone when the clocks have changed. This championship will really suit them.


Wildcards:

Galway, really admire what Joyce is doing there, the coming team in Ireland maybe, standards are being risen and philosophy imprinted, they could take out anyone. Joyces first year though and like us, you cant expect a trophy in your first year.

Cork, look another coming team, backboned by U20 and minor success for the coming years to augment quality players. Fitness will be key.

Armagh, some brilliant players there and coming through, wouldn't be a fan of Geezer, but i think Armagh are on a decent trajectory.

All to play for, for me, like i said i think its like fresh snow this year, i dont think Dublin will win this year but i think it might be a terrific competitive championship and we will have new winners.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3671 - 09/10/2020 10:39:54    2296523

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "No quarters this year.

I fully realize that this statement will come back to haunt me but here goes...

I think Donegal will win Ulster, beat Dublin in the semi final but then lose the AI to Kerry in a repeat of the nightmare of 2014 just to crown a truly exceptionally crap 2020!"
The very best of luck, a chara like watching Donegal, best of luck in the opener, we have it a lot easier of course unless Meath or Kildare pull off a shocker.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3671 - 09/10/2020 10:47:37    2296524

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Leinster: Dublin going through a bit of transition this year but should still be too strong for any of the Leinster pretenders.

Munster: Kerry will stroll through Munster. Cork are a division 3 team. It'd be an epically massive shock if a Division 3 team were to beat Kerry. Has it ever happened?

Connacht: Interesting Championship in that you could see any of the Big 3 winning it. The format for the year of straight knock out could suit the 'one last hurrah' in Mayo but Galway are looking good. Add in to it the the Rossies just love to upset the apple cart out West and it could be a great champo. Going to go for Galway here though and them to have a right go off Kerry in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.

Ulster: The usual dogfight but for me Donegal look like the pick of the bunch. If they can come through Ulster unscathed then they will be serious All-Ireland contenders.

Semi-Finals
Kerry v Galway
Donegal v Dublin

This year I think any team that wins their province, if they have a no major injuries worries can win the whole thing out.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13145 - 09/10/2020 11:06:49    2296527

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "There are no allireland quarter finals this year in the football multiple username unless you mean the quarter final of leinster?"
Probably means the last round of backdoor

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 09/10/2020 11:14:22    2296528

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Replying To TheUsername:  "The very best of luck, a chara like watching Donegal, best of luck in the opener, we have it a lot easier of course unless Meath or Kildare pull off a shocker."
Fingers crossed. I think our Michael Murphy shaped window to win an All Ireland is closing. The big man can't go on forever and when he does step away it will be an enormous gap to fill. So if the team to topple Dublin is Donegal then it will need to happen sooner rather than later!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 7075 - 09/10/2020 11:14:43    2296529

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Can't wait. First up Wexford or Wicklow. Then most likely Kildare and then Dublin. It's 2020. Anything can happen. And I hope to see a Leinster title in Meath this year."
It'll be tough on Meath losing their first game to Wexford in Wexford Park or Wicklow in Aughrim theres always 2021 for the royal county.

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1391 - 09/10/2020 11:19:57    2296532

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Replying To TheUsername:  "The very best of luck, a chara like watching Donegal, best of luck in the opener, we have it a lot easier of course unless Meath or Kildare pull off a shocker."
Dublin nearly certainly in a semi final bar one hell of a shock and will face Ulster winners. I would fancy Donegal but they have such a tough journey to get there(it's a minefield) and Tyrone capable of K. O. ING them in 1 St round. Kerry will have their hands full inCork and Galway /Mayo/Rossies make the provincial hard to call. Also I firmly believe that to win an all ireland a team needs a bit of luck and while Mayo don't seem to get any luck in the big games I think Donegal had no luck the last two years the way the super 8 s draw fell and if they get a bit of luck who knows?Yes one would imagine Dublin should come back to the pack a little now with Gavin gone etc but they still have such a strong panel it's hard to look beyond them. If the championship goes ahead though it's definitely mouth watering.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 630 - 09/10/2020 11:22:25    2296534

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Cork are sticky especially at home. I won't be surprised if they bate us."
They have been close for a few years now and should just make it past Waterford in the first round

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 09/10/2020 11:23:50    2296535

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Dublin nearly certainly in a semi final bar one hell of a shock and will face Ulster winners. I would fancy Donegal but they have such a tough journey to get there(it's a minefield) and Tyrone capable of K. O. ING them in 1 St round. Kerry will have their hands full inCork and Galway /Mayo/Rossies make the provincial hard to call. Also I firmly believe that to win an all ireland a team needs a bit of luck and while Mayo don't seem to get any luck in the big games I think Donegal had no luck the last two years the way the super 8 s draw fell and if they get a bit of luck who knows?Yes one would imagine Dublin should come back to the pack a little now with Gavin gone etc but they still have such a strong panel it's hard to look beyond them. If the championship goes ahead though it's definitely mouth watering."
An excellent point on Donegal, the fairness/luck around the S8's has been have been a huge depleting factor since their inception.

The game in Castlebar last year, was crazy, i don't think I cant remember a team with so many good players hit so many marginal wide's through so many opportunities, a really unlucky day at the office, were everything just goes against you.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 3671 - 09/10/2020 11:41:12    2296537

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Replying To Fionn:  "ABK ;o)"
Very understandable Fionn but hope your views are just against the Kerry team more than the people. Many of us Kerry folk came to Dublin over the years due to employment etc as most jobs in Dublin and we end up having Dublin children. The two best Dublin midfielders I've ever seen are Fenton and Brian Mullins (one has a Kerry Dad and the other a Kerry mother). Cian Ó Sullivan (both parents Kerry) Actually in my lifetime every Dublin team that won Sam had a player on the team that had a Kerry parent so we have been good to you. We were lucky David Clifford was born up there to as his parents lived in Dublin for a few years. Just a bit of useless info for you Fionn but as I say I don't blame you at all especially with some of my fellow Countymens immature and begrudging posts.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 630 - 09/10/2020 11:52:14    2296540

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Very understandable Fionn but hope your views are just against the Kerry team more than the people. Many of us Kerry folk came to Dublin over the years due to employment etc as most jobs in Dublin and we end up having Dublin children. The two best Dublin midfielders I've ever seen are Fenton and Brian Mullins (one has a Kerry Dad and the other a Kerry mother). Cian Ó Sullivan (both parents Kerry) Actually in my lifetime every Dublin team that won Sam had a player on the team that had a Kerry parent so we have been good to you. We were lucky David Clifford was born up there to as his parents lived in Dublin for a few years. Just a bit of useless info for you Fionn but as I say I don't blame you at all especially with some of my fellow Countymens immature and begrudging posts."
Sorry meant to say we that he could have been born up in Dub but he was born in Kerry

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 630 - 09/10/2020 12:14:34    2296546

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Very understandable Fionn but hope your views are just against the Kerry team more than the people. Many of us Kerry folk came to Dublin over the years due to employment etc as most jobs in Dublin and we end up having Dublin children. The two best Dublin midfielders I've ever seen are Fenton and Brian Mullins (one has a Kerry Dad and the other a Kerry mother). Cian Ó Sullivan (both parents Kerry) Actually in my lifetime every Dublin team that won Sam had a player on the team that had a Kerry parent so we have been good to you. We were lucky David Clifford was born up there to as his parents lived in Dublin for a few years. Just a bit of useless info for you Fionn but as I say I don't blame you at all especially with some of my fellow Countymens immature and begrudging posts."
I have to admit - you are the most genuine Kerry poster on here - it is the tripe and yerra yerra from the others that feed this view. So you are correct - yet again.. ;o)

When you read posts like - I think a Div 3 team could beat us etc etc and the constant whinging and moaning - well enough said....

Pity that there are not more Kerry posters like you on here. Fair play to you - nothing but respect...!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3309 - 09/10/2020 12:22:21    2296548

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Replying To Breezy:  "They have been close for a few years now and should just make it past Waterford in the first round"
I don't think that they're playing Waterford.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 11732 - 09/10/2020 12:33:43    2296551

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Sorry meant to say we that he could have been born up in Dub but he was born in Kerry"
And some would try to make us believe that you were not from Kerry at all eh... classic.. lol

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3309 - 09/10/2020 12:36:24    2296553

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Replying To TheUsername:  "An excellent point on Donegal, the fairness/luck around the S8's has been have been a huge depleting factor since their inception.

The game in Castlebar last year, was crazy, i don't think I cant remember a team with so many good players hit so many marginal wide's through so many opportunities, a really unlucky day at the office, were everything just goes against you."
Ah look every team suffers bad luck and I think if we're talking about 2019 you'd have to give Mayo credit. They were the hungrier and better team on the day.

Eoghan Ban Gallagher last year and Paddy McBrearty in 2018 were huge losses through injury but again, every team suffers in that regard.

I think we'll need an injury free run at it for our key players to have any chance. Especially key to this will be Jason McGee I think. He's had a cursed run with injuries. But if he is fit and on form then it lessens the need for Murphy to play out around the middle and we can play him closer to goal.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 7075 - 09/10/2020 12:43:45    2296554

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Replying To Fionn:  "I have to admit - you are the most genuine Kerry poster on here - it is the tripe and yerra yerra from the others that feed this view. So you are correct - yet again.. ;o)

When you read posts like - I think a Div 3 team could beat us etc etc and the constant whinging and moaning - well enough said....

Pity that there are not more Kerry posters like you on here. Fair play to you - nothing but respect...!"
Thank you Fionn

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 630 - 09/10/2020 12:57:24    2296558

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Ah look every team suffers bad luck and I think if we're talking about 2019 you'd have to give Mayo credit. They were the hungrier and better team on the day.

Eoghan Ban Gallagher last year and Paddy McBrearty in 2018 were huge losses through injury but again, every team suffers in that regard.

I think we'll need an injury free run at it for our key players to have any chance. Especially key to this will be Jason McGee I think. He's had a cursed run with injuries. But if he is fit and on form then it lessens the need for Murphy to play out around the middle and we can play him closer to goal."
Agreed but it's a pity Odhran Mac Niallais not playing. A superb talent

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 630 - 09/10/2020 13:00:49    2296559

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