Well that's the league over and not a lot changed from 2013. No emerging teams and mediocrity and worse from most of the teams. Not sure how we let that Derry team beat us but by the end of the year we might see that defeat as a blessing – avoiding the Dubs in a final at this time of the year and focusing us on what we need to do.
Let's cut to the chase here – this year's AI will be won by one of Dublin, Kerry or Mayo. No other team in contention. For us to win it we have to win 3 games in August/Sept - simple as. Connacht is a given and we will chalk up the 4 in a row without any problem. None of the Connacht teams are even near us in terms of the pace and power that we play at and we can burn off any of the Connacht opposition in a 10 minute spell.
Dublin and Kerry are likely to be in a similar position to us and able to focus on the AI quarters – Cork might trouble Kerry at home but I doubt it. Can't see anyone coming through qualifiers likely to cause a shock and in fact the field this year does not look very strong – the big 3 apart. Monaghan and Cavan are game and feisty and could be bothersome opponents but lacking the necessary class. Derry are a long way off what is needed as we seen today. Donegal are gone – Jimmy pulled off an amazing stunt to win 2012 but it won't work again as the aura has gone – can't imagine the Donegal/Derry game will be a sell out!! Nothing much else around Ulster, Cork are decent enough but don't have a good enough backline or midfield, Leinster outside of the Dubs is Div2/3 stuff and nothing in Connacht but ourselves.
So we are guaranteed a qtr. final and indeed the big game for us is the Munster Final. If Cork can beat Kerry then an AI final appearance for us becomes more a probability than possibility (if we avoid Kerry in the qtrs.). We will still probably have Dubs in front of us come September and while it won't be easy we are probably the only team capable of beating them. Hopefully Horan will have sharpened up and learned from his mistakes of the past 2 years and will not be too loyal to certain players.
I'm happy enough with where we are after the league as it is clear we are planning to peak in Aug/Sept. The sloppy performances in the last 10 mins v Dubs and against Derry will be irrelevant come August when it will be all about power, possession and pace – something we have more than most teams. Had to laugh at some of the posters here and some of the media overreacting to these results and the old chestnuts about leadership and lack of forwards being resurrected. This marquee" forward baloney is something else. Of course when we win the AI the experts will bestow the term "marquee" on a couple of our forwards and show that's what we were missing other years. You would swear that Kerry won AI's living on scraps but with "marquee Gooch" converting every half chance that came their way. Same with Dubs and Brogan. Cork managed an AI in 2010 without any stand out forward if you leave out Goulding's free taking. Fact is that we have a team that have potential scorers all over the field and if we rack up a big score spread over 8 or 9 players then all the better rather than depending on a couple of forwards. We have plenty of options in the forwards both in terms of winning ball, breaking past defenders and taking scores. Might add that I see Dillon and Moran as bit players at best this year - both great servants but no longer up to the pace of the game once we get outside the pedestrian stuff in Connacht.
Everything then points to a repeat of last year's final and hope this time that our management are more on the ball. No doubt Horan and his team have done a great job with this squad and put them on a level that few can match. But he has yet to prove himself in the cauldron of an AI final and mistakes on the line last year and 2012 cost us both finals. Hopefully the experience will stand to him and he will learn to read what is happening in front of hime better. This is where we need the most improvement.
Anyway we have a lot to look forward to and probably a fair bit of celebrating to do too. We are still 4/1 for Sam so might be worth putting on a few bob to cover September expenses.
Let's cut to the chase here – this year's AI will be won by one of Dublin, Kerry or Mayo. No other team in contention. For us to win it we have to win 3 games in August/Sept - simple as. Connacht is a given and we will chalk up the 4 in a row without any problem. None of the Connacht teams are even near us in terms of the pace and power that we play at and we can burn off any of the Connacht opposition in a 10 minute spell.
Dublin and Kerry are likely to be in a similar position to us and able to focus on the AI quarters – Cork might trouble Kerry at home but I doubt it. Can't see anyone coming through qualifiers likely to cause a shock and in fact the field this year does not look very strong – the big 3 apart. Monaghan and Cavan are game and feisty and could be bothersome opponents but lacking the necessary class. Derry are a long way off what is needed as we seen today. Donegal are gone – Jimmy pulled off an amazing stunt to win 2012 but it won't work again as the aura has gone – can't imagine the Donegal/Derry game will be a sell out!! Nothing much else around Ulster, Cork are decent enough but don't have a good enough backline or midfield, Leinster outside of the Dubs is Div2/3 stuff and nothing in Connacht but ourselves.
So we are guaranteed a qtr. final and indeed the big game for us is the Munster Final. If Cork can beat Kerry then an AI final appearance for us becomes more a probability than possibility (if we avoid Kerry in the qtrs.). We will still probably have Dubs in front of us come September and while it won't be easy we are probably the only team capable of beating them. Hopefully Horan will have sharpened up and learned from his mistakes of the past 2 years and will not be too loyal to certain players.
I'm happy enough with where we are after the league as it is clear we are planning to peak in Aug/Sept. The sloppy performances in the last 10 mins v Dubs and against Derry will be irrelevant come August when it will be all about power, possession and pace – something we have more than most teams. Had to laugh at some of the posters here and some of the media overreacting to these results and the old chestnuts about leadership and lack of forwards being resurrected. This marquee" forward baloney is something else. Of course when we win the AI the experts will bestow the term "marquee" on a couple of our forwards and show that's what we were missing other years. You would swear that Kerry won AI's living on scraps but with "marquee Gooch" converting every half chance that came their way. Same with Dubs and Brogan. Cork managed an AI in 2010 without any stand out forward if you leave out Goulding's free taking. Fact is that we have a team that have potential scorers all over the field and if we rack up a big score spread over 8 or 9 players then all the better rather than depending on a couple of forwards. We have plenty of options in the forwards both in terms of winning ball, breaking past defenders and taking scores. Might add that I see Dillon and Moran as bit players at best this year - both great servants but no longer up to the pace of the game once we get outside the pedestrian stuff in Connacht.
Everything then points to a repeat of last year's final and hope this time that our management are more on the ball. No doubt Horan and his team have done a great job with this squad and put them on a level that few can match. But he has yet to prove himself in the cauldron of an AI final and mistakes on the line last year and 2012 cost us both finals. Hopefully the experience will stand to him and he will learn to read what is happening in front of hime better. This is where we need the most improvement.
Anyway we have a lot to look forward to and probably a fair bit of celebrating to do too. We are still 4/1 for Sam so might be worth putting on a few bob to cover September expenses.