Market Leaders 2009

[Oakleafer1993]

Market leaders
Kerry's stock is at an all-time high following last Sunday's All-Ireland victory. Colm Keys values the movers and shakers following the 2009 season

Wednesday September 23 2009

A championship to remember for the most part, largely free of the controversies that stalked it last summer and, inevitably, a championship that has thrown up the best team as its winners.

An inter-county season that began slowly in the first week of January with the provincial subsidiary competitions, accelerated with the Dublin/Tyrone opening league match under Croke Park's lights, tapered off somewhat until July, before coming to a conclusion last weekend with Kerry securing a fifth All-Ireland title of the decade.

A clear gap has opened between the top three teams -- Kerry, Cork and Tyrone -- and the rest. The challenge to the rest is to make the leap. Our ratings below are based on performances in 2009, not on how they might line-up on the grid at the start of 2010.

1 -- Kerry

There will always be a nagging doubt in their collective minds over the 'T' word but they can only beat what is put in front of them. Would they have beaten their great northern nemesis in Sunday's final? We'll never know. A smart approach, smart management and ultimately the best players in 2009, having added a league Division 1 title in April.

If they were a share: Always a buy.

2 -- cork

A disappointing end to a magnificent year. Cork really shaped up like champions in-waiting but the absence of real cutting thrust in attack exposed them. Beating Tyrone gave them a victory of real substance in Croke Park, losing to Kerry there again opens all the wounds. The structure of the team is still good and improvement is inevitable.

If they were a share: Definite buy.

3 -- tyrone

Won a pedestrian Ulster championship, showed stomach for a fight against Kildare but struggled with Cork's pace and size in the All-Ireland semi-final. Mickey Harte won't have too many changes to make, however, provided the appetite remains. The prospect of Kyle Coney joining the attack is an exciting one.

If they were a share: Bluechip.

4 -- dublin

Dublin hold on to fourth spot but the gap with the top three grows. Pat Gilroy's blue revolution came badly unstuck as the team froze in a second successive All-Ireland quarter-final. There is no ready-made solution and this team may have missed their best opportunity.

If they were a share: Too risky.

5 -- kildare

Maybe they are not the fifth best team in Ireland but the form lines suggested this year that they were. Tyrone had to dig deep to beat them, so too Dublin. Kieran McGeeney has put structure and flesh to the team and a 2010 Leinster title would be the perfect reward to start.

If they were a share: Still a buy.

6 -- meath

The only way after 2008 was up but defeats to Dublin and Kerry suggest Meath just aren't comfortable at high altitudes. Picked themselves up well through the qualifiers.

If they were a share: May be overpriced right now.

7 -- mayo

A first Connacht title in three years has to be acknowledged. Suffered from some curious decisions by match officials in their All-Ireland quarter-final but still didn't grasp the game when it was there. Still look like a team who have potential.

If they were a share: Buy.

8 -- derry

Beat Monaghan twice but still didn't fulfil potential they showed to reach second successive league final, losing to Tyrone in Ulster and Donegal in the qualifiers.

If they were a share: Can't be trusted.

9 -- donegal

Beat Derry, who are ahead on this scale, and Galway, but their shocking collapse to Cork and early defeat to Antrim takes from them. In Karl Lacey and Michael Murphy they have two of the championship's best players.

If they were a share: Too risky.

10 -- galway

By their own standards had a very poor year, losing to Mayo and Donegal after blowing another good league position against Kerry. Joe Kernan's arrival will ignite them.

If they were a share: Buy.

11 -- monaghan

Competitive to a fault once again but they look like they are at the peak of their capabilities. Took care of Armagh in championship and league, gained promotion to the top flight but need new players more than new backroom staff.

If they were a share: Don't rush to buy.

12 -- armagh

A bad season on the field has got worse off it. Armagh are at their lowest rating for well over a decade. Need to regroup.

If they were a share: Quick recovery predicted.

13 -- antrim

Took opportunities that came their way, catching out Donegal and reaching a first Ulster final in 39 years after promotion. Gave Kerry their fill of it too.

If they were a share: May have hit their heights.

14 -- limerick

Up to last Sunday no team troubled Cork more than they did in the Munster final but were fortunate to be so close to Meath when they exited. Relegation to Division 4 a blemish.

If they were a share: Worth a punt.

15 -- sligo

If only ... David Kelly's penalty in Tralee has become one of the talking points of the season. Competitive against Galway and Kerry after winning Division 4.

If they were a share: Don't rush.

16 -- down

Crashed in Aughrim having beaten Laois in qualifiers and lost to Fermanagh in Ulster. Promotion from Division 3 is the year's only plus.

If they were a share: Could be one of 2010's biggest movers.

17 -- wicklow

Highest rating ever. Picked off wary opponents in Aughrim to bring the number of championship games they played to six, an achievement in itself. Tested Kildare to the limits but had a poor league.

If they were a share: Depends on

management.

18 -- laois

They retained their Division 2 status in the league but that was good as it got for Laois. A season to write off.

If they were a share: The only way is up.

19 -- fermanagh

Beat Down but spurned a good opportunity to reach another Ulster final against Cavan. Lost Division 2 status.

If they were a share: Could rise again.

20 -- westmeath

A season to forget. Lost Division 1 status and were then crushed in Leinster and the qualifiers by Dublin and Meath. A dramatic fall.

If they were a share: Huge devaluation.

21 -- tipperary

The Division 3 champions didn't follow on in the championship, losing narrowly to Limerick and then to Sligo.

If they were a share: Sell.

22 -- wexford

More than a touch of second season syndrome for the 2008 All-Ireland semi-finalists. An annus horribilis that saw them return to Division 3.

If they were a share: Risky

23 -- cavan

Beating Fermanagh doesn't mean they are better. Awful against Antrim in the Ulster semi-final, struggled in the league.

If they were a share: Don't invest.

24 -- roscommon

Recovered from one of the worst championship defeats of the season to take Wexford out of the championship after a replay. Mid-table Division 3.

If they were a share: Could steadily rise from current low

25 -- offaly

Recovered well in the league, quick exit from Leinster, small signs of recovery.

If they were a share: Sure to pick up.

26 -- louth

Won the O'Byrne Cup but made no real headway after that. Not a team that looks ready for the climb.

If they were a share: Steer clear.

27 -- longford

Will feel they can pick off counties above them given the struggle they made it for Kerry in the qualifiers but league form was poor, resulting in relegation.

If they were a share: Not worth it.

28 -- leitrim

Mickey Moran and John Morrisson didn't work the oracle. Defeat to Roscommon and Longford in the championship puts things into perspective.

If they were a share: Sell.

29 -- waterford

Had their best league campaign in Division 4 under John Kiely who was subsequently removed. Heavy championship defeat to Cork.

If they were a share: Potentially small rise.

30 -- clare

Only Carlow, London and Kilkenny were below them in the league, they were competitive in the championship against Limerick and Donegal however.

If they were a share: Nothing to be bullish about.

31 -- carlow

Tested Louth in the championship but fell away badly to Donegal. The league provides evidence of their status.

If they were a share: Avoid.

32 -- london

The exiles performed creditably in the league, beating Waterford and Kilkenny but no championship impression.

If they were a share: Expect increased interest.

[SLIGONIAN]

We lost to kerry by a 1pt in the knock out stages, no one else got as close.

Surely we are the 2nd best team in the country then ...

These things are always debatable but ultimately pointless in all fairness. Who cares about 2 to 32? All that matters really is no1. No points for 2nd place as said in Top Gun.

[Bensars]

Prepare for the backlash.

Armagh rated 13th

Derry ""cant be trusted".

[armaghniac]

Prepare for the backlash.

Er Armagh are 12th.

Derry are blow-hards, they never really perform above expectations in the championship.

[ziggysego]

Derry "cant be trusted".

In all walks of life

[SidelineKick]

Derry "cant be trusted".

In all walks of life

Says the man that's tackling his brother's woman 

[High Wide and Handsome]

take it kilkenny are only county missing

[magpie seanie]

take it kilkenny are only county missing

Along with New York who are better than them. KK will probably retire from football again now Nickey is gone.

[armaghniac]

Sunday Tribune take on things


1. Kerry (+2 from start of championship)
For the majority of this decade we've witnessed the artist at work. This time around we saw the grifter and it's just as impressive in its own less obvious way. Just three of the side that started the league final began the All Ireland in the same position and while reinventing a team in the off-season is a challenge, to do it through a summer where confidence is shattered is unheralded. Add to that the fact that the two marquee players in Darragh Ó Sé and Colm Cooper weren't near All Star form and it's even more of an achievement. Much like what happened with Tyrone last year, the lesser lights shone brightly as Tom O'Sullivan, Griffin (both right), McCarthy, Scanlon and Walsh became the unlikely heroes. Tribune rating 88/100

2. Cork (+1)
If Conor Counihan was building from the back then he succeeded up to a point. And that point was the half-forward line. Six points in 60 minutes of the final showed that even though this side has brilliantly blended Tyrone's running game with Armagh's hardness, that can only get you so far and Canty and Co will never cross the finishing line until they find some scorers. Look at it this way, how many of Cork's six forwards from the final would make the Kerry side? Colm O'Neill (right) looks set to develop into a blue-chip marksman but one is not enough and while Paul Kerrigan and Patrick Kelly will learn from this experience, Pearse O'Neill looks no more than a third midfielder while Daniel Goulding and Donncha O'Connor have enough to follow but are too limited to lead all the way. Rating 84/100

3. Tyrone (-2)
Had you told us before John Bannon threw in the first ball in Ulster that Stephen O'Neill, Owen Mulligan and Kevin Hughes would all get back towards their best, we'd have told you Tyrone would be All Ireland champions. But things worked out the opposite to Kerry in that the supporting cast gave some poor performances as Tommy McGuigan, Collie McCullough, Joe McMahon and Enda McGinley all regressed. Tyrone didn't disappear and gap years like this have taught us they'll be back but there is now a slight softness in this side, forged in the fact that they are lauded more in their province than Kerry are in their own backyard. For that to change, a new generation needs to start populating the bench and Mickey Harte has already hinted at involuntary retirements. Rating 81/100

Summit in sight

4. Dublin (+1)
Not a bad bunch of players, just mentally weak and Pat Gilroy needs to teach this team to walk the tightrope without a safety net and find a full-back line. Bernard Brogan is a superstar but with that porous back three, no Whelan and possibly no Ryan, it's doubtful if they can keep pulling through Leinster. Need a big league. Rating 72/100

5. Kildare (+5)
If Dermot Earley can keep going at the same pace, Alan Smith and James Kavanagh continue their progression and John Doyle returns to form, Leinster is there. But it was there this year too and Kieran McGeeney knows his side need to stop being entertaining nearly men and get some goods for their cash. Rating 71/100

6. Mayo (+1)
Must stop picking the best 15 players in the county and instead pick the 15 that will do a job. We've suggested Peter Ford before as a selector because this group need some steel before there's to be any success. Now or never for John O'Mahony but doubts remain over his ability to operate in this age. Rating 67/100

7. Meath (+5)
Robbie O'Malley helped them get tighter at the back as they leaked just 12.5 points a game all summer and Eamonn O'Brien realised the forward potential after getting it so wrong early on. But they haven't reached a Leinster semi-final since 2004 or final since 2001 and those foundations must be laid before serious building takes place. Rating 66.5/100

8. Derry (-2)
Did themselves no favours with internal strife. Must stop peering at their neighbours manicured lawn while their own grows wild but that'll be easier said than done as Chrissy McKaigue moves to Sydney, Seán Marty Lockhart, Enda Muldoon and Paddy Bradley move towards the end and the half-forward line doesn't move at all. Rating 65/100

9. Monaghan (-1)
No shortage of cooks in the kitchen now that Paul Grimley's arrived, yet we're expecting the same reheated meal. Near misses turned to bitterness over Joe Brolly's partisan actions during the year but this is now a team on the slide and even the toughest fighter can't keep getting back up off the canvas. Rating 64/100

10. Galway (-6)
We've doubts that Joe Kernan can get anywhere near the same commitment out of this bunch as he did when moulding Armagh. At least the players can no longer blame the manager as they did with Liam Sammon and Peter Ford. Need to lose Pádraic Joyce and gain some toughness. Fascinating future after wretched 2009. Rating 61/100

11. Donegal (No change)
Those defeats will do far more damage than those wins and most worrying was the complete lack of interest from the off against Cork. Two star players in Michael Murphy and Karl Lacey, a whole lot of wasted potential and a ticking time bomb as civil war is never far away. We admire but don't envy John Joe Doherty. Rating 59/100

12. Armagh (-3)
Swimming against the tide. A minor All Ireland bodes well but for now this group must cling onto the coattails of the best. That two-man full-forward line is far too predictable and while we've heard a lot about Kieran Toner and Charlie Vernon, they again failed to deliver. Next man in won't provide success but must provide stability. Rating 58.5/100

High Hopes

13. Antrim (+12)
Where do you go next if dumped by Angelina Jolie? That's where Antrim now find themselves after awaking from their dream and finding themselves with nothing to show but one All Star nomination. Need to get used to life up the food chain and must avoid a Sligo 2008-style collapse. After all, it took them long enough to get here. Rating 48/100

14. Limerick (+7)
Body may be willing but the mind can't be after the decade they've endured. Began the '00s with heartbreak, they could have ended them with either a Munster title or last-four place. Instead they are left battling with rugby for Stephen Kelly and hurling for Stephen Lucey, both needed to help John Galvin and Ian Ryan. Rating 47.5/100

15. Down (-1)
Now that the new broom is sweeping, it's best to forget about Enniskillen and Aughrim. Showed enough against Laois to remind us all that at their best, could become Ulster's number two team but James McCartan must offer far more inspiration, direction and vision than Ross Carr did. Martin Clarke's return will help him no end. Rating 46/100

16. Sligo (+4)
Once they look past David Kelly's penalty, they'll see some green shoots and the prospect of future growth. With Kelly, Adrian Marren and Mark Brehony providing massive energy, Kevin Walsh turned the rest into a solid, well-drilled outfit. Connacht's number three and capable of a shock there next season. Rating 45/100

17. Wicklow (+7)
Played six, won four, lost two (one after extra time). Never thought we'd see their summer record read as such. In Ciarán Hyland and Leighton Glynn they have two top-class players and in James Stafford and Seánie Furlong they have two handfuls. Need to develop the squad depth and get promoted before aiming for the stars again. Rating 44.5/100

18. Laois (-1)
The problem is a culture of arrogance but can they accept that? Kildare had similar raw materials but in the Leinster semi-final Laois's laziness over the year was on public display and even Mick O'Dwyer and Liam Kearns have alluded to that non-existent work ethic. If heads don't shrink, they'll burst, and a generation will be lost. Rating 42/100

19. Fermanagh (-4)
Best days gone but may be one more bite in the old dog. They need to avoid the presumption that what once was automatically will be again. Mark Murphy and Ryan McCluskey can't be parachuted in late but their league return combined with Barry Owens' and Marty McGrath's fitness leaves them sturdy and with self-belief. Rating 41.5/100

20. Westmeath (-4)
The meanest defence in Ireland in 2008 turned over an average of 23 points per championship game this time. Never recovered from the plague of league injuries and results. Brendan Hackett's appointment showed thinking outside the box but he'll have to do plenty of that to turn them around, particularly their attack. Rating 41/100

21. Wexford (-8)
The third of the 2008 breakthrough teams and it's ominous the other two are directly above them on this list. Matty Forde's return makes them a different team but in 2008 in Leinster they conceded 21 points a game, that trend continued this time and there seems no solution to the full-back and half-back problems. Rating 40/100

22. Tipperary (-4)
Another year without a championship win would have wiped out the benefit of their back-to-back promotions. It's why that fiery, one-point win over Louth means so much. The underage success, strength of opposition come spring and twin strike force of Grogan and Coen should see them challenge to become Munster's third team. Rating 38/100

23. Roscommon (+3)
Summer saw them bottom out but the two games against Wexford saw the start of the recovery too. That took guts but they and Donie Shine will only get you so far. Fergal O'Donnell badly needs to find some ball winners if they are to compete for promotion although that may be a few years off yet. Rating 35/100

24. Cavan (-1)
A county living 50 years in the past and that's nothing to do with their spending. Quite why so many wanted Tommy Carr out is beyond us, after all a victory over Fermanagh makes it a decent summer regardless of what followed. An average team, a couple of bright lights and a desperate need to build. Rating 34.5/100

Base Camp

25. Offaly (-3)
The river bed is dusty and dry and there's little coming through for the future. Were forced to bring in Neville Coughlan, Ciarán McManus and Shane Sullivan versus Kildare but at least Tom Cribbin brought discipline. Are going to have to endure some heavy beatings while sticking with the next generation sooner rather than later. Rating 27/100

26. Louth (-7)
It's 28 years since they won a Leinster under-21, 28 since they were even in a provincial minor final and 56 since they won it. Forget about the senior side, there's the real problem. Eamonn McEneaney had an overall plan for Louth but ran out of energy. The next man must take that baton and run. Rating 26.5/100

27. Longford (No change)
Turned the season around after losing out to Wicklow (not unexpectedly) and the Leitrim win and Kerry performance has bought Glenn Ryan some time to win a game in Leinster. Biggest problem is midfield but in truth this group is punching at their weight and bar some big days out in Pearse Park, it's unfair to expect more. Rating 25.5/100

28. Waterford (No change)
Sad ending to an impossible summer where they faced only Cork and Meath. John Kiely, one of the few characters left in an increasingly mundane intercounty scene, was treated appallingly by his county board. Shame on them but thanks for the memories and serious improvements to football in Waterford, Jackson. Rating 24.5/100

29. Leitrim (No change)
Give Moran and Morrison time. Last league they used 38 players and were never going to compete without 2008 Connacht top scorer Emlyn Mulligan, a supreme talent that kicked over 50 per cent of their scores last spring. His absence showed as they exited the championship with totals of 2-9 and 0-10. Rating 24/100

Scrabbling in the foothills

30. Carlow (+1)
Crawled their way to the top of the bottom feeders and Luke Dempsey clearly has a plan in place. With Brendan Murphy back from Australia, with Thomas Walsh potentially back from Wicklow and with everyone at last beginning to pull in the one direction, they can build on their fine efforts against Louth and Donegal. Rating 15/100

31. Clare (-1)
Like Carlow, can take some positives from a trip to Donegal. Unlike Carlow, not all working together to get better. Being just a winnable game away from a Munster final didn't galvanise them this year and still without a manager, things aren't getting better. The one plus is they can't get much worse. Rating 14/100

32. London (No change)
Figures from the CSO prove we now have more emigration than immigration and with four years to run in the current government's term, Gaelic games in England should be booming by then. Won a couple of league games this time around and are only a decent draw away from a famous championship win. Rating 13/100

33. New York (No change)
Now that the Celtic Tiger is road kill, most have realised there's more to life than earning and more to summer than winning. To those who called for their exclusion, a trip there will show what their yearly fixture means to the Irish community although they should be passed around the provinces. Rating 6/100

34. Kilkenny (No change)
For all the talk about being a great GAA county, this suggests otherwise and for all the talk about how they've mastered the most skilled of sports, you'd think they could field a competitive 15 here. But while losing them is the easy option for Kilkenny GAA, supporting and working with them is the sensible option. Rating 0.5/100

[Cúig huaire]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/gaa2009.html

It's time for reflection now that the dust has settled. From those who frequent the many GAA function rooms, to the carefully parsed and analysed reflections of 'yer man' on the bar stool, while not forgetting the taxi drivers and the scribes, many opinions will abound as to the quality on offer from May to September.

It certainly was a season that ended with unlikely champions. That may sound a little far-fetched now, but for long periods of the summer, Kerry seemed to wallow in a mire of discontent. Their supporters turned up in Tullamore on 26 July for their qualifier match against Antrim to witness a wake for this current squad.

After that was the expected funeral on the August Bank Holiday Monday when Dublin, who saw off Kildare in a cracking Leinster final, were tipped by many to push on and leave a Kerry rabble in their slipstream. How did we get it so wrong? We should have known that the Kingdom with the sun on their backs at Headquarters in August would be a different animal. Yet, we refused to believe in their powers of recovery.

The Dubs certainly felt the force of the new found venom, as O'Connor's side ripped them to pieces - leaving Pat Gilroy to label his team 'startled earwigs.'

Kerry's All-Ireland success, and the manner in which they achieved it, was very much against type. If anything, Cork played the best football of the Championship, while Tyrone, in cruise control for most of the summer, found that the Rebel cause had a greater engine come the last four.

Division 4 teams enjoyed some fruitful days with Antrim reaching the Ulster final, Wicklow winning three Championship games; Sligo nearly sneaking past Kerry in Tralee and Limerick, who will be in the bottom tier in 2010, just running out of gas against Cork in the Munster final.

They were those like Wexford and Westmeath, who hit rock bottom in '09, while Meath found something within to rise above the nadir of their previous campaign. Mayo and Galway will feel as if they underachieved, and then there were those counties stuck in first gear - Laois, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh and Cavan - while others remained in neutral and sadly do not appear to be going anywhere fast.

In any event, here's the list -

1 Kerry: The Kingdom now have a manager to rival Mickey Harte and all the tactical nous the Tyrone supremo possesses. The way Jack O'Connor reshaped his team throughout the campaign, while getting the best of the Paul Galvin, the returning Mike McCarthy and 'newcomer' Tadhg Kennelly, is a glowing tribute to the Dromid native, who clearly saw that a new path had to be taken after the Cork reverse by the banks of the Lee.

Make no mistake, Kerry will fancy their chances of reaching a seventh consecutive September decider in 2010. And how they would love the Red Hand of Tyrone to be their opponents!

2 Cork: Despite losing the All-Ireland final, Conor Counihan will feel that his side are on the right track. Failure to push on when five points up against their rivals cost them dearly. Two or three scoring forwards with an eye for the posts would greatly enhance their prospects, and so compliment a strong half-back line and midfield sector.

At least Cork will have the winter to get over the disappointment of another final failure - enough time you would think for Counihan and his backroom team to come up with a different plan of action.

3 Tyrone: Seán Cavanagh's absence from the start against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final was a huge blow for a team who couldn't handle the strong running game that the Rebels employed. Tyrone were a well beaten docket long before the end. Indeed, the warnings signs were there in the quarter-final, as Kildare also ran at them all too easy.

Only a fool would write off their chances of them regaining Sam even if Brian Dooher and Brian McGuigan were to call it a day. After the loss to Cork, Martin McHugh rattled off the names of certain youngsters who could step up to the plate.

And who better than Mickey Harte to blend them in to a unit who, on their day, could emerge into an irresistible force.

4 Kildare: I know that Dublin beat Kildare in the Leinster final, but the better showing by McGeeney's side in the All-Ireland quarter-final, has them one rung higher up the ladder. Kildare played some sparkling football in this year's Championship - a far cry from the ragged display that saw them fall to Wicklow in May of 2008.

Against Dublin they went six points down after five minutes, yet recovered to lead by one at half-time. However, they lost their momentum after the break. A similar scenario befell them against Tyrone, and another narrow loss was their lot. The Geezer knows his crew can mix it with the best and they should now aim to break Dublins monopoly in Leinster.

5 Dublin: I suppose you could call in Dr. Phil to explain why a team has capitulated in August for the last two years. And this was after producing some swashbuckling football, albeit against some woeful opposition, namely Westmeath.

However, in the real world it is up to Pat Gilroy and his selectors to pick up the pieces. Dublin are not as bad as the whippings handed out by Tyrone and Kerry, but neither are they as good as they would like to think they are.

Going down the qualifier route may harden their resolve, but ultimately the boys in blue still don't look like a side who can win Sam anytime soon.

6 Mayo: Lets start with the positives. John O'Mahony's side did play some sparkling football in regaining Connacht and saw off Galway more decisively in the final than the one point winning margin. In Aidan O'Shea, they have a talent who certainly has an eye for the posts and will prove a handful for many full-back lines in the years ahead.

On the debit side was their failure to kick on when four points up against Meath with 20 minutes to go in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Okay some crucial refereeing calls went against them in the second-half - but that only masked the capitulation that left Mayo fans at home and abroad feeling very frustrated.

O'Mahony will be in place for another year. He obviously feels the talent is there to mount a serious challenge. Whether that view has universal acceptance is debatable.

7 Meath: Eamonn O'Brien deserves much credit in getting Meath through to the last four of the Championship. They are a hard-working, resilient bunch, who benefited from a relatively easy run through the qualifiers and Mayo's brittleness, to set up their meeting with the Kingdom.

However, the Royals still lack quality in many sectors, though the experience of this year should stand to them. Getting promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz League would be good starting point to launch another productive summer campaign.

8 Galway: Why bother looking back now that Joe Kernan has been installed as the new boss. He will be keen for the current squad to stay in place, while also having an eye out for new players. Many are of the opinion that Kernan will add an extra bit a steel to bolster the Galway challenge in 2010.

If that happens, and the team can unearth one or two more scoring forwards, while also playing the free- flowing football that would have Purcell and Stockwell smiling up in heaven, then Big Joe could be on to something.

Ok, maybe it's too much to ask in the first year, but seeing how the project develops will be interesting.

9 Donegal: From the low of losing to Antrim to the relative high of beating Derry and then plummeting again when rampant Cork played puck - it has been a funny season for Donegal. The situation was not helped when manager John Joe Doherty had to banish a couple of players from the squad.

The performance of Karl Lacey in defence and the talented Michael Murphy up front were bright spots in an all too muddled season for the 1992 All-Ireland champions. Consistency is the key, as the current Donegal squad are good enough to win Ulster, if Tyrone have an off day, or want to take the scenic route again.

10 Limerick: The Treaty county have made the top 10, courtesy of their spirited performance in the Munster final which certainly had Cork rattled. Prior to that, Mickey Ned's charges had seen off Tipperary and Clare, and approached the provincial decider in confident mood.

A bit more poise in front of the posts would have seen them over the line, and a quarter-final showdown would not have overawed them. If the panel can stick together, they have the ability to ruffle a few more feathers next year, though a spring campaign in Division 4 of the League will not be the ideal preparation.

11 Antrim: All involved with football in the Glens will look back on the season with a fair degree of satisfaction. Michael McCann getting an All-Star nomination was also well deserved. While Antrim never looked like beating Tyrone in the Ulster final, they certainly asked enough questions of Kerry the next day out in the qualifiers.

Building on the success of this year will be the next task, and the fact that they have already sampled the limelight will leave Liam Bradley and co wanting more in 2010.

12 Wicklow: The Garden County garnering two All-Star nominations says much for their contribution to the 2009 Championship. They should have beaten Westmeath in the Leinster quarter-final, but yet they took to the qualifiers with much relish, seeing off three Ulster sides, before bowing out admirably to Kildare.

Some criticism has come Mick O'Dwyer's way for not making more use of the bench, but the Waterville legend is shrewder than most, so it's best not to dwell on it.

Getting to a Leinster semi-final would represent another step forward for Wicklow next summer, assuming, of course that Micko is still in charge.

13 Derry: Another season of disappointment for the Oak Leaf men. They looked poised for a quarter-final berth after their impressive victory over Monaghan in the qualifiers - a marked contrast to the dour contest involving both counties in the Ulster championship.

However, they fell to a Donegal side, of whom they thought were vulnerable and could be picked off with ease. Derry have a forward unit that can chalk up big scores - it's just that they don't do it often enough.

14 Sligo: Kevin Walsh's entry into management revitalised a Sligo side that were a shambles in '08. They could have taken the scalps of Galway and Kerry, despite lacking any real potency up front. David Kelly and Mark Breheny stand out in their forward division, but the Yeats county need a few more players who have the confidence to shoot when the opportunity presents itself.

They are certainly not lacking when it comes to grit and determination and will not fear meeting any of the big two in Connacht in 2010.

15 Down: Had chances to end the Wicklow odyssey in Aughrim, but they could not deliver the knockout punch. New manager James McCartan has promised to search the county for new talent. It's fair to say Down need a new impetus with too many tame championship exits the legacy they have left in this decade.

16 Monaghan: Seamus McEnaney has opted to stay on and with Paul Grimley also on the ticket, Farney fans are entitled to believe that a new dawn is on the horizon. On their day, Monaghan can play good football, as evidenced by their display against Derry in the qualifiers.

That sense of purpose, allied with the doggedness that has been their trademark in the 'Banty' era, may make them somewhat easier on the eye over the next few years.

17 Tipperary: After going down by a point to Sligo in round two of the qualifiers, manager John Evans was still a happy man. His side had gained promotion to Division 2 of the League and had managed to win a Championship match for the first time in six years. Much interest will be on how Evans' charges operate in a more rarefied atmosphere from next spring.

18 Laois: After Laois won Leinster in 2003, many thought that they could push on and grace the big stage at the business end of the championship with regularity. Sadly, for supporters of the O'Moore County, they have been let down more often than not.

This campaign was a case in point. Laois struggled past Louth in Leinster, before Kildare blew them away with ease. Against Down in the qualifiers, they did not look interested. Sean Dempsey has been ratified for another year, and will hope that his side are at least competitive when serious action resumes.

19 Roscommon: 2009 saw signs of recovery with the patient that is the Roscommon senior football team. The trauma of recent years has taken its toll, and a serious relapse looked likely after a heavy beating by Mayo in the Connacht semi-final.

However, the side found the resolve to beat Wexford after a replay in the qualifiers, before putting up a gallant showing in the defeat to Meath. The hope remains that a few of the minors from 2006 will step up and ensure that Roscommon get further redemption in the short term.

20 Longford: Glen Ryan's first steps into management saw his side produce a spirited display against Kerry, that followed a hard-earned victory over Leitrim in round one of the qualifiers. In the Leinster Championship, they list to Wicklow in a close encounter.

Add it all up, and Ryan has achieved well above the pass rate for his first year in charge. Immediate target for 2010 is to get Longford out of Division 4. It will not be easy as many teams will be vying for the two spots.

21 Armagh: The success of the minor side in winning the All-Ireland gave Armagh a much needed boost in a year the county will want to forget. Remember their match against Monaghan in the qualifiers. As forgettable an inter-county game one could imagine. We also had to endure extra-time.

A new manager will be expected to bring a different to the way Armagh play the game as they have been far too predictable in recent seasons.

22 Louth: Eamonn McEnaney has moved on, no doubt thinking he has gone as far he could with the Wee County. A fresh voice will obviously kick start something, but whether it will be enough to make Louth any more competitive remains to be seen.

23 Fermanagh: A friend of mine had dreams of another Ulster final appearance when Fermanagh beat Down in the preliminary round. He didn't see the listless display against Cavan coming, but neither did most observers.

Going to Aughrim after that in the qualifiers was never going to be easy and so it proved. It's fair to say that Malachy O'Rourke and his team owe their supporters much in 2010.

24 Cavan: Facing into an Ulster semi-final against Antrim, the Breffni chant was of a date with Tyrone in the Clones decider. It's a pity the players weren't as driven as they were a beaten team well before the final whistle. Tom Carr has been given another year in charge and his reputation and that of the players is very much on the line from here on.

25 Westmeath: I'm sure all football fans in the county will want to look ahead now that Brendan Hackett is in place as the new manager. 2009 was a truly miserable year in both League and championship. Hackett will no doubt want to make the side tough to beat again, while also trying to unearth a few more forward to improve Westmeath's average scoring return.

26 Wexford: The county board have kept faith with Jason Ryan as manager following a year he and his players will want to forget. It's hard to see them reaching the heights of 2008 any time soon, but Wexford football is not as bad as what was presented in this calendar year.

27 Offaly: After the Richie Connor removal earlier in the year, Offaly went with Tom Cribben as manager. He presided over two championship defeats, though at least his team played with a bit of heart. Cribben has already made noises about Offaly being a more serious force in 2010. We'll wait and see.

28 Leitrim: The arrival of Mickey Moran as manager was greeted with much excitement. After his first year in charge, Leitrim failed to get promoted from Division 4; were beaten rather handily in the end by Roscommon in the Connacht Championship and are still searching for their first win in the qualifiers after another defeat, this time at the hands of Longford.

The loss of Emlyn Mulligan was a huge blow to the side, however, but Leitrim fans will still believe that they are due a break some time soon. The rest of the GAA family would not begrudge them that.

29 Waterford: Promosing displays in the League have not transferred to the Championship and a new voice in the shape of John Owens will guide their fortunes in 2010.

30 Clare: They were not disgraced in going down to Limerick and Donegal in 2009 and should target the upcoming League to build up confidence.

31 Carlow: Luke Dempsey's also fought gamely in their losses to Louth and Donegal. The news that former minor star Brendan Walsh is returning home after a spell with the Sydney Swans will be a boost. It is also thought that Thomas Walsh will make himself available to Dempsey after a couple of seasons with Wicklow.

32 London: At least the Exiles are not getting a thumping every year and Galway were less than impressive when winning in Ruislip in 2009.

33 New York: The GAA fraternity in the Big Apple are keen to remain in the Connacht Championship and the respective Connacht counties are also eager to sample the bright lights in the month of May.