Qualifier Predictions (Round 1)

[lynchbhoy]

Monaghan  v Derry - Derry
Tipperary v Westmeath - Westmeath
Donegal v Roscommon - Donegal
Kildare v Cavan - Kildare
Limerick v Meath - Meath
Longford v Laois - Longford
Louth v Tyrone - Louth
Offaly v Down - draw

[mylestheslasher]

I'd say the chance of Kildare losing to Cavan are miniscule. Reports of some of our players on the beer all last weekend. Some headed to Oxygen with the blessing of the manager. 3 midfileders left the panel since the game against Tyrone and 2 others got injured in the last week. Cavan are a joke at the moment, I think Kildare might be in transition but they'll be too good for Cavan.

[ludermor]

BY the sounds of it Cavan wont be winning anything any time soon but it sounds like great craic!

[joemamas]

Monaghan  v Derry - Derry, I believe that like most teams who have a long run the prior season and who realistically do not have a chance to go all the way, Monaghan will not have the motivation to win this one

Tipperary v Westmeath - Westmeath not by that much, they too have had a long season, espically if they are missing the players mentioned earlier Tipp with a handicap of +6 seems like an attractive bet.

Donegal v Roscommon - Donegal by at least 10pts, they may run up the score as it is almost two months since they have had a competitive game.

Kildare v Cavan - Kildare,  embarrassed by wicklow perfromance can only go one way up

Limerick v Meath - Meath  will score two or three goals that will be the difference.

Longford v Laois - Longford Luke dempseys last hurrah ?. Laois have zero motivation, a squad that does not seem to be enthralled with current management.

Louth v Tyrone - Tyrone by at least six. Paddy power has handicap at -4 . I would be all over this game

Offaly v Down - Down although their previos back door exploits have been brutal. Liam Doyle will be a big loss. if reports on the site are correct, Offaly look to be less than motivated.

Handicap bets.

Derry  -1
Tyrone -4
Donegal -8  (a lot , but may overwhelm a young and inexperianced roscommon).

All even money amount to 8/1

[Yes I Would]

Derry
Westmeath
Donegal
Kildare Cavan (Draw)
Meath
Laois
Tyrone
Offaly

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Monaghan  v Derry - Derry, I believe that like most teams who have a long run the prior season and who realistically do not have a chance to go all the way, Monaghan will not have the motivation to win this one

Not sure about the logic to this one. Both sides got to the same stage last year and both had realistic ambitions of winning the Ulster championship prior to the championship starting.

[Yes I Would]

Finlay and Mc Quaid are huge losses. Dont think Monaghan have the strength and depth to replace these two, so on that basis id fancy Derry, but just.
If Monaghan can turn it into a blood and guts affair, Derry just mightnt have the stones for it!

[joemamas]

Quote
Monaghan  v Derry - Derry, I believe that like most teams who have a long run the prior season and who realistically do not have a chance to go all the way, Monaghan will not have the motivation to win this one

Not sure about the logic to this one. Both sides got to the same stage last year and both had realistic ambitions of winning the Ulster championship prior to the championship starting.

To clarify, i just feel that Derry have higher expectations than Monaghan this season, especially after the way they won the league. I also happened to watch Dublin V Derry q/final from 2007 last week. Derry forwards were very impressive, I will put the loss to fermanagh down in large part to Fergal Doherty's abscence. he is one of the top three midfielders in Ireland. Not sure if Monaghan can re-motivate themselves, if they had won Ulster yes, now I dont think so.

[joemamas]

apologies for the red ink. not intentional

[illdecide]

Monaghan  v Derry - Draw
Tipperary v Westmeath - Westmeath
Donegal v Roscommon - Donegal
Kildare v Cavan - Kildare
Limerick v Meath - Meath
Longford v Laois - Longford
Louth v Tyrone - Tyrone
Offaly v Down - Down

[meathie]

Monaghan  v Derry - Derry- though I tell ya if Monaghan do win this, theyre going to be hard stopped by anyone
Tipperary v Westmeath- Westmeath by a few
Donegal v Roscommon - Donegal by a good few
Kildare v Cavan - Kildare, if anyone team needs to win a game its Kildare. McGeeney wont lwt this one slip
Limerick v Meath - Meath
Longford v Laois - Longford- Laois seem demoralised at the mo.
Louth v Tyrone -Tyrone with abit to spare and prob to head to the all-ireland this year
Offaly v Down - draw, there has to be one draw!

[Hardy]

Monaghan  v Derry - Monaghan. Much better than they looked v. Fermanagh. A huge amount to prove. Derry may be over-confident.
Tipperary v Westmeath- Don't know anything about Tipp, so WH for the sake of picking one.
Donegal v Roscommon - Donegal, based on the direness of Roscommon by all accounts.
Kildare v Cavan - Kildare. See Roscommon above.
Limerick v Meath - Meath. If we can win midfield our forwards are much too good to lose this one.
Longford v Laois - Longford - there has to be at least one surprise. But would it be a surprise?
Louth v Tyrone - This could be the one draw. If not, a Louth win.  I think this Tyrone group has reached the end of the road, until I see evidence to the contrary. An ambush is well and truly set up in Drogheda.
Offaly v Down - Not much evidence to inform a judgement. Down on the basis of more championship hardening matches.

[Maguire01]

Finlay and Mc Quaid are huge losses. Dont think Monaghan have the strength and depth to replace these two, so on that basis id fancy Derry, but just.
If Monaghan can turn it into a blood and guts affair, Derry just mightnt have the stones for it!

McQuaid was out for the entire league and Monaghan just missed out on promotion. Darren Hughes will no doubt come in.

A bit of switching around in the forward lines and we'll probably have Hanratty or Gollogly take Finlay's place.

McManus      Woods      Gollogly

Hanratty      Corey        Freeman

With the option of sticking Shane Smith in there as well, i'd say that's a formidable enough forward outfit.

Monaghan  v Derry - Derry, I believe that like most teams who have a long run the prior season and who realistically do not have a chance to go all the way, Monaghan will not have the motivation to win this one

I don't get this at all. The team that comes out of this is right back on track. The losers are dumped. How can that not be sufficient motivation for 2 genuine contenders to go further?
And as has already been said, both teams got to the same stage last year, and both could realisitically have met in the AI semi-final.

[Rossfan]

Longford v Laois - Can't see Longford doing it so expect more whinging from Luke.
[

Jasus Luke is doing some whinging the last few days.
He is obviously passing the blame before they lose.
I presume he is building up to his departure next Monday so he can join Maughan as a full time media "expert" 

[Tatler Jack]

 

presume he is building up to his departure next Monday so he can join Maughan as a full time media "expert" 

Put him on late at night. His droning voice will cure any insomniacs!!! Definitely getting his retaliation in first.