How many Ulster sides are capable of staging a campaign that could unseat Dublin from the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship throne?
Even across the whole country, who can derail the Dubs as they target a record-breaking five Sam Maguire successes on the trot?
Judging by the performances in the entire Allianz Leagues, not too many it would appear… but remember, all it takes is one.
Kerry and Mayo looks best placed to end the Dublin dynasty, both finishing above the Dubs in Division One, Mayo eventually edging out the Kingdom in the final.
A Mayo triumph at Croke Park on September 1 would send waves of jubilation right across the land, ending as it would a heart-breaking title famine stretching back to their last All-Ireland triumph way back in post-war 1951.
The Mayo curse would be well and truly lifted and hopefully banished forever should that scenario come to pass.
Kerry too can never be discounted in any title shake-up and the misfiring of Jim Gavin’s Dublin side in the League – they finished fourth in Division One, winning four games and losing three – will have given the chasing pack a huge degree of hope.
Monaghan and Cavan were also involved in the top division but out of 14 games they could only manage three wins between them.
Cavan’s drop to Division Two underlines the work needed to be done to seriously compete at the highest level.
Of the Ulster sides in Division Two, Donegal look the business; on their game, they will ask questions of any of the top teams but can the same be said for Fermanagh or Armagh? It doesn’t look likely.
It would seem that Donegal apart, only one Ulster squad has the capability of creating a title-winning campaign.
After a decidedly shaky start to the League – defeats by Kerry and Mayo were followed by a draw against Roscommon - Mickey Harte’s Tyrone finally settled into a winning rhythm to finish third in the division.
A 1-11 to 1-14 victory over Dublin on March 16 will have added significantly to the St Patrick’s Day celebrations around the Red Hand county and instilled great belief in the entire Tyrone camp.
Harte, naturally, was keen to play down the significance of that win.
“It appears like the League didn’t matter as much to Dublin this year as it did in previous years,” said Harte afterwards.
“They’ve enough titles now to be happy with so we wouldn’t be getting carried away and thinking we’ve beaten Dublin at their best, but we beat Dublin in a way that we haven’t done in a long time.
“So it’s very satisfying even with some players unavailable and to get the win, and it was a battle from start to finish.”
The battle for Sam begins in earnest in Ulster this weekend with Tyrone taking on Damian McErlain’s Derry.
Don’t discount Derry but Mickey Harte’s side look poised to build on relatively solid League foundations.
A hot Championship summer lies ahead and for Tyrone – or Donegal - a possible scorcher set for September 1.
Will a new high king ascend the All-Ireland throne?
Thomas Hawkins
The Irish News Sports Editor
