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Province by province: Every county's Championship hopes

Paul Conroy will be an important player for Galway in their bid to come out of Connacht as champions  
Paul Conroy will be an important player for Galway in their bid to come out of Connacht as champions   Paul Conroy will be an important player for Galway in their bid to come out of Connacht as champions  

THE Irish News sports team of Andy Watters, Neil Loughran and Cahair O’Kane run the rule over the four provinces, assessing every county’s hopes, league performances, achievements and shortcomings and rate them in their All-Ireland Championship ranking order... 

ULSTER


Still easily the most competitive provincial Championship in the country. Of Ulster’s nine counties, only Antrim operated outside the top two divisions last season and they’ll play in Division Three in 2017. Monaghan and Donegal have shared the last five titles between them, but Tyrone are determined to break their stranglehold this season. Cavan also have claims, while Armagh, Derry, Fermanagh, Down and Antrim are waiting in the wings hoping to make progress too...

ANTRIM


The Saffrons won Division Four with an unbeaten run and now look forward to renewing rivalries with regular Championship foes Fermanagh. The Erne men knocked them out of Ulster and the Qualifiers last year, so Antrim have scores to settle and new trainer Brian Magee has them in great condition.

Lost the Division Four final but, at full strength, they are certainly capable of giving Fermanagh their fill of it.

Managers: Gearoid Adams and Frank Fitzsimons; Skipper: Kevin Niblock; Last year’s highlight: Beating Laois in the Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Fermanagh and get a run in the Qualifiers; Main man: Mick McCann; Look out for: Matthew Fitzpatrick; Ranking: 25

ARMAGH


Despite going unbeaten in their last three games, Armagh were relegated from Division Two.

Their win against Derry in the final round of fixtures was their best performance under Kieran McGeeney’s management and has bolstered morale in the camp. A 17-point loss to Cavan did the damage in the league and Armagh face the Breffni Blues in the Ulster quarter-final.

Cavan start as favourites, but McGeeney’s side should not be written off.

Manager: Kieran McGeeney; Skipper: Ciaran McKeever; Last year’s highlight: Winning Division Three; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Get a run in the Qualifiers; Main man: Stefan Campbell; Look out for: Micheal McKenna; Ranking: 15

CAVAN


THE Breffni men came up short in the Division Two final against Tyrone, but they are back in the top-flight and their promotion was fully deserved.

Their league success was achieved with an attacking style spearheaded by skipper Gearoid McKiernan from centre half-forward. Scores come from all over the field and the side attacks and defends as a unit.

Can they carry that form into the Championship? Yes. With a squad packed with talented players, the Breffni men should be a force to be reckoned with.

Manager: Terry Hyland; Skipper: Gearoid McKiernan; Last year’s highlight: Beating London in Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Reach the Ulster final; Main man: Gearoid McKiernan; Look out for: Conor Moynagh; Ranking: 8

DERRY


Injuries to key players, including Mark Lynch and Danny McBride disrupted Derry’s league campaign, but they still finished in mid-table.

Losses to Tyrone and Armagh won’t have done anything for morale in the Oak Leaf camp but, with a fully-fit squad to choose from, they are still serious players. Momentum and confidence are crucial.

Manager: Damian Barton; Skipper: Chrissy McKaigue; Last year’s highlight: Beating Down; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Get a run in the Qualifiers; Main man: Mark Lynch; Look out for: Ciaran McFaul; Ranking: 12

DONEGAL


Ulster finalists last year and National League semi-finalists this season, despite a stop-start league campaign.

Rory Gallagher’s side won their first three games in Division One then took their foot off the gas and lost to Kerry, Dublin, Roscommon and Monaghan. They start against the winners of Antrim and Fermanagh and then have a chance for vengeance against the Farney men at the semi-final stage.

Manager: Rory Gallagher; Skipper: Michael Murphy; Last year’s highlight: Beating Armagh at the Athletic Grounds; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Avenge final defeat by beating Monaghan; Main man: Michael Murphy; Look out for: Kieran Thompson; Ranking: 5

DOWN


It was always going to be tough and Down lost all seven games in Division One. But hope springs eternal and they did, at least, sign off by scoring 1-16 against Mayo.

They lost that game by three points and the closest Eamonn Burns’ side came to causing an upset was a two-point reverse against Monaghan, their opponents in the Ulster quarter-final. They’ll need to produce the same again, and more, to cause an upset in the Championship.

Manager: Eamonn Burns; Skipper: Kevin McKernan; Last year’s highlight: Promotion to Division One; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Get a run in the Qualifiers; Main man: Kevin McKernan; Look out for: Sean Dornan; Ranking: 14

FERMANAGH


All-Ireland quarter-finalists last year thanks to Qualifier wins over Antrim, Roscommon and Westmeath.

Pete McGrath’s side consolidated what they had achieved in 2015 by staying in Division Two thanks to battling draws against Galway and Tyrone. If they get past the Saffrons, they’ll need to beat Donegal and Monaghan to get to the Ulster final.

Manager: Pete McGrath; Skipper: Eoin Donnelly; Last year’s highlight: That comeback win against Roscommon; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Antrim and get a run in the Qualifiers; Main man: Sean Quigley; Look out for: Daniel Teague; Ranking: 11

MONAGHAN


The reigning Ulster champions have the best point-scoring forward in the country - Conor McManus - and a supporting cast packed with experience and quality.

Did enough to stay in Division One thanks to a final day win over Donegal - the county they beat in last season’s who-blinks-first Anglo-Celt decider. Can they defend their crown? With McManus fit, they always have a chance.

Manager: Malachy O’Rourke; Skipper: Conor McManus; Last year’s highlight: Winning the Ulster Championship; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Win it again; Main man: Conor McManus; Look out for: Conor McCarthy; Ranking: 6

TYRONE


The Red Hands ended 2015 by winning the O Fiach Cup and, this year, they are unbeaten in 13 games and added the Division Two title to the Dr McKenna Cup that was won in January.

Now, they have their sights on a first Ulster title since 2010. All-Ireland-winning experience is there in Sean Cavanagh and the McMahon brothers, Joe and Justin and, to go with that, they have a squad packed full of gifted footballers and a system that works.

Manager: Mickey Harte; Skipper: Sean Cavanagh; Last year’s highlight: Reaching the All-Ireland semi-final; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Win Ulster; Main man: Peter Harte; Look out for: Richard Donnelly; Ranking: 2

CONNACHT


After an impressive debut season in Division One, Roscommon were touted as possible contenders to end Mayo’s stranglehold in Connacht.

Those opinions were quickly reconsidered after the Rossies’ narrow escape in New York and, despite Galway having a good league campaign behind them, it is impossible to look beyond Mayo making it six in-a-row.

GALWAY


Still some way off Mayo in Connacht and probably behind Roscommon after the Rossies blazed a trail through the early weeks of Division One.

Galway missed out on promotion to the top tier after losing a winner-takes-all battle with Cavan, but there is some huge talent in their ranks - most notably midfielder Paul Conroy and the electric Shane Walsh.

Manager: Kevin Walsh; Skipper: Gary O’Donnell; Last year’s highlight: Beating Derry and Armagh in the Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Win a first Connacht title since 2008; Main man: Shane Walsh; Look out for: Eamon Brannigan; Ranking: 10

LEITRIM


The talismanic Emlyn Mulligan returned to the Leitrim fold this year and they will fancy their chances of springing a huge upset when they take on Roscommon next week.

In reality though, Shane Ward’s men face another hard summer. Finished just above London at the foot of Division Four, the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal league was beating eventual champions Louth.

Manager: Shane Ward; Skipper: Emlyn Mulligan; Last year’s highlight: A respectable fourth-placed finish in Division Four; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Get more than two games like last year; Main man: Emlyn Mulligan; Look out for: Conor Gaffney; Ranking: 27

LONDON


Former Wexford captain Ciaran Deely came in to replace the long-serving Paul Coggins at the start of the year.

Yet again, the Exiles found themselves rooted to the bottom of Division Four, a victory in Waterford their only points of the campaign. Showed well against Roscommon last year, but their case has not been helped by an unkind Connacht quarter-final draw against Mayo.

Manager: Ciaran Deely; Skipper: David McGreevy; Last year’s highlight: Put up a strong showing before going down 1-14 to 0-10 to Roscommon; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Cause a surprise in the Qualifiers; Main man: Lorcan Mulvey; Look out for: Liam Gavigan; Ranking: 28

MAYO


The nearly men of the All-Ireland series in the past five years, they have been knocking on the door but without being able to break through that glass ceiling.

Came so close to getting the better of Dublin last year, an indication of the strength they possess. Cillian O’Connor’s return towards the end of the National League is a huge boost to the reigning Connacht champions.

Manager: Stephen Rochford; Skipper: Lee Keegan; Last year’s highlight: They came so close to beating Dublin in the semi-final, but getting the better of Donegal - which they did in the last-eight - is always sweet; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Reach the All-Ireland semi-final; Main man: Aidan O’Shea; Look out for: Diarmuid O’Connor; Ranking: 4

NEW YORK


The Exiles came within one point of causing an almighty shock against Roscommon at Gaelic Park on May 1.

Manager: Justin O’Halloran; Skipper: Johnny Duane; Rank: 33

ROSCOMMON


One of the talking points of the year so far was Roscommon’s early season form as, despite being tipped for immediate relegation, they blazed a trail through Division One and ended up in a league semi-final.

Yet, they were given the scare of their lives in New York on May 1, labouring to a one-point victory at Gaelic Park to move into the Connacht quarter-final.

Manager: Kevin McStay and Fergal O’Donnell; Skipper: Ciaran Murtagh; Last year’s highlight: Winning promotion to Division One - the Championship ended with a shock exit to Fermanagh; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Leitrim and go on to win a Connacht title against one of the traditional provincial superpowers, Mayo or Galway; Main man: Cathal Cregg; Look out for: David Murray; Ranking: 9

SLIGO


Stunned Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final last year, only to find themselves on the receiving end of a 6-25 to 2-11 chinning at the hands of provincial kingpins Mayo in the decider.

Such a defeat, especially on the big stage, can be hard to recover from. Would have been fancied to challenge for promotion from Division Three, but a poor campaign saw them finish midtable.

Manager: Niall Carew; Skipper: Mark Brehony; Last year’s highlight: Beating Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat the winner of Roscommon/Leitrim to reach another Connacht final; Main man: Adrian Marren; Look out for: Kyle Cawley; Ranking: 20

LEINSTER


This is a one-horse race. There were just three Leinster counties in Divisions One and Two of the National Football League this season. Dublin finished top of the heap, while Meath survived in Division Two by beating already-relegated Laois in the final round of fixtures.

One ray of hope is that Kildare won Division Three, but the province is ridiculously one-sided at this stage and Dublin’s dominance looks set to go on and on.

CARLOW


As one Carlow diehard put it: “live in hope and die in despair”. His county are regularly among the first out of the All-Ireland series - last year, Laois and London proved too strong for them.

Division Four form was reasonable, with wins against London, Wicklow and Leitrim, but the team blew hot and cold and were never in the mix for promotion. First up is Louth, who beat them by 13 points in the league. Another early exit looks on the cards.

Manager: Turlough O’Brien; Skipper: Dara Foley; First up: Louth in the preliminary round; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Give Louth a run for their money; Look out for: Paul Broderick; Ranking: 31

DUBLIN


Their minor team would give some of their Leinster rivals a run for their money, so it’s impossible to see anyone stopping them.

The Dubs have lost full-back Rory O’Carroll and flying wing-back Jack McCaffrey but, with reserves who are the envy of the nation, they still won all nine league games. Since their breakthrough season of 2011, they have developed a win-one-lose-one pattern in the Championship and they’ll be aiming to win back-to-back titles this year.

Manager: Jim Gavin; Skipper: Stephen Cluxton; First up: Laois or Wicklow; Last year’s highlight: Winning the All-Ireland; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Win it again; Look out for: Eric Lowndes; Ranking: 1

KILDARE


Although they lost the Division Three final, the Lilywhites did bounce back up to Division Two under new manager Cian O’Neill. He replaced Jason Ryan, whose final season in the dugout had been a disappointment - relegation came first and Kildare took a serious hiding off Kerry at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage.

They start against Wexford and, with Meath and Dublin on the other side of the draw, they should be capable of reaching a first Leinster final since 2009.

Manager: Cian O’Neill; Skipper: Ciaran Fitzpatrick; First up: Wexford; Last year’s highlight: Beating Cork to reach the quarter-finals; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Reach the Leinster final; Look out for: Tommy Moolick; Ranking: 18

LAOIS


Newly-appointed manager Mick Lillis began the league with half-a-dozen starters out injured and beating Armagh by a point was his side’s solitary win in Division Two.

The O’Moore men were relegated to Division Three and will look to regroup for a Championship campaign that begins against Wicklow in the Leinster preliminary round. There has been speculation that Paul Kingston and Paul Cotter have left the panel, but the feeling in the county is Lillis has the best players in his squad and, believe it or not, Laois stalwarts are adamant they will get past Wicklow and 'give the Dubs a serious run'. We’ll see.

Manager: Mick Lillis; Skipper: Donie Kingston; First up: Wicklow in the preliminary round; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Wicklow and give the Dubs a serious run; Look out for: Paul O’Callaghan; Ranking: 16

LONGFORD


Ran into Dublin in Leinster last year with predictable results, but the midlanders rallied well in the Qualifiers and extended their season into July with wins against Carlow and Clare.

Recorded four wins in Division Three this season, but missed out on promotion on scoring difference. Up against Offaly once again. They beat them last year, but lost when they met in the first league outing. Another close game looks likely.

Manager: Denis Connerton; Skipper: Michael Quinn; First up: Offaly in the preliminary round; Last year’s highlight: Beating Clare to reach round three of the Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Offaly; Look out for: Darren Gallagher; Ranking: 23

LOUTH


Louth can beat Carlow and advance to a quarter-final meeting with Meath. The Royals hardly present an insurmountable hurdle, so a semi-final spot is possible. There, they will likely face Dublin and... enough said.

League-wise, they beat Antrim in the Division Four decider and are making progress under the canny management of former player Colin Kelly. They have a number of talented players and go about their business with purpose and drive.

Manager: Colin Kelly; Skipper: Padraig Rath; First up: Carlow; Last year’s highlight: Beating Leitrim in the Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Carlow; Look out for: Jim McEneaney; Ranking: 24

MEATH


Form in Division Two was patchy and they were never in the frame for promotion.

Westmeath came back from the dead to stun them in Leinster last year and Tyrone had a few nervy moments before they beat the Royals in the Qualifiers. They seem to have gone backwards and will meet Dublin in the semis if they get past the winners of Louth v Carlow.

Manager: Mick O’Dowd; Skipper: Donal Keoghan; First up: Louth or Carlow; Last year’s highlight: Beating Wicklow in the Leinster quarters; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Make progress in the Qualifiers; Look out for: Andrew Tormey; Rank: 13

OFFALY


Seamus Darby, the hero of 1982, turns 66 this year and Offaly haven’t had a great deal to celebrate since his spectacular finish ended Kerry’s hopes of five in-a-row 34 seasons ago.

Their last Leinster title was in 1997 and you’d get decent odds on them breaking that drought this year. They are without New York-based Brian Connor, but are on the easier side of the draw. Wins against Longford, Westmeath and Wexford or Kildare would get them to the final.

Manager: Pat Flanagan; Skipper: Paul McConway; First up: Longford in the preliminary round; Last year’s highlight: Beating Waterford was their sole Championship success; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Beat Longford; Look out for: Nigel Dunne; Rank: 22

WESTMEATH


The midlanders have bottomed out in the league, but only because they can’t fall any further after three consecutive relegations saw them drop like a stone from Division One to Division Four. Reached the Leinster final last year with wins over Louth, Wexford and Meath, but were well beaten by the Dubs in the final.

Took one point from their first four league games, then rallied with wins against Offaly and Limerick. Losing to Longford sent them down and they’ll face them or Offaly in the Leinster first round.

Manager: Tom Cribben; Skipper: Ger Egan; First up: Longford or Offaly; Last year’s highlight: Reaching Leinster final; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: At least make Leinster semi-finals; Look out for: Frankie Boyle; Ranking: 21

WEXFORD


Finished third in Division Four and narrowly missed out on promotion. The highlight of last year was the 2-16 to 2-11 win that ended Down’s season and turned out to be Jim McCorry’s last in charge of the Mourne men. Derry ended their run last year but, with forwards of the calibre of Ben Brosnan and Ciaran Lyng, Wexford were always a dangerous side.

Start in Leinster against up-and-coming Kildare.

Manager: David Power; Skipper: Ciaran Lyng; First up: Kildare; Last year’s highlight: Beating Down in the Qualifiers; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Get a run in the Qualifiers; Look out for: Donal Shanley; Ranking: 26

WICKLOW


Wicklow could spring a surprise against Laois, but it would indeed be a major surprise. They, along with all of Leinster, are unfortunately mere cannon fodder for the rampant Dubs at present.

They will also ply their trade in Division Four again next year, after an average campaign saw them register only three wins against London, Leitrim and Waterford.

Manager: Johnny Magee; Skipper: Rory Finn; First up: Laois; Last year’s highlight: Only losing by four points against Meath was as good as it got; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Run Laois close, at the very least; Look out for: Rory Finn; Rank: 30

MUNSTER


THE big two are on opposite sides of the semi-final draw by accident rather than design this time, but it matters little. Cork don’t even look particularly well placed to trouble the reigning champions, but you never know when it comes to games between those two.

Clare will want to build on their league promotion, while Tipperary will have ideas of the grandeur the last-12 offers. For the other two, a short summer.

CLARE


While Division Three was a mediocre competition this season, Clare wouldn’t have been too high up the list of contenders for most people. Their final win over Kildare washed slightly over a campaign in which they lost to Kildare, Offaly and Tipperary yet still won promotion.

Improving surely and favourites to beat Limerick, but they’ll do very well to touch the last-12.

Manager: Colm Collins; Skipper: Gary Brennan; Last year’s highlight: A rare Munster Championship win, beating Limerick; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Improve on their performance in the Qualifiers; Main man: Gary Brennan; Look out for: Jamie Malone; Ranking: 17

CORK


As inconsistent as it is humanly possible to be. Cork could just as easily have Kerry on the ropes as they could be beaten by Kildare, which is how last summer panned out.

Their start to the league was woeful and a heavy defeat by Roscommon was ultimately their undoing as they went down on points difference. Peader Healy has a big job on.

Manager: Peader Healy; Skipper: Paul Kerrigan; Last year’s highlight: The 15 minutes after half-time in the drawn Munster final; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Give Kerry a game; Main man: Colm O’Neill; Look out for: Luke Connolly; Ranking: 7

LIMERICK


It’s back to the bottom tier of the National League pyramid for Limerick next year and it’s no great surprise.

A single point garnered from eight games, it’s been a testing reign for John Brudair, now in his third season. The fact they’re underdogs to Clare says it all about their current standing.

Manager: John Brudair; Skipper: Iain Corbett; Last year’s highlight: Hanging on in Division Three for another year; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Upset the odds against Clare; Main man: Ian Ryan; Look out for: Brian Scanlon; Ranking: 29

KERRY


Spring was an uncharacteristically profitable time for Kerry. Six consecutive wins taking them to a league final is not their average form. But perhaps more was learned from their defeat in the final than any of it.

Munster should pose few problems given Cork’s current woes, but the Dubs are a huge barrier to them.

Manager: Eamonn Fitzmaurice; Skipper: Bryan Sheehan; Last year’s highlight: Their seven-goal thumping of Kildare; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Win Munster and All-Ireland titles; Main man: James O’Donoghue; Look out for: Alan Fitzgerald; Ranking: 3

TIPPERARY


Finishing fifth in Division Three was perhaps a disservice given just one point separated them from promoted rivals Clare. Given their minor and U21 success of recent years, it will have been hard for them to stomach the Banner winning promotion - especially having beaten them in the campaign.

Cracks have begun to appear in the production line. They could do with a decent summer to steady the ship.

Manager: Liam Kearns; Skipper: Peter Acheson; Last year’s highlight: A big 23-point summer win over Louth; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: At least cause a wobbly Cork problems; Main man: Conor Sweeney; Look out for: Brian Fox; Ranking: 19

WATERFORD


Improved marginally on last year’s league showing, notably pushing Louth to a point, but they still lose more often than they win in Division Four. They were left to rue a couple of near misses in the spring.

They’ve won just one Championship game since 1988, a 2011 Qualifier clash against London, which tells you where they’re at.

Manager: Tom McGlinchey; Skipper: Tommy Prendergast; Last year’s highlight: Slim pickings, a big league win in London; They’ll be disappointed if they don’t: Make some impression against Tipperary; Main man: Paul Whyte; Look out for: JJ Hutchinson; Ranking: 32