Football Pedigree - the Top 10

Pedigree chum! Not the dog food though ... if we were to look at the pedigree of Gaelic football over the 125 years where would the blood lines be? Taking into account all successes etc. There is no doubt that Kerry are at the top of the tree. So without listing 1-32 (or 33, 34) - I will list my Top 10 GAA Football counties in terms of pedigree.

1. Kerry - unchallenged, the kingpins.
2. Dublin - well 22 Sams - one nearly every decade.
3. Galway - aristocrats - renowned for style.
4. Cavan - true blue bloods. May only have 5 Sams but their provincial pedigree places them above those with more All Irelands.
5. Meath - their ability to win All Irelands in the modern era - when it is more competitive than ever sees them make the Top 5.
6. Down - the original Ulster giants. Their stylish exploits in the 60s and return to prominence in the 90s gets them to this height.
7. Cork - may have more All Irelands that those above them but their success v size and concentration on hurling diminishes their football pedigree.
8. Mayo - okay no Sam since 1951 but their consistency in Connaught and 3 titles earns them the right to this spot.
9. Offaly - for such a small - and duel county the Faithful punch well above their weight. The deeds of 1982 probably cement their top 10 inclusion.
10. Tyrone - very new kids on the block but what they have achieved (3 titles) in arguably the most competitive decade in GAA history warrants a spot.

Looks good Jayo. Seems fairly fair. Tyrone people might not be too happy but sure..

No mention of Wexford or Tipperary is a shocking oversight......Relegate the bottom two.....

Boxtyeater wrote:No mention of Wexford or Tipperary is a shocking oversight......Relegate the bottom two.....

No B - Wexford have 5 but the last was in 1918 - Tipp have 4, the last in 1920 - hardly pedigree?

Aren't we talking 125 years here?????

Boxtyeater wrote:Aren't we talking 125 years here?????

We are indeed B. But if you have done little or nowt for nigh on 90 years then ......

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Boxtyeater wrote:Aren't we talking 125 years here?????

We are indeed B. But if you have done little or nowt for nigh on 90 years then ......

Careful JC. The "what have they done in the last __ years" argument can apply to other counties too. Dublin are taking advantage of the full 125 being considered, why not other teams?

RMDrive wrote:Careful JC. The "what have they done in the last __ years" argument can apply to other counties too. Dublin are taking advantage of the full 125 being considered, why not other teams?

And if we were to start to take population size into it, you may begin to wonder if Dublin's 22 Sams were more a case of proving the law of averages, as opposed to pedigree....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Pedigree chum! Not the dog food though ... if we were to look at the pedigree of Gaelic football over the 125 years where would the blood lines be? Taking into account all successes etc. There is no doubt that Kerry are at the top of the tree. So without listing 1-32 (or 33, 34) - I will list my Top 10 GAA Football counties in terms of pedigree.

1. Kerry - unchallenged, the kingpins.
2. Dublin - well 22 Sams - one nearly every decade.
3. Galway - aristocrats - renowned for style.
4. Cavan - true blue bloods. May only have 5 Sams but their provincial pedigree places them above those with more All Irelands.
5. Meath - their ability to win All Irelands in the modern era - when it is more competitive than ever sees them make the Top 5.
6. Down - the original Ulster giants. Their stylish exploits in the 60s and return to prominence in the 90s gets them to this height.
7. Cork - may have more All Irelands that those above them but their success v size and concentration on hurling diminishes their football pedigree.
8. Mayo - okay no Sam since 1951 but their consistency in Connaught and 3 titles earns them the right to this spot.
9. Offaly - for such a small - and duel county the Faithful punch well above their weight. The deeds of 1982 probably cement their top 10 inclusion.
10. Tyrone - very new kids on the block but what they have achieved (3 titles) in arguably the most competitive decade in GAA history warrants a spot.

Jc i would say the most competitive decade was the 90s

Thomas Clarke wrote:

RMDrive wrote:Careful JC. The "what have they done in the last __ years" argument can apply to other counties too. Dublin are taking advantage of the full 125 being considered, why not other teams?

And if we were to start to take population size into it, you may begin to wonder if Dublin's 22 Sams were more a case of proving the law of averages, as opposed to pedigree....

exactly, he is quick to point out the size of Cork when marking them down a few positions. No mention of Dubs population?

Dublin population 1.1 m
Native 150K
Culchies (and others) 950K ..................

next .....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Dublin population 1.1 m
Native 150K
Culchies (and others) 950K ..................

next .....

So you are basically saying that you have a pick of 950k for your football and hurling teams?

quite happy to make top ten

as pedigree goes

mcguigan*2 mckenna mccabe mcconnell and thats just the mc's

canavan jones oneill jody and stephen dooher the donaghys some fine footballers

The list should read like this

Kerry






































The rest.



Yerra.

Purely on being always there or there abouts, Kerry, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Dublin and formerly Cavan, who have alas died a death from that exalted company.

Now those 5 may owe it all to the provincial set up but............they dominate.

P - thats six ...

1 Kerry -Kingpins of the Gaa

2 Dublin- 22 undisputed second best..

3 Wexford- For the 4 in a row

4 Galway for the 3 in a row

5 Meath...

6 Cavan..

7 Down

8 Cork

9 Kildare

10 To hard to call so

mullins wrote:1 Kerry -Kingpins of the Gaa

2 Dublin- 22 undisputed second best..

3 Wexford- For the 4 in a row

4 Galway for the 3 in a row

5 Meath...

6 Cavan..

7 Down

8 Cork

9 Kildare

10 To hard to call so

[quote="EstherMayo1951"][quote="mullins"]1 Kerry -Kingpins of the Gaa

2 Dublin- 22 undisputed second best..

3 Wexford- For the 4 in a row

4 Galway for the 3 in a row

5 Meath...

6 Cavan..

7 Down

8 Cork

9 Kildare

10 Mayo

Are my eyes deceiving me? No Derry?

up.the.oak.trees wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me? No Derry?

im sure loyal wont be too happy with that either.

up.the.oak.trees wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me? No Derry?

Derry wouldn't be a huge county for GAA tradition that spans decades.

Take Cavan for example. A masterful county who's competitive GAA tradition extends back decades upon decades. Sure, Mayo narrowly lost the All-Ireland final of '48 to them. Cavan have bred superb players over the years. They mightn't be up in the Top 10 football counties now, but Cavan are one of the stalwarts of the GAA.

EstherMayo1951 wrote:

up.the.oak.trees wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me? No Derry?

Derry wouldn't be a huge county for GAA tradition that spans decades.

Take Cavan for example. A masterful county who's competitive GAA tradition extends back decades upon decades. Sure, Mayo narrowly lost the All-Ireland final of '48 to them. Cavan have bred superb players over the years. They mightn't be up in the Top 10 football counties now, but Cavan are one of the stalwarts of the GAA.

I think Tyrone wouldnt be either, or Offaly deserve to be on the list?

up.the.oak.trees wrote:

EstherMayo1951 wrote:

up.the.oak.trees wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me? No Derry?

Derry wouldn't be a huge county for GAA tradition that spans decades.

Take Cavan for example. A masterful county who's competitive GAA tradition extends back decades upon decades. Sure, Mayo narrowly lost the All-Ireland final of '48 to them. Cavan have bred superb players over the years. They mightn't be up in the Top 10 football counties now, but Cavan are one of the stalwarts of the GAA.

I think Tyrone wouldnt be either, or Offaly deserve to be on the list?

Whatever about Tyrone, but Offaly have an unbelievable GAA history and Pedigree. Séamus Darby in 1982? Unbelievable win for Offaly against Kerry, who were going for their 5-in-a-row. They also won the All-Irelands in 1971 and '72. Their hurling tradition is mighty too. Offaly deserve to be on the list, without a doubt.

EstherMayo1951 wrote:[
Whatever about Tyrone, but Offaly have an unbelievable GAA history and Pedigree. Séamus Darby in 1982?They also won the All-Irelands in 1971 and '72. Their hurling tradition is mighty too. Offaly deserve to be on the list, without a doubt.

Hi Essie...( as you're online) Grump here...I'm taking issue with the highlighted content of your post...
Pedigree, correct me if I'm wrong, is in the breeding (used loosely) strain...They may have history but they don't have pedigree ie. an history of success that involves various familial connections going back generations such as Kerry, Galway, Tipperary, Kilkenny or Cork have.
No place for Offaly on a top ten list IMO...