The league

I know the league performances shouldnt be looked at too much but even in the championships teams are severely underperforming with Dublin, Cork and Kerry being the exception. So far Monaghan and Galway are gone. Armagh almost went out and probably will. Down are not playing great and Mayo were almost knocked out of the provincials by London and Down just about seeing off Clare and that was on a dry day. Division 2 is doing much better with Donegal, Derry, Kildare, Meath, Tyrone and Antrim still in the qualifiers. Division 3 has Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary still contending and division 4 can include Roscommon and Wicklow and both of these teams are taking on the big teams.

I think it just backs up the fact that league form really doesn't mean anything. In the championship any team can be beaten by anyone on any given day, it doesn't matter if they're bottom of division 4 or top of division 1.

Royal_Girl2k9 wrote:I think it just backs up the fact that league form really doesn't mean anything. In the championship any team can be beaten by anyone on any given day, it doesn't matter if they're bottom of division 4 or top of division 1.

You might want to google the list of sides who have won the league over the last 10-12 years. I think you'll find that the best sides in the league, are usually strong contenders for the championship. Last year, for example, Cork won the double. I wouldn't bet against them doing the same again this summer.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Royal_Girl2k9 wrote:I think it just backs up the fact that league form really doesn't mean anything. In the championship any team can be beaten by anyone on any given day, it doesn't matter if they're bottom of division 4 or top of division 1.

You might want to google the list of sides who have won the league over the last 10-12 years. I think you'll find that the best sides in the league, are usually strong contenders for the championship. Last year, for example, Cork won the double. I wouldn't bet against them doing the same again this summer.

Of the last 10 National Leagues 5 of the winners have gone on to win the All Ireland so point taken. But you can also see teams like Offaly who were mid table in division 3 beating Monaghan who were second from bottom in division 1. Or Clare a division 4 team running Down who were a division 1 team to a point.

Galway were atrocious in the league, Monaghan weren't great. Out of the teams in the top 4 of the league, Down and Dublin have seriously underperformed...perhaps a suggestion that Kerry and Cork's superior chmapionship experience is a big factor. Both Down and Dublin put a lot of effort into the league...Cork's strength and athleticism saw them through and Kerry simmered away under the radar. Crucially though....the teams that did perform well in the first division remain in the Championship. Down and Dublin have underperformed.....a term they will take some solace in as they are still in contention without really hitting form yet.

The league has been a good indication of where teams are at and only at the end of the season can the indications of the league be analysed once again.

There are always going to be those surprise results...it's the essence of championship football...but I still believe that, more often than not, the league provides a good overview of what sort of standing a particular county is in.

I do not have much faith in League form.

Think Cork, Kerry and Down all went through the motions to some extent this year. Dublin gave it a good rattle but have not looked as strong in the Leinster Championship, though that may be by design.

Laois were exposed after qualifying for the Divison 2 final. And I fear Donegal are masquerading as a top team thanks to their win in that too.

Although the five teams who struggled in the top two divisions were: Galway, Monaghan, Antrim, Sligo and Meath. Three already gone and the other two on the cusp of elimination.

I guess an accurate summary would be that the warnings are out early for teams relegated but those that do well are not automatically guaranteed to repeat it come championship. Nice place to finish in the League is fourth or fifth in preparation for a proper effort in the summer.

Conclusion: Derry for Sam.