A new face atop the throne: SIN’s All-Ireland SFC Predictions

Weir brace sinks Galway’s promotion dream

By Oisín Bradley

6 months. 26 weeks. 182 days. 4,368 hours. 262,080 minutes.

That’s how long has elapsed since the first ball was meant to be thrown in to kick-start the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in the Bronx and the actual throw-in of the 2020 SFC.

A lot has happened in that time, but one thing which hasn’t been changed is the hunger for every team and the fire in their bellies as they gear up for the race for Sam Maguire.

This Championship is about to roar into action, and has some intriguing ties across the board. Here, we’ll be casting our *expert* opinion on who will be capturing provincial crowns, as well as making our call on who’ll be capping off 2020 with an AllIreland to celebrate in Christmas week.

Ulster (Donegal) In my mind, it all comes down to the opening weekend of the Championship, and the team to get their hands on the Anglo Celt cup will likely come from the tasty derby clash in Ballybofey. These teams are set for a collision course, and it’s almost impossible to call.

Mickey Harte’s Tyrone men performed admirably to send Mayo through the League trap-door in the League, and the fresh face of Conor McKenna looks a fine addition, whereas Donegal’s seasoned heads like Michael Murphy and Ryan McHugh are well-rested after sitting out the reigning champions’ trip to Tralee.

Photo: Irish News

It’ll be close, but I expect Donegal’s stellar and well-rested attack to prove just too much for their near neighbours.

Whoever the winner may be, I expect to see them given a stern test at least once en-route to the trophy from Armagh or Monaghan. However, come Six o’clock on November 22nd, expect the Anglo Celt cup to be adorned in green and gold.

Munster (Kerry) From one team donned in green and gold tipped for provincial honours to another, it is difficult to see the men from the Kingdom relinquishing their iron grip on the Munster Cup any time soon. The only time I’m expecting a team to even cause them a minor inconvenience is in their last-4 clash with Cork.

Cork are the second-best team in the province and I predict them to at least hold a candle to their nearneighbours, and they do boast some talent as proven by their recent 5-14 to 0-12 demolition of Louth. However, the Division One kingpins will prove to be a whole different ball game altogether, and the men from the South-West will likely waltz through with ease. Leinster (Dublin) A marginally more competitive province than the previous, but one in which there is one winner nonetheless. Dessie Farrell has the unenviable job of stepping into Jim Gavin’s shoes, and in truth has not had the most incredulous of league campaigns. That said, the aim always will be the All-Ireland series.

Meath and Kildare are likely to play in the last4, and Meath gave the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions an entertaining and tight game in recent weeks in the Allianz League. Should all fall the way of the Royals, they could cause an upset with the likes of Bryan Menton and Jordan Morris firing on all cylinders.

Photo: Sun

That being said, Dublin will be nearing their peak by Leinster final time, and the Delaney Cup isn’t likely to be leaving the capital any time soon. Connacht (Mayo) Possibly the tightest province to call. After James Horan’s men’s dispatch of Leitrim, they’ll be coming into a do-or-die clash with the Rossies brimming with confidence in the semi-finals. Anthony Cunningham’s men do possess a propensity to cause an upset in their bids for provincial honours, however the men from the Yew County will edge Roscommon, with their star-studded forward line doing enough to secure passage to the decider by four.

Galway will have atoned for their poor form in the conclusion of the Allianz Leagues in their comfortable demolition of Sligo, and will come into this game with the wind in their sails. However, they will be without their Damien Comer-shaped fulcrum at the heart of their attack due to his hammer blow of an injury. Expect Mayo to edge this one and secure passage to the All-Ireland series. All-Ireland (Kerry) Now for the really interesting one. There isn’t a single semi-final which isn’t destined to go to the wire from the offset. The first one sees Ulster’s finest pitted against the Leinster kingpins. Any side which manages to capture the Anglo Celt are no mugs, and if it’s Donegal, they’ll travel to Croke Park and give Dublin a real rattle.

Their forward line is stacked with mercurial talent such as Patrick McBearty and the lively Jamie Brennan. That said, Dublin’s defence should do just enough to withstand the onslaught, while their offensive arsenal will outgun the men from the Hills.

In the other semi-final, Mayo will likely be locking horns with old foes Kerry. This game has plenty of history, and the likes of Aidan O’Shea and the O’Connors will be gunning for blood. Whilst I think it’ll be tight to the death, the star quality in the Kingdom should see them through.

By any current reckoning, Dublin and Kerry are the finest teams in football at the moment. Both sides boast the tightest of defences as well as the brightest of stars in the forwards.

In truth, much about this Kerry team evokes excitement in me. Their ability is breath-taking, and should their forward line catch fire they could blow any team out of the water, including the boys in blue. Come the New Year I forecast a usurping of the throne, and a new victorious captain in