Jimmy Magee's SFC Preview

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Only 16 of our 32 counties have won the Sam Maguire Cup. Of those sixteen, five of them haven't won the Championship inside the last fifty years; Kildare, Roscommon, Mayo, Cavan and Louth. It reads like a 'closed shop', but the door isn't locked although the code is scrambled and the bouncers are tough.

Statistics would point the arrow at the likely 2007 contenders, though most counties may entertain glimmers of hope. This can be based on League form or the production of recent Minor/Under 21 talent or the 'signing' of a marquee manager.

Forecasting is as futile as it is thankless. Get it right and few, if any, will commend you for it. Get it wrong, and it can look a little ridiculous in the cold light of September. Between now and then, up to 70 Senior Football Championship games may be played, and sometimes a loser will re-emerge as a contender.

Kerry, Donegal, Armagh, Dublin, Mayo, Galway, Tyrone and Cork.  Beyond this octet, the 2007 champion is unlikely.

Donegal, the League champions, look to have their best team since that which won 'Sam' in 1992. They are big, quick and brainy and have reduced their over-indulgence in the handpass. I like the cut of them.

Tyrone, if free of injuries and near full strength, will contest strongly, even if Peter Canavan cannot be adequately replaced.

Dublin require a reliable and consistent forward to abet Alan Brogan and company. And centre-field needs more solidity.

Armagh have a few kicks still left in them with their unity of hardness and skill, while Cork showed last year that they can take on and beat the best. Like the others, they need an injury-free sequence.

In Connacht, Galway have tradition and the quality of footballer to keep that tradition alive, while Mayo may be a couple of players short of an A team but their day is close.

Kerry are a lifetime at the heart of Gaelic football tradition, averaging an All-Ireland every three years. They'll miss the retired Séamus Moynihan but they keep on producing; remember Donaghy last year? Still possessing the keys of the Kingdom is the Ó Sé clan, the excellent Cooper and several more, enough for another Sam Maguire victory.

Given the job of previewing, one wishes for an unhazy foresight, the courage to back one's judgement, or failing that, buy some loose tea and simply read the leaves.

What do I see? Both teams wearing the same colours, obviously the designs will have to be different. And the man collecting the Sam Maguire Cup has either a soft Donegal accent or a Kerry soundtrack.

Jimmy Magee, May '07

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