THE DRAW WAS KIND TO…
Sligo & Leitrim – Connacht SFC
They may have hoped to avoid one of the aristocratic forces of Mayo and Galway, but to avoid both along with Roscommon, makes it a dream draw for Sligo and Leitrim. Both will be tipped to surmount their respective battles with London and New York, and while Sligo will be favored to then progress to the final, Leitrim will source optimism from their qualifier run this year and their Connacht championship win over the Yeats men last year.
Galway hurlers – Leinster SHC
They will still be suffering in the wake of last Sunday’s disappointment in Croke Park but whenever it is over the winter months that Galway start to train their focus on the 2013 season, they will realize that the path is clear to another Leinster final. Perhaps they would have hoped for tougher opponents yet the truth is whoever emerges to face them in the Leinster semi-final, should be a challenge that the Tribesmen deal with.
Cork & Kerry – Munster SFC
Provincial council chairman Sean Walsh may have mounted a stringent defence of the retention of the Munster championship this week. But the stark truth is that last night’s draw will not have created much vibrancy around football fare in the south in 2013. If they play to form, there is the prospect of an inevitable final meeting between Cork and Kerry next July. Such repetitive scenarios will increase the calls for an alteration to the provincial structures.
THE DRAW WAS UNKIND TO…
Tipperary – Munster SFC
For the fourth successive year Tipperary are pushed into an opening round tussle with Kerry. To make next year’s task tougher, they must travel to Killarney. For a county who are teeming with underage prospects and fashioned a fine qualifier run this year, they could have done with better fortune.
Offaly – Leinster SHC & SFC
Not much joy for the Faithful county in last night’s draws. The majesty of Kilkenny’s performances last Sunday means they were the last hurling obstacle that Ollie Baker would have wanted to try to overcome. While given the superiority that Kildare exerted in the county’s football meeting this year, there is a sizable gap for new boss Emmett McDonnell to attempt to bridge.
Roscommon – Connacht SFC
For all their underage promise and the fine qualifier scalp they claimed in Tyrone, 2012 was largely defined for Roscommon by humbling defeats in Dr Hyde Park to Galway and Tyrone. Facing a opening tussle against either the winners of Mayo or Galway represents quite a challenge for whoever takes over as manager of the Rossies.
Derry – Ulster SFC
New man Brian McIver brings optimism upon his appointment and he has assembled a quality coaching team around him. But on the pitch Derry will need to sharpen up with a quarter-final meeting against Down awaiting them and if they were to prevail then there is an onerous task against either Tyrone or Donegal.
THE SECTIONS OF THE DRAW FULL OF OPTIMISM ARE…
Antrim/Westmeath/Laois/Carlow/London – Leinster SHC
Avoiding Kilkenny at the quarter-final stage was a relief for this quintet but to also dodge Offaly, Wexford and Kilkenny will simply increase their positivity. There will be no sense of inferiority amongst them and each will be hopeful of stringing together some wins to graduate to a semi-final meeting with Galway.
Wicklow/Longford/Meath/Laois/Louth/Wexford – Leinster SFC
Such is the stranglehold that Dublin have exerted in the eastern province of late – winning seven of the last eight titles – that being stationed away from them is a success story in itself. Meath and Laois can build on the progress of 2012, Longford and Wexford have strong cores to their teams while Wicklow and Louth can look to kickstart something.
Cavan/Armagh/Fermanagh/Antrim/Monaghan – Ulster SFC
There is a similar feeling here to the one the pervades in Leinster football. Being away from Donegal is obviously something to cherish and there is no harm in avoiding Tyrone. Their recent records would suggest that Armagh and Monaghan are best placed to mount sustained runs yet Cavan, Fermanagh and Antrim should go at their work with renewed vigor now as well.
THREE GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO…
Clare v Waterford – Munster SHC
The contest that these two served up in Munster this year was deeply satisfying. Clare departed with regrets at not claiming a success which will provide some bite to this clash and given the waves of underage talents on both sides, it packs great potential as a game.
Mayo v Galway – Connacht SFC
A powerful opening shot will be issued out west. For whoever loses it will constitute a setback to be beaten so early. After their struggles this summer, Galway must be keen for redemption in Alan Mulholland’s second year while Mayo must be keen to build on their 2012 development.
Donegal v Tyrone – Ulster SFC
Mickey Harte spoke this week of how Donegal’s commitment levels had raised the standards for other counties to meet. He will get a chance to pit himself against that level with this mouth-watering clash with the reigning All-Ireland champions. It will provide quite an insight as well into how Donegal will fare in their bid to scale the heights that they reached this year.
What did you think of your county’s draw for 2013? Let us know in the comments section below…
