MANY OF THE teams from Leinster had poor league campaigns this spring while Dublin cruised to victory claiming the Division 1 title against Cork.
No team came within 11 points of the blues in last summer’s provincial battle and one wonders will 2015 provide another cakewalk for them.
They kick off their campaign this weekend against Longford in Croke Park.
We’ve looked at four teams that could trouble the Dubs as they bid to make it five titles in a row.
Kildare
The Lilywhites can’t be in a good head space coming into this championship campaign. Having been relegated from Division 2 and enduring five defeats in seven games, there has been serious questions over Jason Ryan’s ability to lead the county team.
The phrase ‘he’s lost the dressing room’ has been bandied about a lot over the last four months but it has been taken to a literal level with the litany of departures from the panel. Tomás O’Connor left after featuring very little in this year’s league and being used as an impact sub in last year’s championship.
Daniel Flynn will be in the states for the summer and Keith Cribbin recently tore his cruciate. Not the type of preparation Ryan would have been looking for so close to their opener against Laois. When you combine these losses to the departures of Paddy Brophy, Sean Hurley and Johnny Doyle in the last 12 months you’re missing six of your premier forwards.
The Laois game will tell us something about where Kildare are at, they should still prove a match for a side that finished only one point above them in the league and will be buoyed by their victory over the O’Moore men at the back end of that competition.
In Emmet Bolton, Eoghan O’Flaherty and Gary White they have the players capable of raising their game to power past Laois.
Leinster championship odds: 20/1
Laois
A facile 17 point victory over Carlow in Portlaoise was as good a start to the championship as Laois could have asked for. Tomás Ó’Flatharta will have been pleased with the attacking display put on by his forward line despite the space they were offered by Carlow.
The main cause for optimism is the excellence which Donie Kingston has displayed thus far this season. The forward is a ‘happy man’ now and that is reflected in the football he is playing according to the former Galway boss.
On his day he is almost unplayable and should they navigate through the challenge of Kildare, Kingston’s physicality could prove a major problem for a Dublin back-line prone to defensive lapses.
The emergence of his younger brother Paul is also a major boost to the Laois shooting ranks and the duo form a powerful attack with Ross Munnelly in the other corner.
The midfield partnership of John O’Loughlin and Brendan Quigley is the strongest in Leinster outside of Dublin and they add to the considerable size and bulk of the team.
Laois are probably in the best position to challenge Dublin this summer, a physical streak in their game may bully Kildare out of the provincial championship and allow them a crack at the Dubs, should they beat Longford as expected.
Leinster championship odds: 22/1
Meath
The traditional rivals to Dublin in Leinster. Meath have lost out to Dublin in the last three provincial finals, but in truth the loss in 2012 was the only one in which they looked like they might win. They showed signs of progression in 2013 with the emergence of players such as Eamon Wallace and Mickey Newman providing hope. Since then however, progress has stalled.
Unlucky not to gain promotion from Division 2 this spring, Meath will open their campaign against Wicklow in Páirc Tailteann on 14 June. This represents a relatively clear path into a Leinster semi-final where they will meet either Westmeath or Wexford.
Graham Reilly will be the go to man again this summer, he’s arguably been the best footballer in Leinster outside of the capital for the past three years and his attacking edge will be to the forefront of the Meath attack. Eamon Wallace’s re-integration into the team is taking longer than expected but should he display the form he had in 2013, Meath have a dangerous looking attack.
Leinster championship odds: 7/1
Westmeath
After brushing by the challenge of Louth, Westmeath must be installed as the dark horses to make a Leinster final against the Dubs. They host Wexford in Cusack Park to decide who meets the winners of Meath v Wicklow in a Leinster semi-final at the end of June.
Tom Cribbin copped a lot of flak for his comments regarding the efforts of his players following a defeat to Roscommon during the league and they seemed to respond quite well against the Wee County.
Successive relegations in the league can’t be good for a side’s confidence but if they were to beat Wexford they’d build up a decent head of steam.
John Heslin was highly impressive in their opening round fixture, chalking up nine points, while Shane Dempsey and Ray Connellan were also livewires in attack. The two man full-forward line of Dempsey and Heslin was particularly impressive and the duo finished with a haul of 1-11 between them.
They are a young team but victories breed huge confidence in championship football and if they defeat Wexford they surely won’t have any fear of Meath in a Leinster semi-final.
Leinster championship odds: 33/1