Rainbow's Verdict - Football Column July 15

One way or the other this Sunday in Clones we will have new Ulster football champions when a team that doesn’t travel under the Armagh or Tyrone flag claims the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time in over a decade.

Will it be straight talking John Brennan or one of the new young football managers in Jim McGuinness who helps their county to capture the title?

Add in local rivalry to a contrast in management styles and it all makes for an intriguing St Tiernach’s Park clash.
Brennan has always believed in his own skills as a manager and the Oak Leaf County have benefitted from his work and justifiably believe his fresh new approach and style will help them claim the title on Sunday.

They had a very good league campaign finishing level on points with Donegal and Laois but lost out on points difference for promotion to the top tier.

With so many players playing so well for Derry this year including Mark Lynch, Kevin McCloy and Conlith Gilligan, they seem to be doing something right or more accurately should I say John Brennan seems to be managing his players the way he knows best.

For all this it is hard to ignore the absence of the talented and hugely influential Eoin Bradley who misses out through injury, and this presents Donegal with a real chance to recapture the glory days of the 1990’s.
Donegal’s season so far has been based on a team full of youth and which has already captured the Division 2 title.
Their championship season started off with a bumpy first round game to Antrim in Ballybofey but they really improved in the next two rounds against Cavan and Tyrone.

It’s because of this last round success over Tyrone – and as a result of Eoin Bradley’s unfortunate absence – that we have a Donegal side starting as favourites on Sunday and that will be something for them to deal with. This will please John Brennan who is likely to relish the underdog tag that his team will take into the game.

Donegal have their own injury worries and are waiting on late fitness tests on Rory Kavanagh and Kevin Rafferty.
However, there is something about this Donegal team this year. They strike me as a side that has put all of their disciplinary problems over the last few years behind them and are focused on one goal under a manager who has them finally playing as a team and for each other.

These traits should be enough to see them home and provide football in the county with a real shot in the arm before the All-Ireland series kicks in.

Connacht title up for grabs

Clones is not the only venue where football silverware will be presented this weekend and the fare at Dr Hyde Park is no less eagerly anticipated where neighbours Roscommon and Mayo renew an age old rivalry.

The burning question for me is which Mayo side will turn up for the Connacht final. Will it be the team which narrowly beat London in extra time in the first round of the championship or will it be the more impressive side that beat Galway two weeks ago in Castlebar?

James Horan has changed his team around over the last few weeks to mould a unit who will fancy their chances of claiming another provincial title. Alan Dillon seems to be the player in form for the Heather County and with Trevor Mortimer moving back to a defensive position; this Mayo team has a more defensive look to it than in previous seasons.

Whether this approach will be enough to hold a well organised Roscommon team, who will be defending their title on home ground, remains to be seen.

Fergal O’Donnell has rejuvenated football in the county and has built on the strides made last year. This weekend they will be looking for their second consecutive title, a feat which they have not achieved since the early 90s and one which is very much within their grasp judging on what we have seen to date.

This team has plenty of natural talent in its ranks with Donnie Shine and Sean Kilbride playing so well up front. Add to that the impressive pairing of Michael Finnegan and Karol Minion at midfield and I think this youthful and exuberant Roscommon side will keep the Nestor Cup in the county for the second year running.

Quality Qualifiers

The qualifiers in both codes appear to have captured the imagination of the public in a way that they may not have in previous years and this in part is down to the attractive draws that have been thrown up. Attendances back this up and this weekend’s offering should prove to be a hit with supporters too.

Kildare’s impressive 15 point win over Laois last Saturday has many people putting them in the top four bracket.
The pace and control which they brought to their play, particularly in the second half, was outstanding and blew away a Laois side which was reduced to the status of on-pitch spectators for long spells of the second period.
Another away venue for the Lilywhites does not appear to be a problem as they seem to play better away from home.

The qualifier route is no longer a graveyard for Kildare hopes and over the last three years they have won their last 10 through this route with most of these assignments bringing them away from home.
Meath are always difficult to overcome in Navan and they will need no more incentive than their last three meetings with their neighbours.

Their impressive goal tally against Louth, or should I say Cian Ward’s impressive personal tally, had Meath back to their best, but their performance against Galway - especially in the second half - has left people scratching their heads again.

The respective form guides point to another away win for Kildare.

VERDICT: KILDARE

Down find themselves once more taking the scenic route, one they hope will bring them back into the All-Ireland reckoning.

Down will be happy to have got out of Clare two weeks ago and with another awkward test against Leitrim last Saturday they seem to be back on track and will only get stronger the further they progress in the Championship.

Antrim played Carlow last time out in Casement Park and came out on top by the minimal of margins. But this will be a game too far for the Saffrons as Down are building momentum for a possible eagerly awaited clash with Cork.

VERDICT: DOWN

Limerick’s impressive win last Saturday over Offaly has them hot favourites for this clash against Waterford. Both teams were given a lesson in Football by Kerry and Cork in the earlier rounds of the Munster Championship but that seems to be behind both sides now and they will both fancy their chances on Saturday evening. The reward is an encounter with Wexford the following Saturday with a place in the quarter finals up for grabs.

VERDICT: LIMERICK

Last Saturday a lot of people including myself thought it was going to be Mick O Dwyer’s last weekend of Championship action but by god he loves proving us all wrong. 

With this replay in Aughrim it’s possible that we could see his managerial tenure extended yet again. He brings a drive and passion to teams which is hard to explain and the belief he installs in his players is legendary. Armagh will be disappointed with their performance last weekend and I think this game will come down to which manager can prepare his team best and my money is on Micko.

VERDICT: WICKLOW