Shannonside 2017 Sport Predictions:
GAA:
All Ireland Football Championship
| John Lynch | Kevin McDermott | Daithi Boland | |
| Winners?
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Dublin. Will freshen up the squad but the strongest team by a country mile
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Mayo…if I say it every year it’s bound to come through eventually.
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Dublin. An exceptional squad with so many match winners. The return of Jack McCaffrey is a plus and winning three in a row always has a nice sound to it so the Dubs will hope to do it for the first time since the 1921-23 side and I think that will provide great hunger for Jim Gavin’s men
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| All Ireland Contenders?
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Tyrone and Kerry. Mickey Harte’s final year potentially so a lot of effort will be put in no doubt
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Monaghan have been shining brightly under Malachy O’Rourke and with Conor McManus they have a forward to unlock every defence..
Tipp were the underdogs last year-maybe they have staying power and will be back…outside bets but if it comes through then I’m a genius
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Kerry and Tyrone for me are the two capable of stopping Dublin. Mayo for me need to find two real score threatening forwards that will be consistent in the championship if they are to be considered
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| Provincial Winners?
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Dublin, Kerry, Roscommon and Tyrone
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Monaghan, Tipp, Dublin and Mayo
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Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Tyrone
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| Players to watch
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Diarmuid Muratgh. Explosive talent with an eye for a score. Brian Fenton also, the capability to become one of the finest midfielders of his generation | Cillian O’Connor.. who knows? picture the scene a September Sunday and he could be standing over a free to win an All Ireland
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Ultan Harney (Roscommon). A player with bags of potential, just hope he stays injury free. Another player to mention is Conor McHugh (Dublin) Roscommon fans may remember him from the U21 final in a few years ago. He just needs a run in the team to show his qualities
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All Ireland Hurling Championship:
| John Lynch | Kevin McDermott | Daithi Boland | |
| Winners?
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Clare. New management with two guys who know the county plus the players have a lot to | Anybody but Kilkenny….
(can you tell i’m from Tipp)
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Tipp. Looking to defend the Liam McCarthy which many Tipp teams have failed to do for the last few decades. With leaders, the hunger and the talent of players in the squad I believe it will take an off day from the Premier men to be stopped |
| All Ireland Contenders?
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Kilkenny cause you can never right off the Cats, Waterford and Limerick
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While Kilkenny and Tipp are the standard bearers there are always in form teams ready to pip them to the post on a given day.. maybe Dublin, Limerick Waterford or Galway will make the breakthrough | Kilkenny can never be wrote off but I feel Waterford and Galway are the two to watch if Tipp are to be dethroned. Waterford have a talented team which can match the skill of Tipp while Galway’s intensity and physicality is one to be watched
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| Provincial Winners? | Kilkenny and Waterford | Kilkenny and Tipp
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Tipp & Galway
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| Players to watch
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Conor McDonald (Wexford). A talented player who Davy Fitz could get the very best out of I think | I’ll be keeping my eyes on all the goalies.. the game is missing a Davy Fitz ,a Donal OG or Brendan Cummins character maybe one will emerge this year | Steven O’Brien (Tipp) With Bonnar Maher away on duty O’Brien has a chance to show his ball winning capabilities and force his way into the starting 15 for the championship.
Other players to watch are Jason Forde (Tipp) and Donal Burke (Dublin) |
Soccer:
| John Lynch | Kevin McDermott | Daithi Boland | |
| Premier League Winners?
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Chelsea, cant see them slipping up in too many games
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Its Chelsea’s to throw away at this stage but if they throw it away then Liverpool or Spurs could be ready to pounce
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Chelsea. Look to have a good balance in the team along with good options on the bench. Not playing European football has focused their minds solely on the league
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| Top Four
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1.Chelsea, 2.Liverpool, 3.Man Utd, 4.Tottenham | 1 Chelsea, 2 Spurs,3 Liverpool,4 Arsenal
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1. Chelsea, 2. Liverpool, 3.Man Utd, 4.Man City
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| Relegation
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20.Hull, 19. Swansea, 18. Watford | 20. Hull 19 Swansea18 Watford | 20. Hull, 19. Swansea, 18. Middlesbrough |
| Champions League Winners
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Real Madrid. No team has ever defended the Champions League but I think this year will be the year | Arsenal ..Wenger needs silverware
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Barcelona. A tough choice between themselves and Real but I’m going with Barca as I feel they are looking to peak come near the business end of the season |
| Ireland in the World Cup Qualifier Group | 2nd. Ireland will slip up somewhere along the line I feel | so far so good let’s not jinx it
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If they can take four points from Wales I can’t see them dropping below first
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Rugby:
| John Lynch | Kevin McDermott | Daithi Boland | |
| 6 Nations Winners?
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England. Had a fantastic 2016 and I don’t think 2017 will be too much different
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Ireland Ireland together standing tallshoulder to shoulder they’ll win the six nations as the other five nations fall…
(yep we should stick to Phil Coulthers version..the sentiment is right though)
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Ireland. England are the team to beat but if Ireland can start off with a win over Scotland I feel the Welsh game will be crucial. A win in Cardiff and it will hopefully be a nail biter in the Aviva on the final day against England to see who is crowned grand slam champions
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| Players To Watch
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Joey Carbury. Sexton is a danger to injuries and if this kid can get a chance I feel he will take it | Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) the Buccaneers man with a big future
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Maro Itoje (England) and CJ Stander (Ireland)
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| European Cup Champions?
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Leinster. They look like a team that mean business. Scoring backs and a good set piece | Munster have a momentum that will be though to stop…
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A race between Saracens, Leinster, Munster and Wasps.
Heart says Munster but my head says Saracens or Leinster
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| Pro 12 Winners? | Munster | Munster | Munster |
| Lions Tour | New Zealand 2-1 | Lions to roar to success | New Zealand to win series at least 2-1 |
