Round one of the Allianz Football Leagues 2024 has once again thrown up plenty of results that would bewilder us all, but we must remind ourselves of the old saying “nothing is won in January”.
Here are four overreactions to the first week of the League that we feel will be reined in once the ground hardens and spring rolls in.
1. Dublin are going to be relegated
It is clear that the scars obtained by Dublin’s shock relegation from Division 1 in 2022 remain in the minds of Dublin fans. The surprise defeat to Armagh in Croke Park on the opening day twenty four months ago seemed to trigger a rapid string of defeats until the unimaginable relegation was confirmed.
This league has started off similarly, with Monaghan upsetting the odds and leaving Croke Park with the win. Dublin now travel to upstart Mayo on Saturday evening and could easily find themselves winless heading into the third round of the Allianz Football League.
"A disappointing result. We just need to lick our wounds, dust ourselves down & get on with it..."
Dessie Farrell spoke to DubsTV following the Allianz Football League Round 1 defeat to Monaghan at Croke Park this evening. #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/ykvumw5rxh— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 27, 2024
However, don't write Dublin off yet. Monaghan put in a five star display to get this win, with Stephen O’Hanlon, Micheál Bannigan and more shining in their victory. Dublin have not suddenly forgotten how to play football, and they are only one good result away from completely changing the outlook on the rest of their campaign. With many big guns waiting to return to the fold, expect Dublin to flex their muscles sooner rather than later.
2. Donegal are going to throw the shackles off under McGuinness 2.0
Jim McGuinness is one of the greatest GAA managers we have had in the game. He took Donegal from being ranked at 19th in the country to back-to-back Ulster titles and a second-ever All-Ireland title. He's a hugely important figure in the evolution of gaelic football tactics, and inspired a legion of copycat coaches.
The All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin in 2011 is one of the most notorious matches in the association’s history. It finished 0-8 - 0-6 to Dublin and many fans booed passages of play throughout the contest. McGuinness's Donegal were - fairly or unfairly - always seen as a purely defensive team from then on in the eyes of many onlookers.
However, here are two basic stats from their first League game over McGuinness's second coming, against Cork. They scored 1-20 in dreadful conditions. They had 11 different scorers. They pushed up on Cork and were bold in the way they chased and harassed the Rebels high up the pitch. They also showed outrageous confidence with scores from Ciarán Thompson, Ryan McHugh and Odhrán Doherty catching the eye of the delighted Donegal crowd.
28 January 2024; The Donegal team before the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Donegal and Cork at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Does this mean Donegal will be all-out attack this season? Here’s what you need to know. Donegal will not be one-dimensional under Jim McGuinness, so if anyone thinks they will be defensive, or now that they will be offensive, the truth lies somewhere closer to this: they will most likely be able to pivot in the game to whichever alternative is required to win.
SEE ALSO: 5 Players Who Made A Huge Impact In Week 1 Of The Allianz Football Leagues
SEE ALSO: 2024 Allianz Football Leagues: Fixtures, Results, Latest Table Standings
3. Mayo officially have the hex on Galway
Mayo began their league campaign for 2024 with a bang as they defeated their rivals Galway in Pearse Stadium with goals from Eoghan McLaughlin and Cillian O’Connor (penalty). Critics have quickly pointed out now that this means that Galway have won only once in their last eight meetings with their great rivals in the League and Championship.
28 January 2024; Galway manager Pádraic Joyce during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
While this is certainly not a statistic that Pádraic Joyce will be happy with, as the old saying goes ‘he who laughs last, laughs the longest’. There is little doubt that Pádraic Joyce’s target is an All-Ireland title with the Tribesmen, and a defeat in the League campaign will not derail this. With Comer and Kelly back in the team, Galway won't fear facing Mayo in the championship. They will however needs answers to containing Mayo's buoyancy.
4. Meath’s Táilteann Cup win will derail their 2023 campaign
Meath had a sunshine ending to their 2023 campaign. A glorious ending to their Táilteann Cup Final win over Down with gorgeous points by Jack Flynn and Jack O’Connor, followed by Donal Keoghan’s trophy lift and then the iconic photo of Colm O’Rourke with the grandfather of Meath football in Seán Boylan. This led to nostalgic memories of when Meath were once the Champions of Ireland. It really felt like Meath had turned the ship around and they were now heading in the right direction.
15 July 2023; Meath manager Colm O'Rourke and selector Seán Boylan after the Tailteann Cup Final match between Down and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
So how can a draw at home to Fermanagh suddenly change all of this? Fermanagh came with a game plan and were led brilliantly by Ultan Kelm and Seán Cassidy. Meath fought back to draw the game and get something out of their opening day. On top of this, Matthew Costello had a shot to win it at the end, if he scored it would we be even discussing this?
Granted Meath’s Táilteann Cup win means they have secured their spot in the All-Ireland series, but don’t let that fool you into believing Colm O’Rourke’s side will happily accept relegation to Division 3. Meath will look to use this campaign to kick on to the top half of Division 2 and chase down promotion, while also getting minutes into returning AFL star Cian McBride, and more of their emerging stars like Eoghan Frayne. Failing to win on the opening day at home to Fermanagh is not ideal, but it is far from an indication that they will unravel for the rest of the league.
