For the first time in GAA history it looks like the three-in-a-row can happen in both football and hurling.
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Kerry are firm favourites to achieve it in football. Manager Pat O’Shea has an experienced team, anchored by Darragh Ó Sé in midfield and the prodigious talent of Tommy Walsh joining an already star
studded attack. Cork, under new manager Conor Counihan, will be seeking to restore pride after last years underperformance in the All Ireland final against Kerry. That challenge and opportunity will come in July, in the Munster final.
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Dublin wait impatiently to get to an All-Ireland final. But retaining their Leinster title against an emerging Meath under Colm Coyle and Wexford with an unbeaten league campaign will provide stern challenges.
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Mayo have flown Connacht’s flag highest in recent years and John O’Mahony will be hoping to bring his All-Ireland experience to bear in his second year. That won’t be easy as Galway have shown good league form under former playing legend Liam Sammon.
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In Ulster Tyrone have drifted since winning a second All-Ireland in 2005 but there’s no shrewder tactician in championship than Mickey Harte.
Armagh’s new manager, Peter McDonnell, has put together a potent blend of experience and talented newcomers and then there’s Derry, fresh from a stunning league final success against Kerry, who will rightly have ambitions to go all the way.
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As usual the championship is not short of contenders but as usual just one will be left by the end of September.
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Features highlights of matches from the Provincial Championships
through to the All-Ireland series. Narrated by Evanne Ní Chuilinn