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A week on from Dublin's victory, 5 questions as we peer ahead to the 2017 football season

We look at Dublin’s three-in-a-row prospects and a potential changing of the guard in Kerry.

Can Dublin do the 3-in-a-row?

Denis Bastick sons Aidan in the Sam Maguire after the game James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

THE QUESTION ON everybody’s lips after the final whistle last Saturday. Under Jim Gavin’s stewardship, they’ve suffered just one championship defeat – to Donegal in 2014.

They’ve claimed three All-Irelands either side of that loss and the squad is still young enough to contend for the next few years. Most of the crew who’ve been a part of the squad since 2011 are approaching the end of their careers, but there’s a talented young crop ready to take over the mantle.

That group includes Stephen Cluxton, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Bernard Brogan, Paul Flynn, Philly McMahon, Eoghan O’Gara and Kevin McManamon, who’ll all be into their 30s in 12 months’ time, while Cian O’Sullivan and Paddy Andrews will be 29.

The expected return of Jack McCaffrey will add to Dublin’s talented core of players in the  23 and under age bracket – Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny, John Small, Paul Mannion, Cormac Costello and Con O’Callaghan.

Dublin’s older contingent will fancy making a run at history and cementing their legacy before their time runs out.

Can Mayo bounce back?

Aidan O'Shea and Seamus O'Shea Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Question: How do Mayo come back from this latest All-Ireland final defeat? Answer: They have no other choice.

Barring some star players do a Rory O’Carroll and leave the country, Mayo have enough star quality for us to comfortably rate them as a top three side heading into 2017. They’ll look to blood more of those All-Ireland winning U21s over the spring, while we can expect youngsters like Brendan Harrison, Stephen Coen, Patrick Durcan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Conor O’Shea and Evan Regan to build on this good season.

Can Michael Hall, Shehroz Akram, Liam Irwin, Conor Loftus and Brian Reape step-up and throw their names into contention for serious championship game-time?

Against Dublin, Mayo lacked a pacey, explosive inside forward, like a Paul Geaney or Conor McManus. Regan could be that player and Rochford needs to persist with him in 2017. He might not be a natural ball-winner, but Mayo have enough of those players. They need someone with Regan’s accuracy in the full-forward line.

Mayo’s starting forwards scored just eight points from play across the two finals against Dublin, including 0-3 in the replay. Rochford might only need a few tweaks to get this group over the line.

Will we see a changing of the guard in Kerry?

Aidan O’Mahony, Kieran Donaghy and Bryan Sheehan Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Eamon Fitzmaurice has been reappointed for a further two years in charge of the Kindgom. It’s reasonable to assume that 2017 will see him attempt to intergrate some of the emerging talent from the All-Ireland minor winning teams of 2014-16, and perhaps one or two from the victorious junior All-Ireland teams of the last two years.

It’s likely the Kingdom will lose Marc O Se and Aidan O’Mahony to retirement this winter, while question marks hang over Donnchadh Walsh and Kieran Donaghy.

Fitzmaurice needs to inject more athleticism into this team to challenge Dublin. The prospect of denying a Dublin three-in-a-row will focus the minds in the Kingdom.

Can Tyrone or Donegal close the gap?

Cathal McCarron and Michael Murphy Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

If Dublin, Mayo and Kerry are the three top tier sides in the country, then Tyrone and Donegal are the two best placed teams to make the jump up.

It’s going to be an interesting year in Tyrone, with Mickey Harte’s future unclear after the coming season. Only retaining the Ulster title they won last year and making a first All-Ireland final since 2008 will represent tangeble progress for this group who fancy themselves as All-Ireland contenders.

Finding a steady scorer inside would transform Tyrone offensively, and defensively they are about as solid as any side out there.

Donegal have been beaten in two Ulster finals since Jim McGuinness left, and despite the talent of young quartet Ryan and Eoin McHugh, Odhran MacNiallais and Ciaran Gillespie, it still looks like this team’s best days are behind them

What bolters will we see?

The Tipperary team stand for the national anthem Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Tipperary and Clare were two of 2016′s biggest success stories with their respective runs to the last four and eight. Longford enjoyed a decent run in the qualifiers, including an impressive win over Monaghan, while Galway won their first provincial title since 2008.

Outside of that four, there’s still hope for this young Roscommon team, but they must not burn out in the league again. Meath are an intruiging prospect under 2016 All-Ireland winning club manager Andy McEntee.

Two of the biggest dissapointments in the 2016 championship were Monaghan and Cork, and both counties undoubtedly have the talent to still be in the shake up come next August.

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Anthony Daly in mix for Clare return with big-name backroom team

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19 Comments
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    Mute John Reese
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    Oct 8th 2016, 11:40 AM

    Dublin are some team and you got to say 3 in a row is a real possibility. Will a new team emerge to challenge? We had Tipp this year I think the game needs it to happen and possibly more than anywhere else it needs to be in Leinster.
    As for my own county Mayo….you would swear we are giving up football the way some pundits are harping on…no way. Someone said “Death taxes and Mayo loosing all Ireland finals”…he forgot to add “Mayo coming back again and again” roll on 2017

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    Mute Lorcan Quinlan
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    Oct 8th 2016, 11:45 AM

    That Mayo team have great Heart and will definitely be there or thereabouts in 2017

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    Mute ryan o sullivan
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    Oct 8th 2016, 10:46 AM

    Dublin for 3 in a row will be very difficult to do but I wouldn’t doubt it happening , mayo are getting stronger every year they have an all Ireland in them surely . Kerry can’t seem to beat the dubs but they’ll be snuffing around as usual , donegal and Tyrone , monaghan tipp Cork Galway clare will all give the top 3 a good game . Be great to see the whole championship revamped make it more interesting. Kerry had it to handy till they met the dubs and they would say the same they need more competitive games . Up the dubs

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    Mute Lorcan Quinlan
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    Oct 8th 2016, 10:59 AM

    Snuffling around got Kerry a all Ireland in 2014 ! I think deep down that is the one that hurts mayo the most as imo they were better than anyone else in 2014 ! Can we dare to believe that we will do the 3 in a row ! Absolutely anything is possible with Jim Gavin in charge !

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:56 PM

    Three-in-a-row hasn’t been done in 30 years (Kerry 1984/85/86).

    That should give Dublin something to concentrate on, they’ve achieved everything else and the best of luck to them.

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    Mute Fiach Moriarty
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    Oct 8th 2016, 1:08 PM

    Some of the Dublin subs at the end of the match looked about 15. I think the future is bright for the boys in blue

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    Mute Aidan Moloney
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    Oct 8th 2016, 1:00 PM

    As a lifelong Dubs supporter I’d love to see them getting three in a row but have to say it’s very unlikely. Two and three in a row were easier to do before the back door but it’s much more difficult now. Then there’s the whinging from bitter muckas …. can you imagine the conspiracy theories if Dublin put 3 in a row together ??

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    Mute Aidan Moloney
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:49 PM

    Coybib

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    Mute Adrian Langton
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:24 PM

    Rewind 10 years and you’d be talking about Laois and Kildare too but football in both counties have gone into reverse. The only time in recent years that Kildare put in a performance was against Laois, go figure and as for Laois I honestly don’t know.

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    Mute Adrian Langton
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:27 PM

    not that either were All Ireland title contenders 10 years ago but they would have put it up to the Dubs more often, its like the willingness has been zapped by the big blue machine.

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    Mute Kobe
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:29 PM

    Kildare beat Cork 2015

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    Mute David Carolan
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    Oct 8th 2016, 2:28 PM

    I would love to see more underdogs next year what Tipperary did was super . And 3 in a row for the Dubs why not ? Kerry will be back Mayo too . Big thing the back card has to be looked at its not working at all

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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Oct 8th 2016, 5:28 PM

    If Mayo won, all focus would be on that and black cards wouldn’t be a big issue. Everytime Dublin win people think something needs to be changed

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    Mute Marv
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    Oct 8th 2016, 11:59 AM

    Kerry will be back,
    Having Heart is great but if can’t put the ball over the bar it’s useless!
    I think Tyrone or Donegal have a better chance of winning Sam next year than Mayo.

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:13 PM

    And having a team that’s well able to score but no heart is useless, ie. Cork

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    Mute Marv
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    Oct 8th 2016, 12:22 PM

    Yeah but Cork are Cork!

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    Mute Lorcan Quinlan
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    Oct 8th 2016, 1:10 PM

    No Doubt Kerry will be back that’s a given !.

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    Mute Jesse Pinkman
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    Oct 8th 2016, 1:15 PM

    Tyrone and donegal weren’t very good at putting the ball over the bar this year.

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    Mute glenn kilfeather
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    Oct 8th 2016, 5:57 PM

    You were quiet all week jesse!!

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