Pat Spillane believes that Dublin will not win the All-Ireland this year.
The Dub's chances of winning a ninth All-Ireland in 11 years took another blow during the week with news that seven-time winner Eric Lowndes has stepped away from the panel.
It adds to the retirements of Michael Darragh Macauley and Paddy Andrews, Paul Mannion stepping away, and the uncertainty regarding Stephen Cluxton.
"Dublin have been on the road for a long time, and there is a big change in personnel," the eight-time Kerry All-Ireland winner told RTÉ.
"They're going for their seventh [consecutive] All-Ireland. I genuinely believed that Dublin peaked in 2018. I thought they won a soft All-Ireland last year. They were lucky that Kerry blew it here [in Páirc Uí Chaoimh]. They got a soft All-Ireland last year. They're on the decline.
"I thought during this year's league that the second half against Kerry in Thurles was so un-Dublin-like. They lost a seven-point lead. They only got three scores in the second half.
"What you always associated with Dublin was their composure. They hadn't composure that day. Wexford showed a template for 20 minutes the last day, and Kerry showed it in the second half. When you go at the Dubs, you get under their skin, you annoy them and physically get at them, they can be got at. I genuinely believe that Dublin can be got at this year.
"Do I think Dublin will win the All-Ireland this year? I actually don't think Dublin will win the All-Ireland. I said it last year - I got it wrong - but I'm saying it again this year."
Pat Spillane has changed his tune on Ulster football. Well, sort of.
Two swallows don't make a summer, even if it is this warm.
Live on @rte2 / @rteplayer now. pic.twitter.com/DopftopG5C— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 18, 2021
Sean Cavanagh feels it is too early to make any real judgment about Dublin's chances.
"They've been losing players for five or six years," said Cavanagh.
"To write off Dublin at this stage is lunacy. If there was a league final, chances are Dublin would have won the league.
"If Stephen Cluxton doesn't raise his head - and it doesn't look like he will - I would say they're more vulnerable. We're not going to find that out until they meet a Kerry, a Mayo or a Galway, a Tyrone.
"In the past, I found with the Diarmuid Connolly sideshows, that little bit of disruption suits Dublin. It almost distracts from the fact that they've dominated football for seven to 10 years. Soemtimes you can use that bit of distraction to take away from the bigger picture, and that's the fact that Dublin are destroying the rest of the field.
"Are they unbeatable? No they're not."
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