For the first time this year, all 16 teams competing in the All-Ireland series will play on the weekend and we rank where each county currently sits in the race for Sam Maguire.
Each county chasing Sam has played one game, and this is our first power rankings since the Sam Maguire round robin got underway. You can read our previous power rankings here.
1. Dublin (unchanged)
We probably won’t really know where Dublin are at until we come to the business end of the season. Once the knockout section of the champions starts, then the real Dublin will come to the fore but at the minute it feels very much like they’re in cruise control, which is enough to see off most of the country. They’ll top their group and reach the last eight, but it could be the semi-finals before they get a real test and they remain the team to beat.
2. Donegal (unchanged)
Donegal lead the chasing pack at the minute and Jim McGuinness has turned them into genuine All-Ireland contenders. Their performances have got more eye-catching and more impressive as the year has gone on and they powered past Tyrone last week to establish themselves as a top side. Donegal will likely top their group and the wide-open spaces of Croke Park will suit their style of play.
25 May 2024; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Donegal and Tyrone at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
3. Kerry (up 1)
Much like Dublin, it’s hard to get a gauge on where Kerry really are at the minute. Munster was comfortable for Jack O’Connor’s men as usual and like the Dubs, they’ll top their group without much fuss. Kerry have yet to hit a goal in the championship however which will surely be a concern for the Kingdom, but there’s plenty of time for their deadly forward line to hit top form.
SEE ALSO: The 2024 GAA Championship Sam Maguire Cup: Fixtures, Dates And Venues
4. Galway (down 1)
The Connacht champions make their way into the top form following their recent victory over Derry in the first round of the group stages. When everyone is fully fit, the Tribesmen are a force to be reckoned with but if Damian Comer’s injury requires a lengthy spell on the sidelines, then they could struggle. They powered to victory over Derry two weeks ago, which sets them up in the drivers seat to top their group.
5. Derry (down 2)
Derry are in no man’s land a wee bit at the minute having lost their last two championship encounters to Donegal and Galway but they definitely remain a top contender in the race for Sam Maguire. They have been without a few men through injury and Gareth McKinless (suspension) and Padraig McGrogan (cruciate injury) will miss the weekend’s game against Armagh. A win on Sunday could turn Derry’s season around.
6. Armagh (unchanged)
Kieran McGeeney’s men bounced back from their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Donegal with an impressive five-point win over Westmeath. That was without the injured Rian O’Neill, who could return for Armagh’s trip to Celtic Park this weekend, and while the Ulster final loss was a huge blow to the Orchard County, they could take a big scalp in the All-Ireland series before the year is out.
7. Mayo (unchanged)
Mayo are always judged on their likelihood to win the All-Ireland and at the minute they seem to be a long way off that level. They can always turn it around of course and Kevin McStay’s men are everyone’s second favourite team, but they have two extremely difficult tests coming up in the form of Roscommon (away) and Dublin (neutral) before the knockout phase starts.
8. Tyrone (unchanged)
Last weekend looked like a big opportunity for Tyrone to make a statement in Ballybofey against Donegal but if anything, their potential of having a long summer took a major hit. They should still qualify for at least the preliminary quarter-finals, but the Red Hands are going through a period of transition and will no doubt be back challenging for the biggest prizes in the very near future.
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9. Louth (unchanged)
Louth’s stock has risen quite significantly in the past few seasons, and they have established themselves as the second-best team in Leinster. They have a serious chance of finishing second in their group, with Kerry presumably grabbing top spot, and that’ll give them a real opportunity to reach the last eight in the race for Sam Maguire.
25 May 2024; Donal McKenny of Louth during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen, Monaghan. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
10. Cork (unchanged)
Cork are always able to cause a real shock and that could be on the cards when they take on Donegal at home this weekend, but no matter what happens, their win over Clare has more or less guaranteed a safe passage to the knockout stages. The Rebels are a sleeping giant that could cause an upset or two along the way.
11. Roscommon
While Davy Burke’s men enjoyed a great season in 2023, this year has been fairly indifferent so far and the Rossies look unlikely to trouble any of the big teams for the rest of the season. That being said, they take on Mayo in Dr Hyde Park this weekend and will be confident of an upset, but reaching the last eight is probably their ceiling.
12. Westmeath
Dessie Dolan’s men wreaked havoc this time last year in the group stages, pushing Armagh, Galway and Tyrone all the way, and still they finished bottom of the pile. The fourth seed in the Group of Death for the second year running, it looks like Westmeath will once again crash out of the Championship before the knockout stage.
13. Cavan
If Cavan had Paddy Lynch to call on, then they could arguably sit higher up this list, but the loss of their key scoring threat makes it very difficult to see how Cavan will make it to Croke Park this summer. That last round tie against Roscommon will likely define their season and Raymond Galligan’s men will be underdogs.
14. Monaghan
It looks like Monaghan’s time at the top table has come to an end, but the Farney men usually come out swinging and could still reach the preliminary quarter-finals if they beat Louth or Meath in the coming weeks.
15. Meath
Colm O’Rourke’s men didn’t put up much of a challenge in the first round of the group stages and lost out to Leinster rivals Louth by 10-points and they face Kerry this weekend. It’s hard to see how the Royals will turn things around.
16. Clare
Clare’s defeat to Cork in the opening round of the All-Ireland series means their up against it if they want to remain in the championship. They take on Ulster duo Tyrone and Donegal and it’s hard to see them getting anything out of those games.
