WANT to win a county jersey of your choice and have an interest in the All-Ireland even after your beloved county has been knocked out?

Well, Ranelagh Gaels GAA Club has just the Senior Football Championship Prediction Competition for you!

All you have to do is make nine simple predictions and then sit back and see how you fare. Get your friends involved too and prove once and for all who knows more about football – and entry is completely free.

The closing date for the competition is May 20th at 12:00 and the overall winner will get a county jersey of their  choice.

So, how does the competition work? Well, look at the table below to see how many points are awarded for each correct prediction. The person with the highest total after the All-Ireland winner is decided will be the winner. We’ve even enlisted some ‘experts’ to help you with some of your choices.

POINTS TABLE

So what are you waiting for? Get involved today, simply copy and paste the below into the comment field along with your name and email address and get predicting.

1. Connacht SFC Winner:
2. Leinster SFC Winner:
3. Munster SFC Winner:
4. Ulster SFC Winner:
5. All-Ireland SFC Semi-Finalists:
6. All-Ireland SFC Finalists:
7. All-Ireland SFC Winner:
8. Top Scorer SFC:
9. All-Ireland SFC Final Man of the Match:

Don’t forget to add a little summary of how you see this years championship panning out.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

*In the case of a tie, names will go into a draw with one winner
*The decision of the organising committee is final
*No correspondence will be entered into

To Get You Started….

                    Connachta – Courtney
 
The 2012 Connacht championship is expected to be a highly competitive affair with Mayo the defending champions deservedly favourites. Last year’s All-Ireland semi finalists have a favourable draw as they will play the winners of Leitrim v London in the Connacht semi final. While Mayo’s league form has been erratic they have benefited by the return this season of their record all time scorer Conor Mortimer.
 
On the other side of the draw the Roscommon v Galway clash in Hyde Park on May 20th will be intriguing. Galway have shown decent league form this season and I would pick them to sneak through this clash.
 
Sligo, having overcome their trip to New York, await the winners. Sligo haven’t really recovered from the 2010 Connacht final defeat and Galway are likely to advance to the final against Mayo.
 
If this turns out to be the final pairing, Galway would be at an advantage in that the final will take place in Pearse Stadium. However I would expect a Mayo victory by a tight margin as I believe they are a team further down the road in terms of their development at the moment.

Connacht Champions: Maigheo
Leinster Champions: Áth Cliath
Munster Champions: Corcaigh
Ulster Champions: Tír Eoghain
All-Ireland Champions: Corcaigh

  
                                 Laighin – Sweeney
 
Dublin have won five of the last six Leinster titles and are reigning All-Ireland champions, but they are far from invincible within the province. The pecking order in Leinster has changed in recent times and it’s hard to see the likes of Meath, given their recent troubles, Laois or Westmeath mounting a serious challenge.
 
Wexford have made two finals in four years and made the Dubs work hard last summer. There’s more than a good chance that the two will meet at the semi-final stage. Kildare finally got promoted from Division 2 of the League so progress is being made. If they can get past a potentially sticky opening against neighbours Offaly they should make the decider.
 
This could set up a possible rematch against Dublin, who they have lost to twice in recent years despite having a man extra for more than half the game on each occasion. The Lilywhites’ hunger will be massive and this could win them the Delaney Cup for the first time in more than a decade.
 
Leinster Champions: Cill Dara
Connacht Champions: Maigheo
Munster Champions: Ciarraí
Ulster Champions: Tír Eoghain
All-Ireland Champions: Ciarraí

                    Mumhan – Breathnach         
 
This year sees All-Ireland contenders Cork and Kerry placed on the same side of the draw with the victors almost certain to claim provincial success. Not since Clare beat Kerry in 1992 has any other team outside the big two won Munster.
 
The other side of the draw sees Division 4 sides Waterford and Limerick meet in the quarter final at the Gaelic Grounds. Limerick have troubled the big two in recent years but the absence of their brilliant leader John Galvin due to injury could swing the tie in Port Lairge’s favour.
 
The winners face a Clare team coming off the back of a strong league campaign and have to be fancied to win the semi-final at home in Cusack Park.
 
First up for defending champions Kerry is Tipperary, who were recently relegated to Division 4 and are unlikely to cause an upset here.  Then its a semi final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh against old rivals Cork. These contests have been very close to call in recent years, however at home in The Park with a vocal rebel crowd behind them expect the Leesiders to come through and see off the Banner men in the final.
 
Munster Champions: Corcaigh
Connacht Champions: Maigheo
Leinster Champions: Áth Cliath
Ulster Champions: Dún na nGall
All Ireland Champions: Áth Cliath

                         Uladh – MacSuibhne
 
A very one-sided draw this year with all 4 of last year’s semi-finalists pitted together. Champions Donegal should overcome a preliminary round encounter with Cavan at Breffni Park and should also be too good for Derry in the quarter final in what will be a rematch of last year’s decider.
 
That would lead Jim McGuinness’ men into the Ulster championship’s defining game against Tyrone, if as expected they account for Armagh in their quarter. On present form and with injury doubts persisting over Donegal’s star forwards, Messrs Murphy and McFadden, the Red Hand has to be fancied right now.
 
The other side of the draw sees Fermanagh face Down in an intriguing quarter final tie at Brewster Park. Down will be favourites but the Canavan factor will make it a really tight battle.
 
The winners face either Antrim or Monaghan, teams who have both lost Ulster Finals to Tyrone in recent years – its unlikely either will get a shot at revenge this year.
 
Ulster Champions: Tír Eoghain
Connacht Champions: Maigheo
Leinster Champions: Cill Dara
Munster Champions: Corcaigh
All Ireland Champions: Ciarraí

Ranelagh Gaels produced a first half blitz to put Templeogue Synge St to the sword at Bushy Park on Wednesday night.

Three quick fire goals put the Gaels in command early on in this league encounter and in the process claimed their first victory in this year’s Division 5 campaign.

After the weather had claimed the last two fixtures the team were eager to see some competitive action and that was evident in the hunger and desire shown throughout.

This was epitomised by centrefield pairing of Brid Firtear and Aoife Long who both put in commanding displays around the middle.

The early dominance came through on the scoreboard as a brace of goals from Ger Connolly and another from Sharon McGeady put clear daylight between the sides by half time, 3-5 to 0-5 the score at the break.

A typically tenacious performance from the backs ensured there was no way back for Synge St and it was point for point after the restart as the team in blue closed the game out well in the second period.

Ann gave an assured display at full back while Ann Marie was immense at wing back covering a huge amount of ground and setting up plenty attacks.

A combination of great pressure and some brilliant saves from net minder Mairead gave Ranelagh a clean sheet on the night in what was a job well done all round for Jimmy Trimble’s charges.

The team are on the road next week, with a Cup fixture against Thomas Davis pencilled in for Wednesday night.

St Jude’s 3-10
Ranelagh Gaels 1-11

Ranelagh Gaels were desperately unlucky to crash out of the Junior C Championship on Tuesday night having played 50 minutes of fabulous football.

Away at Tymon North against St Jude’s in the second round the Gaels started and finished badly, which was their ultimate undoing.

They gave Jude’s a five-point head-start, but managed to get back level at the break – 1-5 apiece – thanks to a cheeky Johnny Conlon lobbed goal.

The first 25 minutes after the change of end produced some great play, though the Gaels lived to regret not tagging on the scores to kill off the game.

With five minutes left Ranelagh were leading by four, but in a crazy closing period conceded 2-3 to lose by five points.

There was only stunned silence dressing room afterwards, but now the team must make sure that they drive on for the remainder of the season – starting with a League game at the end of the month.

Ranelagh Gaels got their 2012 Junior C Championship tilt off to a flying start with a clinical performance against St Marks at Bushy Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Gaels burst out of the blocks and imposed themselves on the game immediately. Tenacious defensive work at the back allowed early ball to be played into the forward line and with excellent support running on offer in every attack some early scores were registered.

Eamon Courtney stretched the lead with a well taken goal and the scores kept coming with Enda Marren, Johnny Conlon and Denis Doolan all shooting over the black spot.

The midfield duo of Brian Regan and Alan Toolin were dominant throughout and with hungry break winners around them the home side dominated possession in the first half.

Gearoid O’Flynn raised another green flag and by the break Ranelagh were out of sight with the scoreboard reading an emphatic 2-10 to 0-1.

St Marks saw more of the ball in the second half as perhaps understandably the men in blue took their foot off the pedal somewhat. The defence continued their hard work and graft, epitomised by excellent displays by the Johns, Lawrence and Daly. Courtney added his second three-pointer of the day to ensure there would be no way back for the visitors.

So all in all a very satisfying start to the campaign although tougher tests certainly lie ahead with the next round provisionally pencilled in for the beginning of May.

Today’s encounter wasn’t the only Gaels match of the weekend however – over in the West, Tadhg Kelly wed his green and red girl Caroline; congratulations to both and indeed it’ll be another big day for Mr Kelly as he prepares for his county of birth’s shot at league glory in Croke Park next Sunday.

Next on the Player Profile hit-list is someone you might over hear in Smyths professing, “I’m a bit of a big deal around here.”

Self-proclaimed Murphy Cup hero Conor Harnett is under the microscope as he discusses his ‘attacking midfielder’ role (or as its known in Junior C football, midfielder), the Gaels who will soon be exiting bachelorhood and the fact that he’s a walking sick note, seeing more days off than Carlos Tevez.

Let the cute Kerry-hoorism begin…..

NAME: Conor Harnett

AGE: 27

HOME TOWN/CLUB: Cordal, Co. Kerry

OCCUPATION: Corporate Commercial Analyst, Vodafone

FACEBOOK STATUS: Still can’t feel my upper lip ….very annoying. Stupid injury!!

POSITION (KEEP IT CLEAN): Attacking Midfielder

JOINED THE GAELS: 2008

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Black eye, gum shield and strapped ankle

CLAIM TO FAME: I lived with the mighty Jer McCarthy for a few years

BEST WORDS OF WISDOM FROM LIAM O’HAGAN: We are not doing enough running!

FAVOURITE GAELS MEMORY: Murphy Cup final especially after missing half the season because of injury (nothing new there!)

FIRST THREE SONGS ON YOUR iPOD/MP3 ON Shuffle: Bobcaygeon, Tragically Hip – Down by the river, Bruce Springsteen, Who’s that chick, David Guetta

Yeah we’d never heard of Tragically Hip either!

LAST DECENT FILM YOU SAW: Tough call its between Project X and Safehouse

BLACK PORTER OR RED WINE: Black Porter

X-FACTOR OR FRONTLINE : X-Factor

GRAINNE SEOIGE OR SHARON Ni BHEOLAIN: Do I have to pick one? I guess Grainne does like the Kerry lads

KERRY’S GREATEST MOMENT: 2012 when we will beat Tyrone in the All Ireland Final

SOCCER OR RUGBY: Soccer

IRELANDS GREATEST SPORTSMAN/WOMAN: Jim Stynes

WHICH GAEL IS THE WORST IN TRAINING? The Doc!

LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Injuries and 11am throw ins on Sunday mornings.

ALOT OF GAELS RECENTLY HAVE BEEN DROPPING THE KNEE AND STICKING THE RING ON THE FINGER, WHO DO YOU THINK IS NEXT ON THE CHOPPING BOARD: That’s easy Jeremy McCarthy followed by Denis Doolan.

THE COUNTRY IS DOOMED, WHICH GAEL COULD TAKE US OUT OF OUR ECONOMIC CRISIS: Tadgh Kelly – if you only you could see how efficient he is at work everyday!! some man for one man.

YOU’VE JUST WON THE €1,900 TOP PRIZE IN THE RANELAGH GAELS CLUB LOTTO – YOU WOULD SPEND THE MONEY ON: A week long cruise with no mobile phone. Paradise.

RULE CHANGE THAT WOULD MAKE FOOTBALL BETTER: That some of the tackling you see in hurling was allowed in football….too many soft frees are awarded in football. You’re always injured for Gods-sake!

IN TEN YEARS TIME THE GAELS WILL BE: Well one thing is for sure the ladies team will be All Ireland Junior Champions – that’s if Jimmy is still in charge.

PLAYING JUNIOR C FOOTBALL FOR RANELAGH GAELS IS GREAT BECAUSE: Your playing with some of the soundest lads you will ever meet and there is always someone around for a pint! Love it!! Since when have you been around for a pint?

Kilmacud Crokes 3-5

Ranelagh Gaels had to make do with a point after last night’s league encounter with Kilmacud Crokes at Bushy Park.

The team will feel that this was one that got away though such was their dominance and the high quality of their play for long periods.

Some astute tactical switches by manager Jimmy Trimble worked a treat in the first half with Edel Brennan doing brilliantly in her new full forward role.

The supporting running was just as good with Anna King and Aoife Long getting early goals along with fine scores from Brid Firtear and Edel O’Brien.

The running off the ball and the angles of those runs coming onto to help the player in possession was a joy to watch and ripped the Kilmacud defence apart on numerous occasions.

After the Gaels had built up a healthy lead, Crokes came back into the game in the second half and managed to catch the home side at the death with a levelling goal.

It was cruel on the girls who had played some of their best football of the season to date.

Despite not winning though, things are certainly looking bright for the season ahead with the hard work from the training ground becoming more and more evident on the playing field.

Next up is a trip to Ballyboden in the Cup next Wednesday.

St Anne’s                     3-8

Ranelagh Gaels registered their first win of the year in Bushy Park last night, defeating St Anne’s of Bohernabreena in the Division 5 Cup.

Spring sunshine greeted the players as they arrived at the venue; this was soon followed by overcast, dreary skies and finally came the torrential downpours either side of half time – all in all it was unquestionably a great night to be out.

St Anne’s had the better of the opening exchanges; despite conceding a goal from Gaels wing forward Anna they responded with two majors of their own and went into an eight point lead at one stage.

Ger Connolly pulled a goal back for Ranelagh, squeezing home from a near-impossible angle after a goal mouth scrap. That left only five between the sides at the break, 2-4 to 3-6.

After the restart the midfield duo of Aoife and Brid came into the game much more, the latter scoring a blistering goal drilled low to the corner as part of an outstanding overall performance.

The visitors fought back again and missed a succession of wides, many due to the pressure they were being put under by the home defence.

Louise Connolly put in another brilliant display at corner back for the second week running while Karen again looked very comfortable in adapting to her new centre back berth.

Laurene, playing in the missing No7 jersey, won a huge amount of ball around the half back line feeding Edel O’Brien who ran and ran at the Anne’s defence, causing them problems all game. She capped her match winning contribution with the last goal of the night and the insurance points that sealed a first win for the girls in 2012.

We certainly hope there’s more to come, its back to league action next week as the Gaels host Kilmacud Crokes at Fortress Bushy.

The player profile is back! Its been quite a while since we’ve brought you the inner thoughts of one of our star players so the step forward ladies full forward sharpshooter, Barbara Whooley.

She’s been part of the all conquering, county championship winning side for the past two years and also plays some of that oval ball malarkey in her spare time. Below she reveals her dismay at the lack of shouldering in the ladies game, her vision for an Uachtarain in the Whooley family and her time as head of the GAA in Japan!

NAME: Barbara Whooley

AGE: Lets’ just say not quite the youngest on the team

HOME TOWN/CLUB: Erin’s Own, Glouthane, Cork

OCCUPATION: Product Manager

FACEBOOK STATUS: “Come on Ireland”

POSITION (KEEP IT CLEAN): Full-forward

JOINED THE GAELS: 2009-2010 season

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: A little on the short side

CLAIM TO FAME: I was once chairperson of Japan GAA

BEST WORDS OF WISDOM FROM JIMMY OR DENIS: “Just go out there and enjoy yourselves lads”

FAVOURITE GAELS MEMORY: There was a match in Bushy Park last year where our 15th player was wearing a mini-skirt and slip-on shoes and was avoiding the ball!

FIRST THREE SONGS ON YOUR iPOD/MP3 ON SHUFFLE: The Wheels on The Bus, Jingle Bells, and The Banks of my Own Lovely Lee

LAST DECENT FILM YOU SAW: There are decent films?

BLACK PORTER OR RED WINE: Pub = black porter, Dinner = red wine

X-FACTOR OR FRONTLINE: Neither because I’m not much of a TV buff

COLIN FIRTH, COLIN FARRELL, WILL FERRELL OR SEÁN Ó O hAILPÍN: As a cork girl I’d have to go for Sean Óg.

FAVOURITE CORK GAA MEMORY: Sam Magiure coming to our national school so we got a day off.

SOCCER OR RUGBY: Rugby all the way

FAVOURITE PLAYER EVER: Probably Paul O’Connell (We meant GAA player, Barbara!)

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE CORONATION STREET CHARACTER: David Platt

LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Technically it’s a non-contact sport.

IF YOU WHERE ON RADIO WHAT WOULD YOUR CATCHPHRASE BE: I don’t think it would be fair to subject people to me on the radio.

THE GAELS’ PLAYER THAT SHOULD TAKE OVER AS PRESIDENT, AND WHY: Lil because I would then have family in power.

YOU’VE JUST WON THE €1,500 TOP PRIZE IN THE RANELAGH GAELS CLUB LOTTO – YOU WOULD SPEND THE MONEY ON: Me!

RULE CHANGE THAT WOULD MAKE FOOTBALL BETTER: Shouldering is allowed.

IN TEN YEARS TIME THE GAELS WILL BE: Still great fun to play for.

PLAYING LADIES FOOTBALL FOR RANELAGH GAELS IS GREAT BECAUSE: Everyone is welcome and the girls on the team always encourage each other.

A brilliant third quarter performance was enough for Ranelagh Gaels to beat St Mark’s in Sunday’s exciting AFL Division 8 clash at McGee Park.

After a desperately disappointing first half the visitors clicked from the restart, coming from 0-4 to 0-1 down to lead by five points.

Conor Harnett got the goal that gave the Gaels the cushion they deserved following a blistering spell of football.

In the half Liam O’Hagan‘s team seemed stuck to the ground and the passing was poor, which allowed Mark’s to take command.

Conor Fingleton in goals made a smart stop and the home side had the ball in the net only to see it chalked off for square ball so Ranelagh were lucky not to be further behind.

But after the break the Gaels owned the ball and for long spells it hardly passed the half-way line.

Alan Toolan and John Lawrence drove forward from wing-back and Johnny Conlon did the bulk of the scoring, though this was a real team performance.

With nearly the last kick of the game Mark’s got a goal to reduce the gap to just a single point, but the Gaels deserved their win.

The next game is against the same opponents in the first round of the Junior C Championship at Bushy Park on April 22 and on the evidence of Sunday there won’t be much between the teams.

If Ranelagh could play like they did for most of the second half every day they’d be hard to beat in any game and more consistency is needed.

Shortly before the end at the weekend Conor Harnett (pictured below ) received a heavy knock in an accidental clash.

Luckily there were no broken bones and the injury-prone midfielder should be back in action soon.

Ranelagh Gaels ladies got their 2012 season up and running on Wednesday night, suffering defeat against local rivals Clanna Gael in a cup tie at Ringsend.

Despite the defeat, it was a useful outing for Gaels manager Jimmy Trimble, as he cast his eye on numerous new recruits along with the players who have brought much success to the club over the past two seasons.

In all six debutants made their bows in the sky blue jersey of Ranelagh and all put in impressive displays, fitting in well with the established members of the panel.

The hard training sessions are obviously doing the trick as we witnessed a huge amount of work from the team and it bodes well for the rest of the year that the girls’ application and effort was to the fore.

With large numbers in attendance at the game as well as the pre-season games played earlier this month, there’ll be selection headaches a-plenty for the management team – an exciting year lies ahead.

Training continues next week before the team is back in action next Wednesday with a home league fixture, with the Fontenoy side again providing the opposition, this time at home in Bushy Park.