The saturnine founder of modern Communism (sorry, what’s da’ AFR?), Karl Marx, once acidly remarked that: ‘History repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce…’, recalls An Fear Rua …

Marx certainly took a keen interest in Ireland and matters Irish, seeing this island and its troubles as a possible springboard to revolution in Britain. So, he was great pals with a few of the Fenians (some of whom even have GAA clubs named after them these days, while poor Marx is neglected by 'Dis Great Assosheeayshun Of Ours'). He even sent over his favourite daughter, Jenny, to help out Michael Davitt and the lads in Mayo with the Land League. Since he died the year before the GAA was founded, however, it’s unlikely the great man knew much about hurling or football, still less ever took a camán into his ‘glaic’ or tried for hours to perfect his hand pass.

On the evidence so far in 'An Fear Rua’s All Ireland Forecasts', today’s GAA followers do not follow the Marxist line of thought. Because – in both hurling and football – the largest number of fans are predicting that last year’s champions will do a repeat job this year. This, despite the fact that in the modern game, the chances of back-to-back doubles – even at club level – is becoming increasingly difficult.

Nevertheless, in our Hurling Forecast, 36% of fans predict Kilkenny again, and with the peerless Bould DJ Carey Himself in the side, it’s hard to disagree with them. Next – surprisingly, in AFR’s view in the light of their dismal finish to the League – come Galway with 23%, Clare with 20%, Tipperary with 13% and Cork with 10%. Nary a mention of Offaly, Wexford, Limerick or Waaaaaaaturrrfurrd, even from correspondents with pen-names that identify them as being from some of those counties. It’s probably the head sensibly ruling the heart in their cases. By the way, you still have until May 27 to make your forecast at the URL below.

In football, Kerry were the prediction of 35% of fans. Here, there was a better spread of counties mentioned: Armagh 14%, Derry 10%, Cork, Meath, Mayo and Tyrone – all on 7% - with Dublin and Westmeath on 3% each. Unfortunately, we’ve closed off the Discussion Forum on this Forecast because the football championship is already well under way.

AFR has pinned his colours to the mast. Despite his great regard for DJ Carey and Brian Cody and, indeed, the full Kilkenny panel, AFR believes this really will be Tipperary’s year. In his view, the Carey/Cody ‘combo’ is more than balanced by the Premier County’s English/Dunne combination. In football, the claims of Kerry and some of the Ulster teams are legitimate. But, An Fear Rua likes the ‘cut’ of this young Westmeath team and believes they will carry home the Sam Maguire to Mullingar this year for the first time ever in their history. The only thing that might stand in their way could be a dose of the ‘Croke Park Nerves' that seem to have afflicted newcomers like Mayo and Tyrone in the Nineties.

Still, we wish them all luck and we look forward to exciting championships.

And maybe it won’t be oul Marx’s view that will prevail in the end, but rather the old French proverb: ‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose …’

Related Topics
ALL IRELAND PREDICTIONS COMPETITION – HURLING

ALL IRELAND PREDICTIONS COMPETITION – FOOTBALL