James Horan’s Sam Maguire favourite: ‘I think they are in front’
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Former Mayo player and manager James Horan believes reigning Ulster champions Donegal are the leading contenders for Sam Maguire in 2025.
Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic football podcast, which is available to all Examiner subscribers, Horan said Jim McGuinness is best placed to lead his team to the summit in July. Donegal won Division 2, Ulster and reached an All-Ireland semi-final last season.
“In 2025, I am going for Donegal to win the All-Ireland for a couple of reasons,” said Horan.
“This is Jim McGuinness’ second year; we saw what he did last season with a lot of young players. The dynamism he brought to it. He is bringing back significant experience this year. Michael Murphy obviously. They also have Odhran McFadden-Ferry, Eoin McHugh, Eoghan McGettigan amongst others. Experience back with youthful enthusiasm that they got last year. That mix together with McGuinness’ drive. I think they are out in front.”
Donegal begin their league campaign away to Kerry at the end of the month. On the new Gaelic football rules, Football Review Committee member Horan is keen to see how teams would evolve their gameplan over the next few weeks.
“I think 2025 will be brilliant. I am not saying all the rules will work, that is not it at all, but I there will be an excitement and an unknown about Gaelic football which we have not had for a long time. Unpredictability is brilliant. That is for who could win the All-Ireland and I think there is coaches across the country going out with a format saying this is how we will play game one, game two of the national league. By game three of the league after feedback from the players, they might have scrapped that and gone with something else.
“It will be a general debate about football and what is working, what is good and what is not. That will be a significant change from recent years when there was predictability, we knew the type of game it would be, up to the last few years we had a very good idea who was going to win it. I just hope there will be a sense of adventure across 2025.”
Webinars and sessions are ongoing to provide coaching tips for the new Gaelic football rule enhancements. There are also several challenges games being played nationwide. However, it will take time for sides to realise what works and what doesn’t.
“No one knows,” said Horan.
“Coaches now will go out with a set way to play and how we take advantage of it, but after a round or two of the national league, senior players will feed back in and there could be changes in how a team sets up or how they play. The players will have the best sense of it. Coaches now haven’t played under these rules. Teams will do different things throughout the league which will be great to see.”