Kerry legend Darran O’Sullivan predicts this year’s provincial champions

Lee Costello

Some brave calls by the Kerryman.

Darran O’Sullivan has put his neck on the line and made their predictions for the 2023 provincial championships in Ulster, Connacht, Munster and Leinster.

Kerry legend Darran O’Sullivan was particularly full of himself in the latest episode of the GAA Hour as he correctly predicted the four league champions before last week’s final.

O’Sullivan will be looking to dust off the mystic ball again, as he has made his decision on who will end the season as provincial champions.

The Ulster championship.

This is always a tricky one to pick, as Ulster has been the only consistently competitive province in Gaelic football over the past decade or so.

Derry won it last year for the first time since 1998, and with an impressive league campaign under their belt and promotion to Division One assured, they look primed to retain their title.

However, despite actually tipping them for relegation at the start of the season, O’Sullivan believes that Tyrone will emerge victorious this time around.

The Red Hand county started the league very poorly but looked to have got their house in order, solidified their forward line with Darragh Canavan, Mattie Donnelly and Darren McCurry, and have players returning from injury at jus the right time.

Despite starting at rock bottom, they have been on an upward trajectory, and the former Kerry captain believes they will be lifting the Anglo-Celt cup this year.

The Connacht championship.

Mayo have won Division One, and beat a Connacht team in the final when they put the sword to Galway last Sunday, so the bookies will all be looking at Kevin McStay’s side to win the provincial title this year.

In typical O’Sullivan fashion however, he believes that Galway will be waiting in the long grass and may just retain the title.

The Tribesmen of course won it last year, and although they will be hurting from the league final defeat, they have a three-week block to prepare for the championship, while Mayo are jumping straight from the frying pan and into the oven when they play Roscommon this weekend.

O’Sullivan did mention that he thinks Mayo are better placed to win the All-Ireland, but Galway will be victorious when it comes to the Connacht championship.

The Munster championship.

Not nearly as exciting or as competitive as the two previously mentioned provinces, but the mergence of a strong looking Cork team does make it a bit more interesting this year.

The Rebel county were unlucky not to gain promotion this season, and look like a very goal-hungry team that can cause most opposition problems.

However, it’s no surprise that Kerry are tipped to win it again this year.

The Leinster championship.

If Munster is not deemed as an overly competitive province, then the Leinster championship is basically a dead duck of a competition.

Dublin will undoubtedly win it yet again for the umpteenth time in a row, the only real debate, is who they will be playing in the final.

At the beginning of the season you would have put your money on Kildare being their main competitors, however it actually looks like Mickey Harte’s Louth side are the next closest thing on that side of the country.