Qualifiers have lost edge, says Dempsey

THE All-Ireland football qualifiers have lost the unpredictable edge that made the system such a success when introduced five years ago, Longford manager Luke Dempsey believes.

Dempsey was in charge of Westmeath when they stormed through the back door in 2001 and, since then, Sligo and Fermanagh have added to the collection of fairytale stories from the same route.

Last year failed to throw up any such heartwarming tales though, as Cork, Tyrone, Mayo and Laois emerging to claim places in the last eight.