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Well its fast approaching

My guess to come out of the Provinces as Champions.
Derry
Dublin
Kerry
Mayo

Realistically I think there's 3 teams capable of winning Sam, and it's Derry, Dublin and Kerry.

I think there is only a kick of a ball between them when it will really comes down to it.

Dubs going for back to backs is never easy, but they had a good league campaign, introduced a few, got more game time into others, and still have a number of influential players to return, it will take a very good side to stop Dublin reaching the final this year.

Derry are a fine side, playing well, just won a National title beating Dublin in their own back yard. Ulster will be very competitive, if they are lucky on the injury front, they are good enough to go one step further than last year, where perhaps they just lacked the experience. That's not the case anymore, fine side.

Kerry will have a major say, if I was backing anyone it would be them. They had a good league campaign, just a couple of below par performances but I wouldn't look into them much. A fine side, not easy going for back to back titles and they came pretty bloody close last year, could have easily beaten Dublin that day, if Clifford gets back to his best, and they have a small % improvement on last year, they will be very close.

Think it's all to play for, unfortunately there will be plenty of dead rubber games in what is undoubtedly a very unbalanced FA Cup style competition in its current form.

It will only really kick into gear coming into the business end of things but there's very little between the top 3-4 teams

Injuries, suspensions and a wee bit of luck will play its usual big part

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 04/04/2024 11:22:09    2535555

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Replying To jimbodub:  "Well its fast approaching

My guess to come out of the Provinces as Champions.
Derry
Dublin
Kerry
Mayo

Realistically I think there's 3 teams capable of winning Sam, and it's Derry, Dublin and Kerry.

I think there is only a kick of a ball between them when it will really comes down to it.

Dubs going for back to backs is never easy, but they had a good league campaign, introduced a few, got more game time into others, and still have a number of influential players to return, it will take a very good side to stop Dublin reaching the final this year.

Derry are a fine side, playing well, just won a National title beating Dublin in their own back yard. Ulster will be very competitive, if they are lucky on the injury front, they are good enough to go one step further than last year, where perhaps they just lacked the experience. That's not the case anymore, fine side.

Kerry will have a major say, if I was backing anyone it would be them. They had a good league campaign, just a couple of below par performances but I wouldn't look into them much. A fine side, not easy going for back to back titles and they came pretty bloody close last year, could have easily beaten Dublin that day, if Clifford gets back to his best, and they have a small % improvement on last year, they will be very close.

Think it's all to play for, unfortunately there will be plenty of dead rubber games in what is undoubtedly a very unbalanced FA Cup style competition in its current form.

It will only really kick into gear coming into the business end of things but there's very little between the top 3-4 teams

Injuries, suspensions and a wee bit of luck will play its usual big part"
The way the championship is cramped into a couple of weeks injuries are going to become the biggest problem as time goes on. It affects the latter stages of the league as well because teams know their straight int championship. On form Dubs, Kerry and Derry but stranger things happen.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2289 - 07/04/2024 20:10:50    2536343

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If Waterford were to beat Clare,do they qualify for Sam??who wouldn't or is to early for decisions like that??

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2506 - 07/04/2024 20:21:49    2536348

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "If Waterford were to beat Clare,do they qualify for Sam??who wouldn't or is to early for decisions like that??"
If they make the Munster final then they are in Sam.


Currently, these are the teams in Sam:

Derry
Dublin
Kerry
Mayo
Galway
Tyrone
Roscommon
Monaghan
Donegal
Armagh
Cavan
Cork
Meath
Louth
Westmeath


The winners of Waterford v Clare will make it (taking away the 16th league place occupied by Down. . .division 3 winners and runners-up are ranked higher than the 2 relegated division 2 sides)

Should any team other than Louth come through that side in Leinster to make the final, they will take Westmeath's place.

Should Sligo beat Galway, they will take a place.

Should anyone other than Armagh come through that side in Ulster to make final, they will take a place.

Team to drop out start at bottom of the above list. So Westmeath first, then Louth, then Cork (Meath are guaranteed to keep their place as 2023 TC winners).

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5245 - 08/04/2024 14:38:00    2536606

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Replying To jimbodub:  "Well its fast approaching

My guess to come out of the Provinces as Champions.
Derry
Dublin
Kerry
Mayo

Realistically I think there's 3 teams capable of winning Sam, and it's Derry, Dublin and Kerry.

I think there is only a kick of a ball between them when it will really comes down to it.

Dubs going for back to backs is never easy, but they had a good league campaign, introduced a few, got more game time into others, and still have a number of influential players to return, it will take a very good side to stop Dublin reaching the final this year.

Derry are a fine side, playing well, just won a National title beating Dublin in their own back yard. Ulster will be very competitive, if they are lucky on the injury front, they are good enough to go one step further than last year, where perhaps they just lacked the experience. That's not the case anymore, fine side.

Kerry will have a major say, if I was backing anyone it would be them. They had a good league campaign, just a couple of below par performances but I wouldn't look into them much. A fine side, not easy going for back to back titles and they came pretty bloody close last year, could have easily beaten Dublin that day, if Clifford gets back to his best, and they have a small % improvement on last year, they will be very close.

Think it's all to play for, unfortunately there will be plenty of dead rubber games in what is undoubtedly a very unbalanced FA Cup style competition in its current form.

It will only really kick into gear coming into the business end of things but there's very little between the top 3-4 teams

Injuries, suspensions and a wee bit of luck will play its usual big part"
I think if Derry go all out to win another Ulster title it will derail their chances of winning an All Ireland…. If the go out to Donegal and regroup they will take some stopping..:: If they were in Armagh's place on the handy side of the draw I see merit it trying to win Ulster but they face 3 big games from the side they're on to win it which would take a lot out of them… I can see Donegal beating them next week to be honest…!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3796 - 08/04/2024 15:39:05    2536631

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Hi jimbo, how do you think the other great Jim will fare out this time? If my memory serves me, you predicted championship glory for Donegal on these very pages all those years ago during McGuinness' first spell in charge, long before anyone else did! More of the same would be great! :P

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9748 - 08/04/2024 15:54:24    2536642

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Hi jimbo, how do you think the other great Jim will fare out this time? If my memory serves me, you predicted championship glory for Donegal on these very pages all those years ago during McGuinness' first spell in charge, long before anyone else did! More of the same would be great! :P"
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.. ;) I remember that alright, just wish I was a betting man

McGuinness is too clever/sharp to not cone back with a plan, let's see if its just as effective..

Might be a bit early into his 2nd reign for it all to come together but I wouldn't bet against Donegal being in a far better place soon enough

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 08/04/2024 18:55:50    2536713

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very interesting first weekend, great game with cavan v monaghan, great results for wicklow and waterford

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2968 - 08/04/2024 20:10:52    2536738

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Replying To jimbodub:  "Even a broken clock is right twice a day.. ;) I remember that alright, just wish I was a betting man

McGuinness is too clever/sharp to not cone back with a plan, let's see if its just as effective..

Might be a bit early into his 2nd reign for it all to come together but I wouldn't bet against Donegal being in a far better place soon enough"
Yeah we're undoubtedly in a better place this year than last although that would not have been hard.
Time will tell if McGuinness can reproduce the same magic. There are a lot of begrudgers out there dying to see him fail, but it's been so far so good. Promotion back to Div 1 has been achieved and a league final win as well.

Things will be ramping up now with the away trip to Derry in the Championship. They've been operating at a higher level and will go in as favourites. Within their camp they probably feel they have bigger fish to fry than Donegal, which may be dangerous thinking. Three-in-a-row Ulsters are fiendishly difficult to achieve so it'll be very interesting to see how that game goes.

Regardless, I think most Donegal GAA folk are happy enough that we're at least putting our best foot forward again after last year's fiasco. In Jim's last term he had generational talents like Murphy, McGee, Lacey and McFadden to call on. There is great untapped potential in this current squad I feel though, and no better man to draw it out than Jim.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9748 - 09/04/2024 14:21:36    2536909

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Championship is a forgone conclusion already:

Group 1 - Dublin, Galway, Tyrone, Cork
Group 2 - Derry, Louth, Roscommon, Cavan
Group 3 - Mayo, Clare, Monaghan, Meath
Group 4 - Kerry, Armagh, Donegal, Westmeath

Q finals - Mayo v Donegal, Kerry v Galway, Derry v Monaghan, Dublin v Roscommon

Semi finals - Mayo v Derry, Kerry v Dublin
Final - Mayo v Dublin
Winner - No one beats Mayo in 6 finals in a row.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1371 - 09/04/2024 16:58:30    2536951

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Championship is a forgone conclusion already:

Group 1 - Dublin, Galway, Tyrone, Cork
Group 2 - Derry, Louth, Roscommon, Cavan
Group 3 - Mayo, Clare, Monaghan, Meath
Group 4 - Kerry, Armagh, Donegal, Westmeath

Q finals - Mayo v Donegal, Kerry v Galway, Derry v Monaghan, Dublin v Roscommon

Semi finals - Mayo v Derry, Kerry v Dublin
Final - Mayo v Dublin
Winner - No one beats Mayo in 6 finals in a row."
If that happens think is leinster vs ulster and munster connaght or open draw not sure

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 693 - 09/04/2024 18:11:31    2536964

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Fair seeding:
1. Derry, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo
2. Galway, Tyrone, Roscommon, Donegal
3. Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, Cork
4. Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Clare/Waterford
An example of lopsided seeding:
1. Derry, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo
2. Galway, Armagh, Louth, Clare/Waterford
3. Tyrone, Roscommon, Donegal, Monaghan
4. Cavan, Cork, Meath, Westmeath
If Louth and Clare are Seeds 2 from soft provincial routes, it is unfair on the likes of Tyrone, Roscommon and Donegal.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8770 - 09/04/2024 18:42:09    2536974

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "If that happens think is leinster vs ulster and munster connaght or open draw not sure"
Open draw up to a point.
The old rota thing doesn't apply.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2285 - 09/04/2024 18:54:57    2536979

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Fair seeding:
1. Derry, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo
2. Galway, Tyrone, Roscommon, Donegal
3. Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, Cork
4. Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Clare/Waterford
An example of lopsided seeding:
1. Derry, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo
2. Galway, Armagh, Louth, Clare/Waterford
3. Tyrone, Roscommon, Donegal, Monaghan
4. Cavan, Cork, Meath, Westmeath
If Louth and Clare are Seeds 2 from soft provincial routes, it is unfair on the likes of Tyrone, Roscommon and Donegal."
Kerryman complaining about a soft provincial route. .

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5245 - 09/04/2024 19:57:55    2536990

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only way derry win the all irleand is if they lose to donegal.
monaghan still in sam. losing to cavan means very little.
clare waterford winner then gets hammered by kerry in munster final.
followed by 3 defeats in group.
the early stages of the championship are a joke.

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 09/04/2024 21:17:20    2537004

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IMO the championship is too clustered and has to be given more breathing space.Also the provincials have to be looked at and Im confident Jarlath Burns will have a strong look at it.Ulster is brilliant but even thats diluted a little under these new structures.Also groups of 4 with 3 teams qualifying is like sone thing Father Ted would come up with.Also I was looking at Lockjaws championship predictions thread and its sad when you look at the Dublin Meath p redictiins with nearly everyone (bar a few Yerra Dubs ha ha)predicting a double figure loss for Meath.A Dublin Meath clash used to be one of the highlights of the season but now its just a fixture.I know Dublin are powerful but Meath s status has slipped dramatically and I for one (and I know many Dubs would agree) would love to see Meath back challenging Dublin again.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3901 - 10/04/2024 09:56:29    2537059

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "IMO the championship is too clustered and has to be given more breathing space.Also the provincials have to be looked at and Im confident Jarlath Burns will have a strong look at it.Ulster is brilliant but even thats diluted a little under these new structures.Also groups of 4 with 3 teams qualifying is like sone thing Father Ted would come up with.Also I was looking at Lockjaws championship predictions thread and its sad when you look at the Dublin Meath p redictiins with nearly everyone (bar a few Yerra Dubs ha ha)predicting a double figure loss for Meath.A Dublin Meath clash used to be one of the highlights of the season but now its just a fixture.I know Dublin are powerful but Meath s status has slipped dramatically and I for one (and I know many Dubs would agree) would love to see Meath back challenging Dublin again."
Yeah the provinvials are a problem. Connacht and especially Ulster are still decent but Munster and Leinster are dead ducks. People have suggested playing off the provincials earlier in the year. But what's the point? If there's no tangible reward for winning them then their appeal will diminish & they'd be just another McKenna/O'Byrne/FBD/McGrath competition. Fans wouldn't buy into it either.

I proposed this on the Donegal page.

League stays as it is
Top 16 play Sam Maguire.
Bottom 16 play TC
Previous year's TC winner guaranteed to play in Sam Maguire following year, so bottom 16 is compiled accordingly.

Play provincials as they are.

Provincial winners get top seeding in last 16 Sam Maguire draw. They play the lowest 4 ranked teams. The rest of the teams are drawn against each other in an open draw. Knock-out championship football. None of this group stage craic.

Quarter and semi finals open draw too - Knock-out championship football.

Spread the games out to give families a chance to save and allow some proper build up/anticipation.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9748 - 10/04/2024 11:47:11    2537088

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Dublin v Meath

Dubs can't really win here today, if its a hammering, it'll mean little, if they don't play well, there will be groans.

I'm just looking for a better defensive performance compared to the Derry game and hopefully a few of the forwards click

Any sort of win will do and we'll see how much this game still means soon enough

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 14/04/2024 11:27:55    2537732

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Replying To jimbodub:  "Dublin v Meath

Dubs can't really win here today, if its a hammering, it'll mean little, if they don't play well, there will be groans.

I'm just looking for a better defensive performance compared to the Derry game and hopefully a few of the forwards click

Any sort of win will do and we'll see how much this game still means soon enough"
I know what you mean Jimbo but the Leinster championship is a dead duck I think.Dublin are just too strong and even Dublin fans not going anymore.Its sad as Dublin Meath was a game every gaelic fan would look forward to years ago.Today only over 21,000 people attend and that includes the camoige fans.Meath tried hard today and had some nice moments but here are the hard facts.Cluxton had an off day with his kickouts and Fenton was missing and Dublin still win by 16 points.Dublin have another 3 gears yet.Its tough on Leinster teams but tough on Dublin too cos they have to keep going but fans losing interest now until Dubs hit a semi final where teams have a punchers chance of beating them.Great credit has to go to Dessie who seems to be driving Dublin to bigger levels all the time and and players like Cian Murphy now so important.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3901 - 14/04/2024 22:15:25    2537857

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "I know what you mean Jimbo but the Leinster championship is a dead duck I think.Dublin are just too strong and even Dublin fans not going anymore.Its sad as Dublin Meath was a game every gaelic fan would look forward to years ago.Today only over 21,000 people attend and that includes the camoige fans.Meath tried hard today and had some nice moments but here are the hard facts.Cluxton had an off day with his kickouts and Fenton was missing and Dublin still win by 16 points.Dublin have another 3 gears yet.Its tough on Leinster teams but tough on Dublin too cos they have to keep going but fans losing interest now until Dubs hit a semi final where teams have a punchers chance of beating them.Great credit has to go to Dessie who seems to be driving Dublin to bigger levels all the time and and players like Cian Murphy now so important."
O'Rourke said Provincials are a shambles but many would argue its the counties in Leinster that are a shambles. How can counties like Meath and Kildare with decent populations struggle so much? I remember in the Geraghty era a full house between Dublin and Meath, not now. Dublin were wasteful, seriously sloppy but Meath were worse. Football needs a strong Meath and Kildare something just doesnt stack up.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 15/04/2024 00:55:48    2537879

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