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All Ireland Football Championship 2025

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I would like to wish Frank McGuigan all the best in his present struggle health wise and offer a prayer for him and his family.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3936 - 23/05/2025 08:36:15    2611830

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Really disappointing Armagh v Derry not on GAA+

Last year's champions against last years league winners.
This is no walkover for Armagh

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 340 - 23/05/2025 09:20:46    2611834

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Really disappointing Armagh v Derry not on GAA+

Last year's champions against last years league winners.
This is no walkover for Armagh"
That's bizarre, are BBC showing it?

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 123 - 23/05/2025 10:13:51    2611840

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "That's bizarre, are BBC showing it?"
BBCNI only has the right to the Ulster Championship, and then again from the All-Ireland Semi-Finals afaik.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13803 - 23/05/2025 10:21:41    2611843

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "I would like to wish Frank McGuigan all the best in his present struggle health wise and offer a prayer for him and his family."
Absolutely, I had an uncle soldier with him on the Tyrone team of the 80's and was very fortunate to see him playing in the flesh. What a player..

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 392 - 23/05/2025 10:36:57    2611847

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Louth v Monaghan
Was expected to be the battle for the group win. Down with their big win could yet have a say. No elimination jeopardy here really. All for 1, 2 or 3.
Meath v Cork
Roscommon are possibly targeting Meath and Cork. If that is true, possibly all 3 pragmatically are expecting a three way battle to avoid elimination? Elimination jeopardy is real here.
Armagh v Derry
Cavan have injected elimination jeopardy into their group. With Galway, Armagh and Dublin expecting to advance - Derry have to deliver a win to shake up this group. Elimination jeopardy depends on Derry.
Donegal v Tyrone
Cavan have injected elimination jeopardy into this group. Mayo being Mayo are still dangerous. Any loss increases pressure on anyone. Elimination jeopardy thanks to Cavan is very real here.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8841 - 23/05/2025 11:48:17    2611856

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Absolutely, I had an uncle soldier with him on the Tyrone team of the 80's and was very fortunate to see him playing in the flesh. What a player.."
Yes Bloodandbandage he was a super playersHis exploits in the Ulster final in 84 are stuff of legends.He scored 11 points from play .(1 with the fist ,5 with lwft leg and 5 with right leg.Unreal.Please God he will be ok.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3936 - 23/05/2025 12:56:53    2611868

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "I would like to wish Frank McGuigan all the best in his present struggle health wise and offer a prayer for him and his family."
Well said Mick and here's wishing him well in his health struggles… He was a wonderful footballer.. Scored 11 points from play in an Ulster Final when football was a man for man game and not all this soccer like fluting around with the ball over and back and not a hand put on anyone…

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3942 - 23/05/2025 13:17:26    2611876

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Replying To MesAmis:  "BBCNI only has the right to the Ulster Championship, and then again from the All-Ireland Semi-Finals afaik."
You'd wonder how that slipped through the cracks, seems like a massive game to not be broadcast.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 123 - 23/05/2025 13:45:18    2611880

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Yes Bloodandbandage he was a super playersHis exploits in the Ulster final in 84 are stuff of legends.He scored 11 points from play .(1 with the fist ,5 with lwft leg and 5 with right leg.Unreal.Please God he will be ok."
Armagh players heads are still light after that match, he sent most of them chasing air. And his best years and football were played in the States.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2302 - 23/05/2025 15:24:58    2611917

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Armagh players heads are still light after that match, he sent most of them chasing air. And his best years and football were played in the States."
True and career cut short with injury too.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3936 - 23/05/2025 17:32:22    2611948

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Today Derry return to competitive action after their prolonged hiatus. That is a 7 week break since losing to Donegal on April 6th in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship . In fact including todays game Derry will just have played 9 games of the 18 weeks of the current inter county season. Much is made of the condensed nature of the season but Derrys example totally contradicts this argument. It suggests a structural and scheduling issue rather than anything else.

Donegal [ the team that beat Derry in that game] have since played 3 games . Including this weekends game it will mean that Donegal will have played 12 of the 18 weeks. With 6 weeks off that schedule does not appear over taxing.

Now a tough schedule for a team would to be playing weekly with the odd midweek game thrown in.

For what its worth I think a team that are playing regular games[injuries aside] have an advantage when meeting a team that have had a prolonged game break.

edu (Mayo) - Posts: 104 - 24/05/2025 11:30:56    2612011

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Replying To edu:  "Today Derry return to competitive action after their prolonged hiatus. That is a 7 week break since losing to Donegal on April 6th in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship . In fact including todays game Derry will just have played 9 games of the 18 weeks of the current inter county season. Much is made of the condensed nature of the season but Derrys example totally contradicts this argument. It suggests a structural and scheduling issue rather than anything else.

Donegal [ the team that beat Derry in that game
have since played 3 games . Including this weekends game it will mean that Donegal will have played 12 of the 18 weeks. With 6 weeks off that schedule does not appear over taxing.

Now a tough schedule for a team would to be playing weekly with the odd midweek game thrown in.

For what its worth I think a team that are playing regular games[injuries aside] have an advantage when meeting a team that have had a prolonged game break."]I agree and the whole system is not balanced.
Even the groups are so different and one group is really strong.
The narrative is different always though.

If a team win an All Ireland from a hard group its because they were battle hardened.If a team loses from a hard group,it was because they had too many tough matches.
Likewise if a team win All Ireland from an easy group it was because the had no tough games and were fresh and when a big team. dont win an All Ireland from an easier group its because they were nt tested and were nt battle hardened.

There is a narrative for every scenario but one thing for certain is the system is not fair.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3936 - 24/05/2025 12:24:50    2612017

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Tough for Louth to come down off the high of winning Leinster. Advantage Monaghan for winning that group. Down v Louth will probably decide group runner up.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8841 - 24/05/2025 18:31:03    2612122

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Tough for Louth to come down off the high of winning Leinster. Advantage Monaghan for winning that group. Down v Louth will probably decide group runner up."
Was always the group of dreams for Monaghan

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8758 - 24/05/2025 20:01:03    2612159

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3 of the provincial winners lose their first game after winning. Meath beat cork but Munster football are weak outside of Kerry. Is winning the provisional like winning the league? No rest time leaves you exposed to a upset ???

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 170 - 24/05/2025 21:02:36    2612188

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Now. That was some game. This year is turning out to be much more unpredictable than was imagined. Mayo v Donegal possibly see one of them out.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3569 - 24/05/2025 21:05:52    2612189

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Three provincial winners have lost in Round 1. Two provincial runners up were beaten. League qualifiers have had the opportunity to scout finals knowing they were going to play the winner or loser in Round 1. Tough as well going into the next game after the high of a final. League qualifiers are usually looking to bounce back after a defeat.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8841 - 24/05/2025 21:18:54    2612200

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Huge win for Tyrone yesterday in a cracker of a match that became a lot more interesting and important following Cavan's win over Mayo.. Donegal/Mayo could now end up a massive game for the group… When a 4th seed wins their first game it throws the group into chaos but unfortunately it rarely happens leading to a stroll through for the other 3 teams… Louth were outplayed yesterday but Clare don't look like causing anyone too much trouble in that group

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3942 - 25/05/2025 08:44:08    2612276

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It's as wide open a championship as there has been in a while.
Last year was open as regards the level of the top 8 counties.
Now we have a set of rules which results in every team being able to have a good rattle off anyone.
Kick a few two pointers and you will keep afloat in any game.
If your off you game at all, you'll be devoured on the kick out and you are in big trouble.

Tyrone were far better than Donegal yesterday and no one saw that coming in Ballyboffey.

You'd have to say that Armagh look to be the best team at the minute, but have the toughest route to the All Ireland left.

Paddy power has Kerry at 23/10 and Tyrone, Donegal, Armagh and Dublin at 11/2

Don't see how Kerry are such big favourites but obviously the handy draw means a lot to Paddy Power anyway

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1401 - 25/05/2025 09:07:45    2612277

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