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Anybody remember a time when we were repeatedly told on this forum by that due to 'financial doping' and massive advantages that Dublin were going to dominate IC football until the end of time? Not a sign of these prophets around nowadays......

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 2030 - 18/05/2026 14:11:24    2673882

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Replying To Gavvygavgav:  "The championship structure is a mess. It's started far too early, straight rolled off the back of the League, which is denigrated by everyone now as an extended training session. Provincial Championships over and done and the kids are still in school. The GAA treating the Championships like a chore that have to be gotten out of the way was always going to affect how they were viewed by the crowds. Matches coming thick and fast now, tickets ramping up in price. To a lot of Dublin fans yesterday's match might have represented a dead rubber, with a potential outlay on tickets coming up. Now we go into the murky weirdness of the All Ireland Series. What does it all mean?

Also, the two pointer rule is into its second full season. Why have Dublin not properly copped this?"
A joke that poor teams - including Dublin sad to say - have to lose three games in row to be dumped.

Couldn't agree more with regard to way championship is run off.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4304 - 18/05/2026 14:48:04    2673899

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Replying To Fionn:  "The 2 point rule is one thing but for me the new rule which has affected the Dubs most, is the new kick out rule. We are being completely exposed with no midfield now.
I said it at the time and I will say it again, Fento retiring early was a game changer for us, and not in a good way.
With no one coming through from underage age in that position - you get what we got yesterday.

It will take 5 years at least for us based on what I have seen at u20 and minor.

Sadly we are miles off it.

This was the main topic of conversation leaving the stadium yesterday - where are the midfielders in our clubs.?

Also, a lot of the players who shone best in our club championship last year are from other counties.

And that is a massive issue for Dublin football."
Well done Westmeath, by far the better team. Losing POCB after 15mins was a big issue regarding kick outs, not an excuse but he had caught 3 of our long kick outs at that early stage,

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1124 - 18/05/2026 15:20:06    2673907

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Replying To avonali:  "Anybody remember a time when we were repeatedly told on this forum by that due to 'financial doping' and massive advantages that Dublin were going to dominate IC football until the end of time? Not a sign of these prophets around nowadays......"
They were wrong

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19669 - 18/05/2026 15:36:32    2673913

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Replying To Gavvygavgav:  "The championship structure is a mess. It's started far too early, straight rolled off the back of the League, which is denigrated by everyone now as an extended training session. Provincial Championships over and done and the kids are still in school. The GAA treating the Championships like a chore that have to be gotten out of the way was always going to affect how they were viewed by the crowds. Matches coming thick and fast now, tickets ramping up in price. To a lot of Dublin fans yesterday's match might have represented a dead rubber, with a potential outlay on tickets coming up. Now we go into the murky weirdness of the All Ireland Series. What does it all mean?

Also, the two pointer rule is into its second full season. Why have Dublin not properly copped this?"
Give us your proposed GAA calendar, when you have a few minutes. You'll find it's a lot harder to achieve something that satisfies everyone.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2808 - 18/05/2026 15:40:48    2673916

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Give us your proposed GAA calendar, when you have a few minutes. You'll find it's a lot harder to achieve something that satisfies everyone."
Whether it is changed or not - and it hardly will be because Croke Park is on market for non GAA events in August/September - it clearly has reduced the centrality of the games in the public mind.

After the Wexford game we could only find one pub showing Cork v Waterford in Wexford town, and that was sharing space with rugby, soccer and racing and it was the Sky commentary blaring over everything else.

This surrender of public space will be reaped in further reductions in playing numbers.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4304 - 18/05/2026 16:13:28    2673930

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Give us your proposed GAA calendar, when you have a few minutes. You'll find it's a lot harder to achieve something that satisfies everyone."
I understand it's a nightmare. But if the GAA persist on compressing the IC season into a short window, while still charging the paying public the same wedge for a ticket, then they're going to are a drop off in attendances for many games. That's the long and short of it. And I still suspect we'll see some club championships beginning while the counties are still involved in the AI series.

Gavvygavgav (Dublin) - Posts: 388 - 18/05/2026 16:20:45    2673931

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Replying To Gavvygavgav:  "I understand it's a nightmare. But if the GAA persist on compressing the IC season into a short window, while still charging the paying public the same wedge for a ticket, then they're going to are a drop off in attendances for many games. That's the long and short of it. And I still suspect we'll see some club championships beginning while the counties are still involved in the AI series."
Not in Kerry you won't. The best run club championships (incl. hurling) in the country and most successful inter-county football team. Hurlers can punch well at their weigh level as well.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2540 - 18/05/2026 16:55:45    2673953

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Replying To Gavvygavgav:  "I understand it's a nightmare. But if the GAA persist on compressing the IC season into a short window, while still charging the paying public the same wedge for a ticket, then they're going to are a drop off in attendances for many games. That's the long and short of it. And I still suspect we'll see some club championships beginning while the counties are still involved in the AI series."
And ending the same time as ever even though county exited senior championships half a year before!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4304 - 18/05/2026 17:14:08    2673965

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Replying To avonali:  "Anybody remember a time when we were repeatedly told on this forum by that due to 'financial doping' and massive advantages that Dublin were going to dominate IC football until the end of time? Not a sign of these prophets around nowadays......"
You've just lost a Leinster final after extra time while decimated by injuries and with your manager suspended. (Not to take away from Westmeath)

I'd be more concerned with the number of Dublin supporters who actually bothered to show up.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5325 - 18/05/2026 17:47:02    2673976

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Replying To Gavvygavgav:  "I understand it's a nightmare. But if the GAA persist on compressing the IC season into a short window, while still charging the paying public the same wedge for a ticket, then they're going to are a drop off in attendances for many games. That's the long and short of it. And I still suspect we'll see some club championships beginning while the counties are still involved in the AI series."
Prices need to be dropped definitely. Connacht GAA were a disgrace with their pricing for the semi-finals. The issue on the calendar is, something has to give and if we want the intercounty season to start and finish later, then it's the club championship season that has to give. We live in a country where he have reasonable weather (give or take) from around April to September. The number of weekends available is limited, especially when it comes to dual counties.
Playing county semi-finals and finals in October and November is generally ok, as only a few pitches are needed and county grounds will still be in decent condition. Trying to start championships at that stage, when there are hundreds of games each weekend would be a real challenge.
I also think it's unfair to have club championships fully shoved into the worst months of the year, weather-wise. Having them start in August has been brilliant for the last few years.
Attendances are actually up overall, from what I've seen. The new rules have a big part to play in that, but even on the hurling side, average attendances have never been higher.
Ironically the biggest drop off compared to a decade ago is from Dublin and Mayo, but there's a much better balance now.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2808 - 18/05/2026 18:32:00    2673986

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