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Ger Brennan - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Kew: "Why is the media so worked up over this?? Has anything any knowledge of why ger Brennan went for the ear piece?" I don't think there's enough being made of it, to be honest. I think the fact that Brennan is the Dublin manager results in him getting less sympathy from most.
There are a number of issues at play here, which don't sit right with me.
Ger was out of order with what he did on the day. He acknowledged it, apologised immediately and also shook hands with Cian, who was also wrong in getting involved initially and has accepted that.
The punishment is way too severe for an incident like that. The person he tackled wasn't a player and shouldn't have been on the pitch either. A Kerry club selector got only 8 weeks a few years ago for punching an East Kerry player in a county semi-final. The player in question wasn't even involved in the melee.
Comparing it to what happened in Killarney then, McGuinness's offence was also pretty minor, but he did interfere with a player. The incidents are very comparable, despite the comments from Jarlath Burns. I have a lot of time for Jarlath, but he unnecessarily aggravated the situation with his comments.
It's a cop out to say it was dealt with on the day. Either the GAA is serious about stamping out these issues or they're not. They've made a severe example of Brennan, but decided not to bother in the case of another similar incident.
This carry-on absolutely needs to be stamped out, but a flat 12 week ban is excessive. There needs to be a scale of punishment, depending on the severity of the incident.
WanPintWin (National) - 04/06/2026 12:30:48
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Galway Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To GDL: "You do realise you are responding to Clare from MFT, formally know as the Mayo Blog." Ná h-abair! Jim is a dyed in the wool Donegal supporter as can be seen from his regular posts on all things Donegal in the corresponding thread. Wait, actually......
WanPintWin (National) - 04/06/2026 12:12:12
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Dublin GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Typical Jarlath Burns and the GAA playing hard ball in public but "soft chatting" the Dubs by playing their game with Cavan on Sunday when Brennan's ban expires instead of on the Saturday when the ban would have still been in place. Sure it's only Cavan no one will mind.
offtheditch (National) - 04/06/2026 11:52:36
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Monaghan GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Terrible but not unexpected news on Bobby McCaul this morning. So agonizing for the young lad, his family and his comrades in Aughnamullen club also. All we can do is wish Bobby a speedy recovery and hope tp see see him in the not too distant future wearing the Aughnamullen and Monaghan jerseys again.
ORIELMAN85 (National) - 04/06/2026 13:48:34
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Westmeath Hurling thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Loughlenegale: "You're trying to hold a few positions here that don't really align.
On one hand, you're saying we should narrow focus early and concentrate on the kids who really want to hurl. But at the same time, you're highlighting that numbers are already an issue. Narrowing the base earlier will only make that worse, not better.
You say you're not forcing kids to choose between codes but then suggest that at development squad level they should pick one. In reality, that is forcing a pathway choice, even if it's not at club level.
So we're not back to square one at all. If hurling's future depends solely on traditional hurling families, then the game is already limiting its own growth. The challenge is developing players from non-hurling backgrounds, not accepting they can't reach the same level.
Kids don't improve by avoiding competition; they improve by playing. Skills are important, but games teach decision-making, awareness and confidence in a way drills never will so a blended approach works.
And asking players to choose at U14 is a solution to an administrative problem, not a development one. Some of the best players in the country thrived because they played both codes for longer, not because they specialised earlier.
As for the seniors, patience matters, but patience without progress is just waiting. Nobody expects overnight success, but it's fair to expect clear improvement, accountability and higher standards along the way." Good. At least this echo chamber is getting a few echoes back. On the short term front, near every genuine Westmeath man, woman, child wants to see success in all GAA codes. Cusack park being filled to the rafters for the first time in decades by the footballers was a result of McHugh bringing the football team to unprecedented levels of success. Kudos to him for that. Football in the county looks in rude health. I hope a Westmeath hurling team will one day be able to lift the Bob O'Keefe trophy as the footballers did the Delaney cup.
Expecting a Joe Mc in year one after the recent loss of talent and experience that we had is a bit much. I imagine you're not going to see any of those lads coming back either. It took a lot to coax Heslin back in from retirement for the footballers. The lads that lined out for the hurlers this year were the fellahs who were willing to put their shoulder to the wheel and should be commended for their efforts. The lads who've moved on felt they had given enough and like Heslin that's their decision. If they decide to come back next year and are ready to commit again then by all means I hope they do. The county board should review the year, hold people accountable if necessary, but I have seen far worse efforts put in by Westmeath hurling teams in recent memory than the current outfit.
The numbers game is important. You yourself admit we need non-hurling people to come into the tent and not the same few hurling dynasties in the county providing pretenders to the throne. Non-hurling people like proximity. Having a hurling club within 10-15 minutes of your family's house is sadly a big consideration that busy young families will make when sending little Mickey, Jimmy or Johnny up to a field for training in any code. You want young lads to develop those key hurling skills early on well getting them out to a field 3 nights a week is a lot easier on non-hurling people's time and diesel when it's 10-15 minutes down the road rather than 30-40 minutes down the road.
You are completely right about hurling development needing to be fostered at a young age. The problem with hurling compared to football is those technical abilities, the fine motor skills of holding and gripping a hurl properly and developing the hand eye coordination to strike a ball, need to begin by age 4 or 5 to have much hope of making a young lad into a competent hurler capable of one day possibly lining out at senior intercounty level.
Strength and conditioning, centres of excellence and all that are all to some extent rendered irrelevant by the above facts, for hurling at least. A tall athletic 12 year old can be turned into a pretty solid footballer with a few months of training. A tall athletic 12 year whose handed a hurl by comparison and given a few months of hurling coaching may as well be out cutting thristles in a field. Barring serious dedication, commitment and or natural talent from that 12 year old individual, it's a near certainty they'll never even make a mediocre adult club hurler.
I understand your logic of saying that it's the ones that want to hurl that will become hurlers. It's way more likely a figure from a Westmeath hurling family will of course nurture and develop a lad with all the necessary skills. However, we have to try and bring some non-hurling people along for the ride. Westmeath are always going to lack serious depth in hurling playing numbers. That's a reality. But, we're shooting ourselves in the foot by not trying to maximise the numbers playing the game at underage whether they're from the North, South, East or West of the county. Like Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh famously said of Seán Óg O hAilpín, "His father's from Fermanagh. His mother's from Fiji. Neither's a hurling stronghold." It shouldn't matter a jot where a lads from in the county. We should be encouraging young lads to hurl.
RadioactiveTan (National) - 03/06/2026 21:12:32
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Louth GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Not impressed with the Inniskeen decision.
We lose to Armagh, potentially get another big home game, they will pick Inniskeen again and thousands of supporters locked out of watching it again.
Potentially 2 huge home games for Louth, and not many getting to see it in action .
Whatever about Croke park, even Newry with 20K attendance would have freed up more tickets for people to get a chance to get one.
louthman57 (National) - 04/06/2026 11:52:49
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Monaghan GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To ORIELMAN85: "McNulty...travelling.
Loughran... not good enough, missed his best years.
Wilson...not good enough.
Irwin...not good enough.
Mohan...injured.
McPhillips...had surgery, not very interested either.
Jones..not committed or interested.
Mulligan...not interested.
Lennon...not interested.
Leonard...injuries and travelling.
Also it takes a different animal to be a County footballer rather than being a good club player.
At least 4 of those lads were not interested in putting their social lives and girlfriends on hold. They are all lads with jobs or studies and it is quite understandable that the sacrifices of county football is not for everyone. It's not like they are walking away from a money making career." A lot of those lads are not at the level required to play for a div 1 team. Its easy saying this and that should be on the panel but it doesn't cut it.
I am sure if we were slumming it out at the bottom of div 3 and div 4 all those lads would be knocking on the door. Also a few of those lads had discipline issues and left the panel when their county needed them the most.
Gabriel is just right to go with the committed and hardworking lads as they will give it all on the field and be disciplined off it. Also he is blooding numerous young lads too and these young lads should be given priority over the tested, failed and walkouts from before.
monaghanmad (National) - 04/06/2026 11:19:43
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Ger Brennan - 2 Like(s)
In light of all the other things that have happened this year Ger Brennan was very harshly treated . Always came across as a good sort , brought Louth to the promised land of winning a Leinster after nearly 70 years which would entitle him to having a statue built in his name hugely promoting GAA in The wee county , give the man a break .
OpenStand (National) - 04/06/2026 12:52:00
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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
A lot of stupid comments and re writing of history.
Jeopardy jeopardy jeopardy one analyst said it then they all said the same rubbish every week. The gaa analysts must be the laziest of all time.
There was a clear advantage from topping the group. It caught up with us each year in terms of injury, We had lads on 1 leg in the final 2 years ago.
The group games were amazing over the last few years and that was before the new rules.
So many games to lose 4 teams..... so what..... do you not like football?????
Same rubbish now being spouted about the provincials, never mind that we had 3 fantastic provincial finals this year with great crowds, great games and amazing scenes ........that doesn't fit the narrative.
Some people are not happy if they don't have something to complain about.
Fitzy Abú!!
Mayonman (National) - 04/06/2026 10:01:30
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To sourmilk93: "Its pathetic really, the whole thing is made up as they go along.
The earlier draw was done way to early to give counties "time to prepare logistically" giving an unfair advantage to teams not in provincial finals.
Yet the second round draw is done on a Tuesday( I have heard the argument why) i don't agree but can stomach it but no dates or times announced over 24 hours later.
The rules state first team out gets home advantage, Louth should be playing in Ardee if that's where they chose to play. Can pick and chose as we make our way through the year.
All games at this stage should be neutral imo anyway" Also meant to say in relation to this one - the Rule Book also states this as regards "home" venues:
Home Venues for all Senior Inter County Championship games shall be subject to approval by the Central Competitions Control Committee and shall meet the criteria set down by the National Facilities/Health and Safety Committee.
If a county (e.g. Louth) can't provide a home venue that earns that approval and meets those criteria, then they don't get home advantage after all. Nobody's making anything up as they go along. It's as set out in the Rule Book that you appear to have glanced at but not read properly.
As for your view that all games at this stage should be at neutral venues - also set out in the Rule Book that they're to be on a home & away basis. If you disagree with that Rule, well then, there's a process open to you to seek to change it - assuming you're actually a member of the Association, and not just a footballer on the ditch.
Pikeman96 (National) - 04/06/2026 09:35:15
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Ger Brennan - 2 Like(s)
Lads you can't have a manager acting like ger Brennan. You wouldn't see the Ireland soccer manager dragging someone to the ground from behind and messing with his ear. They are lucky no one was sued.
Kew (National) - 04/06/2026 14:02:57
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To offtheditch: "A ban is a ban, no point the GAA and Jarleth Burns pontificating about the minutia detail of the letter of the GAA rule books and how they need to be applied and respected when they on the other hand engineer around them to lessen the affect when it suits.
For what it's worth I believe Brennan was wrong but was dealt with harshly, as a young manager he let himself down, nobody else controlled what he did. Typical GAA application of rules that don't appear to be applied evenly. There always appears to be a technical reason that Burn's can wheel out to justify any point he has.
The rule book appears to allow for a lot of scenarios whereby "if you tell me what you want to prove, I'll prove it" applies. Hence why a lot of counties appear to be able to challenge bans, suspensions along with governance issues as and when they arise from club level up.
Anyway rant over and hopefully Cavan V's Dublin is a cracker." A ban is a ban and he's served 3 months. What's your issue? Brennan already admitted he was wrong. He said it on the day and apologised. 3 months for what he did is ridiculous. We've had selectors punch players, knocking them to the ground and only get 8 weeks.
You wanted the game to be scheduled on Saturday, just so he could miss another game. If you genuinely think he was dealt with harshly, you wouldn't think him missing another game was fair.
WanPintWin (National) - 04/06/2026 13:58:04
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Galway Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "You try to be nice ... :-)" If only we could all live in optimistic bliss like Kaiser. He seems to have the ability to wipe all previous failings from his mind instantly. The Jim Gavin mantra of forgetting the last mistake and focusing on the next ball.
It'd be a nice trait to have as a Galway supporter.
WanPintWin (National) - 04/06/2026 13:40:10
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To WanPintWin: "Given the existing punishment Brennan got, it's the least they could have done. He was made an example of and has missed all of the championship to-date. You think he should miss more football?" A ban is a ban, no point the GAA and Jarleth Burns pontificating about the minutia detail of the letter of the GAA rule books and how they need to be applied and respected when they on the other hand engineer around them to lessen the affect when it suits.
For what it's worth I believe Brennan was wrong but was dealt with harshly, as a young manager he let himself down, nobody else controlled what he did. Typical GAA application of rules that don't appear to be applied evenly. There always appears to be a technical reason that Burn's can wheel out to justify any point he has.
The rule book appears to allow for a lot of scenarios whereby "if you tell me what you want to prove, I'll prove it" applies. Hence why a lot of counties appear to be able to challenge bans, suspensions along with governance issues as and when they arise from club level up.
Anyway rant over and hopefully Cavan V's Dublin is a cracker.
offtheditch (National) - 04/06/2026 13:36:21
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Louth GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Playing in such a small venue as Iniskeen may be good for the Louth Team but a huge own goal in terms of the thousands who have zero chance of getting a ticket . Louth could easily bring 15,000 and Armagh 25,000 giving a 40k crowd . As previous poster said 20k in newry would have given people a sporting chance of getting a ticket and Newry is very close to Dundalk & North Louth in particular and would have been a raucous athmosphere .
OpenStand (National) - 04/06/2026 12:47:56
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 1 Like(s)
Replying To systematic: "I like the idea of provincial winners getting home advantage but can't guarantee it in round 2 as I wouldn't want to restrict that draw so much, as provincial winners have to be able to draw each other. For example if this year Roscommon, Galway, Kerry, and Cork had all won R1 then with R2 split, and Roscommon & Kerry guaranteed home, the only valid draw is Kerry v Galway and Roscommon v Cork. That would not be a good scenario for the draw to suddenly not matter." Within the current system provincial winners would be in with the other round one winners for the second round draw so probably shouldn't be seeded in that draw. Winning is the seeding.
Im not entirely in favour of the luck of the draw ( home advantage) concept for such an important competition, but if you keep winning its not much of an issue. As 2 wins gets you to CP if im correct? And you are at home for the first one.
Tadhg2020 (National) - 04/06/2026 13:59:44
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Limerick Senior Hurling 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Ya I'd agree that looks most likely starting team..it's tough on whoever misses out but the bench will be huge on Sunday..
CTGAA10 (National) - 04/06/2026 12:36:55
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To offtheditch: "Typical Jarlath Burns and the GAA playing hard ball in public but "soft chatting" the Dubs by playing their game with Cavan on Sunday when Brennan's ban expires instead of on the Saturday when the ban would have still been in place. Sure it's only Cavan no one will mind." Given the existing punishment Brennan got, it's the least they could have done. He was made an example of and has missed all of the championship to-date. You think he should miss more football?
WanPintWin (National) - 04/06/2026 12:34:49
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Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Gaa_lover: "Hard way?
2025
Just needed to beat winless Derry to reach the knock out stages. ThenDrew Down to reach the All-Ireland Quarter-final.
2024 and 2023 just needed to beat Westmeath to reach the knock out stages. Drew Monaghan at home to reach the quarter-finals. 2023 drew Mayo at home to reach the Quarter final and lost Mayo who were far from great as seen in their quarter final performance." I'm glad someone else responded to you, but to set the record straight:
2023:
Best Tyrone, beat westmeath, lost to armagh injury time. Ironically armagh lost to Tyrone too! Then after finishing second, we drew the hardest 3rd place team.
2024: beat Derry, beat westmeath, drew with armagh after being 8 points up, again in injury time. Finish second on points difference which even you will have to admit is infuriating. In the prelim, we could have drawn Roscommon, Monaghan, or Cork, so no real difference in quality there. In QF we draw the 2023 champions, clearly the hardest draw.
We didn't go out of our way to target the easiest game like you seem to think.
systematic (National) - 03/06/2026 20:28:37
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Tadhg2020: "Thats a very narrow and cynical way of both mine and legends perspective on the system.
I want a seeded system that recognises provincial championship success/progression plus recognition of league performance but capped at 16 teams one of which is the previous year's TC winner. I proposed seeding provincial winners 1, runners up 2, top 4 from league 3 and next 4/TC winners 4. I dont distinguish between provinces because under the current system they are treated equally and rightly so. Thats my point of view. I base it both on tradition and standing of the competitions in the season. The provincial championship is more prestigious and placed more centrally in the season accordingly. The league is early season and the All Ireland the final part. We work up to the all ireland not down. Teams use the league to build for the championship. Only this season on the Roscommon thread supporters were valuing a Connacht Championship win over pursuing a Division 1 league opportunity and they were in a position to pursue it. I absolutely believe that any new system must preserve the status of provincial championships and their link to the AI series. Otherwise they are dead and a slightly more prestigious version of the McGrath Cup and its equals.
Legends position, as I see it anyway, changes regularly. He was looking to break the link completely at one stage and was one of the first and strongest proponents of the straw man " let them stand on their merits" argument. He has moved away from that somewhat and now recognises that the provincial championships are an integral part of our system.
USA one is a stand alone complicated idea that I haven't really engaged with so wont comment any further.
Everyone else's as you put it simply isnt true. Some feel very strongly that the AI series should be 16 teams ranked only on league performance and dont care that it will destroy the provincial championships. They even claim that its already happening using big teams losses as proof without any evidence to support their claim only theoretical ideology.
Others want to retain the link but in a very complicated and diluted manner which largely amounts to the same thing. Playing the championship at the same time etc.
However, regardless of where you stand im very confident on this. Any reform that is proposed that is rooted solely or primarily in making life harder for the munster teams is flawed and therefore should be dismissed immediately. It is illogical to reform on the back of prejudice and shouldn't be entertained. Life is full of anomolies but we dont allow those anomolies to take centre stage in how we function and live our lives. It shouldn't happen in sport either.
Id also like to finish on this. If seeding was on league alone ( at end of league as per current seeding system) Kerry would still be in pot 1 and Cork in pot 2. Westmeath would be in pot 4 though." Donegal lost their first championship game, their next fixture had them entering the all Ireland at the same time as Provincial champions.
The link between Provincials and All Ireland is definitely way diluted already. That's pretty much objective fact that you refuse to acknowledge.
Whammo86 (National) - 04/06/2026 14:23:49
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