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Monaghan GAA thread - 5 Like(s)
Replying To monaghanfootballfan: "Some it feels like they have a bad game and are like na not fighting for my place again. they definitely got a chance. sean jones, loughran walked after a bad game, same with wilson irwin etc. you do wonder is it attitude or management. heard of a similar situation at kilmacud.
see what happens, couple that with excessive injuries raises concerns about management. don't get me wrong, bannigan and con are doing a great job." Its funny. The mainstream sports media who just patronise monaghan with the usual punch above our weight comments continually go on about how the county maxs out every year and gets everything out of itself when the truth is v different. Some of the most talented players in the county mulligan jones by all accounts lack the temperment and dedication for inter county football . Think bannigan places great store on that and hes right. Garland is a great example been in or around the panel since 2018 only becoming a regular last few years but a great attitude to the cause. Think we are jinked as well when it comes to big men. Niall Kearns retired early. Gary Mohan only properly fit for two years cant get fit last few years. Conor Leonard over before started with injuries. Barry Mcbennett one good year then gone. Mcphilips gone travelling but doesn't appear to be rated by management never got a look in last summer so hell be in no rush back. Mccaul a real pedigree footballer cursed by career threatening injuries not even 21. Gallagher and mccarville have been the real unsung heroes this year and one of them isnt really a proper midfielder.
seanie08 (National) - 03/06/2026 16:37:56
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 3 Like(s)
Replying To omahant: "Does my format above on this page balance things out?" You've come with so many different formats our heads are fried. Keep your equations for the class room.
Saynothing (National) - 03/06/2026 17:37:28
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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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Ger Brennan - 2 Like(s)
fair play to Ger, he complied 100% with the disproportionate penalty imposed on him.
Good guy, I wish him well on Sunday.
suckvalleypaddy (National) - 03/06/2026 16:28:30
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Donegal GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To eddieSize5Balls: "Playing well in what's basically a friendly tournament isn't the same as playing for your county." Clearly you've never been at the gaeltacht games if u think they are friendlies
greenfan (National) - 03/06/2026 17:52:10
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Ger Brennan - 2 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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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To hlynch12: "Kerry back as All Ireland favourites at 5/2. Have put 1200 on them to win it out. Investing all my winning from Arsenal winning Premier League." 1200 buttons.
GreenandRed (National) - 03/06/2026 14:28:13
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Two-Group Leinster SHC - 2 Like(s)
Tadhg, here is what you wrote.
"Now they are all excuses not reasons. There is no justifiable excuse for an attendance of 4000 at a senior leinster championship match in Wexford Town. None whatsoever. The town has a population of 22k and the county has a population of 164k so geography has absolutely nothing to do with it. There should have been 10k wexford diehards there alone. Sure season ticket holders should cover the 4k or close to it.
Maybe, just maybe, its because everyone in wexford knew that they were safe from the drop due to the insurance policy?
I wonder if Wexford were in genuine jeopardy of dropping our of the Leinster Championship what kind of a crowd would have shown up? I would bet that it would be a lot more than 4k. Thats more embarrassing than the performances tbh.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 525 - 28/05/2026 15:39:24 2676307"
So that's not a lecture? It sounds like my old principal in school lecturing me.
There was a "justifiable excuse" - Wexford were out and the match did not matter.
How was there a "justifiable excuse" for 15k from Limerick, Cork, Clare and Wexford in a match where the winners were in to an All-Ireland quarter final, if they are this great army of loyal supporters you seem to think you have? They didn't care too much 10 years ago when you were a bang average side, did they?
StoreysTash (National) - 03/06/2026 14:35:10
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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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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" Most appropriately named poster anyway
Claretandblue (National) - 03/06/2026 14:53:49
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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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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Gaa_lover: "Group regardless of strength of opposition was filled with non jeopardy games. Was it last year or two years ago that Galway played Armagh in round 3 and it was a total dead rubber for Armagh?
Objective of the groups was finishing 3rd at least to reach the knock out stages and Galway was always going to do that with Westmeath and winless Derry in the group." You might say 'non jeopardy' sitting in your ivory tower, but teams will still typically have to empty more tank to chisel results against div1 calibre outfits. That might not be the ideal physical preparation for a qfinal.
Pope_Benedict (National) - 03/06/2026 15:10:56
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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Gaa_lover: "Group regardless of strength of opposition was filled with non jeopardy games. Was it last year or two years ago that Galway played Armagh in round 3 and it was a total dead rubber for Armagh?
Objective of the groups was finishing 3rd at least to reach the knock out stages and Galway was always going to do that with Westmeath and winless Derry in the group." No it wasn't. The objective of the group stage was to win the group, and not have to face in to 3 games in 3 weeks, which ended up catching up with Galway in both 2024 and 2025. Galway's task in that regard each year was made much harder than the other provincial winners, primarily by the presence of the ulster runners up (Armagh) instead of the likes of Louth (Leinster runners up) or Clare (Munster)
You hardly think teams were setting out to just finish 3rd?
PressureKick (National) - 03/06/2026 17:12:45
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Hurling Review Public Survey - 2 Like(s)
I see the Hurling Advisory Committee launched their public survey yesterday:
https://www.gaa.ie/article/hurling-review-public-survey
An opportunity for all who know all hurling's problems to point them out and tell the people who matter what they should do to fix them :)
Pikeman96 (National) - 03/06/2026 16:31:11
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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Gaa_lover: "No might about it they were non jeopardy games. My point on what was required to reach the knock out stages is accurate so drop the attitude with your ivory tower remark." You still empty more tank to get results against quality teams. You could be better off playing high 'jeopardy' low quality nondiv1 sides, than low 'jeopardy' high quality encounters. But it seems to be all about 'jeopardy' to you. Galway lost their first 'no jeopardy' match to Dublin by a late point in 2025, then were well behind in their second 'no jeopardy' match in Derry. The jeopardy of these two 'no jeopardy' encounters being that if Galway hadn't recovered to draw in Derry, they were out of the championship, ironically enough regardless of the result of their third 'no jeopardy' match against the then reigning allireland champions.
Pope_Benedict (National) - 03/06/2026 16:45:40
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Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Gaa_lover: "You're welcome. If I've taken you away from your frequent posting on the Leitrim thread then I apologise." Your a hundred percent right. I won't let buckeens from Leitrim denigrate the Ros. It's taken a while but they are showing respect now. Strange stuff from them. Thinking they've a more beautiful wife at home. Thanks again.
moros (National) - 03/06/2026 22:31:34
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To S1234: "Mayo have bottled AI's but a but a bit rich coming from a Louth one..." That's right we haven't just gone as long as Mayo have since last tasting Sam and I doubt any team let alone Louth would have bottled as many a position, anyway only sayin...
francie81 (National) - 03/06/2026 23:15:50
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Mayo GAA Thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To tirawleybaron: "Callinan, McBrien, Colm Reape, Jack Coyne recalled after 2 years out, Fenton Kelly, Donnacha McHugh - just 4 of the current 6 backs" Reape and Kelly aren't starting now. The other 4 were all introduced by Horan and in the case of mcbrien would have played a lot more if not for injuries.
MayoDan (National) - 04/06/2026 10:10:06
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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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Westmeath Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To 2maroonjerseys: "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.
If you get the basics right first off and correct to start with you make hurling easier for kids to play as the get introduced to competition lets say from u10 go games. Make it skills based under6 and under 8.
As for playing both codes to improve both and round them out as better players, in all my time on this planet I've yet to meet a dual Kilkenny player.
Dual inter county players are a thing of the past.
If you want to improve hurling you have to go at it full throttle it's more hurling, coaching the younger the better. More training sessions and games, otherwise we will be here going back and forth in twenty years time arguing over the same problems." If you want to follow the Kilkenny template you will find they have a written policy of actively promoting participation in a range of other sports into their late teens in order to improve their hurling.
Specialisation in one sport in early teens is an out dated concept.
Maroooned (National) - 03/06/2026 23:35:33
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