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It's a whole load of games to whittle the number of teams down from 16 to 12. And when the draw is made you will be able to predict the 4 teams who will be eliminated with a fair degree of certainty. The main interest will centre around which teams top their groups. 

That's true, because after last year, we all now realise what an advantage finishing top appears to be.

I said last year, if additional jeopardy is needed, we could have the four group winners and the best 2nd place team all progress directly to the quarters. The third place team with the worst record would be eliminated - that should mean little or no dead rubbers.

I'd also tweak it by giving the provincial winners and the 4 top league places (who weren't provincial winners) two home games and get rid of the neutral ground game - this would provide better incentives for provincial winners and league placings. It would also boost attendances as the neutral games last year were very poorly attended iirc.

But this scheme basically advantages Dublin and Kerry, if they didn't have enough advantages.

Everything the GAA do has Dublin and Kerry in its thinking. They wouldn't do it if it didn't give either an advantage.

A handful of Down supporters in the Gerry Arthur stand let themselves down to the point more sensible Down supporters intervened to tell them to wise up.

Middle aged men and women being extremely provocative with personal insults to Armagh players and supporters.  They should know better.

There are idiots everywhere unfortunately. No place for that nonsense. Drunk or sober.

I wasn't at clones this year. But I saw enough last year never to bring a young family there again. The time has no factor. Alot of people go for the booze. They ain't there to see football. That's a part of the bug drop in attendance from last year. Over 10k diff.

Is that Top 4 secure for Liverpool now after Spurs losing?

It looks like it. Unless Spurs win their 5 remaining games by a 20 goal difference and Liverpool lose their 3 remaining games

Stranger things have happened....

considering one of those 5 is Man City it would have to be very very strange

It's gone from winning the quadruple to worrying about finishing top 4.  

Some people expect miracles from Day 1. The fact is Down are coming from such a low ebb its going to take 5 years minimum. We can't be compared to Derry, thry had better players and a quite a bit of underage success minor finals winning minor all irelands. Not just one strong club but a few. We don't seem to have the natural forwards we once had either, so there's a lot of work to do. The Tailteann won't be easy, teams like Fermanagh, Kildare, Antrim, sligo,Offaly, we will need to win all thr group games to be guaranteed the home QF. After that it's anyone's.

I've been going to Down matches since the 80s and yesterday was nothing short of dreadful.

We were 2 points up with approx 15 mins to go v Armagh in an Ulster semi final and my main concern was, I hope this doesn't go to extra time.

If playing like that is what it takes to be competitive, it's not a price worth paying as far as I'm concerned, and judging by the size of the crowd, I'm not alone. Would there have been 2000 Down supporters in Clones yesterday?

I recognise that plenty will take positives from yesterday's performance and to a degree, I can see where they are coming from. Laverty done nothing wrong yesterday, he broke no rules as such but mother of God, the powers that be must take action sooner rather than later because as a spectacle that game yesterday is unacceptable.

And I don't think I'm looking through rose tinted glasses about games from previous era's, plenty of them were poor too. I know Jarlath Burns has put together an impressive looking task force to deal with the predicament football finds itself in, and I'm sure they can use yesterday's game as an indicator of what drastic measures are needed to cure our game.

Down are not alone either, a lot of counties employ similar tactics, at times we have played excellently under Laverty, Cavan away last year in the Tailtain cup was a great performance. But  I really do hope there are rule changes made to avoid what happened yesterday repeated. And even if we won yesterday, I'm sure I would be saying the same thing.

Do Down have the players to go toe to toe with Armagh? Should the ball be kicked aimlessly up the pitch to come straight back at you?  Down needed to sort out their defence and it looks like they are getting there. The forwards will hopefully improve

You can only play with what you have. Down don't have the players so frustrating Armagh was the plan. It nearly worked.

Bringing the young lad over on sat for his 1st game. I hope for his sake they show up and win. The leagues done they need to get players fit for the Cup final. 

It would be a massive result to beat them on Saturday night. But it's highly unlikely. They've played at a higher level for a few years now. But to look at the task ahead of Laverty you just need to look at the job McGeeney has had to do in Armagh. He was 5 years in thr job before he got a win in Ulster. They've jad no underage success to build from yet he has them now competitive with anyone on the island. Are thry contenders for an All Irealnd? Probably not, but I know we would love to be as competitive as they are in a couple of years time.  I laugh when I hear some Armagh people calling for mcgeeney to go. Be careful what you wish for. 

So whats the chances this weekend? Anyone giving us a punchers chance?

I see the game isn't being televised? On BBc or Rte?
Has this every happened for a Ulster semi final before, why would all games including prelim be on and not the Semi final?

Is it expected to be 1 sided and not worth the viewing?

GAAGO are showing it

Where would you pick up the game in Belfast City Centre?

Nancy Mulligan's, Castle Street will have it.

Thanks!

Is that place not a total dive ?

Can't be worse than the hill in clones with the buckfast brigade.
I'm out of the country at weekend so I will miss the game. But after last year's experience of clones I'd question whether I'd go anyway.

When it's Tailteann Cup time. They will give it very little coverage. Lump a few games I to a 3 min clip and tgn not bother to do any analysis of those games. It's a show for the top counties the rest can just F off.

The Sunday games been dreadful for years. I record it and fast forward through what I've already seen and the teeeible pundits.  They do need 2 shows. Prob 1 on rte1 and the other on rte2.

United only lost by 2-1 in last years final. It's a one off game and maybe some of their players who have been jogging around the pitch for the last 9 months might decide to put in a shift. It is the chance to win a FA Cup winners medal after all. There is still some value to it.

The bad news for Utd is City are out of the Champions League. Those 3 games of distraction would have been a help.

There is value as winning the FA Cup will likely be needed to reach the Europa league instead of the conference league.

Last year was a United team that finished 3rd in the Premier League with a lot less injuries and had already won a cup final.

Going into this upcoming final with a back line like today with Maguire, Casemiro at centre back and no natural left back then City will score for fun.

As for today no other top eight team in the Premier League would be 3-0 up against Coventry with 70 minutes played and then need a shoot out to progress that's as much on that group of players than anything else.

Today's collapse is on thr manager.
He isn't up to the task. Same man lost a CL SF at Ajax being 3 up against Spurs. That should've been enough to steer clear. If by chance utd win the cup ten hag will still be gone.

There is no stay of execution for ten hag. He will be gone after thr cup final like LVG. Even if utd do win it. Ratcliffe expression at 3-2 said it all. How bad are Liverpool, played that united team 3 times this season and couldn't beat them.

Good scheduling today, Tyrone v Cavan and Mayo v Roscommon on at the same time??

Once the Munster Hurling basketball championship starts football takes a back seat.