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The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

Cork? Surely to god? Paddypower have paid out on then for Liam already

Sam back for Louth, should win that handy enough so

Get back to me when a D4 team wins it...

Hopefully next July 

They'll likely not. Then again they won't win anything else. Likes of Wicklow/Wexford could take a scalp.

The GAA said that there was no appetite for a third tier from the Counties when consulted last year.
The TC has been and probably will be won by teams in the top half of div 3.
The danger is that div 4 teams will only make a half baked effort as time goes on.

Was great to see Westmeath winning and it meant something to them.
Down and Meath with 12 or 13 Sams between them on the other hand...

Why would the division 4 teams bother fielding at all then if thats the attitude? They've probably more chance of going on a run in the TC than winning a provincial or taking a big scalp an All Ireland series.

As for Down and Meath, their All Ireland winners would be old enough to have children/grandchildren playing for the county by now. They're a long way from being good enough to turn their nose up at any silverware.

Tailteann Cup needs more television exposure. It would be great if there was one live game from the Tailteann Cup and Joe McDonagh shown each week on TG4. Showcase these competitions more and give them the media exposure they deserve. The novelty of this new championship is already starting to fade. Down didn't show huge emotion winning the competition last year and if Kildare were to fall into it this year and win it, I cannot see them being overly excited about winning it either. I would also consider moving the final from a Saturday to a Sunday. Last year, it felt like it was get it played and out of the way so that the focus could go on both All-Ireland semi-finals. By playing it on a Sunday you will definitely up the attendance from both counties at the final itself and allow local media coverage to gain further traction with previews, build up to game extending into the weekend. Little things that can make a big difference to upping the importance placed on the competition.   

Think a few Down and Kildare boys in the past had thought themselves above a second tier competition, they've been in it for a reason. Realistically neither are close to a provincial or All Ireland title at the minute. Totally agree with you about giving the TC more exposure. 

Good GAA Podcast with Conor Gormley. Had quite a career. Niblock needs to let it flow more naturally.. is like he's trying too hard to get soundbites or engender emotive reaction to hype up the podcast.

Indicative of our culture that he had to answer for why he doesn't drink. What a juvenile question.

Is it really?

Should be a decent competition this year, all of the top seeds well capable of winning it, likes of Wicklow and Antrim could go well and will want to build on decent championship performances in their provinces. Wexford obviously had a very good league but ran out of steam by all accounts by the league final, would imagine the few weeks off will do them good.

The 8 teams not dropping down is the big difference. The best 8 that failed to make the last 16. So this year would include Man City, Juve, Atalanta, Milan.

That was daft format, getting knocked out of one competition and dropping into another, imagine if we had the same with the Tailteann Cup?

I for one Liked the Cup winners Cup more than what is in place now with the Europa and conference leagues. No real need of having 8 group matches before the knock out stages but money counts for Uefa.

Agree, it was ridiculous really. It does lower the standard of Europa (and also the Conference too) , but so what.

If Man United and Spurs get to the final I wonder will there ever have been a European Final when both teams are so low down in their domestic league?
If played today it would be 14th v 16th.

You'd imagine that doesn't happen too often. United could be even lower by then if they get there. 

Amazed that bookies have Tyrone favourites.

Their 7 points in the NFL was inflated because they met counties towards the end that weren't overly fussed.

Cavan did a Cavan in the SFC.

It's wouldn't surprise me if Armagh win this with a lot to spare. Tyrone are 1-2 years too early.

How can Tyrone be early? 11 or 12 of the team that played v Dublin to stay up, were on the field when winning the AI final 4 seasons ago.

Something isn't adding up there.

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Imho if Tyrone's first XV are all actually fit and well, then this game will go down to the wire. But as it's been about 3-4 years since a Tyrone player burst onto the scene with any distinction, I just wouldn't trust them to compete with Armagh, if a few men light.

Think we're likely to be a few men light ourselves, Tyrone are obviously strong at midfield and if Crealey isn't back its a massive disadvantage.

All cute hoorism aside it's a 50/50 game.

Tyrone v Armagh then...Bookies have Tyrone slight favourites to win this game and the pundits are bigging up Tyrone saying they're back as contenders but how do they base this on one game v a very poor Cavan team. I know Armagh have had a fair few injuries lately but Armagh destroyed them in league and are All Ireland Champions yet Tyrone are fav's. Do bookies and pundits know more than me?. (TBF most people know more than me...lol) I'm just basing this on facts and results, I think Armagh will beat Tyrone TBH but the mighty Down/Donegal will await (more likely the mighty Donegal).

Not sure what they're judging off. Would expect Canavan to be back for us but even then Armagh are just to physical. Even their second string are bigger, taller, faster, just more athletic in general. Can't see us getting within 7 points of them

we will get cleaned at midfield if we dont get a few back. 

Embarassing dive that

How many clean catches in 40 plus kickouts?

I can't find stats but there were plenty of clean catches by McGurn and Murdock...

Are you saying the 10 yard chip out to an unmarked corner back is more skilful?? How many of those did we used to get?

I'd rather have a scrappy contest for 50/50 ball in midfield than the 10 yard chip!

Sure if you're a neutral. If you're supporting a team there's no way you'd rather 50/50 balls than guaranteed possession? Especially if the opposition is winning the kickouts constantly

If you subscribe to the belief that every time a team has a shot (a wide or a score) then their opponent should be permitted to gain unchallenged possession, then you're correct.

The real question though surrounds why anyone would subscribe to that belief.

It adds more to the game. You can as an opposition choose to press that kick, maybe allow a weaker player get the ball then put pressure on, the skill in getting a man free for a short kick out if the opposition  do press up. Now its just hoof and hope most of the time.

Are you allowed to go back to your keeper of you're in the box? Seems to be what the Fermanagh ones are protesting there. Bad mistake from the ref if that's the case

I think only if the ball is played in by the opposition and the defender catches it in the box?

Nay, I lived here all my life, know the score with people outside of Sinn Fein and Dup voters. Anybody thinking they win a border poll [which i would vote for] living in dreamland. Make a mess of the first one. You wouldn't see another for 20 years.

Anyone using the NHS as a pro Brit argument is completely uneducated. It's the tired lazy line you would have heard for years and obviously at a time it was true, but the nhs is a mess and getting worse.

I think it's going to be closer than you would think. The biggest pro UK argument is the NHS. I can only assume these people haven't been ill in years. The NHS is completely stuffed and anyone with any sense knows this.

The American right seem to be under the illusion that Ireland loves Mcgregor

And also that the role of president is equivalent to what they have. You obviously don't want a coke head like McGregor in the role as a representative but it's not like they have any real power.