All Ireland Final Armagh v Galway 28 July 2024

[dec]

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while

The D1 teams are the top 8 in the betting for next year

[square_ball]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with your last line though counties will now see it as not being the end of the world if they are relegated to division 2. As you said it gives counties the chance to work on things throughout the league knowing they are likely to win most games.

[Armamike]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with your last line though counties will now see it as not being the end of the world if they are relegated to division 2. As you said it gives counties the chance to work on things throughout the league knowing they are likely to win most games.

Can see the logic  in all of that.  Yet the other argument throughout the year was that a division 2 side might struggle in the championship against teams playing at the higher level.

[statto]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with what your saying.  The decision to play Glen boys in a league game after the AI club final against limerick looks even more baffling in hindsight. 

[bennydorano]

I can't help thinking about the little things, Ciaran Mackin's injury giving Niall Grimley the chance he took with both hands, Mackin has a totally different style to Grimley, if that injury didn't happen I'm not sure we win the AI to be perfectly honest, but sure if my auntie had balls... and whatnot (in no way is it a dig at Mackin btw).

[Milltown Row2]

We closing this thread now? I'm bored 

[thewobbler]

I can't help thinking about the little things, Ciaran Mackin's injury giving Niall Grimley the chance he took with both hands, Mackin has a totally different style to Grimley, if that injury didn't happen I'm not sure we win the AI to be perfectly honest, but sure if my auntie had balls... and whatnot (in no way is it a dig at Mackin btw).

Some parallels with Down in 1891 there. Liam Austin took a knock in round 1 and Barry Breen moved to midfield. It's doubtful Pete would ever have made that change apart from out of necessity. And without in any way digging at Austin - a fabulous servant to Down football - I doubt Down would have won the AI without that change.

Similarly, Colm O'Rourke not being fit for 70 minutes in the final was possibly as much of a game changer that day as anything that happened on the field. Armagh got it likewise this year with Galway's walking wounded.

Small margins at the highest level.

[Orior]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

And we still haven't won a penalty kick shoot-out.

[Armagh18]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

And we still haven't won a penalty kick shoot-out.

Did I see somewhere that they're discussing scrapping them?

[GTP]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with what your saying.  The decision to play Glen boys in a league game after the AI club final against limerick looks even more baffling in hindsight. 

Derry defeated Limerick by 0-16 to 0-4 in Round 1 of the Allianz Football League Division 2 on Saturday January 28th 2023 at Owenbeg. Glass and Doherty played 50 and 53 minutes. Derry went on to win an Ulster Championship and come the closest they have to reaching an All Ireland final in years. Whatever relevance it had at the time I can't see what it has to do with this year's All-Ireland.
Well done Armagh enjoy the celebrations and acclaim.

[Blowitupref]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Debatable who's the best 8 as isn't a whole lot between the bottom 2 or 3 in Div 1 and 1,2,3rd in Div 2.  Won't be any big shock if say Monaghan was to reach the last four of the championship in 2025 although they are probably going through a transition phase at the moment.

[statto]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with what your saying.  The decision to play Glen boys in a league game after the AI club final against limerick looks even more baffling in hindsight. 

Derry defeated Limerick by 0-16 to 0-4 in Round 1 of the Allianz Football League Division 2 on Saturday January 28th 2023 at Owenbeg. Glass and Doherty played 50 and 53 minutes. Derry went on to win an Ulster Championship and come the closest they have to reaching an All Ireland final in years. Whatever relevance it had at the time I can't see what it has to do with this year's All-Ireland.
Well done Armagh enjoy the celebrations and acclaim.

Mario had referenced that being in Division 2 was helpful for Armagh as they were able to blood players which they may not have done had they been in Division 1.  The top 2 in Division 2 were well ahead of the pack the last two years and Division two gave Armagh opportunity to blood players like McGrane and Conaty while Derry went for a different approach continually using the same players which was detrimental to improving their squad in the longer term/having a number of key players continually on the go with no rest. 

[GTP]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Agree with what your saying.  The decision to play Glen boys in a league game after the AI club final against limerick looks even more baffling in hindsight. 

Derry defeated Limerick by 0-16 to 0-4 in Round 1 of the Allianz Football League Division 2 on Saturday January 28th 2023 at Owenbeg. Glass and Doherty played 50 and 53 minutes. Derry went on to win an Ulster Championship and come the closest they have to reaching an All Ireland final in years. Whatever relevance it had at the time I can't see what it has to do with this year's All-Ireland.
Well done Armagh enjoy the celebrations and acclaim.

Mario had referenced that being in Division 2 was helpful for Armagh as they were able to blood players which they may not have done had they been in Division 1.  The top 2 in Division 2 were well ahead of the pack the last two years and Division two gave Armagh opportunity to blood players like McGrane and Conaty while Derry went for a different approach continually using the same players which was detrimental to improving their squad in the longer term/having a number of key players continually on the go with no rest. 

OK. Armagh's strong panel helped them win All Ireland having developed it in Division 2. Derry's shallower pool was not developed in Division 2 so hindered them.

[Mario]

Armagh hadn't won a semi final previously and came out of Division 2. Maybe relegation last year was a blessing in disguise. 

There is definitely something to be said for going into Division 2 if you are a top 8 team. You aren't giving the top teams the opportunity to drill into your game plan, the games are easier so you can give lads game time and build the squad without fear of losing. Good for building momentum going into championship as well.

2022 had two semi finalists from D2 in Galway and Derry
2023 Derry and Dublin
2024 Armagh and Donegal

I'll be shocked if the same thing happens next year though as I think the best 8 teams in the country are in D1 for the first time in a while.

Debatable who's the best 8 as isn't a whole lot between the bottom 2 or 3 in Div 1 and 1,2,3rd in Div 2.  Won't be any big shock if say Monaghan was to reach the last four of the championship in 2025 although they are probably going through a transition phase at the moment.

It would a shock to me. Monaghan won 2 games all year (one v Meath) and shipped a fair few hammerings. Id be amazed if they got to the last 4 next year.

According to championship odds the worst 3 in D1 next year are Derry, Mayo and Tyrone. Roscommon maybe have a shout at being the 8th best in country but there is a gap to the rest of D2.

[Armamike]

Anyone know what odds Armagh were at the start of the championship?