Topics

1991 - Down Win
1992 - Donegal win
1993 - Derry win
1994 - Down win
1995 - Tyrone loss
2002 - Armagh win
2003 - Tyrone win Armagh loss
2005 - Tyrone win
2008 - Tyrone win
2010 - Down Loss
2012 - Donegal win
2014 - Donegal loss
2018 - Tyrone loss
2021 - Tyrone win
2024 - Armagh win

Won 11/15
 
Ulster Teams records in finals in the 'Modern era' is top class.

Club Championships starting all over the country in the next week or two. So said I'd get a thread going.

My Predictions for each championship below for what its worth.

Antrim - Cargin
Armagh - Crossmaglen
Cavan - Gowna
Down - Kilcoo
Derry - Glen
Donegal - Glenties
Fermanagh - Enniskillen Gaels
Tyrone - Errigal Ciaran
Monaghan - Scotstown

Galway - Corofin
Mayo - Castlebar Mitchell's
Leitrim - St Mary's Carrick
Sligo - Tourlestrane
Roscommon - St Brigid's

Kerry - Dingle and East Kerry
Cork - St Finbarrs
Clare - Eir Og Ennis
Waterford - The Nire
Tipp - Clonmel
Limerick - Newcastle West

Dublin - Kilmacud
Kildare - Naas
Meath - Ratoath
Offaly - Tullamore
Westmeath - St Lomans
Longford - Clonguish
Carlow - Eir Og
Wicklow -Rathnew
Wexford - Shelmaliers
Louth - Ardee
Laois - Portarlington

All Ireland intermediate - Austin Stacks (Kerry)
All Ireland Junior - Ballymacelliot (Kerry) or Knockbride (Cavan)

If Galway win in two weeks time; after all the hurt Mayo have been through since 2004 and beforehand; will Mayo people be incredibly bitter or will it be the encouragement they need to get over the line themselves.

Nothing won yet and Armagh have as good a chance but some Mayo people I know have Armagh jersyes ordered for the final and others would be happy enough to see Galway win it.

A lot of negativity around the current championship format among the media in recent weeks.

I'm wondering would a open draw championship with a back door work?

Round 1 - Open Draw

Round 2 - 8 losers play each other in round two (losers round) and 8 winners play each other in round 2 (winners round).

Round 3 - The 4 winners from the winners round progress to the quarter finals whilst the 4 losers from the winners round play the 4 winners from the losers round. (Slightly confusing but bare with me)

Round 4 - Quarter Finals

See below how it might play out

Round 1
Derry 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Armagh 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Dublin 3-17 v 1-12 Cavan
Kerry 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan
Mayo 0-18 v 0-07 Roscommon
Galway 2-19 v 0-04 Meath
Tyrone 0-13 v 0-10 Louth
Donegal 0-17 v 0-09 Cork

** 8 Winners play off and 8 losers play off

Round 2 - Losers round
Cavan 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Monaghan 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Roscommon 3-17 v 1-12 Meath
Cork 0-19 v 0-11 Louth

** Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork progress to play the losers of the winners round

Round 2 - Winners round
Kerry 1-16 v 0-08 Dublin
Galway 2-09 v 0-11 Mayo
Donegal 3-17 v 1-12 Tyrone
Derry 0-19 v 0-11 Armagh

** Kerry Galway Donegal and Derry progress onto quarter finals.
** Dublin Mayo Tyrone and Armagh play off with Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork in round of 12.

Round 3
Dublin 1-16 v 0-08 Cavan
Cork 2-09 v 0-11 Tyrone
Armagh 3-17 v 1-12 Roscommon
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan

** Dublin Cork Armagh and Mayo progress to quarter finals

Round 4 Quarter Finals
Kerry 3-17 v 1-12 Armagh
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Derry
Dublin 0-14 v 0-11 Galway
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Cork

Round 5 Semi Finals
Mayo 3-17 v 1-12 Kerry
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Dublin

Round 6 Final
Donegal 0-18 v 0-17 Mayo (AET)

I think it this is a decent system where everyone has a second chance but no dead rubbers or meaningless games and every game means something.

Anyone watch this documentary on RTE tonight.

Chilling stuff.

Apologies if this seems like a pointless topic or very subjective but I always found it fascinating to see the split per county between hurling and football; below is a rough estimate in my head of what I reckon the split is per county correct me if I am wrong on any of the below.

Estimates based on participation and how serious each county board takes one code or the other.

Leinster
Dublin - 75% Football 25% Hurling
Laois - 50% Football 50% Hurling
Kilkenny - 5% Football 95% Hurling
Offaly - 55% Football 45% Hurling
Westmeath - 65% Football 35% Hurling
Meath - 80% Football 20% Hurling
Longford - 95% Football 5% Hurling
Carlow - 60% Football 40% Hurling
Wicklow - 70% Football 30% Hurling
Wexford - 35% Football 65% Hurling
Kildare - 75% Football 25% Hurling
Louth - 95% Football 5% Hurling

Munster
Cork - 40% Football 60% Hurling
Limerick - 20% Football 80% Hurling
Clare - 40% Football 60% Hurling
Waterford - 15% Football 85% Hurling
Tipp - 25% Football 75% Hurling
Kerry - 80% Football 20% Hurling

Connacht
Galway - 50% Football 50% Hurling
Mayo - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Roscommon - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Sligo - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Leitrim - 95% Football 5% Hurling

Ulster
Antrim- 60% Football 40% Hurling
Armagh - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Down - 75% Football 25% Hurling
Tyrone - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Derry - 80% Football 20% Hurling
Donegal - 85% Football 15% Hurling
Cavan - 95% Football 5% Hurling
Monaghan - 95% Football 5% Hurling
Fermanagh - 95% Football 5% Hurling

Power Rankings as of league end.

1. Dublin
2. Derry
3. Kerry
4. Mayo
5. Galway
6. Tyrone
7. Donegal
8. Armagh
9. Monaghan
10. Roscommon
11. Cork
12. Down
13. Meath
14. Cavan
15. Louth
16. Westmeath
17. Fermanagh
18. Kildare
19. Clare
20. Sligo
21. Laois
22. Antrim
23. Wexford
24. Leitrim
25. Offaly
26. Longford
27. Wicklow
28. Limerick
29. Carlow
30. Tipperary
31. London
32. Waterford
33. New York

Any disagreements let me know?

Since Roscommon last made an All-Ireland Semi Final in 1991 I have counted 20 of the 31 competing counties on this island have made an All-Ireland Semi Final. Astonishing stat if correct. For a proud football county who compete well at provincial and league level why do they under perform so badly on the main stage.

Below is the year each side last played in an All Ireland Semi. I am open to correction on any of these.

ULSTER
1.   Armagh - 2005
2.   Down - 2010
3.   Donegal - 2014
4.   Derry - 2023
5.   Cavan - 2020
6.   Monaghan - 2023
7.   Tyrone - 2021
8.   Fermanagh - 2004

CONNACHT
9.   Galway - 2022
10.   Mayo - 2021
11.   Leitrim - 1994

MUNSTER
12.   Kerry - 2023
13.   Cork  - 2012
14.   Tipperary - 2020
15.   Clare - 1992

LEINSTER
16.   Dublin - 2023
17.   Meath – 2009
18.    Kildare – 2010
19.   Offaly - 1997
20.   Wexford – 2008

TEAMS WHO HAVE NOT MADE ALL IRELAND SEMIS IN THAT PERIOD AND YEAR OF LAST APPEARANCE
1.   Antrim - 1951
2.   Sligo - 1975
3.   Roscommon - 1991
4.   Laois - 1946
5.   Westmeath -  N/A
6.   Carlow - 1944
7.   Longford - 1968
8.   Louth - 1957
9.   Wicklow – N/A
10.   Kilkenny - 1911
11.   Waterford - 1898
12.   Limerick – 1896

Westmeath and Wicklow are the only two teams who have not made an All Ireland Semi Final in their history.