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The last rr - pre qf- qf
 is the killer

I wonder how many first seeds will win their qf . Will it be 3/4 like last year ?

You would have to assume 4/4 would be the standard every year for the group winners making it the the semis.
This would have been the case last year only for Monaghan's penalty win over Armagh.

I wouldn't be surprised if 3/4 would be the usual most years for the first seeds in as regards making the semis. I think most years you've a very decent chance of one of the Ulster teams turning over one of the other provincial winners.

As you said the the preliminary quarter-finals route with 3 games in 3 weekends looks like an absolute death-trap of a route towards Sam. It's very hard to see a team winning Sam through that route.

Yes would expect that to be the case until such time that all Quarter finalists are given at least two weeks prep time.  If we get another 3 Quarter final mis-matches this year as we did last year then HQ need to tweak it.

I don't think there is any chance that all the quarter-finalists are going to be given two weeks prep time for a fair while yet (think 10 years or so).

If you give the four preliminary quarter-finalists two weeks, you would need to give the group winners three weeks (assuming you did't stagger the groups) which would tilt the advantage of winning the group a fair bit away from the group winners. I don't think the powers that be want to reduce the benefit of winning the group/increase the odds for the teams coming 2nd and 3rd in the group.

Even if you were to play around with the timing and stagger the group stages to give all four quarter-finalist two weeks, it would lead to a situation whereby you gave some sides three weeks and some two at a later stage which I think the powers-that be would consider a worse option.

Long story short I think the GAA is going to keep the status quo in place for a good few years yet and that winning your group is going to be key if you want to win Sam.

The powers to be will surely want all of their All Ireland Quarters to be as competitive as they can possibly be?  In year one of this new format we got highly competitive Prem Quarter finals decided on fine margins and only one of the All Ireland Quarter finals going that way. If that is repeated this year it will have to be looked at sooner than later.

Topping your group avoiding play off game and not playing any of the group winners in the last 8 is enough of advantage IMO.

HQ in congress were asked about making that tweak to the schedule and the answer was to wait for another year or two to see if it remains an issue. 

Much needed title for Meath at that grade. They have brought through a lot of their 2021 All Ireland winners and will fancy their chances against the Munster champions next. Jamie Murphy,Jack Kinlough,Eamonn Armstong,Liam Kelly were impressive in a good team display.

What a difference a year makes for Donegal. Organisation, high work rate and fitness they have in abundance now. It was decent game in Celtic Park, competitive throughout made it intriguing watch and I'll be surprised if the same doesn't happen for the final. Is it a gimmick for Philly McMahon to give the Man of the match to a player from a losing team?

Credit to Louth into the Leinster senior football final in two years running for the first time since 1957-1958. A pity it's Dublin eyeing up another AI title they'll face but will have the group stage after that and will be 2nd seeds.

Kildare need to have a full review to how and why this year has gone so badly for them.  Lost all Div 2 games and have now dropped to the Tailteann Cup and would anyone put money on them to win that competition?  For a county that has been strong and had success at U20 and U17 the last 5/6 years they should not find themselves at that position 

U20 final penciled in for May 4th at 5:15pm in MacHale Park. Would it not have made more sense to give the top of table team home advantage or toss a coin for home advantage which would attract a bigger crowd for the final than to bring both to Castlebar?

A win with 4 goals scored tonight, a rare sight this season and while some will say it's was only Sheffield United it's worth reminding bottom of the table Sheffield United won in Old Trafford against what was a 2nd place Man United team on their last visit to Old Trafford.

@snoopdog hope your son enjoys his first visit to Old Trafford at the weekend.

If Sligo win any danger we'd be put on as curtain raiser for the Senior....possibly 12 noon...

Senior final isn't on until 4pm so could fit it in at 2pm. Final seems to be earmarked for Saturday night in probably MacHale Park.

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.

Deserved win for Mayo less wasteful team and made the least amount of mistakes. Will likely beat Galway in the final but will have to improve a lot to top group in the All Ireland series, not finishing 1st will mean another exit before the semi final stage IMO. With Buckley, Rochford on the management team improvement is very possible.

For all the media talk about Davy Burke it looks like a lot of their good work last year was more to do with now departed coaches Mark McHugh and Gerry McGowan. Would they have been as wasteful if McKeon, Ciarian Murtagh was available and Ben O'Carroll more up to speed? Losing two important players Harney, Murray to injuries today won't help matters and another last 16 exit looks likely.

Sligo giving a good account of themselves and leading Galway at half time 0-9 to 0-6. 

I know it's easy to say the best team lost but the concentration levels from Madrid were amazing. And then when it was needed they had lads like Nacho and especially Rudiger jumping in.

City tried to pull them around but it's not like Palace and their low block, these boys were not for turning. Also in the extra time Real did fire a few warning shots to keep City honest.

Truth be told I don't like Pep as he just seems like a flase hoor.

Real Madrid somewhat reminded me last night of Inter Milan from 2010. Top level concentration when they didn't have the ball. The penalty shootout a case of Pep over thinking things again in Europe? Having players that never took penalties before and it's rare you see the goalkeeper picked as one of the first five takers or be it it was a good penalty. Of course he subbed off two possible penalty takers De Bruyne,Haaland.  City supporters holding on to the ball played their part in Silva missing his but had they no extra balls instead of waiting for the crowd to return it?

That was the 6th time Real Madrid have knocked out the holders, their 33rd time to reach the last 4, 12 more appearances than the next Bayern Munich. Tradition is still strong in the European cup.

Connacht Minor championship started tonight. Draw in Tuam and a six point win for Mayo in Castlebar with Kieran McDonald son Kobe MOTM with 1-5.

Mayo 2-13 Roscommon 2-7
Galway 0-11 Sligo 2-5

This years Mayo minors will take beating. Very very strong at u15 and u16 the last two years.

Yes U16s beat Kerry in their tournament cup final last year, high expectations on that group.

With the injuries for Galway and Roscommon it's hard to see either toppling Mayo in Connacht this year and Roscommon,Galway under current circumstances will likely see All Ireland quarter final appearance as a good championship.  Mayo on the other hand had Quarter final exits the last two years and heavy defeats at that. This summer should see an improvement with a possible semi final appearance and competitive in that game.

Sligo's development in the years ahead will be worth keeping an eye on. A lot of good young players coming through with a winning mentality. 

[We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.]

I imagine the mental side of that is tougher than the physical.

Wicklow got relegated 2 weeks ago but yeah God help Westmeath and their mental turmoil of winning the league a week ago.

Give teams a few days to get over knocks and fatigue without going straight into a championship game, especially with teams playing week after week on heavy pitches.

Not everyone has a squad like a Derry or Dublin. Leitrim in the same boat today. You just will not get the best version of a team with a weeks break. 

I don't agree with that. I think we've just been used to our season being dragged out all year and now it's not we're struggling to get used to it. Other physically demanding sports from tennis to rugby don't yap about a week turnaround. We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.

It's equal for both teams in that regard.  Today was Westmeath's 4th match in 4 weeks while Wicklow had two weeks to prepare and without taking away from their win they certainly had a scheduling advantage.

4 matches in 4 weeks! Mad Ted!

Fine if it was 4 in 4 weeks for both teams Ted!

Get to bed Dougal! 

Knock yourself out Jack if you wan't to ignore any fixture scheduling advantage.

[We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.]

I imagine the mental side of that is tougher than the physical.

Wicklow got relegated 2 weeks ago but yeah God help Westmeath and their mental turmoil of winning the league a week ago.

Give teams a few days to get over knocks and fatigue without going straight into a championship game, especially with teams playing week after week on heavy pitches.

Not everyone has a squad like a Derry or Dublin. Leitrim in the same boat today. You just will not get the best version of a team with a weeks break. 

I don't agree with that. I think we've just been used to our season being dragged out all year and now it's not we're struggling to get used to it. Other physically demanding sports from tennis to rugby don't yap about a week turnaround. We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.

It's equal for both teams in that regard.  Today was Westmeath's 4th match in 4 weeks while Wicklow had two weeks to prepare and without taking away from their win they certainly had a scheduling advantage.

4 matches in 4 weeks! Mad Ted!

Fine if it was 4 in 4 weeks for both teams Ted!