The Sunday Game

[Syferus]

I wonder what next week's Sunday Game controversy will be.

Will Spillane declare Derry's 93 all Ireland null and void, thereby enraging Brolly ?
Will one of the panelists turn up in a tracksuit ?
Will Gardai be called to the studio?

Imagine how wild the Galway bucks are if they actually fail RTE's vetting.

[BennyHarp]

Good to see they took Colm and Pat to Thurles in order to analyse a game in Derry today. Pat spent the whole half time analysis of an entertaining and relatively high scoring first half, banging on about a blanket defence - the man is obsessed. Does he even know what a blanket defence is as there was no blanket defence on show today. Judging by last week he has a fair idea ......

http://balls.ie/gaa/spillane-blanket-analogy-video/

[orangeman]

No controversy in tonight's show so far apart from the Westmeath manager claiming they could have bate Dublin had thru played them in Mullingar.

And the Waterford manager saying that if they arranged other training sessions, they had no money to arrange for  players to get fed.

[Jinxy]

It was like they were talking about a death in the family for gods sake.
Whatever about Waterford, Westmeath can beat plenty of teams in the qualifiers so Flanagan should have steered well clear of this misery-porn.

[babarino]

Not on TSG, but Mc Hugh's analysis on BBC rubbishing the provincial championships was the most significant on TV today. It's a 2 horse race in all four provincial championships. Kildare might give the Dubs a scare, but will be beaten; Donegal are going to cruise through Ulster, Kerry and Cork are playing friendlies until they meet and Mayo have taken care of their best rivals in the west.

It's high time we moved to an open draw for the AI.

[Rossfan]

. It's a 2 horse race in all four provincial championships.
Last 6 Connacht titles won by Sligo, Galway, Mayowr, Ros, Mayowr, Mayowr. It's either a 4 or 1 horse race.[/color]It's high time we moved to an open draw for the AI. There is one - it's called the Qualifiers and the Quarter finals

[Jinxy]

Not on TSG, but Mc Hugh's analysis on BBC rubbishing the provincial championships was the most significant on TV today. It's a 2 horse race in all four provincial championships. Kildare might give the Dubs a scare, but will be beaten; Donegal are going to cruise through Ulster, Kerry and Cork are playing friendlies until they meet and Mayo have taken care of their best rivals in the west.

It's high time we moved to an open draw for the AI.

In the GAA it seems that the way things are now is the way they will always be.
Hence we have some new impending catastrophe every year.
Anyway, what's so bad about a two horse race in each province?
Has it ever been any different?

[Syferus]

I had Sam Maguire in me hands today. Feels like our year.

[babarino]

Points taken Jinxy and Rossfan.

For the likes of Sligo a provincial title is the ultimate. The Division 1 sides get into their strides when it matters. Kerry v Waterford is a foregone conclusion, much as we'd like to see it otherwise. In Munster Cork and Kerry can prime sides to compete effectively in July or August. Donegal have overcome their most significant tie until then. Meath and Kildare won't be able to do a job on Dublin. Mayo won't be beaten in Connacht.

Much as I'd like it to be otherwise it's a waste of airtime until then.

[Blowitupref]

Not on TSG, but Mc Hugh's analysis on BBC rubbishing the provincial championships was the most significant on TV today. It's a 2 horse race in all four provincial championships. Kildare might give the Dubs a scare, but will be beaten; Donegal are going to cruise through Ulster, Kerry and Cork are playing friendlies until they meet and Mayo have taken care of their best rivals in the west.

It's high time we moved to an open draw for the AI.

McHugh should know for over ten years before Jim McGuinness arrived Ulster was two horse race between Armagh,Tyrone now its Donegal and who can give them a game.

Over the last ten years Sligo,Westmeath,Roscommon won provincial titles Louth should have won another one in 2010. Cavan,Tipperary with the underage success will be looking to win provincial title in the years ahead.

[babarino]

Over the last ten years Sligo,Westmeath,Roscommon won provincial titles Louth should have won another one in 2010. Cavan,Tipperary with the underage success will be looking to win procincial title in the years ahead.

And how did the provincial title winners do in the Quarter Finals? This year Sligo beaten by London, Tipp at underage have flattered to deceive and Cavan's underage success is largely down to home fixtures. Armagh with a bit of savvy would have won the Prelimary game.

While not convinced that an open draw is going to change things, "the rich are getting richer" with the present structure.

[trileacman]

While not convinced that an open draw is going to change things, "the rich are getting richer" with the present structure.

what? Donegal with their two Sams are considered rich? the past 4 years have seen four different winners of Sam, with 6 different finalists.

Explain to me a structure that will change this, given that you have admitted that an open draw will not change things.

Sure lets just change 100 years of tradition because Westmeath got hockeyed by the Dubs.

[seafoid]

McEnaney the ref was on RTE at the weekend on the mismatches and he made the point that teams with a bit of history like Galway would always fancy a resurrection next year or the year after. Donegal were fairly poor in 2010. Things change.

BTW an open draw is as likely as a decentralised political structure and county councils empowered with genuine political power.   Dream on.

[Jinxy]

The Armagh-Tyrone dominance of Ulster in previous years is a great example of why people should cool their jets.
Provincial championships are generally a two horse race, but the horses involved can change from year to year.
Who's to say Cavan won't continue to build on the back of their underage success and challenge for Ulster titles in the not too distant future?
Donegal are not building a dynasty.
They have a relatively shallow squad and a massively charismatic and talented manager.
One or two injuries and/or a change of manager could see them drop back to the rest of the chasing peloton fairly quickly.
Just keep calm and let the championship develop before passing judgement.
Who knows, there might be a few shocks along the way.

[muppet]

The Olympic 100m final will be between Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and 1 or two others.

In that case shouldn't we dispense with all the qualifying times, heats, semi-finals and also rans in the Finals?