Super 8s

[BennyCake]

The Super 8's were never 'super' to begin with. Despite the best attempts to hype these league games up by of a whole host of media pundits who rely on more games for more work, the public have become totally disengaged by them. When ultra establishment man Dick Clerkin steadfastly defends them he is really defending his own interests. More games = more work for these pundits. The public are not fools though. They are flat, often predictable and boring. The best weekend of the year used to be the quarter finals over the August bank holiday with real cut and thrust games.

The inter county game is no longer of any great interest to a lot of good club people and I can only see this getting worse as the bean counters in HQ appear to measure success by the amount of revenue generated.

Hard to disagree with any of that.

The qualifiers diluted the knockout nature of c'ship football, and the Super 8 has diluted it further. Yes, you might get the odd good game like Kerry Donegal, but all it is, is a cynical money-spinning exercise. Fans, players, managers, club players and managers don't matter here - it's all about money.

But the GAA will not get rid of their summer cash cow. It's here to stay.

What a load of nonsense in fairness. Managers, players and fans don't want more games? Has the super 8's negatively impacted upon club players or managers. According to some posters here there are loads of league games going on in counties. You're an odd bunch to be complaining about more games.

Not unless you have a massive squad. Teams going week in, week out. Prolonging the club c'ships. More expenses week on week for fans.

[thejuice]

Once we figure a way of maintaining that intensity for another 10 to 15 minutes we'll be there or thereabouts but that requires a stronger bench, a kicking game and more intelligent use of the ball.

[Zulu]

The Super 8's were never 'super' to begin with. Despite the best attempts to hype these league games up by of a whole host of media pundits who rely on more games for more work, the public have become totally disengaged by them. When ultra establishment man Dick Clerkin steadfastly defends them he is really defending his own interests. More games = more work for these pundits. The public are not fools though. They are flat, often predictable and boring. The best weekend of the year used to be the quarter finals over the August bank holiday with real cut and thrust games.

The inter county game is no longer of any great interest to a lot of good club people and I can only see this getting worse as the bean counters in HQ appear to measure success by the amount of revenue generated.

Hard to disagree with any of that.

The qualifiers diluted the knockout nature of c'ship football, and the Super 8 has diluted it further. Yes, you might get the odd good game like Kerry Donegal, but all it is, is a cynical money-spinning exercise. Fans, players, managers, club players and managers don't matter here - it's all about money.

But the GAA will not get rid of their summer cash cow. It's here to stay.

What a load of nonsense in fairness. Managers, players and fans don't want more games? Has the super 8's negatively impacted upon club players or managers. According to some posters here there are loads of league games going on in counties. You're an odd bunch to be complaining about more games.

Not unless you have a massive squad. Teams going week in, week out. Prolonging the club c'ships. More expenses week on week for fans.

Ah here. There's not a manager or player in Ireland that would pick knockout QF's over the super 8's I'd say. They all want more games, big occasions and less training. The super 8's are far from perfect but they are way better than the QF's.

As for fans, all the games Mayo are playing is sowing the seeds for the next generation of footballers. When I see the amount of kids at all their games roaring on their heroes it can only inspire them to greater heights. Do GAA fans spend more money following their team than soccer, NFL, Aussie rules fans? You can always choose to watch some games on TV.

[Cunny Funt]

We've stalled again with 10 to 15 minutes to go. No bench

Be interesting to see how Meath now fare in Div 1 as fitness and conditioning doesn't decide games in the manner they do during the championship.

[Rossfan]

I'd suspect like us in 2016 they'll burst themselves to stay in it.

[Dinny Breen]

I'd suspect like us in 2016 they'll burst themselves to stay in it.

Pretty much this but they are a level below Roscommon, in and around Cavan/Kildare's level. Will be surprised if they win a game, don't have Division one standard forwards.

[thejuice]

Yeah it'll need a few more players of a top quality to stay up as well as few other improvements. I just wonder if a huge effort to stay in div 1 works against us in the summer.

[twohands!!!]

Yeah it'll need a few more players of a top quality to stay up as well as few other improvements. I just wonder if a huge effort to stay in div 1 works against us in the summer.

A fair bit depends on what way the Leinster Championship draw shakes out for Meath - would be a massive help to them next season if they could get a favourable Leinster Championship draw after their first Division 1 campaign in a long-while.
Assuming their is no change to the Leinster championship, they will be entering the Leinster championship at the quarter-final stage and will avoid the preliminary round as one of the 4 semi-finalists this year along with Dublin, Kildare, Laois.
Carlow, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow are the 7 teams they can face in the quarter-final.
Even if things go wrong for them in the league and they get relegated, knowing that they will be playing one of those 7 to start of their championship isn't exactly the worst scenario.
They have a 1 in 3 chance of being on the same side as Dublin which would mean playing them in a Leinster semi-final as opposed to a Leinster final.

[manfromdelmonte]

It's scandalous that rte are showing the Dublin game on two different channels

[rodney trotter]

It was of no benefit Donegal winning Ulster when it came down to a winner takes all game in  Super 8s in McHalr Park. Mayo lost 2 games in championship  but a home game to reach an All Ireland Semi.
Deserving winner, s but maybe the Provincial champions should have 2 home games in Super 8 instead..

[Milltown Row2]

I know it's s dead rubber game but no chat on the Cork v Roscommon game?

[LilySavage]

Was big advantage to whoever got Meath away in a group with 3 evenly matched big teams. 2 home games for Provincial winner better thsn current system, the Dubs already getting that.

[RedHand88]

It was of no benefit Donegal winning Ulster when it came down to a winner takes all game in  Super 8s in McHalr Park. Mayo lost 2 games in championship  but a home game to reach an All Ireland Semi.
Deserving winner, s but maybe the Provincial champions should have 2 home games in Super 8 instead..

Nooooooo!!!!!

[J70]

It was of no benefit Donegal winning Ulster when it came down to a winner takes all game in  Super 8s in McHalr Park. Mayo lost 2 games in championship  but a home game to reach an All Ireland Semi.
Deserving winner, s but maybe the Provincial champions should have 2 home games in Super 8 instead..

One of them currently does...

[Rossfan]

And one had 2 away games
Today's game in Cirk will be lucky to get 1500 people and will likely be of Chalkenge intensity.
I'm on the way anyway so let's try and win the feckin thing.