2010 Championship

[Redhand Santa]

Good to see the championships get a bit of positive coverage for a change. Taken from independent:

A S GAA championships go, the first of the new decade is certainly trying to develop as an adventurous sort rather than holding up a mirror to its immediate predecessors and declaring itself happy with the reflection.

How refreshing is that? It may, of course, be a May-June thing, after which favourites start galloping merrily home as they head for the glitzy parade rings that come into view from July on.

Up to now, though, it has been fascinating to watch confetti showers of shredded form books blowing across venues all over the country.

Who would have thought that over the last five weekends we would have seen the following?

1 Cork hurlers thrashing highly rated Tipperary by 10 points. Cork beating Tipperary (or vice versa) is never a major surprise but 10-point margins are.

2 Dublin footballers having their pursuit of a provincial six-in-a-row replaced by a dig through the record books to see when they last conceded five goals in the Leinster championship. The answer is 81 years ago when Laois beat them, 5-5 to 3-10 in the 1929 semi-final. Unlike last Sunday, they came up just one point short.

3 Louth hitting hot favourites Kildare for 1-22, followed by a win over Westmeath to reach the Leinster final for the first time since 1960.

4 Longford, who looked one-paced when finishing 31st of 33 in the NFL and not much quicker when losing to Louth in Leinster, beating 2009 Connacht champions and 2010 Division 1 finalists Mayo in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

5 Monaghan beating Armagh by 12 points. Armagh had beaten Derry three weeks previously and have since beaten Donegal.

6 Offaly hurlers proving they're right alongside Galway who are supposed to be serious All-Ireland contenders.

7 Sligo footballers dumping Mayo out of the Connacht championship and then coming within seconds of becoming the first senior team from the county to win against Galway in Galway.

Exploits

Then there was the high drama of Cork v Kerry and Dublin v Wexford, Cavan's comeback exploits against Wicklow and Carlow hurlers' win over Laois last Saturday after losing twice to them earlier in the season.

Of course, certainties have romped home too, some exciting, some depressing. The former was represented by Henry Shefflin taking the lead in the hurling championship's all-time scoring charts, the latter by the grim inevitability that Limerick hurling's cannibalisation of itself would leave it fatally damaged for the Munster campaign.

Unquestionably, the first six weeks of the championships have been extremely vibrant and while question marks remain against overall standards in football, there's no doubt that the summer campaigns are boiling up quite nicely.

Of all the achievements so far, the most universally popular will be Louth's advance on the Leinster final. For the past 50 years, they have watched as the big day featured Dublin, Meath, Offaly, Kildare, Laois, Westmeath, Longford and Wexford, leaving them on the outside with Carlow and Wicklow (Kilkenny don't compete).

The emotion that radiated from the red zones dotted around Croke Park last Sunday evening, not to mention the sheer joy of the players and their effervescent manager Peter Fitzpatrick, will be added to the book of evidence by those who continue to make a strong case for the retention of the provincial championships.

In fairness, they have a point. In terms of promoting Gaelic Games in Louth which, given the strength of soccer in its two biggest towns, is a major challenge, this team has done more than a flotilla of coaches. If Louth were to win the Leinster championship, it would be the biggest boost to football in the county since the All-Ireland win of 1957, but, even if they don't, they have given it a whole new impetus.

The case for the retention of the provincial championships is being made in the other provinces too. Limerick are chasing their first Munster football title for 114 years while, in Ulster, it would be a fitting landmark by which to recognise the current team if Monaghan won a first provincial title since 1988.

And what of Connacht? If Sligo beat Galway in the semi-final replay next Saturday, their clash with Roscommon will be the first final without either Galway or Mayo since 1947. And then there's Galway trying to win a first Leinster hurling championship on Sunday.

The 2010 championships really are showing a remarkable amount of individuality. Enjoy it, just in case the old order starts to close in from now on.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/louth-the-leading-lights-in-a-refreshing-summer-of-surprises-2239545.html

Generally been a very good championship to date with plenty of shocks. Hopefully it continues.

[Redhand Santa]

Another great weekend for the championship with Sligo Galway and Kerry Limerick 2 great games.

[Jinxy]

And of course Hayes in the Tribune today says it's worse than last years championship. 

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

And of course Hayes in the Tribune today says it's worse than last years championship. 

Bollix, even this Mayoman with Mayo already gone thinks its the best in Years.

Sligo, Meath, Monaghan, Louth all making this a really enjoyable year. Wexford and Limerick not doing bad either.

[Redhand Santa]

And of course Hayes in the Tribune today says it's worse than last years championship. 

Don't know how he could say that. It's been really good. Plenty of good games and loads of shocks. A lot of high scoring games to and decent quality. In my opinion its been far superior in terms of entertainment to the world cup.

[ross4life]

Has been the year of the underdog which make's it more exciting & i hope for one more underdog win    as the songs says " to win just once"

[Redhand Santa]

I hate the way a lot of gaa fans keep quiet when there's really good games on and then after a few poor ones come out saying about all the changes needed to football. The last few weeks haven't been the best but even then there was a great game between Sligo and Roscommon. Things should get better again next week with the quarter finals. It's been a decent championship with numerous good games and multiple shocks.