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Dublin straight into semi-final after winning 2/2 in 3-team group.
Kildare straight into semi-final after winning 2/3 matches in 4-team group.

Laois into quarter-final after winning 3/3 matches in 4-team group.
And their reward ? A date with 2021 Leinster Minor Champions, Meath.

You still can't answer why Meath and Kildare are broken but not other teams who are much closer to dublin - i.e. Derry and Kerry and Tyrone when they get themselves in gear will be there or thereabouts.

Teams get a huge confidence boost by winning their provincial championship and are much more primed for a crack at the Dubs than Leinster counties who have been crushed by the Dubs for over a decade. The demoralising effect of Dublin's dominance in Leinster also has a knock-on effect in the League - the imbalance of Ulster v Leinster teams in Division 1 being the prime example.

The provincial system exacerbates the problem with Leinster football. The Ulster Championship is the model for a proper Provincial competition. Connacht has Mayo, Galway & Roscommon in regular contention. Munster has Kerry, Cork and at times Clare or Tipperary. If Kildare and Meath were in Connacht or Munster I would say they would be quite competitive and in the shake-up quite regularly.

[areas]

Re. Football & Hurling areas in Carlow, Laois & Offaly

At a guess I'd say the area split would be two-thirds football and one-third hurling - I'm open to contradiction.

Most clubs across these counties would be dual - football clubs fielding at minimum junior hurling teams and vice-versa.

Carlow - hurling strongest in areas bordering Kilkenny & Wexford
Laois - hurling strongest in areas bordering Kilkenny, Offaly & Tipperary
Offaly - hurling strongest in areas bordering Galway, Tipperary & Laois

There was a good programme on TV some time ago about Bord na Mona and how the employment it provided was a big factor in the rise of Offaly football in the 1960s through to 1980s.

Westmeath is another county similar to Carlow, Laois & Offaly with a proud football & hurling tradition.
Of course Offaly's record as a dual county is the envy of all the smaller dual counties.

[Laois]

Laois v Leitrim  Laois by 3
Down v Westmeath  Down by 3

Donegal v Armagh  Donegal by 3
Derry v Dublin  Dublin by 3

Well done to the hurlers today and best of luck next weekend - Carlow has been a bogey team for us in recent times.

NHL Division 1B 2025
Waterford, Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly, Antrim, Carlow, Laois

A much improved format for the League next year
- only Waterford might consider themselves head and shoulders above the rest.

[Draw]

Derry v Roscommon  Draw
Dublin v Tyrone
Kerry v Galway
Monaghan v Mayo  Draw

Cavan v Fermanagh  Draw
Cork v Armagh
Donegal v Meath
Kildare v Louth  Draw

Antrim v Wicklow
Down v Clare  Draw
Offaly v Limerick
Sligo v Westmeath  Draw

Carlow v London  Draw
Waterford v Laois
Wexford v Longford  Draw
Leitrim v Tipperary

Venue for Tipperary v Wexford changed from Templetuohy to Enniscorthy - Tipp conceding home advantage.
Very unfair on the other counties involved in the promotion race.

[Dublin]

Galway v Dublin
Tyrone v Monaghan
Roscommon v Kerry
Mayo v Derry  DRAW

Armagh v Cavan  DRAW
Kildare v Donegal  DRAW
Meath v Cork
Louth v Fermanagh

Wicklow v Limerick
Clare v Antrim
Sligo v Offaly
Westmeath v Down  DRAW

London v Waterford
Laois v Leitrim
Tipperary v Wexford
Longford v Carlow

The Nazifascists are calling for 2 No Votes so they're obviously 2 good things.

Huh !

[Dublin]

Derry v Dublin
Mayo v Roscommon  DRAW
Kerry v Tyrone
Monaghan v Galway

Fermanagh v Armagh
Cavan v Meath
Donegal v Louth
Cork v Kildare  DRAW

Limerick v Clare
Antrim v Westmeath  DRAW
Down v Sligo
Offaly v Wicklow

Carlow v Wexford
Laois v London
Tipperary v Waterford
Longford v Leitrim  DRAW

Laois - Pope Pupeus
Ireland's only Pope

[Tyrone]

Tyrone v Mayo
Dublin v Kerry DRAW
Galway v Derry
Roscommon v Monaghan DRAW

Fermanagh v Cork  DRAW
Louth v Cavan
Meath v Kildare
Armagh v Donegal

Down v Offaly
Clare v Wicklow
Sligo v Antrim  DRAW
Westmeath v Limerick

Wexford v Waterford
Longford v London
Carlow v Leitrim
Tipperary v Laois

[invited]

I stated previously on this thread "There may well be some equally non-biased and well-informed persons of proven reputation who would advocate voting Yes. Maybe some posters here might point us to such viewpoints".

I joined this discussion because, as seafoid's initial post implied, there is a lack of understanding regarding the pros and cons of voting Yes or No on these two ballots.

Main Street's question – "Have you considered other legal opinions on the referendum wording that would contradict McDowell's?"

I have invited posters to provide viewpoints other that Senator McDowell so that we have a balanced picture.

Main Street again – "Seeing as you have admitted no legal expertise yourself, how would you have an objective opinion one way or the other?"

The majority of the electorate would be in same boat as myself regarding legal expertise.

I am certainly not trying to influence people how to vote. I'm inclined to the view in this situation of "if it's not broken don't fix it". However I'm open to persuasion – that is why I invite those inclined to vote Yes to share their reasons. All the main political parties are advocating Yes votes so the electorate are not hearing from their elected representatives about possible downsides to these Constitutional changes.

McDowell Condemns O'Gorman's Department's FOI Cover Up

Ok Main Street, can you enlighten us on the law that provides legal clarity to "other durable relationships" ?
No you cannot because no such law exists at present.

The amendment would leave it in the hands of the courts to define what "other durable relationships" means.
We elect members to The Oireachtas to frame our laws, not the courts.
People should know what "other durable relationships" means before enshrining it into our constitution.

Senator Michael McDowell is a legal professional and he advises that if the Yes vote wins on the Family Amendment (White Ballot Paper) we are buying a pig in a poke. Not being a expert myself I could not contradict him.

Rather then criticise Senator McDowell perhaps you should try and make a persuasive case as to why people should vote Yes to one or both ballots.