Messages

I have genuine fear for this weekend. I hope Kerry just come for a bit of practice rather than at full tilt. Cause under Colm they can win by whatever margin they want. Upto and including 20 points. Meath have never been as low as we are now. I wonder what the geniuses who destroyed mcentee last year by voting against him think now. After we had lost a playoff to get promoted and lost to Dublin by lowest score in years.  Pathetic.  We are a shambles I'd say worse than Kildare. But Colm will put out excuse after excuse after excuse.  And of course a few Latin phrases too just for good measure.

Dicere Meath te solum amittere per 20 benignus est. Kerry ut vincat XXV.

You can talk about structures all day, but the coaching tactics are so god awful that you'll be very lucky to see a good game. May as well tune in for the semifinal and final.  Most of the rest of the games are just cat and mouse nonsense.

Tyrone Donegal was a joy to watch I though.

Cant but admire the conditioning of the Donegal players.

Whilst there are some terrible games, we love to jump on the bandwagon of criticizing Gaelic football without looking at each game individually.

I've seen some brilliant games this year personally, and some terrible ones as with any sport; but there's definitely been more games I've watched where I've came away thinking that was an enjoyable  watch.

Pundits go on about only 4 being eliminated but a week later another 4 go, and the week after that another 4. It will spring into
life shortly. The jeopardy is on the horizon.

Yeah I actually quite like this current competition format but all the negativity is beginning to wane my enthusiasm for it.

Everybody was giving out about the 10k in Croke Park because it fitted their agenda.

But never mention the full houses in Ballybofey and Iniskeen.

Majority rules at the end of the day though and the majority don't seem to be in favor if this format.

A lot of negativity around the current championship format among the media in recent weeks.

I'm wondering would a open draw championship with a back door work?

Round 1 - Open Draw

Round 2 - 8 losers play each other in round two (losers round) and 8 winners play each other in round 2 (winners round).

Round 3 - The 4 winners from the winners round progress to the quarter finals whilst the 4 losers from the winners round play the 4 winners from the losers round. (Slightly confusing but bare with me)

Round 4 - Quarter Finals

See below how it might play out

Round 1
Derry 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Armagh 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Dublin 3-17 v 1-12 Cavan
Kerry 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan
Mayo 0-18 v 0-07 Roscommon
Galway 2-19 v 0-04 Meath
Tyrone 0-13 v 0-10 Louth
Donegal 0-17 v 0-09 Cork

** 8 Winners play off and 8 losers play off

Round 2 - Losers round
Cavan 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Monaghan 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Roscommon 3-17 v 1-12 Meath
Cork 0-19 v 0-11 Louth

** Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork progress to play the losers of the winners round

Round 2 - Winners round
Kerry 1-16 v 0-08 Dublin
Galway 2-09 v 0-11 Mayo
Donegal 3-17 v 1-12 Tyrone
Derry 0-19 v 0-11 Armagh

** Kerry Galway Donegal and Derry progress onto quarter finals.
** Dublin Mayo Tyrone and Armagh play off with Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork in round of 12.

Round 3
Dublin 1-16 v 0-08 Cavan
Cork 2-09 v 0-11 Tyrone
Armagh 3-17 v 1-12 Roscommon
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan

** Dublin Cork Armagh and Mayo progress to quarter finals

Round 4 Quarter Finals
Kerry 3-17 v 1-12 Armagh
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Derry
Dublin 0-14 v 0-11 Galway
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Cork

Round 5 Semi Finals
Mayo 3-17 v 1-12 Kerry
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Dublin

Round 6 Final
Donegal 0-18 v 0-17 Mayo (AET)

I think it this is a decent system where everyone has a second chance but no dead rubbers or meaningless games and every game means something.

Not bad at all,  reduction in games be an issue though for the GAA. Would have to increase prices further to compensate.

Would be 27 AI matches instead of 35 under the present system.
Why does round 1 have to be "open draw" ?
It wouldn't be as Provincial Champions would be seeded and couldn't draw a team they beat in a Provincial Final.
They'd probably put the 8 Finalists in 1 pot anyway.
However this is a subject for the long winter nights.

Yeah wouldn't have to be an open draw; could seed the provincial champions and next 4 places league teams.

A lot of negativity around the current championship format among the media in recent weeks.

I'm wondering would a open draw championship with a back door work?

Round 1 - Open Draw

Round 2 - 8 losers play each other in round two (losers round) and 8 winners play each other in round 2 (winners round).

Round 3 - The 4 winners from the winners round progress to the quarter finals whilst the 4 losers from the winners round play the 4 winners from the losers round. (Slightly confusing but bare with me)

Round 4 - Quarter Finals

See below how it might play out

Round 1
Derry 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Armagh 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Dublin 3-17 v 1-12 Cavan
Kerry 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan
Mayo 0-18 v 0-07 Roscommon
Galway 2-19 v 0-04 Meath
Tyrone 0-13 v 0-10 Louth
Donegal 0-17 v 0-09 Cork

** 8 Winners play off and 8 losers play off

Round 2 - Losers round
Cavan 1-16 v 0-08 Westmeath
Monaghan 2-09 v 0-11 Clare
Roscommon 3-17 v 1-12 Meath
Cork 0-19 v 0-11 Louth

** Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork progress to play the losers of the winners round

Round 2 - Winners round
Kerry 1-16 v 0-08 Dublin
Galway 2-09 v 0-11 Mayo
Donegal 3-17 v 1-12 Tyrone
Derry 0-19 v 0-11 Armagh

** Kerry Galway Donegal and Derry progress onto quarter finals.
** Dublin Mayo Tyrone and Armagh play off with Cavan Monaghan Roscommon and Cork in round of 12.

Round 3
Dublin 1-16 v 0-08 Cavan
Cork 2-09 v 0-11 Tyrone
Armagh 3-17 v 1-12 Roscommon
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Monaghan

** Dublin Cork Armagh and Mayo progress to quarter finals

Round 4 Quarter Finals
Kerry 3-17 v 1-12 Armagh
Mayo 0-19 v 0-11 Derry
Dublin 0-14 v 0-11 Galway
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Cork

Round 5 Semi Finals
Mayo 3-17 v 1-12 Kerry
Donegal 0-17 v 0-11 Dublin

Round 6 Final
Donegal 0-18 v 0-17 Mayo (AET)

I think it this is a decent system where everyone has a second chance but no dead rubbers or meaningless games and every game means something.

When was Celtic Park ever used so much since the renovation? This be the 3rd full house this year plus really good crowds throughout the Prague apart from against the Rossies. Lay derelict for years when Derry were down the leagues

For a city that's not exactly GAA mad yet but is beginning to grow, surely it's a positive.

Will Mcgeeney put an end to Mickey Hartes tenure this weekend?

That 5 out 8 finals for Derry in 10yrs and a semi final with a losing Ulster final team few yrs bck. Good going at underage. Need Start a big focus on the U20 level and let them play their level. We let a couple finals go past few yrs.

Heard a few ones say that Derry treat the U20 grade as a development one.

Play players that are more likely to make the step up to senior in the future ie. The best players just out of minor rather than the all 19 and 20 year olds.

Not sure if any truth to it.

If I were Meath County board I'd be going all out for Malachy O'Rourke.

He could transform that team if given time.

He'll be over Derry next year I'd say.

You could be right especially if they go out in a Preliminary quarter final.

The Derry job was always a tough one to take on after RG.

A team playing very close to full potential.

In contrast to the Donegal job.

Updated Power Rankings - Have seen every team play in the All Ireland Series at this stage now.

1. Dublin - No change
2. Kerry - No change
3. Galway - Up 5 places
4. Donegal - No change
5. Derry - Down one place
6. Mayo - Down one place
7. Armagh - Down one place
8. Tyrone - Down one place
9. Cork- Up 2 places
10. Roscommon - Up 2 places
11. Monaghan - Down one place
12. Louth - Up 2 places
13. Down - No change
14. Cavan - Down 2 places
15. Sligo - Up one place
16. Westmeath - Up one place
17. Meath - Down 2 places
18. Kildare - No change
19. Clare - No change
20. Fermanagh - No change
21. Antrim - Up 4 places
22. Wexford - No change
23. Laois - Up 1 place
24. Leitrim - Up 2 places
25. Wicklow - Down one place
26. Limerick - Up 2 places
27. Offaly - Down 6 places
28. Carlow - Up 1 places
29. Longford - Down 2 places
30. Tipp - Up one place
31. Waterford - Down
32. London - No change
33. New York - No change

If I were Meath County board I'd be going all out for Malachy O'Rourke.

He could transform that team if given time.

Would Meath not get their U20 manager on board?

They need a rebuild with that minor and now that U20 squad.

That move hasn't done much for Offaly

They need a top manager who commands respect.

They have the raw materials, just need some outside influence that knows what it takes to compete I reckon. But only my opinion.

If I were Meath County board I'd be going all out for Malachy O'Rourke.

He could transform that team if given time.

Donegal relentless pace.

The only criticism id have of them is they don't seem to be able to manufacturer the goal chances that RG's Derry could when running in numbers and at pace.

Butchered a few this evening.

Something to work on.

Is this a step up in performance in Donegal from their Ulster displays.

Seem to be playing with alot more pace and intensity.

With the obvious exception of the Derry game.

Cork are a funny team. So inconsistent.

But when you look at their team player by player they have some great man markers; loads of pace a strong midfield and 3 or 4 scoring forwards. Not sure on their keeper options though.

So the ingredients are there for a top side; just waiting on them to deliver on a consistent basis.