Messages

Yes, McGuinness was certainly asking for 150% commitment. These are young men at the end of the day, not robots. If it was getting too much for some people, I think that's to be respected. Who knows though?

Who tocht you to spell anyway?

Top marks for that one!

No chance, Dubs have it sewn up.

Most managers deep down are preparing for 2015 at this stage.

If some of them don't deliver in 2014, 'most managers' among the serious 2015 contenders could be new managers.

Donegal, Mayo, Kerry & even Tyrone could be interviewing in the winter if they have poor seasons.

Interesting view. However, you'd have to wonder if, just because those managers haven't won All-Irelands, or haven't won any recently, does that mean that they're not the best men for the job? Not necessarily. You've to do the best with what you have.

[CONNACHT]

There is no such effin thing as a "Connaught" Championship.
For the umpteenth time to someone on this board it's
CONNACHT.
OK.

Okay...

No chance, Dubs have it sewn up.

Most managers deep down are preparing for 2015 at this stage.

Cute hoor building them up for a fall?

Last night, while discussing the merits of the provincial championships, I used the argument that 'money talks'. I've always presumed the system would eventually change, and sooner rather than later. I still believe that. Last year, the system came under intense scrutiny after a woeful Munster Championship, a light jog in Leinster for Dublin and a breeze for Mayo in Connacht. To be fair, much of the debate was centred on how predictable the championships were, which included the argument that Donegal would definitely win Ulster. They didn't, and a rare win for Monaghan in Ulster quenched the debate somewhat. With those aforementioned counties looking seemingly inscrutable this year, I think the debate will flare up again.

I have no vested interest. I love the provincial championships, but also see merits to the most obvious alternative (8x4 round robin). I think it would be mroe easily organised, making it beneficial to the organisation of club games. But my main argument, money comes first, may not hold as much weight as I thought. With an 8x4 system, you only end up with 48 group games, and 15 knockout, giving a total of 63. That's only 3 games more. Is it worth uprooting a now ancient system with many charms for something like this?

I've seen Connacht being won by Leitrim, Laois winning Leinster, Clare winning Munster, all remarkable and brilliant days for the GAA. Try telling a man or woman from Louth that Leinster doesn't matter, they were so wrongly robbed four years ago. But these examples, though beautiful, are rare. Are they enough to keep the provincials intact?

Would an 8 x 4 system really be more equitable? It would surely be seeded, so what's stopping mismatches between Leitrim and Dublin? And if Leitrim topped a group, would that mean as much as winning the Nestor Cup? Nope.

Would Sky prefer an 8x4 system to what we have had for years and years and years. And if they do, how much does it really matter? How much influence will they have?

Time will tell. I still think the system will change. But is there enough case for it? I'm not sure. If we have a provincial season like we had last year though, I think this debate will flare right back up.

WOW!

I would put nothing past McGuinness. This could be some sort of ploy.

I was paranoid after the Monaghan game last year, because I couldn't believe how 'unbeatable' Donegal could not only be beaten, but beaten very tamely. Then the Mayo game came along. I just don't believe he's the psychological genius Brolly made him out to be. He's been a good manager, but he's not some kind of mastermind.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2014/0430/614101-mchugh-and-others-leave-donegal-panel/

What an awful year+ that Donegal have had since winning the 2012 All-Ireland.

And to think Joe Brolly held them in the same esteem as Kilkenny hurlers under Cody.

I have to admit, Joe Brolly's adoration of them was sickening, and I can't say I wasn't glad that they came right back down to earth last year. Which was wrong of me, because Donegal were in no way responsible for what Brolly was coming out with.

What an awful year+ that Donegal have had since winning the 2012 All-Ireland.

We are members of the GAA! However I suspect you are correct. It's nearly a certainty that *something* has to change, as the current calendar is a bit of a mess.

I meant the GAA hierarchy, my apologies

The 32 county set-up is tailor-made for a round robin format, which would actually be easier to organise around club fixtures. The thing is, with each team playing once, and two teams advancing, you'd have 63 games in total, which is only 3 more than the current set-up. Is it altogether more profitable? Is there enough of a case for uprooting tradition? It would possibly lead to more equitable football, but it would uproot a lot of the romance of the GAA.

Dublin tend to polarise opinion, let's put it that way. Let me just make it clear that this is not an anti-Dublin thread, although it may give hope to many out there who are. I am simply stating that their invincibility may not be as pronounced as many feel it is.

Dublin are an excellent team. I have stated on another thread that I think they're as good as Kerry or Tyrone were in the 00's, if not better, although they will have to prove it by tagging on a few more titles. Which I have no doubt they will do. For all the talk of perceived home advantage, which I think is a legitimate cause for concern, they would still be big favourites. Why? Because, quite simply, they are the best team in the country.

However, there is always a tendency to look at All-Ireland champions as infallible. Their weaknesses are overlooked. Going into last year's championship, Donegal were perceived by many to be unbeatable. It proved to be way off the mark.

Firstly, let's look at this. Were Dublin there for the taking last year? Yes. If Declan O'Sullivan's effort had gone over the bar, it could have all been so different. Dublin had to be at 100%, and they were. Could Mayo have taken them in the final? Well, they came within a point, and were far from their best, so why not? Dublin may not have been brilliant themselves, but that's another story.

Their last defence in 2012 was shaky throughout, and, ultimately, Mayo put them out. Tyrone had weaknesses that were overlooked before their title defences, and they were beaten by teams like Laois, Meath, Cork and Mayo. They were a fine team, but on their day they could be beaten.

It's easy to forget that Dublin were beaten more than once during the league proper, and Cork should really have beaten them from the position they held. If Cork had finished the job, would we be talking about Dublin as the hottest favourites in at least recent championship history.

I think they will win it, but don't assume Championship 2014 is a foregone conclusion. If Dublin have a bad day, Cork, Mayo, maybe Kerry can take them. Who knows? Let's look forward to the Championship. May the best team win, and if that team is Dublin, so be it.

I think it will be changed though. Actually, I have no doubt it will. In all likelihood, you'll see the 32 counties split into groups of four. At the end of the day, money talks. We can gripe, but if we were members of the GAA we'd do the same. It'll take the magic once it happens, but it will ultimately happen.

Seriously, for all it's shortcomings, I think the Provincial Championships are an engrained and valuable part of why the championship is so special. We've seen Clare win Munster in '92, Leitrim win Connacht in '94, Laois winning Leinster in '03, all wonderful occasions. Tell a Louth supporter that winning Leinster in '10 wouldn't have mattered, of course it did. It gives other counties something to play for. Those victories mentioned were as valuable and talked about as All-Irelands are to Kilkenny, Kerry, Dublin, Tipperary, Cork, Galway. For all it's eccentricities, it's a system that's ultimately part of what sets the GAA apart.