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Some strange stadium choices for the Euro bid
Croke Park is bigger than the AvivaCasement doesn't existOld Trafford is bigger than EtihadNew Everton stadium doesn't exist

I think its reasonable enough. London's the only city with two stadiums and its about 10 times bigger than Dublin. Croker isnt a good experience for a Soccer game at all either, the pitch is far too big. The assumption is that Croker will get Casement's games if Casement isn't built in time.

Old Trafford is likely to be getting redeveloped in 2028. Everton's planned stadium looks great and Liverpool as a city was always going to get games, and half of Anfield is very behind the times. That Everton stadium is already half complete

Why would Dublin get a 2x venue derogation? Edinburgh or any number of English cities could fill the gap

I'm just going by what I've seen from Journalists on twitter. I'd assume if Casement can't make it then it's seen that logically games fixed for Ireland would remain on the island.

But anyway, that wouldn't be a decision made until such a scenario arose and it's surely extremely likely Casement gets sorted now that theyve been named, which is great. The UK government has to give substantial backing to it now. Should be full steam ahead

Some strange stadium choices for the Euro bid
Croke Park is bigger than the AvivaCasement doesn't existOld Trafford is bigger than EtihadNew Everton stadium doesn't exist

I think its reasonable enough. London's the only city with two stadiums and its about 10 times bigger than Dublin. Croker isnt a good experience for a Soccer game at all either, the pitch is far too big. The assumption is that Croker will get Casement's games if Casement isn't built in time.

Old Trafford is likely to be getting redeveloped in 2028. Everton's planned stadium looks great and Liverpool as a city was always going to get games, and half of Anfield is very behind the times. That Everton stadium is already half complete

The only thing on Walsh's frees was the ones he missed were 45's basically. Croker's always been more difficult than provincial grounds to kick from the ground with the grass cut so short. He did kick a monster one from the left witht the hands in the first half, I wouldn't worry anyway given how consistent he's been recently

Joyce likes to tag Enda Smith with a runner anyway, the previous few times its been Kieran Molloy. Has worked excellently well (league game in Pearse stadium) and not so well (D2 final). Will be interesting to see who gets the role, possibly Cathal Sweeney although he might lack the physicality. Dylan McHugh another option.

Paul Rouse said last week McDaid couldve played v Mayo. Thats good news if correct as he's absolutely essential. Sean Kelly on Diarmuid Murtagh is probably set in stone, with Glynn or McGrath (provided they start) following Ben O'Carroll around. I assume Stack won't want to be following Walsh around the field and will tag Finnerty, with Daly on Comer? Would be hoping for a bounceback game from Tierney, who figures to have a size advantage on whomever he's marking. Might be an option to play slightly close to goal, or definitely following in high balls as he did throughout the league

Rhubarbs and Herrins very quiet about th'oul League Final.
Is there any bit of  interest at all?

Hard get excited when the Rhubarbs are out against the bigots the week after

There's no home advantage to being a top seed really because each team has a home, away and neutral game. While it would obviously help to be a 1 seed, when you delve into it, the result if not isn't that scary. Kerrys group as a 1 seed is going to have Sligo or Leitrim as a 2 seed. With all respect, that's a bye to a prelim QF at least. The Ulster champions group will have a Leinster runner up as a 2, and none of those potential counties are going well atm, save maybe for Louth. The one to avoid would be Dublins group with an Ulster runner up as the 2 seed. There's a fair chance that'll be Cavan though looking at Armagh's injuries and that's not going to scare Galway, Mayo or Ros.

On an advantage side, Mayo have virtually had a week off this week. Most of those who played v Monaghan on Sunday will be in the Stand in Croke Park next Sunday. Plus Mayo's game v Donegal the week before was as close to a training match as one could get.

Technically I suppose it's a knockout game as well, Galway don't win those against the big teams and sure wins don't count unless it's knockout as we've been told before. Advantage Mayo you'd think.

eh its very much advantage galway. mayo are going to have one eye on the start of their championship the following week. i wouldn't even be surprised if they don't play a couple of key players ahead of that. galway can afford to go at it at the weekend knowing they've decent recovery time after, mayo can't really. a by product of the ridiculous scheduling - what could have been a great championship precursor is probably not going to be as good as everyone would like simply because one team has to hold something back.

galway will win and probably handily enough.

Did you see the scenes of jubilation post Mayo's league win in 2019?

The idea that Mayo are going to be holding back, in anticipation for the least consequential Connacht championship ever played is ridiculous. It's the second biggest title in the GAA, they've certainly put a hell of stock into it in the past and they're not exactly flush with national titles. Mayo definitely have the fitness edge at this point and that'll only be exasperated by the fast Croke Park pitch. Too many of Galways main players either won't be playing or are a long way off championship sharpness. If Finnerty, Comer and McDaid don't start as is likely, as well as Walsh still finding his feet, that takes away the vast majority of Galways scores

All eyes now to castlebar

Monaghan 2 up and Armagh losing

That makes yet  another Seafold wrong call against Monaghan. You're so hopeless Seafold that you're having your ass whipped by a stopped clock

Monaghan will be even worse next year with Dublin and Derry joining the party.

Jaysus Christ, did a Monaghan lass break your heart in your younger days? You always seem to take such a negative slant on Monaghan and write them off before every competition

I think there is something wrong with Monaghan, same as the poster above. The return on talent has been poor. Monaghan were shite against Galway this year even though we were the ones relegated in 2021. We got to an all Ireland final straight outta Division 2 last year. The best Monaghan did in the last 10 years was a semi.

You're not living in the real world pal with these points. The "return on talent" for a county the size of Monaghan has been very good tbh. Obviously I'd like to win everything but realistically that's a monumental task for the likes of us, it makes no sense to compare is to the larger counties when you boil it down to numbers and resources. We're very much a team in transition which has both a handful players nearing the end and a rake of young lads with little experience - comparing them to the present Galway side is nonsense tbh given that context.

Everyone wrote us off at the start of the league (like the past several years), and they'll do so again next spring. Makes no odds to us, the goal was to blood a number of the younger players against the top teams and we achieved that. It's not all about the here and now like you're acting, but it's nice to be there again next year too.

I think size is a cop out , honestly. Losing to a mediocre Tyrone in that semi final was a sign of a psychological  problem.  Offaly is also small and they won 3 all Irelands.
Monaghan have a decent team about once a generation and something has to change if the next team is going to go further than a semi final.

Monaghan have been very good for more than a generation now. And size is absolutely a huge factor. No other 'small' county has got anywhere near their level for a long time. I think they're remarkable to be honest. You're talking nonsense

The comedy roadshow that is Willie Joe's blog goes on

https://www.mayogaablog.com/its-worth-a-shot-asking-for-saturday-league-final/

Supposedly it's a player welfare issue to ask Mayo to play 7 days after a league final. But Mayo's opponents having to play 6 days after a dog fight to get to said final (which they're requesting to happen), is absolutely fine seemingly

And this is the fella that runs the site. He's actually tame compared to the rest of the yahoos on there

Galway are safe on 6 pts anyway, hopefully won't be too interested in collecting the points in Armagh ... sure they need to think ahead to the 2024 league and 6000 Armagh supporters landing into Salthill for the weekend, bonanza for the local economy.  Galway lads will hopefully see the bigger picture 

I think Armagh will edge this one. Two even teams and Armagh should have a motivation edge, with Galway being safe as you say, plus possibly the hint of revenge from last summer. Home advantage seems to be important in this league also. I kind of fancy Galway to be well up for the Kerry game the week after for similar reasons but like Armagh in this one.

Looking forward to heading up though. Atmosphere always looks cracking up there. The return leg could potentially be one of Galways first Saturday evening games with lights due to be installed next year. Town would be hopping that evening. Just prepare for some wind and rain!

I say unless there a miracle Donegal and Monaghan be going down.

Monaghan have never needed miracles to beat Tyrone in the league. We can't possibly play as bad as that 2nd half performance  in Galway and notwithstanding it took Galway ages to get that game closing goal, even that had to handed on a plate to them.

Galway controlled that game handily and had it not been for a moment of madness (that the ref should've sorted far earlier) and 4/5 Beggan punts from soft frees, it probably would've been a double figure scoreline. Galway missed a gilt edged goal chance 15 mins before their actual one on 63 mins, and fisted another when a goal chance was glaring. Not sure Monaghan got within sight of a goal

Galway controlled all the second half yet it took the gifted goal near the end to put the required distance, from 2 points to 5. It was the worst half Monaghan have played this year, so I wouldnt start counting chickens just yet and considering Monaghan's shooting was much more wasteful in front of goal than Galway's. Nevertheless, we won't be relegating you this year.

Ah, that year you broke the covid rules and got rewarded with a home relegation playoff in a game of inches. A tough one to take at the time alright, but one of the best things to happen in hindsight. There's great momentum in winning, and it lasted for the vast majority of last year.

You should have nothing to be worried about as long as you're confident you'll get straight back up. I do hope Monaghan stay up though, that lengthy stretch in D1 is a great achievement

Good to see Finnerty back fully fit, thats 5 points from play since been introduced at half time in the Donegal game. Idiotic from Cooke, can't believe he did that in front of the ref. Eoghan Kelly has done really well so far but he's not comfortable on the ball and will get targeted if he doesn't move it on quicker.

McGrath did well, has a great turn of pace. Sweeney has a lot of talent but looks like Joyce is unsure where his best position is, he's got to improve his decision making.

Slightly better from Gleeson on kickouts yesterday but Monaghan definitely let Galway off the hook with this.

Monaghan were tragic though.

Finnerty's really kicked on. He's verging in on top tier now and is absolutely essential in a forward line not awash with heavy scorers. I actually think the top 8 is fairly set now injuries aside. Heaney, Tierney and Conroy have dispelled any notions that their places might be up for grabs with excellent league campaigns. Cooke, while very prone to stupid mistakes, is still way too talented not to play imo. Finnerty, Comer, Walsh and McDaid are undroppable. That's acknowledging the amount of games however, so possibly the notion of a settled first 15 might be dispelled for every team this season.

Conroy will probably need minding from certain matchups and positions on a Croke Park pitch later in the year but can cross that bridge when the time comes. For now I can only marvel at how he's still bossing games at 34 with his smarts and technique.

Nobody else has put the hand up really unfortunately. If you wanted to be brave later in the year and a Patrick Kelly (especially), Tomo or Ian Burke was in very good form, maybe you could get brave and move Heaney to wing back. Sweeney's an interesting case, hard to know is he better at wing back or forward (and if there's much difference between the two). At the moment though I feel he should be trying to make the open no.7 slot his own. The Corner Back spot opposite Glynn is the other seemingly open spot, albiet Eoghan Kelly has been reasonably good there. Not fully sure id fancy him marking a Tommy Conroy later in the year but we'll see. McGraths another option who did very well yesterday, albiet probably slightly behind physically than others.

I say unless there a miracle Donegal and Monaghan be going down.

Monaghan have never needed miracles to beat Tyrone in the league. We can't possibly play as bad as that 2nd half performance  in Galway and notwithstanding it took Galway ages to get that game closing goal, even that had to handed on a plate to them.

Galway controlled that game handily and had it not been for a moment of madness (that the ref should've sorted far earlier) and 4/5 Beggan punts from soft frees, it probably would've been a double figure scoreline. Galway missed a gilt edged goal chance 15 mins before their actual one on 63 mins, and fisted another when a goal chance was glaring. Not sure Monaghan got within sight of a goal

Would love to see Walsh lining out in the Athletic Grounds on March 18th, full house, one of Ireland's top players on view plus Walsh, will be some spectacle 

Damien Comer won't make it back for that one unfortunately. The crowds will have to wait until the Kerry game the week after

Question was asked and Galway stepped it up after ht, subs all worked with Sweeney having a super showing and Tierney was excellent getting those marks at the crucial times, a tonic victory.

Looked in real trouble 10 minutes into the 2nd half as Tyrone went looking for a goal, certainly didn't look like Galway would go on to score 9 of the next 12 points.

Won't be getting carried away given conditions/pitch etc and if Tyrone had got the goal it may have been a different result but Galway showed great character to dig in with the wind and momentum against them. Tierney stood up with those marks and 3 points from play as did a good few others with Galway missing their 3 best scoring forwards in Walsh, Comer & Finnerty.

Dylan McHugh has really surprised me, didn't look upto it in the Connacht Final against Mayo in Croke Park 18 months ago but delighted to be proved wrong, looks more then comfortable at this level and gave another outstanding display.

McHughs gone from someone I thought was fairly steady and smart but not up to the level of an AI contender, to someone who looks like he'll be an absolute mainstay on the team for the next 6-7 years. He's developed a burst of pace and ability to beat a man from seemingly nowhere. Jack Glynn also looks like he's making the year to year progress you'd hope for someone of his age. The losses of Silke and Molloy (and I'm by no means writing his season off yet) looked very worrying to begin with. But the improvement of the two mentioned above, along with possibly Sweeney, and Cookes addition allowing one of Heaney or even McDaid possibly to filter back, means the situation is a good bit rosier now than before. Eoghan Kelly is entitled to improve at a rate of knots also given how newly returned he is to football. The worry would be the lack of a physical specific man marker still

[Won't be many if any of the other Div 1 teams starting with so many first choice players in round 1 in the league.]

11 of that Galway team started All-Ireland final. Won't be many if any of the other Div 1 teams starting with so many first choice players in round 1 in the league.

Joyce looking to hit the ground running it seems while running the risk of injury with a lot of those players already heavily involved with college football and Moycullens season didn't end until early January so not much of a rest there.

No Shane Walsh of course yet he didn't play away to Derry in the league last year and Galway had that contest won by half time leading 3-8 to 0-4 with Tierney, Conneely and Comer with the goals.

Well that's patently nonsense. Go back look at the R1 teamsheets from the D1 teams last year. Teams haven't put throwaway teams out in the league in about a decade at this stage. Kerry and Donegal will look a bit different this year alright through injury and club commitments

How many U20 players will be making their competitive debut in D1 this weekend? Id say you could set the line at 2. It's an experimental defensive setup with a decent forward line. Goalkeeper best not talked about. Best player and free taker being gone until game 6 by the sounds of things will probably cost them at some point