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If as Burns claims the reason no further action was because the referee dealt with it on the day, surely then Hurson should be stood down for future games as not seeing/taking proper action against both Clifford/McGuinness or any action against players contributing to a melee is as negligent as Conor Lane was in the league final. And has Lane not be unofficially disappeared by the CCCC.

how often has action been taken when something has been in the report? D Connolly and the linesman for one? Thats wasnt dealt with on the day if memory serves me right

Rules have changed since then on what the CCCC can and can't do. Had that incident occurred today in the same way the CCCC would be powerless.

David, under what circumstances can the CCCC now give someone a suspension for an incident if the referee did not send off that player / official for said incident?

Its a needlessly complicated process but the CCCC can only get involved (commence an investigation) once it is confirmed that the referee did not adjudicate on any incident.  Adjudicating includes seeing the incident and taking no action.  One of the problems is that it can be difficult to confirm that without an investigation commencing to show the referee what you are talking about and asking them to confirm whether they adjudicated or not.

Yeah, it does sound circular alright.  If a player hasn't been shown a card that how can the CCCC know whether the referee seen it or not? The only way they will know if it is specifically mentioned in the ref's report.
 
So this means Hurson would have had to have written "I seen Jim McGuinness push the Kerry player but deemed there was not minimal physical interference and so no punishment was forthcoming."
If he wrote this he was clearly wrong as video evidence shows, so can the CCCC do nothing about that.

And if he didn't write then that the CCCC don't know if Hurson did adjudicate on it.  Unless they can ask him without starting the process?

More likely the CCCC would have provided Hurson a fixed camera or broadcast feed of the game and asked did you see this incident at x time or was it brought to your attention. Hurson would then reply whether he had seen it or it was brought to his attention. If it was the CCCC are precluded from going further.  If he didn't the rest of the CCCC procedures would kick in but the first thing that would be asked were a sanction to be challenged is did the asking for clarification come after an investigation had been initiated. As I say needlessly circular and complex.

I was involved in one previously were clips of the incident had been sent round members of the CCCC asking if something warranted asking for a clarification from the ref. The Appeals committee kicked out the sanction because they determined the investigation had started before the CCCC had clarified if they incident had been dealt with.

If as Burns claims the reason no further action was because the referee dealt with it on the day, surely then Hurson should be stood down for future games as not seeing/taking proper action against both Clifford/McGuinness or any action against players contributing to a melee is as negligent as Conor Lane was in the league final. And has Lane not be unofficially disappeared by the CCCC.

how often has action been taken when something has been in the report? D Connolly and the linesman for one? Thats wasnt dealt with on the day if memory serves me right

Rules have changed since then on what the CCCC can and can't do. Had that incident occurred today in the same way the CCCC would be powerless.

David, under what circumstances can the CCCC now give someone a suspension for an incident if the referee did not send off that player / official for said incident?

Its a needlessly complicated process but the CCCC can only get involved (commence an investigation) once it is confirmed that the referee did not adjudicate on any incident.  Adjudicating includes seeing the incident and taking no action.  One of the problems is that it can be difficult to confirm that without an investigation commencing to show the referee what you are talking about and asking them to confirm whether they adjudicated or not.

Horrible case and arguably lucky to have received only the second largest tariff ever imposed.

Watching that live stream after the fact was chilling.

What was the longer one for?

Murder by a convicted rapist. It lead to a complete overhaul of sentencing law in Northern Ireland

Trevor Hamilton?

Yes

If neutral venues were being used by all counties then wouldn't be an issue. But if your saying, you get home venue unless your home ground isn't big enough then that does impact sporting integrity as it negatively impacts smaller counties, who are already up against it.

I'm with David.

I'd have even less of an issue if you said you can't have this ground or that ground at all at a certain stage rather than what some are calling for you can't have your choice of ground when playing certain teams whereas everyone else can have their home ground at all times

Season ticket holders did not automatically get stand tickets for Armagh home league games. There were some available for some games and it was pot luck

Many season ticket holders got stand tickets for all games, I did, and others got stand tickets for most games. Some people chose to go to the shed to be with other non season ticket holders.
It is a question of numbers. The stand holds 5500, when we played Donegal no doubt they brought a goodly number of season ticket holders in addition to our 3000. There are people who should be in the stand in addition to season ticket holders, so everyone cannot fit.

I assume they were given the choice because sporting integrity was more important than money

So if the GAA had announced at the start of the year that neutral venues would be used, then the competition would have lacked sporting integrity? 

Many season ticket holders didn't get any stand tickets.

I have no idea why you have posed that second question as that's not what I have said. The rules clearly stated first team out has home advantage. It would undermine sporting integrity to have that rule and then undermine it in limited specific circumstances.

In your example it would undermine it to ignore that rule and force a team to a non neutral venue and give a team home advantage. That would be the equivalent of what I was saying.

I'd guess Armagh have 4 or 5 times the number of ST holders Louth have and will likely have 75% of the support and noise.

No idea how many Louth would have, Leinster win last year bound to have encouraged a few more to buy? 0 incentives in buying one price wise these days, only advantage is the allocated seating now means you don't need to head in hours before the game

Season ticket holders have been rather shafted in recent years. Between the Antrim fiasco last year and the terrace tickets instead of stand tickets throughout the league I'm surprised they are being given any tickets this year at all.

For home games, Armagh season ticket holders have got stand tickets, insofar as they will fit in. This has not always been true at other venues.
 

It was Louth's choice to make, like Newbridge or nowhere before it I would fully support Louth on this one.

But the real question is why the GAA have allowed them have that choice.

Louth will be putting out the béal bocht about money, while at the same time turning away revenue. Perhaps they should sell virtual tickets to their supporters who would otherwise have been going to this game.

Season ticket holders did not automatically get stand tickets for Armagh home league games. There were some available for some games and it was pot luck

I assume they were given the choice because sporting integrity was more important than money

I'd guess Armagh have 4 or 5 times the number of ST holders Louth have and will likely have 75% of the support and noise.

No idea how many Louth would have, Leinster win last year bound to have encouraged a few more to buy? 0 incentives in buying one price wise these days, only advantage is the allocated seating now means you don't need to head in hours before the game

Season ticket holders have been rather shafted in recent years. Between the Antrim fiasco last year and the terrace tickets instead of stand tickets throughout the league I'm surprised they are being given any tickets this year at all.

It was Louth's choice to make, like Newbridge or nowhere before it I would fully support Louth on this one.

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

I agree with whoever said it's a poor enough draw, to my mind there's no real blockbuster clash and contrary to your read on it, I think Donegal, Galway and Kerry will win pulling up, Dublin could easily do likewise and similarly Armagh, but the venues do give a wee bit of a chance to the home teams, particularly Louth.
That leaves 3 games which are hard to call  and they truly are hard to call, but none of the six involved are top tier contenders, so hopefully good games, but not blockbusters. Of those three games, I'd say the rossies are probably the safest call, but it could go either way too.
Re the TV coverage, I'm glad that common sense has prevailed and the three least appetising clashes have been the three casualties.

Been some great games to date, let's hope this year's championship doesn't peter out like last year's, where the games from quarter finals stage on were largely non-events.

Realistically we're at the last 16 stage and there'll always be mismatches, hopefully from the last 12 on games should be more exciting, naturally not every team can be a contender but like the Cavan/Westmeath can still be good games. Again I think Westmeath will give Galway their fill of it but probably fall short in the end. All teams bar Kildare have at least a punchers chance I would say.

With the Cork and Dublin games it depends which version turn up, if Cork are at it they'll cause Donegal hassle and make a game of it, if not it'll be a 10 plus point hammering, if Dublin are on it they'll beat Cavan easily but if they aren't Cavan again will give them hassle. Potential for Kerry to meet Galway/Armagh in a quarter final which would be properly blockbuster.

In a weird way its probably better to get kerry sooner rather than later as they get lads healthier with more fitness and sharpness with each week. Depends on how bad the injuries are. Gavin white had a setback? He dropped out of squad for donegal but came on in munster final. Hes very short on football this year.

Not sure if a round 3 away to tyrone, roscommon or mayo/ monaghan is going to help or hinder them at this stage. Kerry armagh quarter final would be juicy alright

Statistically they are most likely to draw Westmeath in Round 3 and can't draw Monaghan or Roscommon.

If as Burns claims the reason no further action was because the referee dealt with it on the day, surely then Hurson should be stood down for future games as not seeing/taking proper action against both Clifford/McGuinness or any action against players contributing to a melee is as negligent as Conor Lane was in the league final. And has Lane not be unofficially disappeared by the CCCC.

Sean Hurson refereed that game with officiating maturity, he deactivated any potential explosive outcomes, cleared the benches and laid down the law to the managers. The second half of that game was almost a game for pussies.

The problem is he didn't lay down the law. He invented his own law. Some prefer that and call it common sense. The difficulty is it leaves you open to claims of inconsistency and bias

If as Burns claims the reason no further action was because the referee dealt with it on the day, surely then Hurson should be stood down for future games as not seeing/taking proper action against both Clifford/McGuinness or any action against players contributing to a melee is as negligent as Conor Lane was in the league final. And has Lane not be unofficially disappeared by the CCCC.

how often has action been taken when something has been in the report? D Connolly and the linesman for one? Thats wasnt dealt with on the day if memory serves me right

Rules have changed since then on what the CCCC can and can't do. Had that incident occurred today in the same way the CCCC would be powerless.

Horrible case and arguably lucky to have received only the second largest tariff ever imposed.

Watching that live stream after the fact was chilling.

What was the longer one for?

Murder by a convicted rapist. It lead to a complete overhaul of sentencing law in Northern Ireland

Horrible case and arguably lucky to have received only the second largest tariff ever imposed.

Watching that live stream after the fact was chilling.

A very boring draw I thought in comparison to the round 1 draw. Fewer unpredictable matches I feel and knock out effect of a poor enough round 3 draw I feel too.

Any draw that pits unusual matches is good for me. I hope don't do an Antrim and play the match in a tiny stadium. Their own fans will suffer too.

The whole point of this new format was to increase jeopardy I am not sure that has really happened.

That's Dublin and Kerry looked after as expected.
Tough enoigh one for us but the type of game you need to be winning to be an AI contender.

Wouldn't rule out  Cavan beating Dublin

Dublin won't be winning  no All Ireland anyway , so  I wouldn't worry. Kerry handy draw though as usual

As usual?
Got Donegal last time.
The two previous championship draws, they got Tyrone in 2025 semi, and the then reigning All-Ireland Champions Armagh in 2025 1/4s.

If you're getting to a  semi final, odds are you'll meet   a top 4 or 5 team

Kerry didn't draw Armagh last year. Kerry were the only  team Armagh COULD get as they'd played  every one else previously

Just gloss over getting Donegal in the last round.🤣

It wasn't a knockout  round though

Kildare this round with their most likely opponent should they win to be Westmeath and their second most likely opponent to be Louth I am sure that they arent complaining about this draw at all.

That's Dublin and Kerry looked after as expected.
Tough enoigh one for us but the type of game you need to be winning to be an AI contender.

Wouldn't rule out  Cavan beating Dublin

Dublin won't be winning  no All Ireland anyway , so  I wouldn't worry. Kerry handy draw though as usual

As usual?
Got Donegal last time.
The two previous championship draws, they got Tyrone in 2025 semi, and the then reigning All-Ireland Champions Armagh in 2025 1/4s.

If you're getting to a  semi final, odds are you'll meet   a top 4 or 5 team

Kerry didn't draw Armagh last year. Kerry were the only  team Armagh COULD get as they'd played  every one else previously

Just gloss over getting Donegal in the last round.🤣

Well they probably can't meet them again to the final so maybe cute heurism with that too?