All Ireland Championship 2025.

[Sportacus]

Give me a main event rather than a double header any day. Donegal and Monaghan could've packed out Breffni on Sunday and there'd be no issue.

[SaffronSports]

Let's be honest, if they'd put it as Sunday, Jim would still be whinging. Hopefully Monaghan resolve his fixture congestion on Saturday.

[tiempo]

Was it Donegal that denied giving Louth 15 mins?

Touché 😆

[Mikhailov]

The easy thing to do was play Kerry & Dublin games on Saturday (7 days rest) and then Galway & Donegal on Sunday (7 days rest)

But now Donegal have 6 days, Dublin & Galway 7 and Kerry 8

That blatantly is not fair or right

But the GAA don't do it simple.

The amount of fixture clashes between big hurling and football games on at the same time in the last few weeks beggars belief

[Dunneroyal]

My biased verdict

Armagh v Kerry.
I saw Kerry up close. They were without some players who they replaced with lads that either had all ire medals or provincial medals. Very few mentioned that Meath were without Costello best player this year and second highest scorer for Meath , Conlon motm v Dublin and second best player this year also 3rd highest scorer for us. Our first choice midfielder Flynn and our most influential player jones. 
Kerry were flat Rafferty kept Clifford in his pocket for most of the game.
For that reason I can only see a Armagh Victory and tbh a comfortable one at that too.

Tyrone v Dublin.
Again saw dubs up close. But that game was probably more decided by the gale force wind than anything else and James Conlon been unmarkable . This is harder to call. I'll say at home dub will squeak it by a point or two. But could take extra time.

Monaghan v Donegal. I've seen Monaghan in league this year and I think it was Meaths worst performance of the league but Monaghan did what they had to do and did it extremely well. If Donegal play like they did in first half of Down game then Monaghan will win, however if they play as they did in second half then Donegal will prevail.
So I'll opt for Donegal by 3.

Meath v Galway.
Head and heart one this is. Always been a huge respect between both counties that I think goes back to the 60s , many might say mayo is their second team. Not in Meath it's their western neighbours Galway. Always liked their brand of football. We played a challenge match against each other before league almost full compliment for both teams , Galway won by 2 points . I think that was the springboard for Meath this year. It's probably 60/40 in favour of the tribesmen. But I do think there is one more big game in this Meath team. So many players out but Robbie has talked all year about next man up and boy have these kids really stood up. I hope it's not a step too far and I will go with heart and say Meath by the minimum 1 point.

[thewobbler]

What was the point of that statement?

It's so that should Donegal lose in this championship, it won't be because Jimmy demands his players to run constantly at full speed for 70 minutes, but instead because the GAA hierarchy won't give his teams suitable breaks between games to make his masterplan unbeatable.

He's already ruined football once. f**k him.

Lazy narrative.

I agree, it is a touch lazy.

But at same time. The competition format was known last year. The USFC draw was known 8 months ago. The fixture schedule for the closing stages was released 6 months ago. The new rules have been in place 5 months.

Complaining about these things is just childish. Complaining about them week in week out is nauseating.

Plus he ruined football before, so I will once again say f**k him.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

My biased verdict

Armagh v Kerry.
I saw Kerry up close. They were without some players who they replaced with lads that either had all ire medals or provincial medals. Very few mentioned that Meath were without Costello best player this year and second highest scorer for Meath , Conlon motm v Dublin and second best player this year also 3rd highest scorer for us. Our first choice midfielder Flynn and our most influential player jones. 
Kerry were flat Rafferty kept Clifford in his pocket for most of the game.
For that reason I can only see a Armagh Victory and tbh a comfortable one at that too.

Tyrone v Dublin.
Again saw dubs up close. But that game was probably more decided by the gale force wind than anything else and James Conlon been unmarkable . This is harder to call. I'll say at home dub will squeak it by a point or two. But could take extra time.

Monaghan v Donegal. I've seen Monaghan in league this year and I think it was Meaths worst performance of the league but Monaghan did what they had to do and did it extremely well. If Donegal play like they did in first half of Down game then Monaghan will win, however if they play as they did in second half then Donegal will prevail.
So I'll opt for Donegal by 3.

Meath v Galway.
Head and heart one this is. Always been a huge respect between both counties that I think goes back to the 60s , many might say mayo is their second team. Not in Meath it's their western neighbours Galway. Always liked their brand of football. We played a challenge match against each other before league almost full compliment for both teams , Galway won by 2 points . I think that was the springboard for Meath this year. It's probably 60/40 in favour of the tribesmen. But I do think there is one more big game in this Meath team. So many players out but Robbie has talked all year about next man up and boy have these kids really stood up. I hope it's not a step too far and I will go with heart and say Meath by the minimum 1 point.

Mayo most people's second team?

Maybe pre 2017 vast majority of neutrals have lost faith and respect in them since that final in 2021.

[Wildweasel74]

Here if they beat Tyrone finishing top would saved him a game. Alot of teams like to be in their position, but all he can do is cry about it.

[David McKeown]

The easy thing to do was play Kerry & Dublin games on Saturday (7 days rest) and then Galway & Donegal on Sunday (7 days rest)

But now Donegal have 6 days, Dublin & Galway 7 and Kerry 8

That blatantly is not fair or right

But the GAA don't do it simple.

The amount of fixture clashes between big hurling and football games on at the same time in the last few weeks beggars belief

They aren't playing each other. How is it not fair or right? There was no outcry for Down or Cavan last week when their direct opponents were benefiting. That's the way the calendar has been set for quite some time. If you didn't want to run the risk of it happening then win your group. Simple as.

[J70]

Utterly embarrassing stuff.

Why?

Seems utterly fair comment to me.

[Truthsayer]

The easy thing to do was play Kerry & Dublin games on Saturday (7 days rest) and then Galway & Donegal on Sunday (7 days rest)

But now Donegal have 6 days, Dublin & Galway 7 and Kerry 8

That blatantly is not fair or right

But the GAA don't do it simple.

The amount of fixture clashes between big hurling and football games on at the same time in the last few weeks beggars belief

Totally agree with this. Is as if people don't follow both codes. They're both Gaelic Games. It's become infuriating. Also big underage games on at same time as major games in other code.
Usually go to both All Ireland hurling semi-finals, waiting patiently (impatiently!) to see when All Ireland minor football final is fixed for. No doubt 100 miles away around same time as the hurling semi-final in Croke Park.

[J70]

Was it Donegal that denied giving Louth 15 mins?

No, it wasn't.

[J70]

Utterly embarrassing stuff.

It's very fair they've been shafted. And I'm no Donegal fan.

How? Because They have to play 6 days after a game instead of 7? I haven't heard anyone explain why this makes a difference. Anyone saying an extra day's rest can save it. Teams will be training all week from tonight.

Why give Kerry 2 days extra rest?

The optics are not good.

They've been on a long slog and extra days rest would mean a lot mentally more than anything.

Mentally it will make no difference, they wouldn't be chilled on the Saturday if they had an AI QF on Sunday. Physically it will probably make no difference either. If you haven't recovered after 6 days you are injured.

Why give Kerry 2 days extra rest?

The obvious thing to do was Armagh Kerry Dublin Tyrone double header on Saturday and both Donegal and Galway on the Sunday and it's fair for everyone.

I can totally understand Donegals grievances.

The rest of you can't see beyond county rivalries and the fact Mcguinness did a bit of giving out after the match in the Hyde.

That's about the height of it.

[J70]

Let's be honest, if they'd put it as Sunday, Jim would still be whinging. Hopefully Monaghan resolve his fixture congestion on Saturday.

Why would he be whinging about a Sunday fixture?

They're right about this, and they were right to complain about Hyde Park.

It's funny how the GAA had no problem with Offaly GAA hosting Meath v Kerry while their footballers were togging out in Newbridge, but there apparently wasn't a steward to be had for any of the Ulster grounds because those counties were playing. I guess most of the Offaly lads are hurling snobs.

[ranch]

Give me a main event rather than a double header any day. Donegal and Monaghan could've packed out Breffni on Sunday and there'd be no issue.

I agree. No need for these games to be at Croke Park. Play them as separate main events in regional grounds. Clones would be heaving with Dubs on a Saturday afternoon, Portlaoise would get a great boost with 18k plus turning up.

Saturday: Tyrone v Dublin - Clones@ 4pm
          Armagh v Kerry - Portlaoise @ 6.15pm

Sunday: Donegal v Monaghan - Cavan / Omagh / Armagh @ 2pm
        Meath v Galway - Tullamore @ 4.15pm

I doubt any of these would sell out, with the possible exception of Armagh v Kerry, and even then it would be highly unlikely as much of the bandwagon Armagh support only turn up in Clones or Croke Park.