Sam Maguire permutations

[An Watcher]

Draw being made earlier could add something extra to the provincial final but also take something away.  For example if a team realises they are falling into pot 2 which has an easier pot 1 team than being the other way around then they could take their foot off the gas.  Not likely to happen bit it very well could

[armaghniac]

Draw being made earlier could add something extra to the provincial final but also take something away.  For example if a team realises they are falling into pot 2 which has an easier pot 1 team than being the other way around then they could take their foot off the gas.  Not likely to happen bit it very well could

A pot with Sligo as second seed and Westmeath as fourth seed would not be likely to stop a Provincial champion or a third seed like Tyrone or Mayo reaching the QFs.

[Bord na Mona man]

The architects of the Tailteann Cup probably didn't envisage that so quickly it could potentially have Cork, Meath and Kildare in it.
These are counties that the number crunchers want to see going well because they put bums on seats and are good revenue streams.

Cork footballers putting bums on seats?
That barely happens at the best of times, unless you mean there's some scheme with free tickets for tramps.

Back in the day Killarney and Pairc Ui Chaoimh would be full for Cork v Kerry Munster finals.
With the stadium debt in Pairc Ui Chaoimh to be paid off, they would be hoping to have Cork competitive again.

Yesterday in Tullamore there were 5,000 people for Offaly vs Meath. 25 years ago 48,000 came to Croke Park to see both teams contest the first round of the Leinster championship.
Financially juicing Dublin to such a degree has massively backfired on the balance sheets.

[Blowitupref]

Draw being made earlier could add something extra to the provincial final but also take something away.  For example if a team realises they are falling into pot 2 which has an easier pot 1 team than being the other way around then they could take their foot off the gas.  Not likely to happen bit it very well could

A pot with Sligo as second seed and Westmeath as fourth seed would not be likely to stop a Provincial champion or a third seed like Tyrone or Mayo reaching the QFs.

Depends on who they draw in the Prem QF if they don't top their group.

[twohands!!!]

The GAA have clarified that all four senior football finalists in Connacht and Munster will start their Sam Maguire Cup groups on the weekend of May 20/21.

In a response to a query from the Irish Examiner, it has been explained Clare, Kerry, Galway and Sligo will all play two weeks after the provincial finals on May 7.

The winners of Connacht and Munster will face third seeds at home (either Mayo, Roscommon, Tyrone plus one) in their opening game with the runners-up also at home taking on fourth seeds (either Donegal, Westmeath plus two).

However, the provinces aren't guaranteed to be paired, i.e. Munster winners with Connacht finalists and vice-versa. The victors can also be drawn in the same group as the runners-up in Leinster and Ulster. Likewise, the Connacht and Munster runners-up could find themselves in the same groups as the champions in the bigger provinces.

However, to ensure all teams have at least 13 days between their provincial final and opening Sam Maguire Cup games, there is a possibility not all group's first round games will take place on the same weekend.

For example, if Kerry win Munster and Louth finish second in Leinster and they are drawn in the same group, Jack O'Connor's side will play their first-round game at home against third seeds a week earlier than Mickey Harte's team at home to fourth seeds. All second and third round games take place over the same weekends.

The Sam Maguire Cup draw is set for Tuesday, May 2 following the completion of all provincial semi-finals this weekend.

Sam Maguire Cup dates.

May 20/21: Connacht and Munster finalists' 1st round games (Provincial winners at home v 3rd seeds; provincial runners-up at home v 4th seeds).

May 27/28: Leinster and Ulster finalists' 1st round games. Provincial winners at home v 3rd seeds; provincial runners-up at home v 4th seeds).

June 3/4: All four groups' 2nd round games (4th seeds at home v provincial winners; 3rd seeds at home v provincial runners-up).

June 17/18: All four groups' 3rd and final round games (Provincial winners v provincial runners-up at neutral venue; 3rd seeds v 4th seeds at neutral venues).

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41123461.html

[armaghniac]

Will Louth play their games at home? There could be a right crowd if Tyrone, Armagh or Mayo were there.
They should move to Pairc Tailteann just to ensure that Meath plays some part in the destination of Sam.

[seafoid]

The architects of the Tailteann Cup probably didn't envisage that so quickly it could potentially have Cork, Meath and Kildare in it.
These are counties that the number crunchers want to see going well because they put bums on seats and are good revenue streams.

Down too

[armaghniac]

The architects of the Tailteann Cup probably didn't envisage that so quickly it could potentially have Cork, Meath and Kildare in it.
These are counties that the number crunchers want to see going well because they put bums on seats and are good revenue streams.

Down too

Cork footballers put feck all bums on seats. Kildare will be cheering for Armagh on Sunday, so if you get rid of Down then you get Kildare who are fairly well supported and conveniently located to get to away games.

[blanketattack]

The architects of the Tailteann Cup probably didn't envisage that so quickly it could potentially have Cork, Meath and Kildare in it.
These are counties that the number crunchers want to see going well because they put bums on seats and are good revenue streams.

Cork footballers putting bums on seats?
That barely happens at the best of times, unless you mean there's some scheme with free tickets for tramps.

Back in the day Killarney and Pairc Ui Chaoimh would be full for Cork v Kerry Munster finals.
With the stadium debt in Pairc Ui Chaoimh to be paid off, they would be hoping to have Cork competitive again.

Yesterday in Tullamore there were 5,000 people for Offaly vs Meath. 25 years ago 48,000 came to Croke Park to see both teams contest the first round of the Leinster championship.
Financially juicing Dublin to such a degree has massively backfired on the balance sheets.

Those Cork-Kerry halcyon days are long gone. Last year's Cork-Kerry game in Pairc Ui Rinn didn't sell out even with the whole Pairc Ui Rinn or nowhere furore.

[Bord na Mona man]

The architects of the Tailteann Cup probably didn't envisage that so quickly it could potentially have Cork, Meath and Kildare in it.
These are counties that the number crunchers want to see going well because they put bums on seats and are good revenue streams.

Cork footballers putting bums on seats?
That barely happens at the best of times, unless you mean there's some scheme with free tickets for tramps.

Back in the day Killarney and Pairc Ui Chaoimh would be full for Cork v Kerry Munster finals.
With the stadium debt in Pairc Ui Chaoimh to be paid off, they would be hoping to have Cork competitive again.

Yesterday in Tullamore there were 5,000 people for Offaly vs Meath. 25 years ago 48,000 came to Croke Park to see both teams contest the first round of the Leinster championship.
Financially juicing Dublin to such a degree has massively backfired on the balance sheets.

Those Cork-Kerry halcyon days are long gone. Last year's Cork-Kerry game in Pairc Ui Rinn didn't sell out even with the whole Pairc Ui Rinn or nowhere furore.

Yep, when Cork were contenders, these were big games. 10 years ago, they'd get 40k at them, even 5 years ago they were still hovering around 30k gates. Pairc Ui Rinn is where it's at now.

[ck]

When is the draw?

[ck]

Surely the provincial championship will be done away with now , it's plain to see , get your seeding from the national league Solely and it also makes the league very important at the same time . It would also give it more time to spread the championship instead of such a condensed season .

Not necessarily. Reaching the provincial final will still be a massive carrot for many teams so they can secure All-Ireland status. Equally some mid Div.2 teams may require a prov final to dodge TC

[imtommygunn]

All 4 provinces have the chance of lower division teams in the final. I read somewhere about Offaly Louth and whether they'd actually want to get to the Leinster final as they'd get tanked by Dublin. I would say either would jump at the chance. Offaly would be in the TC without it and Louth I am sure would jump at the chance of a provincial final and they would be seeded 2nd if they got into it too. Look at Down now as well - they realistically have a chance of being in the group stages and it would probably improve them massively -  I still don't think they'll beat Armagh but it wouldn't be the biggest shock ever if they did. Then there's Clare / Sligo too.

The provincial series has actually worked out well for the argument of keeping it alive.

[seafoid]

The league isn't the final answer for ranking as this year showed.

[Blowitupref]

When is the draw?

This Tuesday at 1pm live on GAA.ie.