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Early indication is: Mayo televised Saturday, Roscommon Sunday.  Will none of the Leinster games be shown?  I can't remember ever seeing Carlow, Laois, Longford, Offaly and Wicklow footballers live!

To my mind, the three Leinster games could be competitive, while we can bank on Mayo & Roscommon winning easily.

At least I've got Munster hurling for Sunday.

The GAA seems to feel the game itself was broken...thus all the rule changes.  I would have said the biggest problem with the inter-county championship is the lack of competitiveness.  One need only look at the Leinster and Munster championships.  Then look at the boost in interest that came with Dublin losing a game this year.

How does one fix this problem?  The best I can come up with is giving the weaker counties more exposure.  In Munster the best athletes will play football in Kerry, while the best in the other five counties will play hurling.  Obviously that means Kerry dominance.

In the other provinces, the weaker counties basically get ignore.  Why would young athletes choose Gaelic football in those counties?  Put them on tv!  Maybe it creates interest, which will mean better teams to challenge the big counties.

What does the GAA do?  Creates a tier two championship.  Thus 16 counties don't even get a game in the All Irelands  How's that help those counties?  Seems the GAA was only interested in creating its own version of the Champions League.  Thus the strong get stronger.

At least if a weaker county, like Clare, can qualify for the final sixteen they'll get exposure.  Right?  Were any of Clare's games televised last year?  I notice their game against Down is skipped, along with Cavan's first game.  Naturally Kerry and Dublin are prime time Saturday coverage.

Yes I know the GAA have bigger fish to fry.  Like abolishing defensive football so the game is exciting enough for the fans who were getting bored.