Front or back door for All Ireland success?

[Kerry Mike]

the teams who have won the ai regardless of route have been the best team that year, having overcome the best that others could come up with, at least once and sometimes twice. 

Agreed but we still get the "Easy" All Ireland tag thrown at us every now and again

[Hardy]

Lads I couldn't give a shite if we staged a holdup in Moneygall and robbed Sam off the Kerry lads on the way home. If Sam or Liam comes home to Offaly, I couldn't care less whether it's through the front door, back door, side door or service entrance.

AZ, I've fixed that for you*. Your open flouting of cliché tradition is disturbing. Don't you know our GAA clichés are sacred and not to be abandoned lightly. Who knows where it could lead?

(* Note how easy it is to use a well-worn cliché if you're willing to try.)

[CorkMan]

I think everyone would like to win the championship through the front door but 2010,09,08 and I think 07 the AI champions came through the back door.I don't think it matters to most teams in September after winning an All Ireland how they got there.

[Jinxy]

It's about time we closed all these fancy doors and went back to the old system of tunneling up through the floor with a spoon.

[Farrandeelin]

I'm a purest, front door or nothing for me.  A back door all Ireland is one that will forever have an * over it.

Until Mayo win the back-door route it will anyway.

[Tommy58]

Out of 280 back door teams, 6 have won Sam. That's 2.2% success.
Out of 40 front door teams, 4 have won Sam. That's 10% success.
Front door teams are almost 5 times more successful than back door.

9 provincial quarter final winners (or byes) have won Sam
1 quarter final (or preliminary) loser has won.

6 prov semi final winners have won Sam.
3 semi final losers have won.

4 prov final winners have won Sam.
2 final losers have won.

Winning provincial championship matches has been a big advantage in the race for Sam.

[Rossfan]

Winning championship matches has been a big advantage in the race for Sam.

fixed for you buckeen