All Ireland Championship 2025.

[J70]

Not sure, but I have read that they generally use hybrid pitches with a mixture of real and synthetic grass fibres.

[marty34]

Sligo as a venue won't be picked anyway.
https://x.com/sligogaa/status/1917596575179690076

"Work began this morning on the restoration of the pitch at Markievicz Park. The work is being undertaken by @PruntyPitches and will be completed mid next year."

A full year just to do a pitch restoration?

I'd say you'd need a year to do it right and bed in properly.

Better give it another few months to get it sorted properly. Better in the long term I think.

[marty34]

Probably just wait to after next weekend and then we'll not have to guess, everything will be clear. Tickets for Ulster final is the biggest issue at present...Big, big demand and clubs have more ticket requests than tickets available.

Whatever happened to the season 'season ticket situation' with Armagh fans re: Antrim game?

[balladmaker]

Probably just wait to after next weekend and then we'll not have to guess, everything will be clear. Tickets for Ulster final is the biggest issue at present...Big, big demand and clubs have more ticket requests than tickets available.

Whatever happened to the season 'season ticket situation' with Armagh fans re: Antrim game?

1500 tickets allocated to Armagh season ticket holders is my understanding of it, so not all season ticket holders could be sorted, was first come, first served.

[blanketattack]

Sligo as a venue won't be picked anyway.
https://x.com/sligogaa/status/1917596575179690076

"Work began this morning on the restoration of the pitch at Markievicz Park. The work is being undertaken by @PruntyPitches and will be completed mid next year."

A full year just to do a pitch restoration?

Strange alright, I've seen pitches relayed after concerts and they're ready for action within 3 or 4 weeks e.g. Chicago after a u2 concert

[illdecide]

Pitches that have had grown turf sods laid which were grown off site elsewhere is played on pretty soon after laying as the grass has already established and is in deep turf sods, you can still see some movement in the sod if a player turns suddenly or a quick stop you'd see the sod move a bit so you still have to be careful but generally if it's late spring or early summer it wouldn't take the deep sod long to bed in and played on (3-4 weeks).

[Blowitupref]

Seems like it was a utter mess of job and were left with "meadow grass" and the whole process of a new surface is now required in Sligo.

[Easttyrone23]

How much interest was there for the championship draw? The attendances are dropping every year and many are losing interest with the current format and amount of games.

 If Armagh win Ulster then Tyrone would play both Cavan and Armagh twice in 5 championship games. Donegal could also possibly win 5 championship games yet not reach the quarter finals while another county could potentially lose 3 championship games but still make the quarters.

The previous format did need changes as for example Kerry only played 2 games against weaker counties to reach the semis/quarters while an Ulster team might have had to play 4 games against stronger opposition to reach the same stage. But by allowing a div 3/4 team to qualify for the championship by reaching their provisional final rather than the Tailtann has resulted in a similar situation. For example Clare can play in div 3 but by beating two div 4 teams in Waterford and Tipperary qualifies them therefore dropping another County down.
Antrim who were in div 3 would have had to beat 2 all Ireland winners in the last 4 years in Armagh and Tyrone to qualify for the championship. Clare beating Waterford and Tipperary also qualifies them as second seeds therefore higher seeded than the likes of Dublin, Tyrone and Derry etc. This will still be the case with the new format next year.

I know it's absolutely no fault of Clares and there's been great work put into their football team in recent years and will fancy their chances at promotion to div 2 but unfair on another county who will miss out as a result.

[snoopdog]

How much interest was there for the championship draw? The attendances are dropping every year and many are losing interest with the current format and amount of games.

 If Armagh win Ulster then Tyrone would play both Cavan and Armagh twice in 5 championship games. Donegal could also possibly win 5 championship games yet not reach the quarter finals while another county could potentially lose 3 championship games but still make the quarters.

The previous format did need changes as for example Kerry only played 2 games against weaker counties to reach the semis/quarters while an Ulster team might have had to play 4 games against stronger opposition to reach the same stage. But by allowing a div 3/4 team to qualify for the championship by reaching their provisional final rather than the Tailtann has resulted in a similar situation. For example Clare can play in div 3 but by beating two div 4 teams in Waterford and Tipperary qualifies them therefore dropping another County down.
Antrim who were in div 3 would have had to beat 2 all Ireland winners in the last 4 years in Armagh and Tyrone to qualify for the championship. Clare beating Waterford and Tipperary also qualifies them as second seeds therefore higher seeded than the likes of Dublin, Tyrone and Derry etc. This will still be the case with the new format next year.

I know it's absolutely no fault of Clares and there's been great work put into their football team in recent years and will fancy their chances at promotion to div 2 but unfair on another county who will miss out as a result.

Totally agree. I think it's a way of forcing the provincial system and getting rid of the provincial championship.
Being from Ulster I'd hate to lose the Ulster Championship, but even it is a shadow of its former self.
April games played in sometimes winter conditions, no promotion off it, played off over a month.going up against the end of soccer and rugby seasons, And over priced. It's no wonder attendances are dropping.  I do not see any benefit to the early championship, County finals are all still in October.
 

[snoopdog]

How much interest was there for the championship draw? The attendances are dropping every year and many are losing interest with the current format and amount of games.

 If Armagh win Ulster then Tyrone would play both Cavan and Armagh twice in 5 championship games. Donegal could also possibly win 5 championship games yet not reach the quarter finals while another county could potentially lose 3 championship games but still make the quarters.

The previous format did need changes as for example Kerry only played 2 games against weaker counties to reach the semis/quarters while an Ulster team might have had to play 4 games against stronger opposition to reach the same stage. But by allowing a div 3/4 team to qualify for the championship by reaching their provisional final rather than the Tailtann has resulted in a similar situation. For example Clare can play in div 3 but by beating two div 4 teams in Waterford and Tipperary qualifies them therefore dropping another County down.
Antrim who were in div 3 would have had to beat 2 all Ireland winners in the last 4 years in Armagh and Tyrone to qualify for the championship. Clare beating Waterford and Tipperary also qualifies them as second seeds therefore higher seeded than the likes of Dublin, Tyrone and Derry etc. This will still be the case with the new format next year.

I know it's absolutely no fault of Clares and there's been great work put into their football team in recent years and will fancy their chances at promotion to div 2 but unfair on another county who will miss out as a result.

Totally agree. I think it's a way of forcing the provincial system and getting rid of the provincial championship.
Being from Ulster I'd hate to lose the Ulster Championship, but even it is a shadow of its former self.
April games played in sometimes winter conditions, no promotion off it, played off over a month.going up against the end of soccer and rugby seasons, And over priced. It's no wonder attendances are dropping.  I do not see any benefit to the early championship, County finals are all still in October.
 

Any idea when the dates and times will be confirmed for next weekend group games.
They know who is playing what are they waiting for.
Absolute wasters in croke pk.

[Rossfan]

Getting both Counties to agree, any big things on locally, Garda advice..
Aren't fixtures made by voluntary CCCC as opposed to employed staff in HQ.

That said I'd have thought they'd have been sorted out by this morning.

Anyway Kerry v Ros Saturday 17th at 2.30.

[Blowitupref]

Round 1 games for the 17th/18th May

Saturday
Kerry v Roscommon - Fitzgerald Stadium 2:30pm  live on GAA+
Galway v Dublin - Pearse Stadium 5pm live on GAA+   

Sunday
Mayo v Cavan - MacHale Park 2:30pm
Clare v Down - Cusack Park 2pm

[snoopdog]

Round 1 games for the 17th/18th May

Saturday
Kerry v Roscommon - Fitzgerald Stadium 2:30pm  live on GAA+
Galway v Dublin - Pearse Stadium 5pm live on GAA+   

Sunday
Mayo v Cavan - MacHale Park 2:30pm
Clare v Down - Cusack Park 2pm

Cheers

[Blowitupref]

Group 1 - Donegal  Mayo  Tyrone  Cavan
Group 2 - Kerry,Meath  Roscommon Cork
Group 3 - Louth  Clare Monaghan  Down
Group 4 - Galway  Armagh, Dublin  Derry

Updated groups. 

[p3427977]

When will the remaining group game fixtures be confirmed? I see it's only this weekends so far.