Westmeath Vs Dublin - Croke Park

[gwan-ye-boy-ya]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment. 

[theticklemister]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment.

I point ye to the London v Money thread.......

[Syferus]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment.

I point ye to the London v Money thread.......

If you want to see real provincial football look at Connacht and Ulster, gwan. Those Leinster lads won't be concentrating on their football until the Lions tour is over.

We'll just sweep Galway's rotting corpse under the carpet, thankyouverymuch.

[Rossfan]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment.

All the gate money from Provincial games goes to the Provinvial Council, all the gate money from Qualifier games goes to Central Council.
An "open draw" being touted as the panacea for all ills by some  would result in even less money coming in.
Think about it - few if any local derbys, lopsided games  (Donegal v Waterford anyone ?) smaller crowds due to distances involved, half the number of Championship games , no Provincial Trophies so you can lord it over your smelly neighbours etc.
Anyway the Leinster Council should end the practice of having Qtr Finals esp those involving Dublin in Croke Park.
Take the Dubs out of Croker and try and even the score a biteen and make an occasion of them visiting Wexford Pk, Portlaoise etc.

[emmetryan]

Hi guys,

Tactical analysis of Dublin's win over Westmeath now up
http://action81.com/blog/?p=7296

Emmet

[theticklemister]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment.

All the gate money from Provincial games goes to the Provinvial Council, all the gate money from Qualifier games goes to Central Council.
An "open draw" being touted as the panacea for all ills by some  would result in even less money coming in.
Think about it - few if any local derbys, lopsided games  (Donegal v Waterford anyone ?) smaller crowds due to distances involved, half the number of Championship games , no Provincial Trophies so you can lord it over your smelly neighbours etc.
Anyway the Leinster Council should end the practice of having Qtr Finals esp those involving Dublin in Croke Park.
Take the Dubs out of Croker and try and even the score a biteen and make an occasion of them visiting Wexford Pk, Portlaoise etc.

prob afraid that Dublin fans may take a notion and turn up and therefore the health and safety rules go out the door

[From the Bunker]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..
In the amateur game here population makes a big difference, logic dictates this. Smaller counties rarely win. take dublin with money and pop. they will be on top forever if things continue like this. only rarely by fluke will a smaller county find a good team to beat them or football heavy pops, maybe every 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 years will we see this. this is not good for the sport in general.
do westmeath care about leinster ? if they won today they would be back in croker for semi, how much would leinster co give from the gate? would bumper qualifier against galway/tyrone/armagh or whoever in mullingar (if home draw) suit co board better ? maybe tipp and limerick and other co boards are thinking similar to this.
in game tonight commentators were saying WM had no answer to dublin. it was 15 v 15 so why the gulf in class ? pop strength ? money intake ? who knows...
IMO, its an amateur sport and in the interests of the supporter and the GAA we need to do away with these useless provincial c/ships and create an open draw and more importantly split counties (especially dublin) down to fair sizes for competition. and the same goes for money distribution ( advertising/gates) and so on.
after all this is sport. when we turn on the tv or sit in the stand we want excitement and enjoyment.

All the gate money from Provincial games goes to the Provinvial Council, all the gate money from Qualifier games goes to Central Council.
An "open draw" being touted as the panacea for all ills by some  would result in even less money coming in.
Think about it - few if any local derbys, lopsided games  (Donegal v Waterford anyone ?) smaller crowds due to distances involved, half the number of Championship games , no Provincial Trophies so you can lord it over your smelly neighbours etc.
Anyway the Leinster Council should end the practice of having Qtr Finals esp those involving Dublin in Croke Park.
Take the Dubs out of Croker and try and even the score a biteen and make an occasion of them visiting Wexford Pk, Portlaoise etc.

No provincial winners, would mean only one winner each year instead of 4/5 (depending on provincial winner being AI winners). Open draw could see no representation from Connacht in the last eight. Maybe no representation from two provinces. Travel costs for far away draws say Donegal Wexford or Cork Antrim. Gate revenue losses for these games. How would you work a back door in the open draw? No local derbies anymore, Cork Kerry, Mayo Galway, Meath Dublin, Offaly Laois, Monaghan Cavan.

As for splitting the Dubs into smaller amounts ( say North and South), how do you divide their titles won already? Who would follow who? There has to be people with various allegiances in the Capital, it could end up like Balaghdereen. Why not split Kerry up as well? Sure they dominate as well.

If anything there is probably a need for an intermediate Championship, Like the ladies game has. with the winner going up to Senior and a team dropping down from senior through various loser play-offs.

[GalwayBayBoy]

I refuse to believe westmeath are this weak. this team dominated div 2 over armagh galway derry laois and so on..

As results have since proven those teams are pretty average.

[theticklemister]

from the bunker is correct.

Intermediate county senior football is the way forward. The GAA however really need to promote this !

[bennydorano]

Tommy Murphy 2.O or TM Rebooted?

[Rossfan]

The minnows couldn't wait to dump the Tommy Murphy cup as being beneath their dignity.
But the less talented need their own National Competition/Championship as the Qualifiers are naturally for the better teams - well it is a Championship after all so the idea is to get the best teams playing in the closing stages.
If you want to give the small teams a chance/equal playing field then we'd have to have a handicap system - e.g Donegal -4,
Armagh +4, Ros +8, Waterford +12 and so on.

[theticklemister]

Why hardstation is intermediate and junior different at club level?? I know we painted the town red when getting to the intermediate final in 2010. We had it in massive placards at the back of free derry corner to promote the final.

Maybe counties should relalise their limitations?

[Syferus]

Tommy Murphy 2.O or TM Rebooted?

We need some marketing head on this job, rebranding, etc. How about reclassifying all the grades into weight classes? Senior would be Heavyweight, Intermediate - Cruiserweight, Junior - Flyweight.

Given the builds on some of those Dublin monsters it seems to fit the bill.

[From the Bunker]

But the beauty of the Intermediate Championship  would mean that the minnows were in it from the beginning. They could not complain that they were to good for this tier. The proof of being good enough would be in winning and gaining promotion to the Senior Ranks. And it would mean something to the county to be back with the Big Boys!

[Drummerboy]

As a Dublin supporter, I feel tonight was a hollow victory. Its certainly done our championship aspirations no good whatsoever. It would have been far more advantageous to our preparations if the game was played in Mullingar. Croke Park was like a morgue tonight, no athmosphere. It would have been a great spectacle for those present and the TV viewers if the game had of been played in Mullingar. It would have been a closer game also.

I have to say Jim Gavin is a brave man. He left 6 or 7 lads  with AI medals on the bench tonight and played kids. Not sure if its good enough to beat the likes of Donegal, far too open at the back. Great to watch though.

As regards Westmeath, they are not as bad as the scoreline suggests. They would probably go close to  beating Kildare.