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Provincial Championships 2024

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Looking back at last year the Provincial Championships qualified just 2 teams -Clare and Sligo for the All Ireland Championship .All other teams would be qualified anyways through their League finishing positions plus Westmeath as 2022 Tailteann Cup winners. Having the Provincial runners up qualifying definitely benefits Connacht and Munster as a team can qualify through a handy draw as was the case with Sligo last year whereas a team like Antrim in Ulster would find it nearly impossible to qualify due to Ulsters strength in dept and number of teams.

edu (Mayo) - Posts: 60 - 28/03/2024 12:09:32    2534277

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Replying To edu:  "Looking back at last year the Provincial Championships qualified just 2 teams -Clare and Sligo for the All Ireland Championship .All other teams would be qualified anyways through their League finishing positions plus Westmeath as 2022 Tailteann Cup winners. Having the Provincial runners up qualifying definitely benefits Connacht and Munster as a team can qualify through a handy draw as was the case with Sligo last year whereas a team like Antrim in Ulster would find it nearly impossible to qualify due to Ulsters strength in dept and number of teams."
Yes, just another example of a flawed system.

I'd like all Prov KO ties counting as league ties with the two points on the line as well. Say, 12-10-10, with round robin plus a few crossover games to complete 12 regular season games, including any crossover Prov Champp ties.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2849 - 28/03/2024 13:51:40    2534303

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Replying To omahant:  "Yes, just another example of a flawed system.

I'd like all Prov KO ties counting as league ties with the two points on the line as well. Say, 12-10-10, with round robin plus a few crossover games to complete 12 regular season games, including any crossover Prov Champp ties."
We have a perfect system. Maybe seed Provincials on League position,or maybe just leave it as it is which adds to the competivness of Div 2. Last year 14 of 16 teams had it all to play for on Game Day 3 in the Sam Maguire. No need for any cross overs or CONCAFs or Swiss styles. Well maybe just to keep little minds busy congratulating themselves.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 386 - 28/03/2024 14:57:52    2534336

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "We have a perfect system. Maybe seed Provincials on League position,or maybe just leave it as it is which adds to the competivness of Div 2. Last year 14 of 16 teams had it all to play for on Game Day 3 in the Sam Maguire. No need for any cross overs or CONCAFs or Swiss styles. Well maybe just to keep little minds busy congratulating themselves."
ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Monaghan/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare/Westmeath/Wicklow v Louth/Carlow/Wexford
Dublin/Longford/Meath v Offaly/Laois
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Tipperary/Waterford
Kerry v Limerick/Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v London/Galway
POSSIBLE PROVINCIAL SHOCKS:
1. Down to beat Armagh and make an Ulster final.
2. Westmeath to make the Leinster final.
3. Clare should beat Tipperary to make the Munster final. No shock there. Limerick beating Cork would be the shock or Cork in the final against all reasonable odds.
4. Roscommon to make the Connacht final. Mayo are waiting for revenge.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 28/03/2024 21:03:04    2534379

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "We have a perfect system. Maybe seed Provincials on League position,or maybe just leave it as it is which adds to the competivness of Div 2. Last year 14 of 16 teams had it all to play for on Game Day 3 in the Sam Maguire. No need for any cross overs or CONCAFs or Swiss styles. Well maybe just to keep little minds busy congratulating themselves."
Yes, "leave as is" because it's "perfect" - what do I know.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2849 - 28/03/2024 21:21:10    2534383

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ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Monaghan/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare/Westmeath/Wicklow v Louth/Carlow/Wexford
Dublin/Longford/Meath v Offaly/Laois
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Tipperary/Waterford
Kerry v Limerick/Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v London/Galway
THIS WEEKEND
Monaghan v Cavan is the pick of the opening weekend. Cavan had a decent Division 2 campaign. Monaghan fell through the Division 1 trap door but went down fighting.
Westmeath should setup a quarter-final showdown with Kildare. Both needing to make the Leinster final, although Westmeath's Division 3 title might be their All-Ireland ticket. Meath will want to avoid a shock and should have enough about them to setup a quarter-final against Dublin. Wexford beat Carlow with a strong final quarter in the league. Wexford favourites for this one but I wouldn't write off Carlow.
Galway and Mayo should advance as expected. It'll be interesting to see if there's a response from Leitrim after the Division 4 final.
Tipperary and Cork to advance in Munster. Limerick have shocked Cork in the past but haven't shown any signs that they'll cause an upset.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 04/04/2024 16:30:45    2535657

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "We have a perfect system. Maybe seed Provincials on League position,or maybe just leave it as it is which adds to the competivness of Div 2. Last year 14 of 16 teams had it all to play for on Game Day 3 in the Sam Maguire. No need for any cross overs or CONCAFs or Swiss styles. Well maybe just to keep little minds busy congratulating themselves."
Agreed. The main issue here seems to be Clare getting into Sam by beating a Div 4 side. Sligo last year did the same but the only solution to that would be just having the provincial champions qualifying automatically or seeding as you mentioned. Anyway, we have a format in place now which will be tweaked as we go on.

Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 740 - 04/04/2024 22:10:13    2535717

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Replying To legendzxix:  "ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Monaghan/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare/Westmeath/Wicklow v Louth/Carlow/Wexford
Dublin/Longford/Meath v Offaly/Laois
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Tipperary/Waterford
Kerry v Limerick/Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v London/Galway
THIS WEEKEND
Monaghan v Cavan is the pick of the opening weekend. Cavan had a decent Division 2 campaign. Monaghan fell through the Division 1 trap door but went down fighting.
Westmeath should setup a quarter-final showdown with Kildare. Both needing to make the Leinster final, although Westmeath's Division 3 title might be their All-Ireland ticket. Meath will want to avoid a shock and should have enough about them to setup a quarter-final against Dublin. Wexford beat Carlow with a strong final quarter in the league. Wexford favourites for this one but I wouldn't write off Carlow.
Galway and Mayo should advance as expected. It'll be interesting to see if there's a response from Leitrim after the Division 4 final.
Tipperary and Cork to advance in Munster. Limerick have shocked Cork in the past but haven't shown any signs that they'll cause an upset."
Re Leitrim v Sligo game the loss of up to four key players has dampened expectations among Leitrim supporters. The prospect of the winners meeting a Sam bound Galway & losing heavily would not auger well for the Tailteann Cup. However Leitrim will want to win this to break the cycle of defeats against their neighbours. The outrageous cost of a Stand ticket at €30 will also have an impact on home support.

leitrimabu1 (Leitrim) - Posts: 139 - 05/04/2024 00:10:10    2535729

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CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v Galway
CONNACHT SFC QUARTER-FINAL
London 0-9 Galway 5-21
A comfortable win for Galway who go forward to take on Sligo or Leitrim. Hurling has a tiered provincial championship for a reason.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 06/04/2024 17:32:58    2536071

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Replying To legendzxix:  "CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v Galway
CONNACHT SFC QUARTER-FINAL
London 0-9 Galway 5-21
A comfortable win for Galway who go forward to take on Sligo or Leitrim. Hurling has a tiered provincial championship for a reason."
And London now go into their 2nd tier perhaps should be a 3rd tier for Div 4 teams like them especially when you allow 6th placed Div 2 teams play in the 2nd tier.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 229 - 06/04/2024 19:03:48    2536086

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I wonder where they will hold the predicted Derry v Tyrone semi final as there will be a ticket shortage for Derry v Donegal. An unusual case for a Derry quarter final.

Hopefully Clones rather than Armagh.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 246 - 06/04/2024 20:28:50    2536094

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Replying To legendzxix:  "CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v Galway
CONNACHT SFC QUARTER-FINAL
London 0-9 Galway 5-21
A comfortable win for Galway who go forward to take on Sligo or Leitrim. Hurling has a tiered provincial championship for a reason."
Because every county has plenty of football clubs and because many counties have very few hurling clubs. Some counties are deemed hurling counties but a county like Cavan, a traditional football county, are making strides in hurling now and will be a Division 3 hurling county in 2025. Congratulations to them. The real GAA diehards are those from weaker hurling, camogie and football counties and clubs, who love their game, follow their team through thick and thin and know rightly they'll never get much reward in terms of silverware and don't give a damn about not being mentioned on the Sunday Game.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7620 - 06/04/2024 21:22:50    2536106

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ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare/Wicklow v Louth/Wexford
Dublin/Meath v Offaly/Laois
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Waterford
Kerry v Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo v Galway
Sunday 7 April
CONNACHT SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Leitrim 0-6 Sligo 0-15, Avant Money Pairc Sean MacDiarmada - FT
Disappointing result for Leitrim after a good Division 4 campaign.
ULSTER SFC PRELIMINARY ROUND
Monaghan 1-12 Cavan 3-12, Clones - FT
A surprise result in Ulster. Fair play to Cavan for the two late goals.
LEINSTER SFC ROUND 1
Westmeath 1-11 Wicklow 2-9, Laois Hire O'Moore Park - FT
A surprise result here. A good league for Westmeath but they fall at the first hurdle in Leinster.
Longford 3-12 Meath 3-19, Glennon Bros Pearse Park - FT
Meath avoid a banana skin.
Wexford 4-19 Carlow 0-8, Chadwicks Wexford Park - FT
Disappointing loss for Carlow.
MUNSTER SFC QUARTER-FINALS
Waterford 2-7 Tipperary 1-5, Fraher Field - FT
The result of the day. Congratulations to Waterford on their Munster win. An rud is annamh is iontach!
Cork 3-13 Limerick 0-11, Pairc Ui Chaoimh - FT
Cork win as expected but Limerick made a game of it early.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 07/04/2024 20:15:04    2536345

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ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare/Wicklow v Louth/Wexford
Dublin/Meath v Offaly/Laois
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Waterford
Kerry v Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo v Galway
SATURDAY 13 APRIL
LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Laois v Offaly, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 7pm
A tough one to call. Laois won Division 4. Offaly were 5th in Division 3. The reward for winning isn't great.
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Down v Antrim, Pairc Esler, 6pm
Down have to make the Ulster final to qualify for the All-Ireland. They beat Antrim by 9 points in the league. Hard to see past Down.
SUNDAY 14 APRIL
LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINALS
Dublin v Meath, Croke Park, 4.30pm
Anything other than a Dublin win will be the biggest shock in GAA history.
Louth v Wexford, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 4pm
Louth being in Division 2 will be expected to progress here.
Kildare v Wicklow, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 1.45pm
Great win for Wicklow last week. Kildare recovered from a poor league last year. Kildare will be eyeing a Leinster final.
ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Fermanagh v Armagh, Brewster Park, 2pm
Armagh achieved Division 1 promotion while Fermanagh were relegated back to Division 3. Armagh won by 4 points during the league. The expectation will be an Armagh v Down semi-final on the lighter side of the draw.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 11/04/2024 16:42:14    2537373

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LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Laois 1-8 Offaly 2-13, Laois Hire O'Moore Park FT
Good win for Offaly over Laois. They'll lost likely take on Dublin in the semi-final.
ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9, Pairc Esler FT
Down won as expected. Armagh or Fermanagh next for them.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 13/04/2024 22:13:28    2537704

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Dublin through as expected. Big win for Louth. Kildare squeeze through unconvincingly. Armagh safely through to take on Down.
Louth will be favourites to make the Leinster final. Won't be bad going after Harte leaving for Derry. Armagh look on course for another Ulster final. Offaly will have a tough day out before the Tailteann Cup.
LEINSTER SFC QUARTER-FINALS
Dublin 3-19 Meath 0-12, Croke Park FT
Louth 4-10 Wexford 0-15, Laois Hire O'Moore Park FT
Kildare 0-16 Wicklow 1-12, Laois Hire O'Moore Park FT
ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Fermanagh 0-9 Armagh 3-11, Brewster Park FT
ULSTER SEMI-FINALS
Down v Armagh. Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Cavan
LEINSTER SEMI-FINALS
Kildare v Louth. Dublin v Offaly
MUNSTER SEMI-FINALS
Clare v Waterford. Kerry v Cork
CONNACHT SEMI-FINALS
Mayo v Roscommon and Sligo v Galway
THE CHASE FOR ALL-IRELAND QUALIFICATION
Down, Kildare, Offaly, Clare, Waterford and Sligo are the 6 lower league counties seeking a provincial final qualification for the All-Ireland series.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 14/04/2024 19:44:39    2537810

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Fair play to you. So it seems that if Down, Kildare, Offaly or Sligo now win their game, they'll start pushing teams from the main event into the Tailteann Cup. Westmeath (and Louth but not so much, their fate is in their own hands) will be looking on very nervously. It would be ironic if Down did the business and took Westmeath's spot, having lost to them in the Division 3 final and getting ranked below them.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1120 - 16/04/2024 11:12:41    2538300

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Replying To Rolo2010:  "Agreed. The main issue here seems to be Clare getting into Sam by beating a Div 4 side. Sligo last year did the same but the only solution to that would be just having the provincial champions qualifying automatically or seeding as you mentioned. Anyway, we have a format in place now which will be tweaked as we go on."
I think maybe it needs to be that provincial finalists only qualify for Sam if they beat a team that would have qualified otherwise by being in the top 15 or 16 or whatever. That would stop lucky draws giving Munster or Connacht teams Sam Maguire access, and as second seeds too. At least seed such teams according to league position if they get a lucky draw like that.

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1120 - 16/04/2024 12:47:38    2538329

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Replying To Tacaí Liatroma:  "Fair play to you. So it seems that if Down, Kildare, Offaly or Sligo now win their game, they'll start pushing teams from the main event into the Tailteann Cup. Westmeath (and Louth but not so much, their fate is in their own hands) will be looking on very nervously. It would be ironic if Down did the business and took Westmeath's spot, having lost to them in the Division 3 final and getting ranked below them."
13. Meath
14. Louth - out if Down AND Kildare make finals.
15. Westmeath - out if Down OR Kildare make finals.
16. Down
17. Fermanagh
18. Kildare
19. Clare (32. Waterford)
If Kildare and Down make their provincial finals, Westmeath and Louth will be in the Tailteann Cup.
ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
Down v Armagh, TBC, 5.15pm
LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINALS
Kildare v Louth, Croke Park, 2pm

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8242 - 16/04/2024 12:55:40    2538333

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Replying To legendzxix:  "13. Meath
14. Louth - out if Down AND Kildare make finals.
15. Westmeath - out if Down OR Kildare make finals.
16. Down
17. Fermanagh
18. Kildare
19. Clare (32. Waterford)
If Kildare and Down make their provincial finals, Westmeath and Louth will be in the Tailteann Cup.
ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
Down v Armagh, TBC, 5.15pm
LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINALS
Kildare v Louth, Croke Park, 2pm"
I think Louth will beat Kildare, and will be very surprised if Down beat Armagh.
Wicklow should have beaten the Lillies the last day.

All of this got me thinking about under achievers compared to their population (as population is often used as a yardstick) - but I know there is a caveat for the 6 northern teams, for obvious reasons...

So in order (open to correction):-
Dublin
Antrim
Cork
Down
Galway
Derry
Kildare
Meath
Limerick
Armagh
Tyrone
Tipp
Donegal
Wexford
Kerry
Wicklow
Louth
Mayo
Clare
Waterford
Kilkenny
Westmeath
Laois
Offlay
Cavan
Roscommon
Sligo
Monaghan
Fermanagh
Carlow
Longford
Leitrim

So based on this alone, Cork should be miles better, also Meath & Kildare.

On the end end of the spectrum - Monaghan are the standout over achiever in recent years imo.
And to a lesser extent the Rossies.
If Monaghan & Rossies can compete, then why cant counties of a much higher population and sponsorship.??

There has also been recent under age success for Cork, Kildare & Meath - so something is going astray in the intervening development years. Or so it would seem..??

Possibly being over simplistic here, but interesting all the same.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3961 - 16/04/2024 17:57:26    2538389

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