I can see both sides of the argument here. Personally I would like to see the championship start with a bang. A stand alone fixture with a proper celebration of colour etc. A few years ago the league use to start off quite drab but when Tyrone and Dublin played in Croker on a saturday night with fireworks and all it really got bums on the seats and tuning in. You start with a bang you build your momentum that can carry you through.
Even though it hasn't started with a bang fixture wise (I am aware Fermanagh are not a big side), i am disappointed that there is no tv coverage of this game. It doesn't make sense to not show the game.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 11/05/2016 10:36:17    1853872

Fair point hermit.I remember reading C O Rourke write something similiar last year.There will be lots of radio coverage of GAA this weekend(i presume) and that will do me fine.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 11/05/2016 10:40:54    1853877

Not going to get into the argument about live TV coverage, I actually prefer decent radio coverage for a lot of the games. What always gets me is the way the championship is drawn out to for such a long period of time. If you look at the fixture list for Leinster there will be 4 Qtr finals played over 3 weekends and in Ulster they take 4 weekends. Realistically, there's no reason as to why all qtr's could not be played on the same weekend or 2 at most, and get everyone on the same schedule. At least that way you have some chance that the club championships could be completed in the calendar year. Looking at the schedules, I don't see a major problem with getting to a stage where the final is on the August bank holiday weekend.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 11/05/2016 10:52:38    1853890

Cheer up Hermit as I think you are mis understanding some of us. Don't take it to heart Anyway us Donegal folk took a lot of stick back a few years ago but it did not worry me --- the final whistle in 2012 on that September day answered all the critics. So as you know very well when you are at the top people will knock you. The best thing now that could happen is we can meet ye say August or even better end of September. Now I would say that would leaves us going out with a bang with one to winter well , the other not so well
Mind the Cork boys this year though

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 11/05/2016 11:54:38    1853927

Hermit, I'm not sure why you are so convinced that the country at large would be enthralled at watching Cork v Tipp in a first round match. I for one wouldn't be that bothered. It's only a recent phenomonen whereby early rounds are televised Live anyway.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 11/05/2016 12:37:39    1853957

Well considering Cavan can't be bothered fielding a hurling team I'm not surprised ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 11/05/2016 12:48:34    1853971

Westmeath will light up the Football Championship when they play the winners of Longford and Offaly. There's a few new hairstyles to be unveiled and I've been hearing of extra tanning.

We're complaining about this every year - to be fair, early rounds of the Munster Hurling Championship havent been too great in recent years.

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 11/05/2016 13:08:07    1853988

I guess you could change those fixtures round Hermit but it is the luck of the draw, in previous years we've seen Donegal v Tyrone in the preliminary round of Ulster. But it can be a false dawn because the next few weeks will struggle to generate interest because they are not as high profile. The novelty of the beginning of the AI Championship should be enough to draw an audience regardless of who it is and I'm happy enough to keep it that way.

I wouldn't be too strung up on what RTE make of it all. Any time they cover a fixture between two less traditional teams they usually sit there sulking about the standard etc when they are getting a wage for it. There is an unwillingness from the main pundits to do proper research on teams and they usually get through the program with generalisations and misleading clichés. Its sad but fair to say I'm glad we don't have to endure another patronising show from them on Antrim footballers this weekend.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 11/05/2016 15:18:03    1854068

Saffron,

Sure they could pay Joe he knows most of them now.... at least you can guarantee he wont be patronising!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/05/2016 15:44:39    1854085

I think these weekend's games are to be enjoyed.
They are usually played with a freshness and a lack of negativity and usually these games are high scoring with some great scores.

They might not be the teams that will make late August but this weekend I hope will have some good exciting games

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 11/05/2016 15:53:14    1854090

Well considering Cavan can't be bothered fielding a hurling team I'm not surprised ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts:1373 - 11/05/2016 12:48:34 1853

great answer TheHermit. that certainly put me in my place. you must have been well sought after in debating circles.

so let me get this straight. your answer to me expressing doubts regarding the appeal of a Cork v Tipp football match to the people of Ireland is that Cavan don't field a hurling team. wow ! I will have to put your contributions to this forum in the same virtual folder a TheMaster's and TomSmith's.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 11/05/2016 16:11:51    1854100

Goldrick,

Hes referring to the cork tipp hurling match.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/05/2016 16:30:14    1854111

Well considering Cavan can't be bothered fielding a hurling team I'm not surprised ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts:1373 - 11/05/2016 12:48:34 1853

great answer TheHermit. that certainly put me in my place. you must have been well sought after in debating circles.

so let me get this straight. your answer to me expressing doubts regarding the appeal of a Cork v Tipp football match to the people of Ireland is that Cavan don't field a hurling team. wow ! I will have to put your contributions to this forum in the same virtual folder a TheMaster's and TomSmith's.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts:4083 - 11/05/2016 16:11:51 1854100

He's talking about the Cork Tipp hurling game. He thought you were expressing your lack of interest in that game. That's why he made the connection to Cavan's lack of hurling interest.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4240 - 11/05/2016 16:35:10    1854116

I wish I could agree Bumper, but it would be a first for Joe not to be patronising, even if he does know them. He's good for a laugh sometimes though.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 11/05/2016 17:14:40    1854136