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Westmeath Football thread - 4 Like(s)
Replying To CasKD: "There was plenty of dead rubber games last year too. Very hard to avoid in a non knockout system." There were no dead rubber games in the Senior A Championship last year, all 6 teams had something to play for going into the last round. Caulry could be effectively eliminated after just 3 games if they lose this weekend, having already lost their opening two rounds. But the Championship structure was a farce before a ball was kicked. The issue isn't simply that a team can be eliminated after 3 defeats, it's the imbalance between Section A and B. If Section A is supposed to be the elite section, how can 50% of its teams progress while 50% of Section B also progress? Historically, Section B teams have an extremely poor record when they come up against the leading Section A sides in the knockout stages. Sending 3 of them into the Quarter Finals (1 will make the Semis) while eliminating the 4th best team in the grade risks producing exactly what nobody wants at that stage of the Championship, one sided games. If there's one thing to take from this farcical Championship structure, it's the importance of Clubs having representation at Committee level. One Section B Club alone has 3 representatives on the Committee. Make of that what you will.
iarmhiabu (National) - 13/08/2026 12:51:05
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 3 Like(s)
The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.
Is this what the men of 1916 died for?
CastleBravo (National) - 13/08/2026 15:51:36
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Saynothing: "Mayo won this year's All Ireland after 3/4 of a century and every Mayo supporter respected the rule of not going onto the pitch. Soccer enters town and it's open house. Disgusting." Why is it ok for Cork fan to invade the new pitch in Ballybofey, breaching clear rules/guidelines announced repeatedly before and during that game, and not ok in Croke Park?
Afterward that Donegal v Cork match in Ballybofey, the media, fans etc didn't lambast the Cork fans who invaded the pitch, they instead attacked the Stewards for trying to stop fans entering.
Commodore (National) - 13/08/2026 12:03:05
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Croke Park expansion - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Kew: "Does anyone know why the glass Infront of the hill was gone for the man utd v Leeds game? Is it gone for good now?" Am guessing that since it was a match between two Premier League times, it had to be played according to Premier League or some other international soccer regulations, where high fencing is prohibited.
It does open up the question of whether the high fencing is needed for GAA matches at all or not, then. But on that -
Was at the match myself as the young lad is a big Man United fan, and noticed there was a large number of stewards all the way across in front of the Hill, with their backs to the match in order to keep an eye on the crowd.
Don't know what way stewarding worked last night but do know that for GAA matches, it's primarily voluntary stewarding. And that in Croke Park, same as in all county grounds, one of the perks of volunteering is that you generally get to watch whatever match is on. If you tell volunteers that they'll have to keep their backs to the action instead, you'll most likely see a big drop-off in volunteers in the first place. And if you pay people to do this job, there's an increase in matchday costs, which would most likely inevitably lead to an increase in ticket prices.
And yes, am conscious that stewards at the other end weren't 100% effective last night, with those kids running on near the end. Could be the case that stewards there were looking at the match as normal when the first lad ran out, and that other stewards were looking at that first lad when others ran out. Which maybe just goes to show that you need "proper" professional stewards if the crowd is to be observed 100%, and that you maybe even need more of them so that there's not so big a gap between them for people to run through.
Pikeman96 (National) - 13/08/2026 12:36:01
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "There were no dead rubber games in the Senior A Championship last year, all 6 teams had something to play for going into the last round. Caulry could be effectively eliminated after just 3 games if they lose this weekend, having already lost their opening two rounds. But the Championship structure was a farce before a ball was kicked. The issue isn't simply that a team can be eliminated after 3 defeats, it's the imbalance between Section A and B. If Section A is supposed to be the elite section, how can 50% of its teams progress while 50% of Section B also progress? Historically, Section B teams have an extremely poor record when they come up against the leading Section A sides in the knockout stages. Sending 3 of them into the Quarter Finals (1 will make the Semis) while eliminating the 4th best team in the grade risks producing exactly what nobody wants at that stage of the Championship, one sided games. If there's one thing to take from this farcical Championship structure, it's the importance of Clubs having representation at Committee level. One Section B Club alone has 3 representatives on the Committee. Make of that what you will." Have to agree wholeheartedly here. It beggars belief that this format made it through and that it is actually underway. Did nobody shout stop? How on earth could any delegate vote for this structure?
Every structure has its flaws of course but this is the most ridiculous of any of the possible options. Farcical is indeed the best word for it. Obviously this will change for next years championship as it simply cannot continue.
I think we will end up with the best teams in the final but because of this madness anything can happen.
Iarmhisamhi (National) - 13/08/2026 20:15:40
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Pikeman96: "The young lad here is a big Man United fan so I brought him to the match last night. My own view on soccer is I can take it or leave it.
My ticket cost €72 and his was €42. Upper Cusack, not too far from the halfway line.
Last month I paid €200 for two tickets, also for Upper Cusack, to bring him to an All-Ireland Final. Please tell me where I'd have got these All-Ireland tickets cheaper???" 200 for 2 tickets for the Pinnacle of the Gaelic football season was great value.
Yesterday evening you gave over half that to see basically 2 junior teams playing. Neither side was at full strength and there was nothing at stake
eoinog (National) - 13/08/2026 16:57:50
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Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To farneygael3: "Was over the under 20s with Malone a few years ago also" Yes, and take a look at how that team done for the year. One of the more embarrassing u20 campaigns we've had, and that was a seriously good team.
HB245 (National) - 13/08/2026 16:23:37
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To ulsterrules: "Here is another way of looking at it.
Professional Football pays its players , Bruno Fernandez gets £300,000 per week alone, yet they charged less than €100 for a ticket to Croke park
GAA NOT professional , David Clifford get paid €0.00 per week, yet Croke Park charge €100 a ticket for the all Ireland" One was a friendly, the other was the pinnacle of our game. Try getting the best champions league final ticket for €100.
WanPintWin (National) - 14/08/2026 09:18:00
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Galway Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "I don't buy this theory that falling to Junior impedes the route back to Senior. Why should it set a team back years? That's just cliche really. If your talent capacity for a spell drops you to Junior, it won't greatly delay the route back to senior, once a senior calibre roster emerges from underage at some point. Portumna are enthusiastic enough about their u13/u14 groups at the moment, according to a GBFM report I heard recently. That's not to say they'll be senior in 10 years time, but it's not to say they won't be either. Either way, if they come with a senior calibre bunch at some point, they'll likely emerge from junior just as quickly as intermediate imo." Exactly. A team will generally end up at a level where their talent at the time determines they should be.
If they develop some strong groups from underage, then they have a chance to progress again.
It often actually helps a young group coming through to graduate into Junior or Intermediate initially at adult level, rather than being thrown into senior.
Portumna were junior in the past for many years and intermediate for around a decade, before finally getting to senior in the early 90s. That's where their level was at the time. They're competing very well at U14 A, so if they keep that team together and a few more to add to it, they'll build again.
WanPintWin (National) - 14/08/2026 09:16:35
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To eoinog: "200 for 2 tickets for the Pinnacle of the Gaelic football season was great value.
Yesterday evening you gave over half that to see basically 2 junior teams playing. Neither side was at full strength and there was nothing at stake" Here is another way of looking at it.
Professional Football pays its players , Bruno Fernandez gets £300,000 per week alone, yet they charged less than €100 for a ticket to Croke park
GAA NOT professional , David Clifford get paid €0.00 per week, yet Croke Park charge €100 a ticket for the all Ireland
ulsterrules (National) - 14/08/2026 08:32:47
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To CastleBravo: "The 2nd Wednesday in August used to be all about the All Ireland final. Now they're playing soccer in Croke Park instead.
Is this what the men of 1916 died for?" They didnt die for any sports ground. Sadly we still dont all have what they died for.
Viking66 (National) - 14/08/2026 07:07:45
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
I see Bruno Fernandes joined the pantheon of greats to have the great honour of walking up the steps of the Hogan to lift the trophy after the presentation, except he didn't even bother lifting he just walked back down with it (not to mention no speech out of him with a few pre-rehearsed words of Gaelige!). I'm joking about the lat bit but I'm glad he didn't lift it tbh. It was all a bit much for me but l'm old fashioned I know. We should reserve these privileges for our own in my opinion.
Onion Breath (National) - 13/08/2026 18:15:02
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
I was there, great occasion
DuhallowRed (National) - 13/08/2026 18:13:29
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Cockney_Cat: "Where do you think the money Leitrim gets from the GAA every year comes from?" Same place as it did when finals were in September.
Saynothing (National) - 13/08/2026 17:15:39
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To 2maroonjerseys: "At least the county board is trying to do something. For years people cribbing about not having one and now it's going ahead people are cribbing about paying for it.
They can't win. Tis all me me me and nothing about improving Westmeath football as a whole sure as long as the big teams are winning it's the attitude sure we're fine and don't mind anyone else. Yer either supporting the county boards effort to improve hurling and football for all age groups or yer just worried about yer own club . Typical like all the auld lads at clubs down thru the years who wouldn't change anything because we've always done things this way.
There's no JP in Westmeath coming to save us. So shoulder to the wheel or we will still be here in 20yrs time." I'd suggest you do your homework before typing that stuff, there's several reasons why people feel skeptical where the funding will come from. The previous fundraiser for a COE was spent on other stuff that it wasn't advertised for. Now I'm pretty sure people who put their hand in their pocket for a COE were delighted the money was spent on expenses etc. Every club will benefit from it and I'm sure they'll gladly do so but a fundraiser has to be a strategic joint effort not throwing it at the clubs to fund shortfalls if they don't sell X amount of tickets.
DelaneyCup2026 (National) - 13/08/2026 17:10:28
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Galway Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To katser: "I know Portumna have been falling for a few years, but when JC retires from Club hurling they have absolutely nothing coming through.
If they get relegated to Junior it could set Portumna back years and it could be 15yrs before they get back upto Senior." I don't buy this theory that falling to Junior impedes the route back to Senior. Why should it set a team back years? That's just cliche really. If your talent capacity for a spell drops you to Junior, it won't greatly delay the route back to senior, once a senior calibre roster emerges from underage at some point. Portumna are enthusiastic enough about their u13/u14 groups at the moment, according to a GBFM report I heard recently. That's not to say they'll be senior in 10 years time, but it's not to say they won't be either. Either way, if they come with a senior calibre bunch at some point, they'll likely emerge from junior just as quickly as intermediate imo.
Pope_Benedict (National) - 13/08/2026 16:47:28
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To yew_tree: "Money spinner for the GAA…hope they make a killing. Tickets more expensive for a friendly game than an all Ireland final….more fool them paying that watching millionaires in a glorified training session." The young lad here is a big Man United fan so I brought him to the match last night. My own view on soccer is I can take it or leave it.
My ticket cost €72 and his was €42. Upper Cusack, not too far from the halfway line.
Last month I paid €200 for two tickets, also for Upper Cusack, to bring him to an All-Ireland Final. Please tell me where I'd have got these All-Ireland tickets cheaper???
Pikeman96 (National) - 13/08/2026 11:59:36
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Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To MonaghanMan44life: "Main coach under Banty for 3-4 years also?" Just on that stint as the main man over the u20s. They were heavy favourites to beat Cavan in a quarter final and lost 1-11 to 0-03. 14 of the lads that played that day have went on to be involved with the Monaghan senior setup since. 1-11 to 0-03.
As for the club medals with Scotstown, you could leave the Scotstown players to manage the team themselves and they'd have no fewer medals over the past 10+ years.
HB245 (National) - 13/08/2026 16:22:07
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Brummiejoe: "My first post did not get past the sensors.
What do posters think about opening Croke
Park up. Is there a line that should be drawn or
does anything go as long as the price is
right?" It's played after the men and women's finals so I've no issue. That stadium won't pay for itself.
2maroonjerseys (National) - 13/08/2026 16:04:57
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Man Utd V Leeds Utd - Croke Park - 1 Like(s)
Replying To ohwow: "Shouldn't happen. But not surprised it did with the way the organisation is going" Where do you think the money Leitrim gets from the GAA every year comes from?
Cockney_Cat (National) - 13/08/2026 15:10:14
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