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National Football League 2023

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A summary of the main battle lines for this league season:
Westmeath of Division 3 are already qualified for the All-Ireland series as Tailteann champions. Sligo and Leitrim, both of Division 4 will meet in a Connacht semi-final, thus guaranteeing one of them a place in the All-Ireland series.
All Division 3 teams, except for Westmeath, will have to win the Division 3 title to qualify for the All-Ireland series. Finishing second would do if Westmeath win it. The Division 3 title is the biggest prize on offer this spring.
In Division 2 then the big prize is to avoid relegation, and effectively achieve qualification for the All-Ireland series.
A caveat: every time a lower league team makes a provincial final, the Division 3 winner and 6th upwards in Division 2 will be in danger of missing out on the All-Ireland series. 5th in Division 2 is probably the virtual safety line. In any season, it is conceivable that at least two lower league counties might make a provincial final.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7823 - 28/01/2023 11:38:14    2454684

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Connacht is wide open and London are stronger this year. NY could easily catch Leitrim out in Gaelic Park.

Rolo2010 (Donegal) - Posts: 738 - 28/01/2023 16:40:25    2454768

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Replying To legendzxix:  "A summary of the main battle lines for this league season:
Westmeath of Division 3 are already qualified for the All-Ireland series as Tailteann champions. Sligo and Leitrim, both of Division 4 will meet in a Connacht semi-final, thus guaranteeing one of them a place in the All-Ireland series.
All Division 3 teams, except for Westmeath, will have to win the Division 3 title to qualify for the All-Ireland series. Finishing second would do if Westmeath win it. The Division 3 title is the biggest prize on offer this spring.
In Division 2 then the big prize is to avoid relegation, and effectively achieve qualification for the All-Ireland series.
A caveat: every time a lower league team makes a provincial final, the Division 3 winner and 6th upwards in Division 2 will be in danger of missing out on the All-Ireland series. 5th in Division 2 is probably the virtual safety line. In any season, it is conceivable that at least two lower league counties might make a provincial final."
No Division 3 team can qualify for the All Ireland via the league this year. Of the 16 Sam Maguire places available, two are gone: one to Westmeath and one to Leitrim/Sligo/London/New York. The remaining 14 places go to the eight Division 1 teams and the top six Division 2 teams, if there are no more Division 3/4 provincial finalists.

CeachtPeile (Cavan) - Posts: 96 - 28/01/2023 18:04:30    2454781

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Terrible shooting in Croker tonight but we'll fogive it for the weather and first day out etc.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8586 - 28/01/2023 19:15:12    2454793

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Replying To realdub:  "Terrible shooting in Croker tonight but we'll fogive it for the weather and first day out etc."
I'd be happy enough with that realdub! Great start. Kildare had that game earmarked. They gave it more than than us and wasn't enough! You could tell by Glen Ryan. As Dessie said, Kildare are further ahead with their "Conditioning" "Things can only get better"!

Onion_Sack (Dublin) - Posts: 203 - 28/01/2023 19:42:54    2454795

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Replying To Onion_Sack:  "I'd be happy enough with that realdub! Great start. Kildare had that game earmarked. They gave it more than than us and wasn't enough! You could tell by Glen Ryan. As Dessie said, Kildare are further ahead with their "Conditioning" "Things can only get better"!"
Yes a win is a win. Kildare were decent in fairness, it was a real effort.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8586 - 28/01/2023 20:25:00    2454804

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Two draws in Div 4 tonight
Very competitive league campaign in the offing

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 704 - 28/01/2023 20:48:51    2454809

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Not a bad Saturday evenings football. Pity it's all over come July.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2006 - 28/01/2023 21:08:07    2454817

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Grown men running onto the field after Mayo score an equaliser in a league game in February. Mortifying.

RTE must have blown their budget on that drone they kept using during the game.

friedporridge (Leitrim) - Posts: 23 - 28/01/2023 21:13:26    2454820

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "No Division 3 team can qualify for the All Ireland via the league this year. Of the 16 Sam Maguire places available, two are gone: one to Westmeath and one to Leitrim/Sligo/London/New York. The remaining 14 places go to the eight Division 1 teams and the top six Division 2 teams, if there are no more Division 3/4 provincial finalists."
It's a disaster for Division 3 teams. All hope is gone.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7823 - 28/01/2023 21:21:57    2454826

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Not a bad Saturday evenings football. Pity it's all over come July."
Yes, but it will leave more time to allow people to watch the Pool and City and... sorry, the Junior Bs I meant :-)

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 29/01/2023 10:15:43    2454869

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Replying To friedporridge:  "Grown men running onto the field after Mayo score an equaliser in a league game in February. Mortifying.

RTE must have blown their budget on that drone they kept using during the game."
Ah sure who cares? Life is hard enough. Lighten up.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 29/01/2023 10:43:22    2454877

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It's a disaster for Division 3 teams. All hope is gone."
I doubt the westmeath lads would have thought that on their team holiday. The fact is division 3 teams should be looking to win the Tailteann Cup now in the same way as intermediate teams look to that championship. It makes perfect sense as they're in Division 3 for reason and if they're too good for that level they wont be there for long . It gives them something to aim for an a good reward rather than a hammering.

ctowers (Dublin) - Posts: 99 - 29/01/2023 10:57:11    2454880

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It's a disaster for Division 3 teams. All hope is gone."
Some games against teams of a higher standard will stand to them. Nothing to be gained by playing teams of a poor standard year on year. They'll get some real hidings too in the All Ireland series, no doubt, but will progress slowly if they learn from those defeats and improve.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7337 - 29/01/2023 11:18:24    2454884

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Great win for Donegal. Brilliant viewing for the (sort of :-) neutral!

Did O'Connor tap the ref on the shoulder during his post match hissy fit? I hope all the sticklers for abiding by the rules etc will be highlighting this now...

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 29/01/2023 15:45:52    2454954

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Wow great result for us, some of those young lads McColgan, O Donnell, McGroddy, Curran really stood up. Less back passing and more exciting football.

It was a 2nd string Kerry but we were missing players too, Donegal needs to get behind Paddy Carr now

Ronan1989 (Donegal) - Posts: 81 - 29/01/2023 15:47:02    2454956

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Ah sure who cares? Life is hard enough. Lighten up."
It is a bit cringey now. Hope your feet didn't get wet!

friedporridge (Leitrim) - Posts: 23 - 29/01/2023 15:52:00    2454957

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Great wins for Donegal and Roscommon. Few Tyrone folks saying all isn't right in the camp. Antrim as usual 2 steps forward one year the next 10 steps back. We don't need managers from outside, we have to start improving from within.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9697 - 29/01/2023 15:54:56    2454959

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Oops Tyrone. What's going on?

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 29/01/2023 15:57:38    2454961

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The TG4 interviewer said Donegal got their first 3 points. It was only a matter of time before someone made that blunder.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 220 - 29/01/2023 15:59:31    2454963

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