Louth beating Westmeath wasn't really a shock. In the past four years, between league and championship, Louth and Westmeath have met seven times, and Louth have won 5 of those, while in the two we lost, we lost one by a point, and had 13 men for most of the other game. Both teams are in or around the same level.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1661 - 28/05/2014 11:12:10    1594614

Firstly you are right about the ultimate shake up at the end of the year. There will be no shocks. But I dont know how you can say that it has started this way. Derry were the bookies favorites to win on sunday, and were beaten at home. The week before, there was an epic draw in omagh, and down were not given a chance in that game. Ok, the replay proved that division one will prevail most of the time, but looking further down the line, I see many more surprizes on the cards, in ulster particularly. The ulster champions will probably go out v tyrone in the next outing, but it is a very hard one to call. They will face division 3 opposition in the semi final and there could well be a shock there. The ulster final is therefore impossible to predict.

I also look at connaught, and see galway putting it up to mayo this time. There could be a surprize there.

What would utterly amaze me is if either kerry or cork dont make the munster final. What would utterly amaze me is if dublin dont win leinster. You can put your bottom dollar on this.

The quarter finals is the last chance for a shock., after that, it is more of the same.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 28/05/2014 11:37:21    1594624

So you predicted a draw with Tyrone and Down did you waynol?

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 28/05/2014 17:24:47    1594813

@PK57


If both teams are in or around the same level then why did Westmeath rise to div 1 while Louth are now back in div 3?

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 28/05/2014 17:39:38    1594823

Mayo to reach third decider in a row which is some achievement

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1228 - 29/05/2014 20:32:52    1595430

Mr Pundit Westmeath rise to Division one? They got relegated.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 29/05/2014 20:40:37    1595436

sure most sports you can hazard a strong guess who will be in the shake up
we dont hear too many complaining in engerland that it will be between the same 4 teams year in year out
the champions league has at a stretch 5 teams every year who can win it
in hurling we had kilkenny and tipp for 5 or 6 years and before that kilkenny and cork for the same
the big differance in football is the list of all ireland winners
in the last 15 years there has been 8 differant winners
in the last 6 years there has been 5 differant winners
not many can say that

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 29/05/2014 21:16:50    1595461

Donegal win in 2012 and nobody was going to stop the McGuinness machine last year, but Mayo did and then Dublin beat them and now nobody is going to stop Dublin this year? I guess if Dublin win in September you can say 'I told you so' but results are rarely as straightforward as they seem at the start of the campaign.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2572 - 29/05/2014 21:17:50    1595462

maroondiesel
County: Mayo
Posts: 335

1595430
Mayo to reach third decider in a row which is some achievement

I think James Horan should have gave some key players a summer off to rest and recuperate, reporting back next November to start a mission. I don't see Mayo winning this years All Ireland, being runner's up for a 3rd running is not doing players any good mentally.

Give the Fringe players, Underage players a run out, help them build senior experience.

There is an All Ireland title in this current Mayo squad, however I think the battle hardened players will need a break before this can happen.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 30/05/2014 12:07:10    1595565

Mr_Pundit The point i was making is that in terms of ability then both teams are similar. Are you trying to suggest that Westmeath being in a higher division in the league, means they are a better team? If so, then why did Louth beat them two weeks ago in the championship. Also(including the game two weeks ago)Louth have now beaten Westmeath six times in the last eight games they have played them.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1661 - 30/05/2014 12:39:09    1595592

maroondiesel
County: Mayo
Posts: 335

1595430
Mayo to reach third decider in a row which is some achievement

_____________

Won't be as good as Dublin winning 3 All Irelands in 4 years.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 30/05/2014 12:43:21    1595598

Is Antrim v Fermanagh being shown on any of the stations on sunday?

Jimin10 (Meath) - Posts: 783 - 30/05/2014 13:07:08    1595615

This is going to be an embarrassment.

10+ win.

Strolling towards our 3rd Sam in 4 years!

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 30/05/2014 13:44:59    1595637

Jimin10 30/05/2014 13:07:08 Is Antrim v Fermanagh being shown on any of the stations on sunday?

Tipp - Limerick is the only game on live this weekend as far as I know. Would be great if some more games were available on rte player even if they aren't on tv. If they can do this for the Cork - Waterford game next week why cant they show Fermanagh - Antrim or even Antrim - Wexford in the hurling on rte player this weekend??

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 30/05/2014 13:45:34    1595638

I'd say the GAA would be looking for money that RTÉ aren't willing to pay to show the smaller counties clash. If Antrim v Fermanagh was televised it'd probably mean a smaller crowd at the game and the GAA love cash. If you remember the last time RTÉ showed a game not involving one of the big counties in either code, please refresh my memory.

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 30/05/2014 14:51:37    1595675

The only really big shock in the last few years was Monaghan beating Donegal last year 7/1 with the bookies. But considering Donegal's record against us it wasn't that big of a shock. Ulster is the only province which is difficult to predict,the rest of the provinces are nailed on which is a problem the GAA might have to do something about in coming years.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1891 - 30/05/2014 15:20:53    1595701

Think they showed the Fermanagh - Cavan Quarter Final last year. I couldn't see the harm in them showing games on rte player if they aren't on tv. How much would this actually take away from the attendances at games in reality..?? Very little if any, when you consider how many people in the country actually have an interactive tv or reliable internet connection. Instead we have to be content with two minutes worth of "highlights" at the end of the Sunday Game.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 30/05/2014 15:21:40    1595703

Decky the answer to your question was last year when Meath shocked Wicklow in Aughrim one June Saturday afternoon.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 30/05/2014 17:51:26    1595789

REDANDBLACK30
County: Down

Wayno if the first minute penalty goes in for Down in the replay
the replay would have been a different match.

It would have given Down a massive lift.Nothing is clear cut in sport
-look how many upsets there have been accross all sports down the
years.




Tyrone giving Down a spanking is hardly an upset! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 30/05/2014 18:09:04    1595800

connolly and wayno and co are right. Lets just call the whole thing off and present sam to them in may.

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 30/05/2014 18:35:17    1595811