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National Football League 2025

  • 19-01-2025 12:11am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭


    That time of the year again and a competition more interesting than ever with the new rules seen in competitive action for the first time.

    Round 1 games

    Saturday 25 January

    Division 1
    Galway v Armagh, Pearse Stadium, Salthill 17:15  - Live on RTE
    Tyrone v Derry, Healy Park, Omagh 18:00  - Live GAAGO
    Dubln v Mayo, Croke Park, 7.30pm  - Live on TG4

    Division 2 
    Cork v Meath,Páirc Uí Chaoimh 17:00
    Cavan v Monaghan, Breffni Park, 18:00 

    Division 3
    Leitrim v Laois, Pairc Sean Ui Eslin 14:30
    Kildare v Fermanagh, Newbridge 17:00

    Division 4
    Carlow v Tipperry,Cullen Park, 18:00 
    Wexford v London,Wexford Park 19:00 

    Sunday 26 January

    Division 1
    Kerry v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, 13:45 - Live on TG4

    Division 2
    Roscommon v Down,Dr Hyde Park 14:00 
    Westmeth v Louth,Cusack Park, 14:00  

    Division 3
    Antrim v Clare, Corrigan Park, 13:00 
    Offaly v Sligo, O'Connor Park, Tullamore 14:00 

    Division 4
    Wicklow v Waterford, Echelon Park, 14:00  
    Longford v Limerick,Pearse Park 14:00 



«134

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,276 ✭✭✭windy shepard henderson


    new rules could drastically reshape how the league divisions will look over the next few years if left in place, the one striking part of the railway cup is the ulster players look much better playing this way



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭manofwisdom


    Wouldn't read too much into those railway cup matches as they were non competitive contests.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,373 ✭✭✭MacDanger


    Odds from PP:

    Kerry 11/4

    Donegal 9/2

    Galway 5/1

    Armagh 11/2

    Dublin 6/1

    Tyrone 13/2

    Derry 9/1

    Mayo 11/1

    No real strong favourites at either end of the spectrum shows how open it is this year



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,715 ✭✭✭YabaDabaDooley


    Hard to pick a winner in a very competetive Div 1. I'll go for Galway they really could do with a bit of national silverware after their two All Ireland defeats and a league final defeat to Mayo, also. Some great games every round and no weak links. The new rules will throw up some talking points. Great to have it back.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,954 ✭✭✭flasher0030


    Ya. In most years, there were matches where you'd be targeting to pick up a win e.g. Roscommon, Monaghan, an underperforming Armagh, Donegal before the second coming of McGuinness etc. But this year, there are no vulnerable teams on paper; but I guess a lot will depend on how much some of the teams keep their main starters in reserve to give the squad some playing time.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,715 ✭✭✭YabaDabaDooley


    Roscommon and Cavan if i remember correctly used to yo yo between Div 1 and 2 for a few years. Monaghan survived un Div 1 for quite along time but had a few close shaves. Conor McManus has retired so big loss to them not sure if they'll come back up. If i had to pick a team to be relegated from Div 1 this year it would be Mayo. Dublin could struggle too with Fenton gone.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    "The Allianz Football League Finals will take place on March 29/30"

    Counties might or might not be trying to avoid getting a League Final. 17 of them plus New York are in Championship action the weekend after the League Finals. Everyone in Connacht except Leitrim, and Donegal v Derry in Ulster amongst others. It means having to play games 4 weekends in a row for any of those counties getting to a League Final.

    I mention it because in 2023 there was a big fuss when Mayo had to play Roscommon in Connacht the weekend after they were in the Division 1 Final. People on this forum wanted to have the calendar rewritten to benefit Mayo.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,715 ✭✭✭YabaDabaDooley


    Yes its not a good situation when some counties feel the need to play weaker teams and not fully go for winning our second biggest trophy due to fixtilure schedule. I thought they were getting an extra week break between league final and start of championship there was plenty of talk about it anyway. The league is such a good competition it should be a goal of every player and manager to win it imo.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,373 ✭✭✭MacDanger


    I think you're doing a bit of rewriting there yourself!!

    People (me included) felt that if the league final is the week before championship then it's only a matter of time before the situation arises where counties field weakened teams and the competition is devalued as a result. Will be interesting to see if that happens this year



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,954 ✭✭✭flasher0030


    Actually ya, I probably could name my own county Mayo as the target team this year. Several retirements in the past few years. And missing some players for a while in the coming season.

    I'm hoping Armagh will struggle to maintain form and might lack some drive after winning the holy grail last year. And Galway can be hit and miss in the league. They generally rest Walsh and Comer.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Kerry obviously did not want to get to the final last year. They fielded their "weakened" team in the very first round at home to Derry. Lost by a point. For Weakened Teams, I would read using squad players in the secondary competition. Like soccer clubs do sometimes in the FA Cup. There is an easy solution to this problem (non problem). Do away with League finals.

    "For Kerry’s part, Jack O’Connor sprang no late surprises, with David and Paudie Clifford taking their place in the roped-off seats high in the stand, though by the end of a helter-skelter 74 minutes, how their manager might have wished a bit of Fossa magic to, at least, rescue a draw and a point for the home side."



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 JasonN51


    Regarding the BLACK CARD,

    For me it just doesn’t work in terms of punishing a team for cynical play.

    I believe a team should be deducted the value of a goal (so -4 with the new rules) if any one of their players receive a black card.

    For example if a team are winning by 3 or 4 points (based on new rules) and the opposing team are having what may be their one last attack and needing a goal no one will drag them down knowing the implication of -4 points. If there is no points deduction penalty then everybody will drag a player down in that type of scenario late on.

    This will also mean referees will have to be more certain on the black decision but at the end of day all the players will know the implication ( points deduction) and not make a cynical foul so the referees should not have to make too many of these tough black card calls.

    What are people’s opinion on this?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,903 ✭✭✭✭Fr Tod Umptious


    It's way too harsh.

    There will be times when black card decisions will be 50/50.

    The ref will see it in real time and make a decision that may be incorrect, but the outcome is a team loses 4 points.

    I've always said a 21m free in front of the posts should be awarded with every black card.

    It would stop teams that are up by a point taking a player out of it in injury time I'm the middle of the field and beyond scoring range.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    In the League this year, it is still 3 points for a goal.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 JasonN51


    Thanks dxhound2005.

    I still think -3 points for a black is a good approach. It will deter players from making a cynical fouls during the game and more so in the last few mins. So these type of fouls will decrease.

    If a team is up by 3 and the other team is on what looks like their last attack every player will be willing to take them down and give away a free inside or outside the arc which won't be enough to draw . We want the game to be like hurling where its possible to run in for a goal in injury time.

    Also refs will have to be certain in their heads about issuing a black card so there will be less harsh black cards handed out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    The usual tactic if it is the last play, is to send in a high ball close to the goals, and hope to get a goal from that. Including when it is a free. It is a higher percentage option than trying to run in on goals against a packed defence.

    Referees should never be influenced by the possible outcomes of any decision. If it is a black card it is a black card, there is nothing about harsh in the rules. But I fear that making a team lose a game by deducting scores would leave them open to even more abuse than at present.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,690 ✭✭✭Jack Daw


    the new rules still don't get rid of the hand passing around in circles nonsense.

    Until that is got rid of there'll be no serious change.

    Eamonn Fitzmaurice mentioned on commentary the rules committee considered a limit on consecutive hand-passes but thought the players would just then just put in a little grubber kick an then start the hand-passing again. The way round this would be 3/5 hand-passes in a row and the ball must be kicked 20 yards forward, turn the game into more of a contest or possession game than a possession game which is I think what most people want.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    iv ben watching this game zzzz they are going to have to reduce the number of players and ban the keepers roaming out field. Also the standard of shooting is really bad, most of the players are too cowardly to have a shot, forget about 2 point shots, they wont even go for easy 1 point shots.

    football is dead. You would want your head tested to go watch it, never mind pay good money to go watch it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    There is a simple reason for not trying to limit hand-passing. The players and managers would not stand for it. It was trialled in the pre-season competitions in 2019, with a view to implementing it in the League. That was a maximum of 3 hand-passes. The players and managers voted very strongly not to allow it in the League.

    The committe was smart enough to know that it would never get enough support.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/10/11/gavin-says-changes-football-review-committee-is-proposing-have-potential-to-reinvigorate-gaelic-football/

    "They looked at limiting handpasses as well but resolved it would not get the support required at congress."



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 208 ✭✭Quiet Achiever


    Is anyone else struggling to get the Dublin Mayo game on tg4?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,568 ✭✭✭✭Mantis Toboggan


    Free Palestine 🇵🇸



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 722 ✭✭✭bamayang


    last 5 minutes of mayo play is a great endorsement of the rules. Good bit of kicking and lots of space.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    100% signal Strength and Quality from the Clermont Carn transmitter in Co Louth into Dundalk. TG4 and RTE 2 are on the same frequency, so anyone getting the Munster rugby should also be getting Dublin Mayo.

    There are a lot of different transmitters around the country, and some of them suffered outages due to the storm. People's aerials could also have been affected by the high winds.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,568 ✭✭✭✭Mantis Toboggan


    Still not working for me, can't even get it to work on the dodgy box

    Free Palestine 🇵🇸



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,361 ✭✭✭✭km79


    The penalty for not keeping 3 defenders back is far too much . I don’t even know what that rule is there ?

    Fair enough you have to keep 3 in opposition half but why do you have to keep 3 in your own half ? Especially when one doesn’t even have to be the keeper ?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,516 ✭✭✭JustJoe7240


    If you have a gaa section, the gaa go stream,which is tg4 is working, although its stopping and starting at times



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,410 ✭✭✭Redsoxfan


    TG4 not working on Sky or App since around 4.30



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,361 ✭✭✭✭km79


    the removal of soft marks is one of the best changes



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭babybuilder


    Simple rule change was the keeper not leaving his own half or at least the 45. Not a big fan of the extent of all the changes. It will take some getting used to.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,690 ✭✭✭Jack Daw


    Which is exactly the problem.The players and managers are the reason the game is in such a state in the first place.

    Their concerns should have been noted but ignored.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 581 ✭✭✭C4000


    Way too harsh a penalty. A player drifting a couple of metres across the half way line is a minor technical foul. Not deserving of a guaranteed point, with the option of going for a scorable 2 pointer from straight in front of the posts.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,361 ✭✭✭✭km79


    What is the rationale behind having to keep 3 players (one of which doesn’t even have to be your keeper ) in your own half ?

    Makes zero sense to me if we want more attacking play . Maybe to allow more space . But I think it should go. A free right in front of the posts for having too many attackers just seems stupid

    And it can even be a two pointer. Thats the other rule I think needs to go. Back to 1 and 3 points.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Ignored by who? It is their clubs and counties which are empowered to make changes. Not the spectators or TV viewers. Anyone can set this process in motion from their club, and it might get all the way to Congress. Where any proposal to limit hand-passes would be soundly defeated.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭babybuilder


    Ridiculous carry on the two points rule. How the hell did Congress allow this? Taking the ball 70m up the field as well. Also, croke park please update the music playlist so we don't have to listen to the same songs every game.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    All that really matters is money to the GAA, if crowds disappear which they will if the football is bad, then changes have to be made, even if CURRENT players and managers dont like it.

    One change I would make is only 1 player can tackle another player, as how many times do you see 1 player tackled by 2 or 3 defenders, destroying in an ugly way the chance of a score, which is what people want to see.

    13 a side is also needed and ban the keepers roaming up field.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    Dublins jersey is awful.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭Krazy gang


    Mayo been very impressive. Not familiar with lot of there players but not the typical mayo big powerful athlete. Some lovely skilful ball players



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    That's one change along with the two hundred more that people dreamt up on your "Why wont die hard GAA fans admit football these days is muck?" thread. You are being far too negative, so early in a New Year.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    The hand passing the ball around for ages is really boring to watch, that is what is mostly killing the game, along with other issues.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,361 ✭✭✭✭km79




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 GAA_2025


    I see a clear issue with one of the new rules - the hooter.

    There is going to be a time when a player takes a shot to level or win the game and the hooter sounds before the ball goes over the line or whatever line in the sand they make, i.e score stands if ball is kicked before the hooter sounds.

    As for the other rules? The only improvement in terms of spectacle was not being allowed pass back to the keeper after kickouts.

    Players were still mostly jogging around handpassing it. Maybe some more long kicking to forwards in space in attack but not transformational as I was hoping.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,690 ✭✭✭Jack Daw


    This was considered as part of this set of rule changes but not included in the final proposal or trial because of the players and managers, that is the problem , a rule like this should have been included as part of these rule changes been part of trial games.

    How do you know if this type of rule change was included that it would be defeated?

    It would certainly help bring the game back to where it should be, the round in circle handpassing is the biggest problem the game faces, none of these new rules fix that issue.

    If there was a rule where there had to be 3/5 hand-passes in a row and the ball must be kicked 20 yards forward it would turn the game back into what it used to be (and what most people preferred) which was a game which was about the contest for possession and not about keeping possession



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 GAA_2025


    We need to increase the level of skill to make skill rewarding.

    Handpassing is the lowest skill in the game. It's down there with the ability to run a lot. They're things anyone can do if they just decide to focus on it.

    We need to see more of the higher skills. Skills such as distance shooting, kick passing, high fielding, winning your ball in a challenge v a defender.

    The game has been whittled down to handpassing and running. It's a leveller. That's why the championship has been so open the last couple years. If you have top class fitness, you'll run any team close.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,361 ✭✭✭✭km79


    I don’t recall seeing anywhere before about the hooter coming in ?
    maybe I missed it

    The two refs handled timekeeping differently as well. The ref in the Dublin Mayo game didn’t seem to stop the clock as much



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17 howdo1992


    tap and go look like it will be a great addition. Unsure about some of the other changes.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,154 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    There is nothing in the rules stopping any team from playing the old way. Players keeping their positions in defence, midfield and attack. And kicking the ball long as soon as they get their hands on it. Equally there was no new rule created to force players to hand pass 20 or 30 times in a row. Or to make them defend in numbers and then attack in numbers when the opportunity presents. Why do you think they prefer that style?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,939 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    The fans prefer that style. without fans the game is nothing like all sport. And if football is boring to watch, the fans will stop going, that will be a big problem for the GAA.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,690 ✭✭✭Jack Daw


    The old style of play doesn't work when it comes up against the possession based style of play.That is why every team gradually started to use the possession based style of play.

    However just because under the current rules the old style is not a successful game plan it doesn't mean it's not what people want to see.

    I genuinely think most people want to see catch and kick football and the rules should be trying to bring about a game where we get to see this.

    The number one shout from the crowd you'd hear at most matches when a player got the ball in midfield was "let it in".

    People like seeing long kicks and high catches, its much more exciting to watch than endless handpassing. Catch and kick was essentially footballs unique selling point, if you lose that you're losing the core thing that attracts people to the sport, if I want to see sideways passing and running I can watch rugby, If I want to see a game based around keeping possession I can watch soccer.We have a sport now that is providing elements of 2 of it's main competitors but has gotten rid of it's main unique features that drew people to it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 GAA_2025


    Yes exactly.

    You watch old matches and every attack is a challenge. The old game was about speed and scoring as quick as you can.

    It's a very stale game with the possession stuff.

    There's a massive roar in the stadium when a team keeps possession for minutes and then it's turned over. It's like a goal is scored. That's a bad reflection on the state of the game.



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