The 2023 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

It amazing how you consider the old format gone since the ninties such a great state. The truth is players in weaker counties would never accept it again. No prayers is going to go through 3+ months training to play 1-2 matches and there season ended. After the first round of matches 4-500 players season would have ended. After the second round another 250-300 players season would have ended.

Simple alright simply idiotic. The truth is that Intercounty Football is the only code where we had no tiers until last year. Even the present tiers see it's with less tiers than any other club or county championship

The problem was trying to placate provincial bodies and old fogies who do not want change. The present system is not perfect but it's a hell.of an improvement for the commitment players put in. The major flaw is we needed a three tier system with promotion and relegation between tiers not related to any other competition.

Guess what it's the way every other f@@king GAA competition is run.

The problem in football too many idiots want to reinvent the f@@king wheel

The last time there was a straight knockout AI - was in 2020 the Covid AI with no fans

Before it Clare manager Ger Colins wanted an complete 'open draw' 32 teams in a hat - basically your idea. But I suspect this was more driven by the fact he was fed up being walloped in Munster.

In that year it was an odd one what with the Covid and no fans. And there were a few shocks Cork beating Kerry. Mainly because the Cork Aussie Rules fella Mark Keane was forced to stay because of Covid, and changed the game).

Tipp got to a Munster final and won it because their afl fella - O'Riordan was forced to stay in Ireland because of Covid = crucial to TIpp

Donegal were pipped by Cavan - because the draw favoured Cavan as Armagh and Donegal were in the other Ulster QF and Tyrone was also on the opposite side to Cavan.

The two AI SF were basically cakewalks for Dublin v Cavan AND Mayo v Tipp

Just adding to the whole Micky Mouse feeling of that 'so called' AI in 2020. The competition seemed even more devalued as a result IMO.

Open draw does not = good. Who remembers those AI Semi Finals now?

Obviously there are the other variables with the covid how seriously were teams ready etc. But it proves to me that straight knockout is not always good for the business end of the championship/competition.

The GAA can confirm the following fixture arrangements.

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Saturday June 17

Group Four

Clare v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 6pm

Donegal v Monaghan, O'Neills Healy Park, 6pm

Sunday June 18

Group One

Kerry v Louth, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 2pm

Cork v Mayo, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 2pm

Group Two

Armagh v Galway, Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 4pm

Westmeath v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni, 4pm

Group Three

Dublin v Sligo, Kingspan Breffni, 1.45pm

Kildare v Roscommon, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1.45pm

I neither said nor implied that. You have been arguing with your imagination on this.

If they couldn't get more than 10k for Tyrone Armagh they certainly won't get a bumper crowd for Galway-Armagh. Better to have a near full provincial ground than a near empty Croker.

The majority of games have been quite close, especially in the Sam competition. Roscommon v Sligo at 10 points the exception, and that was kinda expected (D1 v D3 in 2023).

Imagine being a D4 player this team is drawn to a top D1 team and you have Mayne 5 or 6 months of training ahead to face into it and then it's gonna be over - the day is gone when that would wash.

Either they updated it or you misread it

They updated it

Galway vs Armagh in a 10k stadium and the Dubs with a double header in a 25k are surprising on one way but make sense really.

ROUND 3 FIXTURES

Saturday 17 June

Group 4

Clare v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 6pm

Donegal v Monaghan, O'Neills Healy Park, 6pm

Sunday 18 June

Group 1

Kerry v Louth, O'Moore Park, 2pm

Mayo v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 2pm

Group 2

Galway v Armagh, Avantcard Páirc Sean MacDiarmada, 4pm

Westmeath v Tyrone, Kingspan Breffni Park, 4pm

Group 3

Dublin v Sligo, Kingspan Breffni Park, 1.45pm

Kildare v Roscommon, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 1.45pm

No Croke Park for Round 3. I think most will respect that decision.

Not sure why theyve stuck Mayo Cork in Limerick, rather than Ennis or even a double header in Tullamore. They'll be lucky to get 10k there.

Cut them some slack - its a new format, it's an amateur organisation, and it takes some coordination between the gaa, (mostly volunteer) county boards, rte, gaago etc. before times and venues can be confirmed.

Why did he walk down the tunnel?

kerry are great odds at 10/3. Still the team to beat and will peak when the time is right. Will between them and Mayo. Dublin are too inconsistent. Galway are unproven in Croke Park and lack the steel of Mayo 2013-17 team.