What is it about balding bearded paranoid Kildare guys that gets them so vexed about the greatest Gaelic football team of all time?
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Something happened in Leinster football yesterday. You could sense it. Something changed, at a core level.
I thought it was unfair to make Louth and Offaly play extra time. Offaly deserved another game and a replay to try and make it to a Leinster final.
Split season innit
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Meath, Down, Cavan and Offaly all in the Taliban Cup.
20 All-Irelands between them.
Glen will be relieved to know that an internet cheap shot merchant has fierce respect for him …
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The draw for the group stages takes place tomorrow.
With Sky out of the picture it’s a huge missed chance for the GAA. Televised draws are a wonderful way for a sport to keep itself in the limelight. The draw could have been done Champions League style and been broadcast live on Sky Sports News.
Rob Wooton breathlessly announcing “we’re going over now to GAA headquarters at Croke Park for the draw for the 2023 All-Ireland Gaelic football championship”.
Then back 40 minutes later Europa League style for the draw for the Tallyman Cup.
The Champions League has developed an extensive pool of experienced professionals on the draw doing circuit, mostly ex-Real Madrid players.
Roberto Carlos, Christian Karembeu, Clarence Seedorf, Raul, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane when he’s not clapping his hands on the touchline for Real Madrid. And of course 0 times European Cup winner Lothar Matthaus, it’s a wonderful game we are playing here.
These draws would have given the GAA the chance to develop a pool of experienced ball pullers. The format could have been made as laborious as possible. Separate bowls for each group. Separate bowls for each seed grouping. Separate bowls for match positioning, eg. A3.
At least six former All-Ireland winners could have been used for the Sam Maguire draw. And six non-All-Ireland winners for the Talmud Cup.
How class would it have been if a left field host, say, the ultra-stylish Sinead Kennedy, was brought in to introduce our pool of legends to do the draw, introducing clips of each of them in their pomp before they do a little half embarrassed smile.
Kevin Walsh, Galway legend.
1992 Donegal hero Anthony Molloy.
David Beggy, two-times All-Ireland winner with Meath, maintaining some Meath involvement in the destination of this year’s All-Ireland.
Eoin “Mugsy” Mulligan, three times All-Ireland winner with Tyrone. Mugsy would have been great with the easy banter as he pulled the balls.
Noel Kennelly, 2000 All-Ireland winner with Kerry, just for the sheer randomness.
And of course:
Seamus Darby, 1982 All-Ireland winner and the man who stopped the five in a row.
Then for the Tarry Flynn Cup:
Longford stalwart Dessie Barry.
Leitrim’s very first All-Star Mickey Quinn.
Waterford 1990s Ladies football legend ?
Fermanagh legend and co-commentator extraordinaire Peter McGinnity.
Wicklow great Kevin O’Brien
Tipperary hero Declan Browne.
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The Tommy Tallcan cup is where it’s at
I fancy Armagh to beat Derry in the Ulster final. Derry are shipping goals at the minute now and Armagh have the most dangerous inside forward line at the minute. Murnin and Turbitt are flying it.
Derry will probably win Sam though.
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Pity we can’t just skip the group stages altogether. 3 coming out is some joke. Surely they could push the start back another week or two by removing the 3rd placed teams and that extra round of fixtures and everyone would be a little happier. 12 from 16 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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It does mean there will be something to play for in final group game for all teams effectively.
Welcome back
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Wow, it’s Champions League-like!
Ross Munnelly! The GAA’s first ever experienced professional on the draw doing circuit!
We start with the Teddy Ruxpin Cup.
You have to admire the GAA’s dedication to being different. Every other sporting organisation in the world uses balls for draws, but the GAA still insists on using cylinders.
Timmy O’Toole draw
Cavan
Offaly
Laois
London
Meath
Down
Tipperary
Waterford
Limerick
Wicklow
Longford
Carlow
Fermanagh
Antrim
Wexford
Leitrim
Is it three teams to come out of the Tailteann groups as well?
Laois v Offaly will be box office.
Meath go to Waterford!