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Loser of Tyrone / Mayo would have the best chance I'd say.
Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 185 - 03/06/2026 12:48:33 2677579 Link 0 |
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Ok. Crossed wires Actually I had thought you had lost your marbles )) eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2470 - 03/06/2026 12:52:11 2677581 Link 0 |
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We were in a severe group in 2025, containing 4 teams that played NFL div1 in 2025. Some groups had one or no div1 sides by comparison.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4779 - 03/06/2026 13:05:01 2677589 Link 2 |
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Group regardless of strength of opposition was filled with non jeopardy games. Was it last year or two years ago that Galway played Armagh in round 3 and it was a total dead rubber for Armagh? Objective of the groups was finishing 3rd at least to reach the knock out stages and Galway was always going to do that with Westmeath and winless Derry in the group. Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3986 - 03/06/2026 13:32:36 2677604 Link 0 |
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Galway v Tyrone was to be played at 5pm in Breffni Park and apparently the Galway county board requested a Leinster venue and at earlier time.
Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 877 - 03/06/2026 13:35:41 2677606 Link 1 |
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I was obviously being a bit facetious with that comment. No Leinster county outside of Dublin has made an All-Ireland final for a long time. At the same time, this Westmeath team are dangerous. Their strengths are what we struggle with.
WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2853 - 03/06/2026 14:26:10 2677621 Link 0 |
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You might say 'non jeopardy' sitting in your ivory tower, but teams will still typically have to empty more tank to chisel results against div1 calibre outfits. That might not be the ideal physical preparation for a qfinal.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4779 - 03/06/2026 15:10:56 2677644 Link 1 |
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I'm talking about the Dublin Armagh Derry Galway 'group'. Not any other group. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4779 - 03/06/2026 15:32:40 2677656 Link 0 |
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No might about it they were non jeopardy games. My point on what was required to reach the knock out stages is accurate so drop the attitude with your ivory tower remark.
Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3986 - 03/06/2026 15:48:26 2677664 Link 0 |
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I'd put more stock into how teams are performing now in the championship rather than the league in spring. If they were to play tomorrow, I think Westmeath would have a very good chance of beating Cork. I'd imagine the odds would be even enough.
WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2853 - 03/06/2026 15:50:14 2677667 Link 0 |
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Cork especially at home to Westmeath would win by a bit to spare. Galway probably should do the same however we all know Galway tend to make things more difficult for themselves and get dragged into a dog fight.
Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 877 - 03/06/2026 16:38:48 2677694 Link 0 |
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You still empty more tank to get results against quality teams. You could be better off playing high 'jeopardy' low quality nondiv1 sides, than low 'jeopardy' high quality encounters. But it seems to be all about 'jeopardy' to you. Galway lost their first 'no jeopardy' match to Dublin by a late point in 2025, then were well behind in their second 'no jeopardy' match in Derry. The jeopardy of these two 'no jeopardy' encounters being that if Galway hadn't recovered to draw in Derry, they were out of the championship, ironically enough regardless of the result of their third 'no jeopardy' match against the then reigning allireland champions.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4779 - 03/06/2026 16:45:40 2677697 Link 1 |
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It really doesn't take much effort whatsoever to go back and check the context around those groups and draws. In each of 2023, 2024 and 2025, Galway's draw as provincial champion was significantly harder than the other provincial champions draw. Derry may not have won a game in a year, that doesn't mean meeting them out of pot 4 wasn't harder than meeting the likes of Cavan or Kildare, e.g other pot 4 options Meeting Mayo in that 2023 prelim was harder than the other options available. Meeting Armagh in the 22 quarter final, and Dublin in the 24 quarter final, were at the time significantly harder than the other options available. The first bit of luck Galway had with draws was meeting Down last year, who were a good team but it was better than meeting Kerry. Similarly this year has gone well. You can't rewrite the draws of the past though to suit yourself PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 376 - 03/06/2026 17:07:03 2677705 Link 0 |
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Galway should have won with a bit to spare against Down last year, but it ended up going to the wire in a roller coaster of a game. Even Leitrim this year was much closer than expected. We did put Kildare away relatively well, but I thought Kildare were absolutely awful on the evening. No intensity from them at all. We should beat Westmeath, but there are many things Galway should have done over the years, which we didn't happen. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2853 - 03/06/2026 17:07:53 2677706 Link 0 |
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No it wasn't. The objective of the group stage was to win the group, and not have to face in to 3 games in 3 weeks, which ended up catching up with Galway in both 2024 and 2025. Galway's task in that regard each year was made much harder than the other provincial winners, primarily by the presence of the ulster runners up (Armagh) instead of the likes of Louth (Leinster runners up) or Clare (Munster) You hardly think teams were setting out to just finish 3rd? PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 376 - 03/06/2026 17:12:45 2677709 Link 0 |