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Semi Finalists and from what provinces?

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With all the talk of which Province is strongest over the last decade and a half, a province with possibly the easiest path to Croker now has two semi finalists in the Senior Football Championship. It is time to face facts, provincial strength is a myth. The best teams annually make their way to Croke Park in August, with few exceptions. The teams that play during this time of the summer are arguably the best at the moment, and that obviously can change from year to year. Maybe all the hype about one province being stronger than another holds power in a friendly conversation but in reality maybe the fact that there are so many average teams in the provincial championships are the reason some provinces are harder to get out of than others ? It does not always mean that a certain province is the best footballing province because the games are more competitive, mediocrity breeds a false sense of security. The Dubs are deserved reigning All Ireland champions and realistically the only threat from Leinster. See Mayo/Galway in Connacht, Kerry. Tipp and Cork in Munster and Ulster changes quite often. Change is needed and it can't come quick enough. The best four teams remain in this years Championship at the moment though. noelnyc (Kerry) - Posts: 82 - 07/08/2016 19:55:22 1897577 Link
Replying To noelnyc: "With all the talk of which Province is strongest over the last decade and a half, a province with possibly the easiest path to Croker now has two semi finalists in the Senior Football Championship. It is time to face facts, provincial strength is a myth. The best teams annually make their way to Croke Park in August, with few exceptions. The teams that play during this time of the summer are arguably the best at the moment, and that obviously can change from year to year. Maybe all the hype about one province being stronger than another holds power in a friendly conversation but in reality maybe the fact that there are so many average teams in the provincial championships are the reason some provinces are harder to get out of than others ? It does not always mean that a certain province is the best footballing province because the games are more competitive, mediocrity breeds a false sense of security. The Dubs are deserved reigning All Ireland champions and realistically the only threat from Leinster. See Mayo/Galway in Connacht, Kerry. Tipp and Cork in Munster and Ulster changes quite often. Change is needed and it can't come quick enough. The best four teams remain in this years Championship at the moment though." Who knows if the best 4 teams are in the semi final, would we have beaten tyrone or donegal, i doubt it but who knows, how we perform against mayo will show us where we are. Noboday can deny the the 4 teams left in it are all there on merit and deserve to be though tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 07/08/2016 20:04:59 1897585 Link
Hey Tipp, maybe the 4 remaining teams are not the best, in some opinions. But the existing Championship format creates this scenario. noelnyc (Kerry) - Posts: 82 - 07/08/2016 20:28:13 1897593 Link
Leinster seed semi-finalists to have a bye and also to avoid each other in the quarter-finals. That's their own business. The seeding is earned on the field of play. Munster finalists are seeded to have a bye in the following year. Tipperary have earned this seeding for next year. Ironically Ulster had a balanced draw this year but they didn't perform at all. When Ulster had lopsided draws they actually performed better. It backs up my argument that tough games are an advantage. Kerry were knocked out by Cork before Munster finals but it actually stood us in good stead for the rest of the championship. Mayo and Tipperary both showed this year regardless of where you come from, if you have the right attitude and learn from defeat you'll go far. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7838 - 07/08/2016 20:42:56 1897605 Link
Replying To noelnyc: "Hey Tipp, maybe the 4 remaining teams are not the best, in some opinions. But the existing Championship format creates this scenario." Ulster teams are no great shakes. We were going to play Monaghan or Tyrone in last year's semi-final. It was Tyrone. It was a tough game but Mayo who lost out to the 4 Regions might have been tougher. Galway won their province fair and square just like Monaghan had both times they lost out to Tyrone in the quarter-finals. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7838 - 07/08/2016 20:49:20 1897609 Link
Well said Legend. noelnyc (Kerry) - Posts: 82 - 07/08/2016 20:53:18 1897613 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Leinster seed semi-finalists to have a bye and also to avoid each other in the quarter-finals. That's their own business. The seeding is earned on the field of play. Munster finalists are seeded to have a bye in the following year. Tipperary have earned this seeding for next year. Ironically Ulster had a balanced draw this year but they didn't perform at all. When Ulster had lopsided draws they actually performed better. It backs up my argument that tough games are an advantage. Kerry were knocked out by Cork before Munster finals but it actually stood us in good stead for the rest of the championship. Mayo and Tipperary both showed this year regardless of where you come from, if you have the right attitude and learn from defeat you'll go far." Kerry mustn't have the right attitude or learnt from defeats so .. how many times is it the dubs have bet ye now rossy15 (Roscommon) - Posts: 616 - 07/08/2016 21:07:31 1897626 Link
Replying To rossy15: "Kerry mustn't have the right attitude or learnt from defeats so .. how many times is it the dubs have bet ye now" Hmmmm. After a great team is a period of transition having neglected the youth in the 00's. An All-Ireland was won in '14 and low and behold that team bowed out with their boots on in the following year's final. The turncoat population of our rural brethren is shocking. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7838 - 07/08/2016 21:29:17 1897646 Link
Replying To rossy15: "Kerry mustn't have the right attitude or learnt from defeats so .. how many times is it the dubs have bet ye now" No shame being beaten by an exceptional team. Dublin are stronger in most positions at the minute but it won't last forever. I expect to see the tide turning soon. It's a bit of an anomaly this year with Tipp making the semi. It's very exciting, even if most of the people within the county don't care and probably won't even watch it on the telly. I'd agree that the best teams usually make the final stages but that doesn't mean the provincial set up isn't completely broken. Ulster teams have too many games and the likes of Cork / Kerry don't play often enough if they win their province. There is no appetite at all for reform of the provinces though so I'm not sure what can be done. GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 07/08/2016 21:33:34 1897649 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Leinster seed semi-finalists to have a bye and also to avoid each other in the quarter-finals. That's their own business. The seeding is earned on the field of play. Munster finalists are seeded to have a bye in the following year. Tipperary have earned this seeding for next year. Ironically Ulster had a balanced draw this year but they didn't perform at all. When Ulster had lopsided draws they actually performed better. It backs up my argument that tough games are an advantage. Kerry were knocked out by Cork before Munster finals but it actually stood us in good stead for the rest of the championship. Mayo and Tipperary both showed this year regardless of where you come from, if you have the right attitude and learn from defeat you'll go far." You also need the Ref with you!! browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 07/08/2016 21:34:04 1897650 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Hmmmm. After a great team is a period of transition having neglected the youth in the 00's. An All-Ireland was won in '14 and low and behold that team bowed out with their boots on in the following year's final. The turncoat population of our rural brethren is shocking." Sure look Tis kat legend nearly as bad as urgent wind up posts ! Actually fancy ye to turn the dubs over this year ... based on nothing only my rural Ireland footballing instincts ! rossy15 (Roscommon) - Posts: 616 - 07/08/2016 21:39:13 1897654 Link
Can anyone tell me the last time Kerry had play 3 rounds of Munster Championship football ? Knoxboya (Monaghan) - Posts: 357 - 07/08/2016 22:02:13 1897681 Link
wheres ulsterman the last few days :) lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 07/08/2016 22:04:47 1897684 Link
Replying To Knoxboya: "Can anyone tell me the last time Kerry had play 3 rounds of Munster Championship football ?" 2013 tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 07/08/2016 22:24:31 1897696 Link
Replying To Knoxboya: "Can anyone tell me the last time Kerry had play 3 rounds of Munster Championship football ?" 2013. If there was an open draw Waterford could be drawn in a semi-final and avoid Qualifier Round 1 by default. With our seeding of Munster finalists, Munster teams entering Q1 and Q2 is fairer. Same applies from the Leinster seeding system. Ulster and Connaught should consider similar seeding systems. It would ensure qualifier rounds have a better balance of teams of a similar level. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7838 - 07/08/2016 22:31:01 1897700 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "2013. If there was an open draw Waterford could be drawn in a semi-final and avoid Qualifier Round 1 by default. With our seeding of Munster finalists, Munster teams entering Q1 and Q2 is fairer. Same applies from the Leinster seeding system. Ulster and Connaught should consider similar seeding systems. It would ensure qualifier rounds have a better balance of teams of a similar level." This has been said over and over. The format in Ulster doesn't lend itself to a seeding system. The only way you could reasonably seed anyone is to maybe ensure the finalists can't be drawn in the preliminary round the following year. They would still be entering the qualifiers at round 1 either way. cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 07/08/2016 22:51:10 1897720 Link
...thanks, and so can anyone tell me the last time a Munster football quarter final took place between Cork & Kerry ? Knoxboya (Monaghan) - Posts: 357 - 08/08/2016 08:24:58 1897794 Link
Replying To Knoxboya: "Can anyone tell me the last time Kerry had play 3 rounds of Munster Championship football ?" 2015 kerrykerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1779 - 08/08/2016 09:36:22 1897819 Link
Replying To cavanman47: "This has been said over and over. The format in Ulster doesn't lend itself to a seeding system. The only way you could reasonably seed anyone is to maybe ensure the finalists can't be drawn in the preliminary round the following year. They would still be entering the qualifiers at round 1 either way." Ulster could be seeded so that semi-finalists from the previous year can't meet in round 1. They could also be seeded so that only teams who lost their opening fixture can be drawn in the preliminary round the following season. So 2 of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry. Fermanagh get rewarded for getting through this year's preliminary round by not being eligible for next year. To be honest though I'd be more in favour of no seeding in any province. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4215 - 08/08/2016 10:44:37 1897873 Link
Replying To kerrykerry: "2015" Repeating things (like your name) are replays, not rounds. Knoxboya (Monaghan) - Posts: 357 - 08/08/2016 16:06:20 1898158 Link