Armagh retain Ulster Ladies SFC title with convincing victory against Donegal
Armagh retained their TG4 Ulster SFC crown with a comprehensive win over Donegal in Clones.
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Irish Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA president Jarlath Burns says All-Ireland finals could shift again in 2027
The All-Ireland finals may shift into August by 2027, GAA president Jarlath Burns has said. Burns has been an advocate of spreading the Championship season over a broader timeframe and has even floated the possibility of finals returning to their traditional September setting last year. Earlier this year, GAA director general Tom Ryan said that he would welcome the finals moving into August and while Burns later said that this would not happen on his watch, with his presidency ending in February 2027, he stated that it could happen later that year when speaking at the launch of the All-Ireland hurling series at Offaly GAA's Faithful Fields today. The All-Ireland finals have been played in July since 2022 as the split season model was introduced and Burns explained how moving them into August 2026 was off the table as Croke Park is a 'commercial organisation' which 'does its business a year in advance', effectively meaning that concerts are already slated for the back end of next summer. 'That puts August 2027 into the mix,' he said. 'I'm around the country all the time, in clubs and counties every single day of the week, and the thing that I get most debate on are the timings of the All-Ireland finals. 'And there is a school of thought that is saying that first and third weeks in August. 'Leave everything as it is and just have a bigger space between the semi-finals and the finals, three weeks instead of two weeks. That means then that there's only the two teams that are being affected. 'The disadvantage of that is that you're into the bank holiday weekend, and that can create difficulty as well. 'You might have heard me saying that this isn't going to happen during my presidency. The decision might be made during my presidency, but it might not actually occur during my presidency. 'But I am certainly open to the first and third weeks in August from 2027 on.' On the prospect of provincial final replays in the wake of last weekend's Munster hurling final being decided on penalties, Burns said that it is something among a range of issues that will be revisited after this year's Championship. 'I definitely think that any review should consider the possibility of replays, particularly in provincial finals. I just think that was such a game of drama, it was just a pity the way it ended. 'The Armagh-Donegal game could have gone the same way for the third year in a row, so I'm totally in favour of replays." The preliminary quarter-finals in hurling are a stumbling block as there are no free weekends before the quarter-final stage but Burns acknowledged: 'The counties themselves who would be in that position have always come back and said, 'No, this preliminary quarter-final means an awful lot to our team and our county, and we want to keep it'.' Meanwhile, Burns said that a potential return for the International Rules later this year will be discussed on Friday night, though the president is wary of encroaching on the closed season. He added: 'It's something that we have to do a little bit deeper thinking on, to be honest, before we make an actual decision on it. 'Personally, I would love to see the International Rules back, the players would love to see it back, but we have to be very careful about the consequences of bringing it back.'
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
16 becomes 12: All-Ireland SFC Round 3 permutations
Roll up, roll up for the annual permutations primer ahead of the final round of the group stage. From next year onwards, it'll be lean times for the permutations eggheads, who are almost as upset as Kieran McGeeney that the format is changing again. For 2026, we are set to return to what is being called a 'qualifier-style series'. Early indications are that the casual punter will have even more trouble getting their head around that one (Alan Partridge's soccer-meter springs to mind). Expect the usual queries of 'are they out now so, or what?' to skyrocket. But that's all in the future. Confronting us this week is the final round of the All-Ireland SFC group stage, which is enjoying a swansong so glorious that many people are seeking to cry 'halt' on the latest format change. Two of the groups are ferociously interesting this weekend, two of them less so. Here, for one last time, are the permutations. GROUP 1 Fixtures: Tyrone v Cavan, Brewster Park, Sunday 4pm Donegal v Mayo, King & Moffat Hyde Park, Sunday 4pm For the first time in the three years of the group stage - five if you want to include the Super 8s in 2018 and '19 - all four teams head into the final round of games on two points. Every team could theoretically finish in any position by full-time on Sunday. Donegal are currently way ahead of the rest in terms of score difference but given the GAA's prioritisation of 'head-to-head' results, this will likely prove a moot point, unless both Sunday's Group 1 games finish in draws. On all known form, Tyrone are in the best position here, having not lost to Cavan in championship since 1983 and dispatching them with considerable ease in this year's Ulster Footbal Championship. Cavan's shock win over a sluggish Mayo side in Castlebar was followed up by a very heavy defeat to Donegal in Kingspan Breffni Park. The best sequence of results for Malachy O'Rourke's men is a win combined with Donegal avoiding defeat in Dr Hyde Park. The prospect of a Tyrone win leaves Mayo needing some sort of result against the Ulster champions, otherwise Cavan will remain in the championship at their expense on the head-to-head. The Cavan/Mayo double would see Jim McGuinness and Michael Murphy dumped out of the championship at the group stage, though both would be considered upsets. Mayo beat Donegal at home in a similar scenario in the final round of the 2019 Super 8s. Another boon for Stephen Rochford's men is that the game is in Hyde Park, a field where they have a much better record than their own home ground. Rundown Tyrone win, Donegal win - Tyrone top group, Mayo eliminated Tyrone win, Mayo win - Mayo top group, Cavan eliminated Cavan win, Donegal win - Donegal top group, Tyrone eliminated Cavan win, Mayo win - Cavan top group, Donegal eliminated Tyr-Cav draw, Donegal win - Donegal top group, Mayo eliminated Tyr-Cav draw, Mayo win - Mayo top group, Donegal eliminated Tyrone win, Don-May draw - Tyrone top group, Cavan eliminated Cavan win, Don-Mayo draw - Cavan top group, Tyrone eliminated Both games end in draws - Donegal top group, Cavan eliminated (on score difference) GROUP 2 Fixtures: Kerry v Meath, Glenisk O'Connor Park, Saturday 4.15pm Roscommon v Cork, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Saturday 4.15pm This one is less open-ended. Kerry and Meath both know they will be progressing from the group, with only the order to be decided. Avoiding defeat will see Kerry directly into the quarter-finals. The worst case scenario for the Munster champions is they finish second and wind up with a home preliminary quarter-final. Meath could yet fall into third place if Roscommon beat Cork while overhauling a +14 score difference between themselves and the Leinster finalists in the process. The Roscommon-Cork game is a shootout to remain in the championship, albeit with a draw saving the Rossies. Roscommon's last competitive win outside of Ruislip was their 14-point annihilation of Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Round 5 of the league. Cork won the last do-or-die championship game between the pair, the 2023 preliminary quarter-final. Rundown Kerry win, Roscommon win - Kerry top group, Cork eliminated (second place determined by score difference - Ros currently -10, Meath +4) Kerry win, Cork win - Kerry top group, Roscommon eliminated Meath win, Roscommon win - Meath top group, Cork eliminated Meath win, Cork win - Meath top group, Roscommon eliminated Kerry-Meath draw - Kerry top group Roscommon-Cork draw - Cork eliminated GROUP 3 Fixtures: Monaghan v Down, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Sunday 2pm Louth v Clare, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Sunday 2pm The tamest group of the quartet is the most uninteresting from a permutations perspective. It was precisely with this scenario in mind - two teams on four points, two teams on none - that the GAA controversially insisted on allowing three teams progress, with the preliminary quarter-final stage added. Little of note to say here. The winner of the Monaghan-Down game will progress in top spot, with a draw favouring Down. The loser of the Louth-Clare will bid goodbye to the 2025 championship, with a draw saving the Leinster champions. Rundown Monaghan win - Monaghan top group Down win - Down top group Monaghan-Down draw - Down top group Louth win - Louth survive, Clare eliminated Clare win - Clare survive, Louth eliminated Louth-Clare draw - Louth survive, Clare eliminated GROUP 4 Fixtures: Dublin v Derry, Páirc Esler, Saturday 6.30pm Galway v Armagh, Kingspan Breffni, Saturday 6.30pm The big one... The most fiendishly difficult group in the history of group stages. Not even Stephen Kenny would expect to be dealt such a rough hand as these four. Not that Armagh need worry. Not alone are they through to the knockouts, they have already booked priority boarding to the quarter-final stage. The All-Ireland champions can only be matched in the points tally by Dublin, against whom they already have the head-to-head advantage. The big unknown this weekend is what tack they'll take against a Galway side in desperate need of a win in Kingspan Breffni Park. With the result largely irrelevant to them, will they go all Serie A on us, doing an Antonio Conte in the final round of the Euro 2016 group stage and throw out the reserves? Or will they seek to maintain their momentum and try and eliminate last year's All-Ireland finalists? Galway would probably be wise not to expect any presents anyway. Padraic Joyce's side were perilously close to tipping out of the championship with a game remaining in that wild, anarchic finale in Celtic Park. While they conceded another score on the buzzer to give up the win, any disappointment at that was easily eclipsed by their relief to still be in the thing at all. A win in Cavan will put them through to the preliminary quarter-final, regardless. And they'll be at home if Derry can turn over the Dubs in Newry, provided Paddy Tally's don't overhaul them on score difference. A draw or loss in Cavan and Galway are dependent on Dublin beating Derry. The safest outcome from a Galway perspective would be hearing that Dessie Farrell's side are winning well in Páirc Esler, even if that would mean sacrificing home advantage the following week. Dublin fans will flock to Newry knowing that any combo of results other than a Galway/Derry double will at least preserve their interest in the championship. For Derry, a first competitive win of 2025 will guarantee their progression and leave the Dubs hanging on the result from Cavan, praying that Galway have failed to win. Should both Galway and Derry lose, we will face the prospect of a team qualifying through the group stage on one point for the first time in the short history of the format. Galway have a slight edge in terms of score difference, currently at -1 compared to Derry's -4. Rundown
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Horan on Armagh's need to go full bore: The most dangerous thing is to ease off
Despite already securing a quarter-final spot, Armagh will approach their upcoming Sam Maguire series tie against Galway with full intent, according to former Mayo manager James Horan. The All-Ireland champions have already topped Group 4 ahead of their fixture at Kingspan Breffni this Saturday. Remarkably, it is the third consecutive year that Armagh have finished top of their group. In 2023 and 2024, the team who finished one place behind them was Galway. Speaking on the Irish Examiner's Gaelic football podcast, Horan said Kieran McGeeney's side will target another win to set them up for their trip to Croke Park in two weeks. 'There is no such thing as a game meaning nothing at this time of the year,' he said. 'In terms of development and growth, that is where Armagh are. Every game, we have talked about their consistency. Armagh I don't think will change a thing. They have momentum and their belief set is based on hard work and a way of playing. 'They have been doing that for years and years. Look at how much they've grown already. Do you think because they have qualified already, they are going to give away that initiative and momentum by dropping down the gears? It is not in their psyche.' Horan cited the example of Donegal, who started the National League with three victories in a row before winning one of their final four games. The Ulster champions now must defeat Mayo in their final Group 2 game and hope Tyrone lose out to Cavan. 'It is the most dangerous thing you can do as a manager. I think Donegal are trying to chase that momentum since the third round of the league. They started so well, this force of nature coming at us. I think it is such a dangerous strategy. 'I don't see them doing anything different. Maybe they will try one or two other players. They might test one different thing on the field, but ultimately it will be the Armagh we know and expect. There will be nothing easy.' Meanwhile, despite the recent drama, Horan believes the GAA are right to change the All-Ireland senior football championship format. A new format will be in place next season with the group phase abolished and replaced by a qualifier-style series. 'It is classic recency bias. This year it is brilliant, every group has something to play for and this weekend has so much to play for. All people want is a bit of drama where anything can happen,' he said. 'It is great this year. Everything seems to be working right this year, with rules and everything else. It is all combining and working out ok. Should we get rid of it? If you take this year on its own, you would say no but what were we saying this time last year or the year before that? Too many games etc. Overall, the sample size of one year isn't enough to make a decision. Changing it might be the right play.'
