04-05-2025
RTE GAA pundits slam ‘scandalous' All-Ireland draw as Lee Keegan insists ‘we are taking away from provincial finals'
LEE KEEGAN slammed the "scandalous" All-Ireland SFC group stage draw as having "taken away" from the provincial finals.
Kerry face Clare, and Mayo take on Galway in the Munster and Connacht deciders, respectively, this afternoon.
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Kerry are facing Clare in the Munster football final
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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Lee Keegan slammed the All-Ireland group stage draw taking place before the provincial football finals
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The runners up, meanwhile, will face the Leinster champions, Monaghan, and Down.
As for the Connacht final, the winners will meet the losers of the Ulster final between Armagh and Donegal, Dublin, and Derry.
And the runners up will face the Ulster champions, Tyrone, and Cavan.
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The draw taking place before the provincial finals has drawn ire from many, including Lee Keegan and Paul Flynn on The Sunday Game.
Mayo legend Keegan said: "I think having the draw on Wednesday is scandalous for a couple of reasons.
"There is no hype around it, it is on midday on a Wednesday, people are working. They are not even paying attention to what is going on.
"From a player point of view or a manager, you are creating draws before any provincial finals are finished.
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"We are not selling our game. We are not promoting our game. We are taking away something that is meant to be exciting.
"We are talking about group stages when today is a big day for provincial finalists so I just think it is absolutely ridiculous that we are even having this conversation about group stages when we haven't our four provincial finals finished."
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Former Dublin star Flynn echoed that sentiment, arguing that that GAA would have been better off making the draw after Sunday's games.
He said: "It could have been done just after the games today and no one would have noticed.
"In a calendar that is so condensed anyway, give this week the opportunity just to promote these games."
The final line-up of the All-Ireland series will be finalised next Sunday.
That day will see Meath face Louth in the Leinster final in a rematch of the 2010 decider, the last not to feature Dublin.
The Royals shocked the Sky Blues last weekend to make the decider, with the Dubs losing in the provincial championship for the first time since 2010.
Also on Sunday, All-Ireland champions Armagh will meet Donegal in the Ulster football final.
Meanwhile, Westmeath's bid to become the first team to win the Tailteann Cup twice will see them face Limerick, Antrim and London.
The second-tier competition begins on May 10-11.
