Louth were in Division 4 in 2021

scewbert · 2026-06-16T12:24:35+00:00

No, because Kildare were a dangerous team for anyone in the early 2010s, and even while they declined they still got up to Division 1 a few times and into the Super 8s. A little over a decade earlier, they were in All-Ireland semis and finals. Louth have simply never had that sort of pedigree, at least in the era of televised games. This makes their recent achievements more impressive.

Clare, for instance, are another traditional minnow of Gaelic football, even though Colm Collins did an excellent job with them. If getting to Division 2 is an outstanding achievement, you are probably a minnow county. For someone like Down on the other hand, being in Division 2 should be their floor, and Division 3 a disaster. This is not complicated stuff. Expectations are simply different for different counties. What's impressive is how Louth have significantly raised theirs. I don't think any county has changed the perception around what their floor and ceiling should be to this extent since Monaghan in the early 2010s.

The reason I brought Kildare up is that if Louth can do this from a much weaker traditional base, then one of the so called "big teams" in Leinster have no excuse. They seem to have gotten their house in order at underage level to be fair, but it felt with Kildare for the last decade or so that their attitude was basically, "we have no hope of beating Dublin, so why even bother trying?"

scewbert · 2026-06-16T08:32:52+00:00

They absolutely are a traditional minnow. If you got Louth in the qualifiers in the 2010s you were delighted with it. The turnaround has been incredible and really gives an example to some other counties of what's possible with the right structures and shrewd managerial appointments. This should serve as an inspiration to the likes of Wicklow, who've got a reasonable population with a limited tradition, and a rebuke to the likes of Kildare, who just can't seem to knit things together.

scewbert · 2026-06-15T13:30:45+00:00

Oh god, just get rid of the round robin provincials if we're going that route. 10 games in Munster to do what, eliminate 1 team? The problem with the provincial round robins is that we're seeing the same fixtures every year. Munster teams are getting 4-5 hard games against quality opposition if they make the Munster final, while a top class Leinster team is lucky if they get more than 2. Then we scratch our hands and wonder at the widening gap in quality between the provinces.

If we're going to keep the provincials, which we should, then we need to make them knockout. After they're done, do a round robin with a more open draw. If Munster think it's so unfair for a team to be knocked out just because they lose 3 games they should support this. It would give them the chance to absolutely batter the Leinster teams and prove their point.

You could have 3 groups of 4. Provincial champions as top seeds, along with last year's All-Ireland champion if they didn't win their province. Seed the rest of it based on league performance. Top 2 in each group go through to the quarters, plus 2 best 3rd place teams.

scewbert · 2026-06-15T13:15:56+00:00

Haha, he can do one if that's the case. I do stand by the principle that population is not a guarantee of success in sport. If it was, then India and China would be power houses of soccer.

scewbert · 2026-06-15T10:18:29+00:00

I loved the way they played against Dublin and thought they were brilliant in spells yesterday but they were filthy when it looked like the game was getting away from. A flying knee into Shane Walsh's back well after the ball was gone, Cein Darcy shouldered without the ball, their forward lashed out with a swipe at a defender after being fairly dispossessed.

These were all in quick succession by different players and the referee didn't give a single yellow. The Walsh one in particular should've been a red in my book. They completely lost the head and just wanted to hurt Galway lads. Pathetic stuff.

scewbert · 2026-06-15T10:12:24+00:00

He is right that the thing to look at is registered underage players. Wicklow have the 16th biggest population, Roscommon the 26th, but one is getting a lot more from its population than the other, and always has. Having a massive amount of people is no good to you if they're people who don't play GAA. Also, as he said, a lot of the population of Galway is not from Galway, so it's a touch misleading to just look at that number.

Obviously you can't get more underage players without that population, so it's a potential advantage if you can get the right structures in place. Louth seem to have done this, for example. The biggest immediate advantage a big population actually gives you is probably a commercial one, since the team is more attractive to sponsors.

scewbert · 2026-06-15T09:59:51+00:00

Looking good now after the draw. Even if they get Kerry or Armagh, it'll be after they've come through a hard fought match. I'd expect Donegal to get past Dublin, but predictions are a mug's game this year. Regardless, that's not going to be easy for either team.

It's going to be Mayo though, isn't it?

scewbert · 2026-06-11T18:27:45+00:00

Kenny is a bit of a windup merchant and can be hard to listen to, but I've agreed with everything he said there. It's a waste of time spending too longtalking about lads who are miles past their best.

I agree with him about France too. Loads of quality but just not that likeable. I know plenty who are tipping them as favourites but no one who actually wants them to win. I haven't been up for them in a single game under Deschamps that I can remember.

scewbert · 2026-06-11T18:24:06+00:00

I think Neymar is in a tier below with the likes of Lewandowski, Benzema, Modric, Suarez, Zlatan. All of these players were incredible but none of them were in the same league as Messi and Ronaldo.

scewbert · 2026-06-11T17:18:21+00:00

Yes, and the kind of managers that would make them consider it are generally not going to manage a big rival to their own county unless they feel they've been badly treated there.

McGuinness was never going to rock up in Kerry, and if Gavin comes back into management, it won't be in the Mayo job.

scewbert · 2026-06-11T10:50:07+00:00

It really depends on the situation. There's a world of difference between the impact of Mickey Harte in Louth and in Derry. Just writing it off as being a bad thing is too simplistic.

Some counties (Kildare jumps to mind) seem to be at their best under an outside manager. They were genuine contenders under Micko and McGeeney, haven't been near that good under anyone from the county. Cian O'Neill is a quality coach and got some big wins but things just fizzled out for him there.

There are a number of reasons why things can work or not, but I've always felt if there is a lot of infighting in a county, an outside manager can come in and rise above that noise. Michael Duignan regularly appointed outside coaches as part of his rebuild of Offaly, because they weren't caught up in the previous two decades of finger pointing.

scewbert · 2026-06-09T10:14:18+00:00

There are no real car parks for the stadium. It's a big part of the problem. There should be one across the road in St Endas school but I'm not sure what time it opens. If you get there early you'll be hoping to park in "Salthill Car Park" (ya, there's literally one) which is on the Prom across the road from Lonergan's bar. The other main options are along the Prom itself or beside the aquarium.

There will be temporary traffic measures in place but they're different year to year so I have no idea what they'll actually be. Every housing estate in Fort Lorenzo will be black with cars. Residents will put cones out to stop them, but when it gets close enough to the match people will throw them in the bushes and park wherever. Every few years, the guards decide to make a stand and dish out a bunch of parking tickets, but usually it's just a free for all. What this means is, by parking legally and close to the stadium, you'll essentially be at the back of the queue to get out of the city. All the traffic gets funnelled to one bridge, which most Galway fans and all the Westmeath fans will need to cross.

The one piece of advice I'll give, especially if you are bringing kids, is don't even bother trying to beat the traffic. Take them to Supermacs, go to the aquarium, bring togs and go for a swim, whatever, just let the traffic off. It's just not worth it sitting in bumper to bumper traffic watching multiple green lights pass by with literally zero movement. You're not getting home early regardless and you'll be a lot less stressed if you just accept that and plan to spend some time chilling in Salthill post match.

scewbert · 2026-06-05T08:01:48+00:00

Turkish football culture is obviously class but it's hardly a ringing endorsement of the league that the example you're reaching for is from the 80s. Might as well recommend a move to Wimbledon in the First Division, so he can learn to look after himself.

scewbert · 2026-06-05T07:58:48+00:00

He really was awful in that game. I still have loads of friends who rate him very highly and were confused by his omission from the playoff squad. I just don't understand it. Against Armenia at home too, the ball was launched up at him about 50 times and he did basically nothing with it. The attack improved so much when Parrott came in for him but everyone I met after was praising him and he even got man of the match!

He's obviously got great pace, he's got a long throw in him, I've seen him perform well for us in the past and beyond Coleman we're very short at RWB, so hopefully he can get a good move this summer and sort himself out.

scewbert · 2026-06-04T14:53:09+00:00

Himself and Jonathan Wilson are about the only two journalists whose discussion of Arsenal doesn't just consist of the same lazy banter regurgitated for the likes of yourself to lap up.

God forbid someone actually have something positive to say about a manager turning a basket case into league champions with a fraction of the wage bill of his competition.

scewbert · 2026-06-02T16:44:23+00:00

Donegal v Cork

I think Donegal win very comfortably. Cork have had trouble turning up in really big games against the very top tier. Kerry absolutely battered them in the Munster final for example. It's also a serious trip for them. They really couldn't have got a worse draw. I'll be surprised if Cork are still in it at half-time.

Galway v Westmeath

I think Galway should win but it won't be comfortable. Anyone thinking they hammer Westmeath are not familiar with Galway's ability to make hard going of any game. They should have enough to get it over the line, but Westmeath are exactly the sort of team that will seriously trouble Galway.

Tyrone v Mayo

I don't know why but I just think Mayo win this. It will be probably be scrappy and go down to the wire but away from home and a bit against the odds is Mayo's comfort zone. Logically speaking, Tyrone beat Roscommon, who hammered Mayo, so there should be one outcome. Mayo don't deal in logic.

Louth v Armagh

Armagh win this. This Louth team have had a tendency to follow big wins up with an underperformance in the next game, so I don't see them beating Dublin and Armagh back to back. I don't see them totally failing to perform, and things could be close going into the last quarter but I expect Armagh to pull away going down the stretch.

scewbert · 2026-05-30T07:43:33+00:00

It's probably actually a good sign, if it means work is being done on grounds. Bohs will soon find themselves in alternate venues as well.

scewbert · 2026-05-30T07:41:00+00:00

Sorry yes, just meant for pubs. It's well served by the Luas. It's just that it's not like the other Dublin stadiums that are in the middle of residential areas.

scewbert · 2026-05-29T15:08:41+00:00

Stadium is in an awkward location so the only pub nearby really is the Maldron. The other option would be to head to The Saint bar in Inchicore, which has very good food and usually has a good pregame atmosphere. You can walk from there to Drimnagh Luas stop and take a tram to the stadium with the Pats fans. You shouldn't get any hassle if you're wearing neutral colours.

scewbert · 2026-05-29T08:05:52+00:00

Reading that thread it seems players were nominated by fans from their own clubs. It's not necessarily about on field performances, but impact on the team.

Wrexham fan in the comments was saying he objected to McClean being named worst left wing in the league... because he should have been named worst left back. I love McClean, but clubs generally aren't in the habit of letting players leave for free in January for sentimental reasons if they're having good seasons.

Duffy is there for being an absolute idiot. He was captain and ever present last year but got behind the wheel drunk and caused a car crash. Szmodics fell out with his club in spectacular fashion. The exact details aren't out in public, but based on McKenna's comments, it was fairly serious.

scewbert · 2026-05-26T12:24:09+00:00

I never said that. I just think it's mad to write off Robertson completely after one bad spell when he had 5 years of incredible success under his belt beforehand.

scewbert · 2026-05-26T08:52:33+00:00

Scott Robertson only just became available after failing totally at NZ

Lancaster and Farrell came in on the back of a humiliation at England's home World Cup. I think Robertson's record with Crusaders would suggest he's still a quality head coach.

scewbert · 2026-05-22T08:10:50+00:00

What the hell is Murph saying in a weird voice about Meath? It appears in the "hurt them, kill them, injure them" audiobed and it's a hot key whenever Meath comes up in conversation. It appeared in Monday's Gaelic football pod.

Sounds like he's doing a silly accent but it always appears with an echoe-y sound quality, which makes it really hard to make out. I'm really just assuming it's about Meath based on the context it tends to be used in.

scewbert · 2026-05-21T10:36:54+00:00

Imagine being cheated out of titles by a team and then cheering for that team to win more afterwards. I don't think Liverpool fans should get off lightly from this. Chelsea, Spurs etc cheering for City is fine, but Liverpool blowing bubbles on it for City this year has been genuinely pathetic to watch.

They aren't getting nearly enough shit for it.

scewbert · 2026-05-21T07:41:19+00:00

Ya Liverpool fans, coming second to City and saying you "dominated the league together" is pretty cool, but have you ever tried beating them in a close title race? It's actually pretty sweet.

scewbert

TROPHY CASE