There’s Always Next Year – Five Questions The All-Ireland Football Championship Has Left Us

Yes, we’re well aware the final whistle has barely gone on Sunday’s final - but we can’t be the only ones not quite able to wait until next season, right? While the players take a well-earned rest before gearing up for another league campaign, we’ve already got a whole bunch of burning questions just begging to be answered!

And though we have no choice but to sit tight until the answers arrive, we can certainly kick the conversation off now while we’re still feeling the effects of football fever…

 
 

CAN ANYONE STOP DUBLIN’S DRIVE FOR FIVE?

We’ve been asking the question every year for a while now - and the answer has been an unequivocal NO. The boys in blue racked up their fourth consecutive title on Sunday while barely breaking sweat, and that’s sure to set alarm bells ringing up and down the country; no team has ever managed the five-in-a-row. One things for sure: it’s going to take something special to stop them. But then…

 

HAS POPE FRANCIS LIFTED MAYO’S CURSE?

When the Pope headed to Knock during his recent visit one fan took Mayo’s famous jinx into their own hands, thrusting a jersey in front of the holy father for him to deliver the ol’ John Hancock. Passing a funeral on the road in 1951 is said to be responsible for the drought; what are the odds that they’ll be visiting the Vatican with Sam in hand at the end of next year?

 

THE PLUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER

Last month saw Dublin youngster James Madden become the latest player to commit his immediate future to Aussie Rules, bringing the total number of Irish players plying their trade in the game to 12. That’s not exactly an exodus, granted, but we’ll guarantee that every county is looking over their shoulder wondering whether one of their men will be next…

 

WILL THE SUPER 8s STAY THE SAME?

The Super 8s structure has been introduced for three years, but is open to review following the first one. Why bother putting that confusing clause in, we don’t know, but the upshot is that the Congress will be discussing the system before we launch into year two. From Dublin’s use of Croker to the drama of ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’, there’s a few discussions to be had - but is there any chance a curveball could catch us all by surprise?

 

 

HOW EARLY WILL WE BE DONE?

This year’s finale was the first pencilled in to take place in August, until the aforementioned Pope’s visit threw a spanner in the works. Next year, though, the showpiece event should indeed be in August – and we can’t be the only ones to find that odd, right? The Sam Maguire awarded before the kids are even back to school? 

 

 

Did you know the GAA is available to watch on Sky Sports? - click here to find out more.

 

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