Provincial championships clearly matter, but their link to the All-Ireland remains a problem
Pathway for some is far less treacherous than for others, with league placings a much more legitimate barometer
Weekend That Was
Our weekly analysis of the weekend that was in the GAA Championships, published every Monday
Unlucky Waterford faced almost impossible task against Limerick due to scheduling
Déise had to play second match in six days against rested opposition, a fate no team has overcome
After 5,418 days Dublin have finally lost in Leinster and Jim Gavin’s new rules made it possible
Hundreds of careers of quality intercounty players in the province came and went without the hope of a day like this
Kerry football was blessed to have the likes of Mick O’Dwyer fanning the flames
You hope that on the sideline of an Elysian field, he stands, programme rolled up behind his back, still calling the shots
The Good, The Bad and The Two-Pointers: A county-by-county guide to who got what from the National Football League
Promotions, relegations, league finals made (and avoided) – there was something for everyone in the 2025 league
Leitrim’s forfeit to Fermanagh a symptom of a much greater ill in the GAA
Stephen Poacher’s Leitrim only had “13 fully-fit players” for Sunday’s Division 3 game
Referees aren’t the only ones responsible for controlling dangerous play
Everyone needs to be on the same page about head-high tackles in hurling
Alarm bells are ringing about GAA hooters - good thing there’s an easy solution
The contentious ending to last weekend’s Westmeath-Meath game exposed flaws in the system
Risk management is the rot in Gaelic football the FRC set out to treat
New rules that reward more exciting play are already having their impact on the game
Trying to keep up: icy reality of life at the top hits Wexford
For all the effort within the county, development of hurlers doesn’t happen overnight
A memorable GAA weekend: Vindication for Armagh’s Kieran McGeeney and joy for the faithful
This year of years belongs to the victorious northern county whose supporters have been among the most loyal all season
Crowning final glory proves the sweetest reward for Clare’s dogged years of persistence
After several Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final defeats, Banner veterans like Tony Kelly, John Conlon and David McInerney grasped the opportunity to add to their 2013 medals
Tougher road to final meant Armagh and Galway were that bit more battle-hardened
Perhaps surprisingly, both Donegal and Kerry found the pace too hot during the crucial final period of their respective semi-finals
Limerick’s forever heroes fall short of history - but they’ll be back
The Weekend that Was: Young age profile combined with rising stars should ensure that Sunday’s defeat was a mere blip
Light finally goes out on Dublin’s remarkable era
Sean Moran: Without the outsized prompts of last year, the odds were always against further achievement for Dublin
Cormac Costello’s form gives Dublin a quandary - how many inside forwards to play in the same team
With Con O’Callaghan, Paul Mannion, Colm Basquel and Paddy Small to include as well, balance will be critical
Dublin hurlers continue to sell themselves short in decade of lost opportunities
The Weekend That Was: In 2013, Dublin and Limerick both ended provincial title droughts but have taken vastly different paths since
Donegal left to ponder a more arduous route to Croke Park after Cork defeat
Saturday was a terrific step forward for Cork and a quarter-final place beckons if they can take perform against Tyrone
It is hard to see Henry Shefflin staying for Galway’s rebuilding job
Tribesmen have failed to bring through successful minor teams and have been found wanting
A ruthless streak might be the only thing Clare are missing - but they need to find it
Even though Clare scored 4-21 against Waterford, they left another 4-18 on the table and continued a worrying pattern of letting big leads fade away
Golden score a better option than a penalty shoot-out in Gaelic football
A golden score would seem a more fitting, yet equally dramatic, tiebreaker to a drawn football game than a penalty shootout as it retains the core disciplines of Gaelic football.
Galway v Mayo: The unchanging but variable rivalry that keeps the West awake
Sunday’s Connacht final was decided on the breadth of a bus ticket but it sends the teams on wildly different journeys
No shame in losing to Limerick but Sunday could not have gone worse for Tipperary
The weekend that was: Liam Cahill’s team needs to find something in the coming days otherwise their year will be over quickly
Defensive issue laid bare as Cork and Clare scramble to avoid crisis
Ruthlessness of the Munster Championship leave both sides in a race to make corrections quickest after disappointing opening round defeats
Wicklow gave full media access and nearly shocked Kildare - more teams should follow suit
Allowing The Irish Times access to preparations last week did not do McConville’s side any harm and engagement shows huge hunger by GAA public for insight
It’s up to Meath to breathe some life back into a dead derby
A famed rivalry once existed between Dublin and Meath but former Royal legend Colm O’Rourke’s new-look side are again rank outsiders at Croke Park next weekend
It is hard to see how a gruelling Ulster campaign fits into Derry’s grand plan
Mickey Harte needs to protect his precious resources for the business end of the season
Anticlimactic final weekend comes at a bad time for football league
Tightness of scheduling and its associated distraction, the imminence of championship, have caused complaints
Cork’s Alan Connolly is a rare and precious creature in the modern game - a goal scorer
After his three goals against Wexford on Saturday Connolly has now scored a staggering 15 goals in 21 league and championship appearances
Limerick’s imposing form doesn’t mean there’s nothing for rivals in the league
The Weekend That Was: Limerick may determine the hurling league’s championship relevance but other counties have witnessed progress
Teams get to decide how important games are - but home comforts still apply
Mayo are the only top flight team with a 100% winning record at home, while Donegal and Armagh have similar records in Division Two
Black cards have improved Gaelic football, but we should not forget their original purpose
The weekend that was: Recent black cards punished honest mistakes instead of truly cynical acts, a deviation from the point of the card
Signs of hopeful green shoots manifest in Offaly hurling
Cork continue to find it difficult to master their traditional old hurling rivals Kilkenny
Monaghan’s new wave underlines Dublin’s need for a refresh
The GAA weekend that was: It’s slightly surprising that Dessie Farrell hasn’t tried to introduce more young blood to the Dublin team
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