A few random observations on the state of modern Football

1 The qualifiers have killed much that was sacred about the game. Its time to revert to proper championship knock out like in the olden days. A provincial win means nothing nowadays, not ever for weaker counties

2 Cork are as poor a side to win Sam as I can ever recall

3 Success > Trial by media. Tyrone and Kerry have been dismantled by the Sunday Game Police, probably langers turn now next year. This is not how it should be. The real fault lies with the CCCC, an umbrella shadowy group who exist so the GAA have a cloak for their for ineffectiveness.

4 Galway are in a poor state of repair right now and things likely to get worse before they get better.

5 Kerry are nailed on for Sam next year

6 The aura of teams from Ulster being hard to beat is well and truly gone. 'Ulster Football', or at least whatever was meant by whenever the expression was inferred has passed it's sell by date. Only Tyrone and maybe Down will present a threat next year

7 Leinster football is a joke. A province not having a single repesentative in an All Ireland Final is danming. It's not even funny at this stage how bad things are in Leinster. Dublin may be about to make a genuine breakthrough but we've said said that before.

8 Paraic Joyce is God

9 Pat Mcneaney is probably over rated but he's still the best ref in the game.

10 Mayo are s**t

Feel free to add to this list

11. The "qualifiers" are ruining the game. Counties are putting back/off their own championships to facilitate expense hungry managers in a more often than not vain quest for inter county success. The better counties are able to seamlessly conclude their calendars without resorting to this malarkey.

12. The standard of refeering is abysmal nationally. Consistency is called for so players know whats what from the opening match.

13. A special committee should be established to conduct an in-depth study into the state of football in Leinster.

Next.......

14: Cork are the best side over the last ten years at football.

15: Dublin appear to have the best prospects....

16: kerry will have the best prospects.

17: Padraig Joyce would make a "McGourty Family" team, now that the grand father has retired.

18. The GAA remains the most positive force in Irish social, sporting, and cultural life despite the best attempts of some to be negative about it all the time. The 2010 Championship was dramatic, with many unpredictable outcomes and once again GAA fans have been left with many memories of yet another season of one of, if not the, greatest sporting and cultural organisations in the world.

19. The Qualifiers, despite taking away from the provinical Championships, have allowed more teams to build confidence and gain some credit for the massive efforts put into their seasons. Thanks to the Qualifiers, more GAA fans can savour their county's successes. Much has been made of the fact that none of the provincial winners made the semis yet few have been slow to say that Kerry were 'past it', Roscommon had nothing left to offer, Tyrone just weren't what they used to be, and that Meath probably should never have won Leinster in the first place.

20. The greatest conundrum of all...where do all the great minor teams and their members disappear to? ..Its very hard to recall a great minor who ever became a great senior...I remember Des Foley of Dublin (1956) being a great minor (I'd say he was 22 that day) and senior, Barney Rock is a shout, Beano McDonald is in the frame, till fate overtook him.......I remember the oldest mini-Boxty winning a County minor in a stronger county in 1992 and while he made a county senior for a brief spell, 6 years after only 5 of the panel of 21 were playing at all (and he wasn't one of them)...Strange but true...