With the league finals played last weekend, focus in the GAA world is quickly set to switch to championship ahead of the start of the provincial competitions this weekend. We will see Gaelic football championship action across all four provinces on Saturday and Sunday.
Of course, some provincial competitions provide a bit more excitement than others.
The Ulster Championship has long been the standard bearer in this regard, with all nine counties capable of competing with each other on a given day. Connacht also has three competitive teams, with Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon all capable of winning the competition.
Munster is a different story, with Kerry having won ten of the last 11 editions. The only exception was that strange 2020 season in which no crowds were present at games.
Leinster is even less competitive, with Dublin winning 18 of the last 19 championships. What's more, they have rarely played a genuinely close game in the province over the last decade or so.
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GAA fans baffled by Leinster chairman comments
Provincial championships are causing quite a bit of debate at the moment, with many feeling that they are standing in the way of bringing in a balanced inter-county Gaelic football calendar.
The Leinster Championship is often given as the prime example of why they are no longer fit for purpose, with Dublin having all but won the trophy before a ball is kicked.
Despite this, some believe that the competition is still in rude health.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Leinster Senior Football Championship, Leinster GAA chairperson Derek Kent said that the competition is 'alive and kicking'.
No matter what is said that the provincial championship is on its last legs or it’s finished, I honestly believe there is not a person in this room – or player – who does not want to win a Leinster hurling or football medal, this year or every other year.
The championship is there, it’s alive and kicking. It’s up to us in Leinster GAA to bring teams up to the level that’s required to go hunt and win All-Irelands.
That might be a bit of a stretch.
As mentioned above, Dublin have only failed to win the competition on one occasion since 2005, when they unexpectedly lost to Meath in 2010. The championship has been seen as a formality since then, with very few counties even managing to give Dublin a competitive game.
Quite a few GAA fans were quick to point out the irony of these comments from the Leinster GAA chairperson.
🤣 I enjoyed this. If the Leinster championship was a horse you'd have put it down long ago. https://t.co/FIMM12O7PG
— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) April 4, 2024
Leinster chairman Derek Kent says Leinster championships are 'alive and kicking'
Dublin have won 13 in a row and 18 of the last 19.
I'd hate to see it of it wasn't going well.
Clearly looking out for himself and his position and gaslighting us— Smaller Fish GAA (@SmallerFishGAA) April 4, 2024
I see it's time for the Annual "talking up the Leinster Championship" charade. They either haven't a clue or are more interested in self preservation than actually doing what's right. Who in the province cares anymore or will spend money going to the games.
— John Egan (@Kildarejohn) April 4, 2024
Christ. On. A. Bike. https://t.co/ogt0CuILHw
— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) April 4, 2024
— John Egan (@JohnEgan1111) April 4, 2024
With the condensed nature of the current inter-county calendar, it seems increasingly likely that the provincial championships will be moved to before the league in the future, essentially making them pre-season competitions.
While that would be a blow in Ulster, you would imagine that there would not be too many complains from GAA fans in Leinster, regardless of what their chairperson may think.
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