It’s hard to beat a bit of knockout football.
That’s what the GAA was always all about and, from now on, it’s do or die – until the Super 8s hands everyone another lifeline.
It’s very unlikely but you can theoretically lose three games now in the championship and still win it.
But for the poor teams still stranded in Round 3 of the qualifiers, it’s laid out very harshly and very simply for them. Win two games or take the summer off early.
On Saturday, four games in the backdoor take place with four provincial losers awaiting in the next round.
With football and hurling on this weekend, there’s another busy couple of days ahead for the television channels.
Saturday
All-Ireland SFC qualifiers Round 3
Leitrim v Monaghan – 2.30pm
Armagh v Clare – 3pm
Cavan v Tyrone – 5pm – Sky Sports
Kildare v Mayo – 7pm – Sky Sports
Joe McDonagh/Christy relegation/promotion
Antrim v Kildare – 12.45pm
Sunday
Munster SHC final
Cork v Clare – 2pm – RTE
Leinster SHC final
Galway v Kilkenny – 4pm – RTE
Joe McDonagh Cup final
Westmeath v Carlow – 1.45pm
The Sunday Game
9.30pm to 11.30pm
With eight senior games on show this weekend, the two-hour Sunday Game slot might be able to do justice to most of the matches but, naturally, we’ll reserve judgement just now.
