Mayo and Galway will renew their rivalry in the Connacht SFC final this weekend - though there is more at stake than just a provincial championship.
It is the first time since 2021 that the old rivals will face off in the provincial final, though Mayo did knock their neighbours out of the championship in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals.
2024 will mark the second year of the group phase format which was introduced in 2023 and the draw for the pools was conducted at Croke Park on Tuesday afternoon - before any of the provincial finals have been played.
Fans have taken to social media to point out a bizarre possibility presented by the placement of the Connacht provincial finalists in the round-robin draw.
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Strange Connacht final possibility raised after All-Ireland group phase draw
25 June 2023; Jordan Flynn of Mayo, centre right, attempts to clear a dropping ball, under pressure from John McGrath and Cillian McDaid of Galway the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter Final match between Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
The GAA chose to drive on with the All-Ireland SFC group phase draw before the provincial finals in order to give the finalists in Connacht and Munster (who will play out their deciders this weekend) ample time to organise their round one games, which will take place on the weekend of May 18/19.
That meant that the first and second seeds are still unknown in each group, with the provincial winners first seeds and the provincial runner-sup second seeds. However, the vastly different placement of the Connacht championship winners and runners-up has led some to suggest that Mayo and Galway could be incentivised to lose Sunday's decider.
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The winners of the Connacht championship will enter what looks on paper to be the "Group of Death," alongside the losers of the Ulster decider between Donegal and Armagh, as well as Westmeath and All-Ireland contenders Derry.
By contrast, the runners-up of the Connacht final will enter Group 2, alongside the winners of the Leinster championship, Roscommon, and Cavan. No disrespect is meant to Louth in saying that the first seed in that group will almost certainly be All-Ireland favourites Dublin but, bar that, it looks to be one of the easier groups on paper.
Though no reasonable fan would suggest that either Galway or Mayo will want to lose Sunday's Connacht final, more than a few fans have pointed out this clear flaw in conducting the championship draw before the provincial finals have been played.
Absolutely crazy,the losing Connaught finalist get an easier draw,
— Pat Ludden (@postmanpat1970) April 30, 2024
Draw should not be until after Provincial finals, losing a connacht final is probably beneficial to Galway or Mayo
— brendan healy (@4aldo4) April 30, 2024
Do Mayo or Galway throw the Connacht Final ? #GAA
— Mick Crossan (@Mickc62) April 30, 2024
Can't wait for the Connacht final after that draw! #sammaguire pic.twitter.com/OlJIixekcT
— Wallet Inspector (@cathalfla) April 30, 2024
There is another flaw in the new All-Ireland format which somewhat nullifies the above argument.
In each group of four, only one team will be eliminated, with the second- and third-placed teams entering the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals. After so much football has been played across the provincials and pool phases, the addition of another round of knockout games diminishes the jeopardy and competitiveness of the round-robin.
Nonetheless, it means that even if Mayo or Galway land in Group 1, they would reasonably back themselves to finish ahead of Westmeath and secure a slot in the preliminary quarters.
Another counterargument is presented by the situation the Ulster finalists find themselves in.
In an almost polar opposite of the Connacht final conundrum, Donegal and Armagh are both even further incentivised to win their provincial decider by the draws which await them depending on the result.
The Ulster champions will enter Group 3 with the Munster runners-up (likely Clare), Tyrone, and Cork, whereas the runners-up will enter the same 'Group of Death' destined for the Connacht champions.
The reasons for holding the All-Ireland draw before the provincial finals is completely understandable, though eyebrows will naturally be raised ahead of this weekend's clash in Salthill.
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