The first thing ye are all forgetting or choosing not to take seriously is that clubs are completely correct not to play without their county player's, the club is where it al starts for these so called county players,its where they learned to play, were coached etc and without this at club level they wouldn't be where they are today which is on a county panel, an that is the biggest problem of all at the minute in gaa an most definitely is Donegal, Ive played senior football in Donegal for close on 15 years now in all 3 divisions, an no can tell me any differently that even one county player missing for the club in a league game doesn't matter,well it most certainly does. Ballintra with David Walsh and without him were a completely different team, the same can be said for hugh mc Fadden with killybegs, Marty Reilly at mc cools, Bundoran with Jamie Brennan, all the teams lost crucial games this year an pervious years by one or two points where a county player would surely have contributed, albeit most of these games were games were teams don't have county players, the argument is why should club players suffer without football... Well why should a club suffer without its county players and risk getting relegated, each club strives to play at the highest level possible and with county players missing at least the 6 star games this is not possible. I'd like to think I'd have a fair knowledge of club football in Donegal, and regardless of the all county league standings finished this year, can people honestly say that either Bundoran or killybegs would a been relegated if Bundoran had Jamie an Paul Brennan for all there games, an killybegs had Hugh an eoghan ban for all there's.... Definitely not. OK club players are suffering but so are clubs. It has to change an change fast or gaa will soon become like soccer with teams folding every year. It has to change at the very top an within the county, but when the county board won't even help kilcar in there quest for an Ulster club title by calling off a game, what chance do we have! It will never ever change

therabbitt (Donegal) - Posts: 1 - 07/11/2017 13:16:34    2060985

So, your solution for fixing club football is to play no club football from May-August.

That'll do a lot of good.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 07/11/2017 22:20:38    2061100

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 07/11/2017 22:34:00    2061102

and as for the 6 teams that were promoted this year. Tough. Too bad. You'll be staying in the same Division you were in this Year.

Thanks for your efforts and all that, but the teams in the division above don't deserve to be relegated. Sure they had county players that didn't play a few games.

So you just stay where you're at, and allow your betters to stay in the Division above you.

Yes yes yes, I know those clubs won promotion in years past, and some clubs had to be relegated to make room for them, but that was then and things are different now.

Remember: all clubs are equal, but clubs with county players are more equal than others.

...
We have good, competitive leagues, we have 6 promotions and 6 relegations, our league runs on too long in October and November because we don't schedule enough games in the summer months, because starred games can't be agreed, and because we postpone games for flimsy reasons, and our solution is to play no meanginfil football from May-August.

This is some crazy sh*t.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 07/11/2017 22:52:56    2061104

and as for the 6 teams that were promoted this year. Tough. Too bad. You'll be staying in the same Division you were in this Year.

Thanks for your efforts and all that, but the teams in the division above don't deserve to be relegated. Sure they had county players that didn't play a few games.

So you just stay where you're at, and allow your betters to stay in the Division above you.

Yes yes yes, I know those clubs won promotion in years past, and some clubs had to be relegated to make room for them, but that was then and things are different now.

Remember: all clubs are equal, but clubs with county players are more equal than others.

...
We have good, competitive leagues, we have 6 promotions and 6 relegations, our league runs on too long in October and November because we don't schedule enough games in the summer months, because starred games can't be agreed, and because we postpone games for flimsy reasons, and our solution is to play no meanginfil football from May-August.

This is some crazy sh*t.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 08/11/2017 10:49:13    2061162

The dungloe proposal on the leagues looks good. They propose to have 4 dedicated weekends off in the year which would allow players/management time to organise holidays-weddings-stags etc.

The proposed weekends off are, Easter weekend, June bank holiday, August bank holiday and all Ireland final weekend.

Division 1&2 15 teams
Division 3&4 8 teams

14 rounds of fixtures in each division with two up two down across all divisions. First place in all divisions win the league.

To make the leagues more competitive they propose to seed teams in the championship based on their league position which is a great idea. So the higher up in the table you finish the higher seeding you get in your respective championship i.e. Pot 1,2,3,4. So for example in division 1 the top 4 teams will avoid each other in the group stages of the senior championship. This gives clubs an incentive to do well until the last day of the league, making them more competitive and reducing or eliminating all the dead rubber matches we've seen this past few years.

crnm (Donegal) - Posts: 100 - 13/11/2017 11:31:44    2062038

Let us leave the leagues alone and see what happens at County Level, I expect us to be out of competition by 2ND WEEK OF JULY with Bonner in charge. Is Christian in the panel yet ?

dllover (Donegal) - Posts: 263 - 14/11/2017 00:05:19    2062198

So, I see the Club Players Association are surveying players about the league proposals.

Let your voice be heard and don't be saving your opinion for the forums.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 23/11/2017 14:48:14    2063378

PastandPresent (Donegal) - Posts: 345 - 27/11/2017 16:22:50    2063801

Yeah seen that.

256 players took part in the pole representing about 19% of the club players in donegal, of which 13% voted for no change. Not a great response. If it's to be it's to be, just hope they can allow a minimum of 3 weekends off during the season so players can plan holidays/stage/weddings etc but can't see it happening with all the games

crnm (Donegal) - Posts: 100 - 27/11/2017 18:44:38    2063819

Just heard that the vote was to keep the leagues as they are.

Well done to all the delegates on making the sensible choice - keeping club football running throughout the summer months regardless of the intercounty situation.

Good to see the delegates reflecting the views of the players, as expressed in that CPA survey.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 28/11/2017 10:45:48    2063875

Good debate took place last night with club delegates showing they are interested in club and county players alike. But It looks like county players will be county players for most of the playing season, clubs will see little of them, interesting though that it was pointed out about U20 players,that their is no rule in place about U20 Players not playing for their clubs in the new season while part of the u20 squad. I'd say the new manager will have views on that all the same. Reserve football is to get a debate in the new year to see how it can be sorted that games are played, The Malin motion was deferred to the next county board meeting for debate as they had regional league set ups proposed about reserve football, but to tell you the truth the Malin delegate didnt help it as he just seemed to be waffling along not really sure what he was talking about!

PastandPresent (Donegal) - Posts: 345 - 28/11/2017 15:23:56    2063903

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 29/11/2017 11:40:33    2063977

So there is no change to the leagues for next year. This will be the same crap all over again. Games called off left right and center and no games during the summer. Star games are to remain but this will be another disaster. Plus we have the county manager saying that players will not be available during most of April even though Croke Park designated this as a club football month.

donegaldouble (Donegal) - Posts: 310 - 30/11/2017 10:53:58    2064091

It really is a difficult situation for the club teams as the county team has become all consuming. We are not alone in this situation, every county in the country has the same problem. I just wise the GAA could put together a sensible calendar for both club and county and everybody has to stick to it. The club players need to be playing football, regardless of what is going on with the county.

Declan Bonner made the point that having April free for the club season makes no sense as that is when county teams are at the height of preparation for the championship. Is it time to forget about county players playing league games for their club? I know this affects some clubs more than others like Kilcar, Gweedore, Naomh Chonail, etc. However I feel we are getting to that stage.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1873 - 30/11/2017 10:56:42    2064092

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1056 - 30/11/2017 11:39:37    2064100

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 30/11/2017 12:12:08    2064107

Lots of pessimism on here. I think the decision is a good one. Keeps our good, competitive leagues as they are.

The problem isn't the structure, it's when games are played. The CCC and new chairman need to ensure club games are played all summer.


Also need to stand firm on April. County Manager is looking for weekend training camps, but no can do. He can run a camp in March or May. But not April, as county players need to play league football with their clubs that month.

He'll have them exclusively from May until they're knocked out, April is for the clubs.

B.Bap (Donegal) - Posts: 186 - 30/11/2017 12:53:00    2064111

TirChonaillAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 45 - 03/12/2017 00:07:16    2064291