Replying To omahant:  "I will never understand why the GAA goes for 'half-baked' efforts such as this, when better options are available.

To recap - the biggest issue with the 2018 schedule was that two teams with byes in rounds 1 and 5 played matches on four consecutive weekends.  In addition, two other teams with byes in rounds 2 and 4, played 'three in succession' - while only the team with the 'middle bye' got to play two matches on either side of the break.

The problem I see with the 2019 tweak is that, while it eliminates the need for four consecutive outings, a pair of counties will still be scheduled for the three rounds played on one side of the week's break.  Why not reduce to 'two back-to-back' for all teams instead ?  Also, the 'bye teams' in the round either side of the 'break for all' will not play for three weeks in the tight six-week schedule - that's just pure daft ! 

A better change would have had a different 'set of 3 byes' in rounds 2 and 4, which would have required all five teams to play a maximum 'two matches on the hop'.

Simply put, the 'bye schedule' over the six weeks could have been as follows -
A, BCD, E, ABC, D, E.

Then, with E playing in the only match in rounds 2 and 4 ( v A and D, respecrively), the other 8 pairings could be scheduled for the other 4 rounds."