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32 County Football Open Draw Knockout 2020

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Interesting article from Down Manager Paddy Tally in todays Irish News Paper promoting an open draw championship for all 32 teams considering the chances of it been july before it starts.
You'd have a first round, last 16, Quarter Finals, Semis and final.Youd be leaving out New York but having London. Those of us round long enough would recall the Centenary cup in 1984 been done on a similar model which proved to be a very exciting competition. You could have something similar in Hurling but it might be 16 teams.

OpenStand (Limerick) - Posts: 672 - 21/03/2020 17:48:27    2274250

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Whatever system they use there is no doubt a knock out championship is the best case scenario for the Gaa now in both inter county and club championships

green.and.gold (Leitrim) - Posts: 427 - 21/03/2020 19:41:53    2274256

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What could be done to incorporate the league and two tier championship is;. Play the last two rounds of the league to bring teams up to speed and finalise league positions. Then first round of championship between div 2 and div 3 teams according to final league placings (1v16, 2v15 etc). The winners play an open draw for SAM with the div 1 teams, losers play for tailtean cup with div 4 teams.
Would take 7 weeks to run (not allowing for draws). Would be fair to everyone and let all teams actually play for something rather than having a load of meaningless games for the sake of it

The provincial championships are obviously a step too far at this stage.

We can only hope

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 21/03/2020 20:11:33    2274262

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what we need is an Open Draw 32 Counties Championship. Give Division 3 and 4 home advantage , otherwise first out of hat at home, semi and final played in Croke Park. Real championship football with full houses at each game.

culmore (None) - Posts: 1398 - 21/03/2020 20:46:50    2274263

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Would be amazing.
Would only take 5 weeks to run.
Week1 last 32
Week 2 last 16
Week 3 last 8
Week 4 semi finals
Two week gap
Week 6 final

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 766 - 21/03/2020 20:54:07    2274265

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Replying To culmore:  "what we need is an Open Draw 32 Counties Championship. Give Division 3 and 4 home advantage , otherwise first out of hat at home, semi and final played in Croke Park. Real championship football with full houses at each game."
Only for 2020 though as time is long past for players to only have 1 game in a championship format like that.

League based main competition with additional cups on top with proper time for clubs in season would be best set up. But pigs will fly before that ever happens

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3504 - 21/03/2020 21:08:10    2274266

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Replying To Malonemagic:  "Would be amazing.
Would only take 5 weeks to run.
Week1 last 32
Week 2 last 16
Week 3 last 8
Week 4 semi finals
Two week gap
Week 6 final"
should bring that in for good

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 21/03/2020 23:45:39    2274272

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Replying To lilypad:  "should bring that in for good"
Don't think so I don't think county players would be prepared to train for about 6 months for maybe one championship match. I don't agree with the super 8 s I would be happy to go back to the the old way of a quarter final. But I would have them in a neutral venue which would be brillant for the town that holds them and all the businesses would get a welcome boost, and by god after this horrible time any lift would be a boost. The knockout system is probably the only way this year that's if we have enough time for that itself. The big question then is do we seed the teams. A lot of people would be totally against seeding them. But the powers that be will not be happy if a few of the top teams were to meet each other early on.. interesting times but the main thing at the moment if the health of our people. On this lovely day what would I gave to be in Tralee getting ready to face the mighty kingdom in our last league game. Please god we'll get over this terrible times and get back watching the gaa football again.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 22/03/2020 11:48:57    2274286

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Replying To lilypad:  "should bring that in for good"
Not many would want it. It doesnt help players or coaches or the association especially with other sports improving/increasingbtheir reach in many areas of the country
And while it may help clubs and club games the clubs can and should be doing far more for their teams in spite of the way the inter county championship is set up and ran

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3504 - 22/03/2020 13:40:23    2274296

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Not a bad idea, but no way the GAA will do it as it increases the chances of the bigger teams, especially those with large followings, of being knocked out before the semi finals. That was probably a big reason why the Super 8's were introduced instead of quarter finals to begin with

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 154 - 22/03/2020 16:01:31    2274310

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Replying To lilypad:  "should bring that in for good"
not a hope, would not bring in enough money, pure and simple as far as the gaa is concerned

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2841 - 22/03/2020 19:20:49    2274316

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Replying To mhunicean_abu:  "What could be done to incorporate the league and two tier championship is;. Play the last two rounds of the league to bring teams up to speed and finalise league positions. Then first round of championship between div 2 and div 3 teams according to final league placings (1v16, 2v15 etc). The winners play an open draw for SAM with the div 1 teams, losers play for tailtean cup with div 4 teams.
Would take 7 weeks to run (not allowing for draws). Would be fair to everyone and let all teams actually play for something rather than having a load of meaningless games for the sake of it

The provincial championships are obviously a step too far at this stage.

We can only hope"
Not sure how you get 7 weeks ? After initial 'div 2 v 3', isn't it 2 KO streams of 16 - so 4 more KO Rds for 5 rds in all (could build in bye weeks in a 7-week span like 6 Nations Rugby, if time permits).

If we have time for 8 Rds, I'd go with the following -
Rd 1 - 8 Div 3 (half host, half away) v 8 Div 4.
Rd 2 - Front Door 24 Open Draw; Back Dr 8 losers.
Rd 3 - Font Door 12 Open Draw; Back Door 16.
Rd 4 - Front Door 6 Open Door; Back Door 14.
Rd 5 - Back Door 10 (5v5).
Rds 6 QFs; 7 SFs; 8 Final.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2578 - 25/03/2020 03:55:03    2274562

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It'd be some craic, just for novelty value alone to have it open draw, straight knockout in 2020.
Can you imagine Dublin being drawn away to Kerry?

I know the GAA would like to keep big teams apart as much as possible for revenue reasons but time constraints this year may mean there is no other option!

Provincial towns could get a welcome boost too, e.g. Tyrone heading away to Longford.

We hope and pray that the current situation will improve soon and we can get back to some sort of semblance of normality. Sports mad GAA fans will be almost feral by June! You'd imagine that a heap of knockout Championship games would be very well attended!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 25/03/2020 12:55:42    2274601

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I'd like a straight knockout for a year, just as a novelty. I can already picture the inevitable calls for it to be made permanent based on the big sport-starved crowds that I can see attending.

Then again, who knows what long term effects this disaster will have on people's wallets.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 25/03/2020 14:06:14    2274615

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "I'd like a straight knockout for a year, just as a novelty. I can already picture the inevitable calls for it to be made permanent based on the big sport-starved crowds that I can see attending.

Then again, who knows what long term effects this disaster will have on people's wallets."
Might be the only chance of Dublin being toppled! They're practically invincible in Championship football in Croke Park.
But a knockout game in Killarney would certainly tilt things back a wee bit in Kerry's favour. Or even away to us in Ballyfofey, Mayo in Castlebar etc

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 25/03/2020 14:33:04    2274628

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It'd be some craic, just for novelty value alone to have it open draw, straight knockout in 2020.
Can you imagine Dublin being drawn away to Kerry?

I know the GAA would like to keep big teams apart as much as possible for revenue reasons but time constraints this year may mean there is no other option!

Provincial towns could get a welcome boost too, e.g. Tyrone heading away to Longford.

We hope and pray that the current situation will improve soon and we can get back to some sort of semblance of normality. Sports mad GAA fans will be almost feral by June! You'd imagine that a heap of knockout Championship games would be very well attended!"
I'd say we'll be OK soon, it's starting to look good, I see Dr holohan on rhe news today saying we're well below the numbers of what they were predicting and that we won't hit the 15,000 confirmed cases by the end of March like they first thought.

I'd say if we stay the course we could be back in action by June.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 25/03/2020 14:34:20    2274629

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "I'd say we'll be OK soon, it's starting to look good, I see Dr holohan on rhe news today saying we're well below the numbers of what they were predicting and that we won't hit the 15,000 confirmed cases by the end of March like they first thought.

I'd say if we stay the course we could be back in action by June."
Yeah by God it would be great if we're starting to turn the tide but we can't get complacent. I'd be of the opinion that if you give people an inch they'll take a mile. So I feel the government are right in what they're currently doing and may even extend the restrictions. If a bit of short term pain is required for long term gain then I'm all for it.

When we do get to a point where it's safe to attend matches again I hope the GAA grant free tickets to our health care workers who are currently playing an absolute blinder. More than that, they should be paraded on our pitches and given the proper acclaim that true heroes deserve. But, knowing some nurses and doctors that I do, their own modesty and dedication to their vocation might mean they wouldn't want the fuss.

What they definitely do want, and most certainly deserve, is to be paid properly and treated with a bit of respect. Something that has been sadly lacking for years up to the current emergency. But that's a battle for another day.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 26/03/2020 12:04:45    2274717

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah by God it would be great if we're starting to turn the tide but we can't get complacent. I'd be of the opinion that if you give people an inch they'll take a mile. So I feel the government are right in what they're currently doing and may even extend the restrictions. If a bit of short term pain is required for long term gain then I'm all for it.

When we do get to a point where it's safe to attend matches again I hope the GAA grant free tickets to our health care workers who are currently playing an absolute blinder. More than that, they should be paraded on our pitches and given the proper acclaim that true heroes deserve. But, knowing some nurses and doctors that I do, their own modesty and dedication to their vocation might mean they wouldn't want the fuss.

What they definitely do want, and most certainly deserve, is to be paid properly and treated with a bit of respect. Something that has been sadly lacking for years up to the current emergency. But that's a battle for another day."
Great Post lockjaw and your 100% correct, we have to look after the doctors and nurses.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 26/03/2020 13:07:13    2274726

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Think it'd be great to see knockout championship would be exiting and more logical. It'd be great for the club scene as from a sports perceptive it's effecting communities greatly. For counties to be able to host real good club championship throughout the summer would be brilliant, maybe a few league matches mid-week and if that ran into October I don't think many would mind at this stage.. Would be terrible to see club games effected because of say Round 2 of Qualifiers that nobody is really bothered with.

county-minor (Kildare) - Posts: 8 - 26/03/2020 13:49:24    2274729

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Great Post lockjaw and your 100% correct, we have to look after the doctors and nurses."
Who gives a post like this a thumbs down? Seriously weird. It's a great idea, these people are incredible.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 26/03/2020 14:17:59    2274732

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