Its like all the championships at present in the GAA, none of them make sense any more. The Ulster championship is great but it certainly makes it harder on teams from Ulster to win the AI. Time to scrap the qualifiers all together and make 4 groups of 8 seeded by league positions. Top two in each group make the quarters and have an open draw then. All teams would have an equal amount of games to ultimately win the AI. The qualifiers were brought in to help the weaker counties and give them more games but does it really help them, the evidence is that the gap is widening. If these weaker counties had 7 round robin games in the championship against some of the best teams in Ireland would it not bring them on further?

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 19/05/2015 09:20:11    1725292

"Turkey's don't vote for Christmas" Ciaran Whelan spelled it out this Sunday evening in terms of "Open draws" and the politics of the GAA. Provencial councils will not shoot themselves in the foot and make themselves irrelevant. Backdoor is the most you will get from them.

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1677 - 19/05/2015 10:19:35    1725318

I think that the B side of the draw is actually playing Munster/Connaught this year there seems to have been a misprint on the gaa wall chart and other info on their site contradicts this. Can anyone clarify if I am mistaken or not?

Anyway, I hope this thread doesnt start to disintegrate into a farce. The ulster championship is what it is, and if there is parity to be achieved with other provinces in terms of number of games and balance of opposition, it is not going to happen this year, or next for that mater. It should be a winter subject only as the interesting part of the year is on us now. hopefully we can see some great games.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 19/05/2015 10:26:14    1725321

Lets be honest about the qualifiers.

Round 1 will see Tyrone, Derry, Down, Armagh and Donegal will be thrown in on the same side of the qualifier draw.
And some of these sides will end up eliminating each other by Round 3 of the Qualifier's.

I would genuinely expect these 5 teams to have the ability to reach the last 16 or last 8, with some having the ability to go further.

Instead we have a system where decent sides will eliminate each other very early on, and I think this needs to change.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/05/2015 14:24:28    1725529

I garry look at ypur own county last year, it was Longford who knocked them out, and Wicklow gave Armagh some game .
The over importance by ulster been placed on there own province is something shocking.
The fact is ulster is as predictable as any other province with a Donegal v Monaghan final with Donegal winning it. And even Donegal are seen as some way behind dubs and kerry, they on same level as cork.
This idea that they should be kept apart in qualifiers is nonsense , cork Tipp Kildare Laois Meath Roscommon Galway could all knock out ulster opposition.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 14:53:33    1725566

19/05/2015 14:24:28
GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 1812

1725529
Lets be honest about the qualifiers.

Round 1 will see Tyrone, Derry, Down, Armagh and Donegal will be thrown in on the same side of the qualifier draw.
And some of these sides will end up eliminating each other by Round 3 of the Qualifier's.

I would genuinely expect these 5 teams to have the ability to reach the last 16 or last 8, with some having the ability to go further.

Instead we have a system where decent sides will eliminate each other very early on, and I think this needs to change.



You say let's be honest - well the reason they are in the same half of the qualifier draw is because they are in the same half of the Ulster draw which was a totally open draw. It is purely down to the luck of the draw and if you interfere with it, you will have to introduce seeding which has it's own problems - e.g. basis etc. The Ulster championship is probably the most competitive so why start messing around with it? And its not like they are in the qualifiers at the same time.

jimski (Kildare) - Posts: 381 - 19/05/2015 14:56:29    1725569

I garry look at ypur own county last year, it was Longford who knocked them out, and Wicklow gave Armagh some game .
The over importance by ulster been placed on there own province is something shocking.

When did Wicklow give Armagh some game lol? The last time they played two years ago it was 2:22 to 0:2.

sumleftboot (Armagh) - Posts: 24 - 19/05/2015 15:21:48    1725596

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 7407

1725566 I garry look at ypur own county last year, it was Longford who knocked them out, and Wicklow gave Armagh some game .
The over importance by ulster been placed on there own province is something shocking.

Derry lost players after the Donegal game, and didn't take Longford as seriously as they took Donegal.

In fairness, Last year was a wet dream for those looking to counter argue on Ulster football. However in reality, last year was the exception.
Even in the exception, It was Armagh who knocked out Tyrone, and then Donegal knocked out Armagh.

This may sound Insulting, but I know that the bigger Ulster sides sometimes struggle in the opening rounds of the Qualifiers to get motivated for some Division 3 and 4 sides. I'm talking about the top 4 or 5 Ulster sides, and while that may hurt the feelings of some lowly teams, It is very true.

If you had genuinely aspirations of winning the Ulster Championship, It is 10 times more difficult to pick your team up for a Round 1 game against a lower team who fully expected to be playing in the Qualfiers at some stage. Derry seen that last year, with top forward O'Boyle departing after the Donegal game, and Injuries not helping.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/05/2015 15:39:23    1725621

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 7407

1725566
The fact is ulster is as predictable as any other province with a Donegal v Monaghan final with Donegal winning it. And even Donegal are seen as some way behind dubs and kerry, they on same level as cork.

Considering Donegal have beaten Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Cork in the last 4 seasons, and were narrowly All Ireland runners up last season after being the only team capable of beating Dublin. I can't help but look at those who see Donegal as someway behind Kerry or Dublin.

Look closely at the Individual people who say that, Normally Pat Spillane is preaching that. But who else? Name a pundit or Journalist, and I would say you will find that Individual has had gripes with Donegal since 2011. Or in some case, have a purely parochial preference or pre-meditated Idea of who top teams are or should be.

I believe Dublin, Donegal and Kerry are 3 teams who genuinely are capable of winning the All Ireland this season. The only thing setting Donegal aside, is the treacherous route they must take to reach the All Ireland Quarter finals. Having to peak for May 17th probably has a negative Impact on them in comparison, but make no mistake, they are no less capable than Kerry in terms of players. Squad depth may be an Issue, but they are at full fitness and are a force if that continues like 2012.

Recent history shows us that Donegal must be judged on Championship alone, and not the National league which they use plainly as a training mechanism. I think too many looked at Cork's league SF win and took it as gospel, while in reality It was a challenge match.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 19/05/2015 15:52:14    1725639