This is a really interesting proposal. I am sure the top teams would have no issue with it as they would play in the senior championship. However would the weaker teams want to play in an intermediate championship? I suppose there is the incentive to do well and get promoted ot the seniors. If the league and provincial championships were used for the rankings, then they would still be seen as important. One thing is for sure, the current system does not work and is in no way balanced.

JimTheLegend (Donegal) - Posts: 247 - 11/02/2015 13:12:35    1692447

Its a non runner, just look how well received the Tommy Murphy was back in the day.

For some reason a lot of football counties has delusions of grandeur, that just one day they'll get lucky and topple a dublin/Kerry/Mayo or what not. Whilst that may have been the case 10 years or so ago, with the advancement in resources available to the big counties that others just can't afford to get even close to, the gap is too wide now.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 11/02/2015 16:04:41    1692538

What benefit would an intermediate championship have, the same top few teams will have massive resources advantage and i would say there is more of a gap between the fourth ranked teams and the tenth then there is between the 10th and 20th ranked teams. This would not close the gap between the tenth and fourth ranked teams. It would not help the lower ranked teams as the would still have the little chance of winning something as the do now. Look at the Christy Ring cup in hurling its gets no media coverage and tiny crowds if this was to happen in football, counties would not be able to attract sponsorship and there would be be a bigger gap to the big counties and you would have to question if these counties could carry on. Plus sometimes smaller counties come together for a couple of years with good teams and by the time the win this championship the may have lost players and not be able to compete in senior, plus you have teams hanging on to there senior status who are worst then the better teams in the intermediate championship. I have been to a Tommy Murphy cup final where it was fairly clear no one really cared and this is not going to make young lads dream of playing for there county.

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 11/02/2015 21:52:17    1692698

There are valid arguements for and agains this kind of structure. Maybe a straight draw out of a hat knockout format might suit better. I do agree with people who say a league format loses the feel of a championship game in some ways, even the back door system means there is always another shot. If there are 32 counties in a hat, no seeding, then some weaker counties might get a decent run before meeting a stronger one, or they might get kerry int he first round and have to go out all guns blazing, do or die for that one chance to beat the big guns.

Likewise on a 2 tier system, 16 senior 16 intermediate, no seeding, the championship, keep winning and you stay in, lose and your done for the year. However, this doesnt really help the lads who train all year round for the sake of 1 game.

Man in a ditch (Louth) - Posts: 321 - 12/02/2015 09:08:46    1692718

Soma
County: UK
Posts: 847

1692416
As the Roscommon manager alluded to at the weekend, league systems suit the biggest counties with the strongest panels. Since the start of the 90s only 5 different clubs have won the English soccer league, in the same time 10 counties have won Sam and probably the same number have won the FA cup. A side like Roscommon will give anyone a game in a knockout competition, but in a league where they pick up injuries and suspensions they have nowhere near the strength in depth to come out on top. That is why, quite rightly, the championship is seen as the biggest competition in the GAA.

I think your logic is flawed there Soma. I think it is right that the most consistent team wins the league.
and I would believe that the lague winner should be the team that finishes top after all games are played . there should be no semi-finals or finals. (I think these actually favour the big squads as they can then bring out their big guns for the knockout stages of the league). I they want to win the league then play your best team in every game and try to win every game.

The championship (all-ireland) is only seen as the biggest competition beacuse it is hyped up as such. we are all brainwashed in to thinking that it is the one to win.

Anyway back to the original topic. I believe that an intermediate championship would work and that it should be comprised of the teams in bottom 2 divisions but it should be a knockout competition and so should the senior.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 12/02/2015 10:05:53    1692740

Turkeys won't vote for Christmas. Only way an intermediate championship would pass congress is if the winner can enter the senior championship at either quarter or semi final stage.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1133 - 12/02/2015 11:34:04    1692793

The Intermediate Championship could be played fof by the 16 Qualifier Rd 1 teams - champ crowned after 4 KO Rounds and a place in the AI QFs. Initial losers in quantities of 8 and 4 enter Qual Rd 2 and 3.

Likewise, the Prov SF 16 could play 3 KO Rounds (SFs, Finals, Playoffs), to determine 2 unbeaten champs to the AI QFs.
Losers of 8, 4 and 2, enter Qual Rds 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

From the above, Qual Rds 1, 2, 3 and 4, will have quantities of 16, 16, 16 and 10 - with 5 Rd 4 winners completing thd AI QFs.

The above also ensures that all 28 Prov QF and Prel Rd participants are assured of at least 3 matches - the 4 bye teams in Muns/Conn woulc need to go head-to-head in 2 legged SFs to offset lack of QF pairing to ensure 3 matches.

This has everything - Prov Champs with playoffs; Intermediate Champ in AI QFs; and 3rd chance for Qual Rd 1 teams to offset current imbalance. Minimum 3 matches without dead rubber round robins.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2621 - 21/02/2015 21:49:18    1695615

Came across an article on facebook yesterday that calls for an intermediate championship.

https://theteabagtimes.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/little-hope-for-the-talented-in-less-established-counties/

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 22/02/2015 14:26:42    1695664

Came across an article on facebook yesterday that calls for an intermediate championship.

[url=]https://theteabagtimes.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/little-hope-for-the-talented-in-less-established-counties/

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 22/02/2015 14:55:50    1695673