I don't know what the perfect system is but there are a few things that I would like the new system to address. The 2 teams that meet in the final should have to win the same number of games to get there. It's a joke that teams from Munster might only need to win 4 matches to reach the AI final but teams from Leinster and Ulster could possibly have to win 6 matches to reach the AI final. There also needs to be a set calendar at the start of the year so a player can sit down and map out what days they will be playing all season if they were to reach the AI final. Players have jobs and personal lives that they need to plan for. This will also allow counties to schedule club games. Part of this includes scrapping replays. They cause too many scheduling nightmares. Play extra time to decide the winner. There also needs to be a more balanced break time between matches. Players should be forced to play 3 matches in 13 days then not get a game for 4 or 5 weeks. This could also be solved by making a calendar at the beginning of the season.

DBo183 (USA) - Posts: 16 - 23/12/2015 15:35:03    1814073

To DBo 183 - A few simple solutions - Keep existing format with the following changes -
Idea 1) 'Best 4 Eights' - Afer 1st rd in each prov, there is Lein8, Uls8, MuncConn8 (4+4), Beaten8 (latter to T Murf, TMC, winner to Qual Rd 3).
Thee KO rds to 3 Regional champs, Lein, Uls, 'Munsacht' (latter playoff between respective prov champs), earn 3 AI QF berths.
Regional rd losers in quantities of 12, 6, 3 enter 12-team Qual Rd 1, 12-team Rd 2 and 10-team Rd 3.
5 Rd 3 winners join 3 unbeaten prov champs in AI QFs.
Kerry or Dublin need to win 6 matches via front door, back door or any mix.
Idea 2) '2 Plus 6' - Existing format but 4 prov final losers to 20-team Qual Rd 2 and 2 prov champ playoff losers to 12-team Rd 3.
6 Rd 3 winners join 2 unbeaten prov champs in AI QFs.
Kerry or Dublin both need 6 wins via back door, although Dubs needs 7 via front door due to playoff.
Idea 3) 'Treble Chance' (all get min 3 matches; and 8 Qual Rd 1 losers get a 3rd chance).

Losers in: 8 Prov SFs to Qual Rd 2 v 8 Rd 1 losers (3rd chance); from 4 Prov Finals to Qual Rd 3; from 2 Prov champ losers to Qual Rd 4.
6 Rd 2 winners join 2 unbeaten champs in AI QFs.
Kerry or Dublin need 6 wins via back door, and similar to Idea 2, Dubs need 7 in front door.
To have 3 match min, play 2 legged SFs in Muns and Conn only, to ensure 'bye team losers' play a 3rd match in Rd 2.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 03/01/2016 16:19:48    1814243

To Whammo86 -
I prefer your elegant griups earlier - in order to accomodate my greater mix of pairings, I have led you into a complete mess ! :).
Yes, US NFL has teams playing others from other groups, but teams in any group play 14 of 16 common opponents with others in their group. So lets go back to your original idea and I got a way of getting my inter prov mix.
Take the face of a clock - put Uls A, Uls B, Lein A, Lein B, Muns and Conn on numbers 11, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8, respectively.
For 'odd' years (2015, 2017 etc) move Muns to 10; in 'even' years (2016, 2018 etc) move Lein A & B to 10 and 9, respectively.
Now, teams in a group play 4 or 5 prov games as before; but in the A League, teams play additional 6 games against the 'two threes' on either side of them on the clock. So the teams in each 'three' play a common 8 games.
Lets say 10+1 from B League like before - 6 winners from all 'threes' and 4 wild cards (best 2nds).
My prov movements on the clock is to accomodate the placement of two pairs on either side of a 'three' for the B League.
Option - Instead of using the 'wheel' of League fixtures above, draw a firm divide to establish 2x9 and 2x7 as before.
What do you think ?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 03/01/2016 17:13:58    1814258

Yeah my last tweak was probably a little convoluted.

I'd do different rotations to you slightly.

Your rotations don't allow Connacht teams to play Ulster teams.

Tier A and Tier B don't need to be on the rotation. In tier B you don't need to have the Ulster groups playing each other.

The Tier A rotation would work in a wheel with Ulster A, Ulster B, Leinster A, Leinster B in the first 4 slots and then Munster and Connacht alternating between slot 5 and 6. The Ulster groups play each other as do Leinster and Munster and Connacht play one another. Ulster B always plays Leinster A, Ulster A plays Munster one year Connacht the next with Leinster B playing the opposite team.

Tier B has Leinster A in Slot 1, Munster in slot 4 and the other 4 groups drawn to slots 2,3,5,6.

I wouldn't guarantee teams from each group a place in the knockout round. Top 5 records straight to quarters, next 5 into the play off round with Tier B champions

Season gets played over 23 weeks.

Under 21 championship gets played during break weeks.

Week 1-4 Provincial groups round 1-4
Week 5 5 team groups play their round 5
Week 6 Munster and Leinster A play their round 5. Tier B also starts with the bottom 2 from the 4 other groups playing a catch up game to have played 2 Tier B counting matches.
Week 7 Break week (Leinster and Ulster u 21 first rounds)
Week 8-10 Tier A and Tier B rounds 3,4,5 ( each team having already played 2 counting games at their level)
Week 11 Break week (u 21 provincial quarter finals)
Week 12 Tier A and B round 6
Week 13 Tier A round 7, Tier B quarter finals
Week 14 Break week (u21 provincial semi-finals)
Week 15 Tier B round 8, Tier B semi finals
Week 16 Provincial Championship Finals, Tier B final (played as curtain raiser to Leinster Final at Croke Park)
Week 17 Break (U21 provincial finals)
Week 18 All Ireland playoff round
Week 19 All Ireland quarter finals
Week 20 u21 semi-finals
Week 21 All Ireland semi finals
Week 22 u21 final
Week 23 All Ireland final.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 05/01/2016 21:55:18    1814778

Yes, Sir - by the way, your 23-week span from March to August essentially mirrors the Aussie home-and-away AFL season.

Thanks for simplifying what I should have conveyed. Given the wheel and your prior wish to build Ulster v Conn (Mayo) rivalries, I offer another little tweak to your 'Slots 1 to 6 Wheel' - move Connacht only from 'Slot 6 in Odd Yrs' to 'Slot 2.5 in Even Yrs' - This way, Conn plays half Ulster each year, and alternates between Munster and Leinster A for the other half of the A League schedule.

Last point - Your original 2x9 had teams playing 8 common games, with 2 separate round robins, and 2 separate 9-team league tables (makes sense).
Now you like an 18-team table when certain teams have no common games (e.g. Slots 1 and 4) - although I prefer this inter-prov mix, than if Muns and Conn alternated in your prior 2x9. While your idea to build Ulster/Mayo rivalries is a good one, it would not be as appealing to have Cork or Kerry playing 6 Ulster teams every 2nd year - agreed ?

I really wish the strong posters on this topic, especially yourself, could really affect change for good our beloved game !

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 06/01/2016 21:11:41    1814974

Instead of Ulster/Connacht you'll be getting Munster/Connacht rivalries with the top teams playing one another every season.

I don't see a problem with teams being in the same table despite having played different schedules, with perhaps no common games. The champion doesn't get crowned until after a knockout series. In the 2 by 9 scenario you also have teams arriving into the knockout round from different groups having played no common games. I don't see this system as being much different. In the European rugby competitions the group runners up are ranked against each other despite having played no common matches.

Thought would have to be put into the tie-breaking rules when teams finish level on points. I also think a rugby style bonus point system would be beneficial, points difference can get inflated by one huge result against another team. I think bonus points would be good for spectator interest too.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 07/01/2016 17:59:15    1815160

No for the hurling:

4 levels: Liam McCarthy (LMcC) 12 teams, Christy Ring (CR) 8 teams, Nick Rackard (NR) 8 teams, Lory Meagher (LM) 7 teams, 8 if Cavan join.

Liam McCarthy every team plays everyone once. With provincial championship incorporated into this schedule.

To do this split Leinster and Munster championships into 2 sides of each draw. 12 teams I assume there'll be 5 from Munster, Galway and at least 5 from Leinster with the final place being made up of Kerry, another Leinster team or Antrim if we get our act together again.

Let's take the case of 5 Munster, Galway and 6 Leinster teams. Galway is no longer in the Leinster championship, no need to be as they're going to play 11 championship league games.

You have 3 teams in Munster A, Galway join the 2 teams in Munster B, 3 in each of Leinster A and B. So 4 pots of 3.

Rounds 1-3 Munster A teams play Leinster B teams, Munster B plays Leinster A teams.
Rounds 4-8 Munster A and Leinster A join to form a 6 team section and will play each other once, the same with Leinster B and Munster B. These series of games to include the Provincial championship quarter-finals in round 5 and Provincial championship semis in round 8.
Rounds 9-11 Munster A play the 3 Munster B teams. Leinster A play the 3 Leinster B teams. Provincial finals played in round 11.
Rounds 1-10 played on home and away basis. Round 11 played at neutral venues.

Top 6 teams in table qualify for knockout stage. Top 2 getting byes to All-Ireland semi-finals. 12th Place team automatically relegated, 11th places goes into a playoff with CR runner up.

CR goes as follows:

Round 1 starts the same weekend as the LM round 2.

Round 1-7 Round robin every team plays 1 game against the other teams. Rounds 1-6 played using home and away basis. Round 7 played at a neutral venue. Each game is a curtain-raiser to one the provincial semi-finals.

Weeks 8-10 League splits in 2, top 4 play for promotion, bottom 4 battle relegation. Each team plays 1 game against the teams in their
split. Week 8 and 9 home and away basis. Week 10 neutral venues, the 2 top half games are curtain raisers to the provincial finals. The other 2 games are part of double headers with other LMcC games.

Similar system for NR and LM. Except the start the same week as the LMcC. The NR plays neutral matches as double headers with LMcC games in week 7 and week 10. After week 7 of the LM the teams outside the top 4 don't play any more games. Weeks 1-9 are played on a home and away basis. The 2 Week 10 games are played as double-headers to LMcC game round 10 games.

Throughout out the tiers promotion/relegation is 1 automatic plus 1 playoff place.

I think that LMcC is a great competition. The end of the season is top heavy with provincial rivalries, allowing the season to really heat up towards the end of the league phase. Teams will always have plenty to play for. Teams that would be playing National league 1B get more regular games against the very best teams.

I think it would do wonders for the lower tier competitions also. Those players get the opportunity to play curtain raisers to big games in the LMcC run in. Especially CR teams who get to play double headers as part of provincial semi-finals and finals.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 07/01/2016 18:33:52    1815172

Combining the football season with the hurling you have.

Week 1 Football Provincial group games; Hurling LMcC round 1, NR and LM round 1
Week 2 Football Provincial group games; Hurling LMcC round 2, NR and LM round 2, CR round 1
Week 3 Football Provincial group games; Hurling Break Week
Week 4 Football Provincial group games; Hurling LMcC round 3, NR and LM round 3, CR round 2
Week 5 Football Provincial group games (excl Munster And Leinster A); Hurling LMcC round 4, NR and LM round 4, CR round 3
Week 6 Munster and Leinster A rounds 5. Tier B starts; Hurling Break Week
Week 7 Football Break week; Hurling LMcC round 5 to include 3 provincial quarter-finals, NR and LM round 5, CR round 4
Week 8 Tier A and B rounds 3 (each team having played 2 counting rounds); Hurling LMcC round 6, NR and LM round 6, CR round 5
Week 9 Tier A and B round 4; Hurling Break Week
Week 10 Tier A and B round 5; Hurling LMcC round 7, NR and LM round 7 (NR round 7 played as double headers with LMcC games, CR round 6
Week 11 Football Break Week; Hurling LMcC round 8 (to include provincial semi-finals) , NR and LM round 8, CR round 7 (double headers with provincial semis)
Week 12 Tier A and B round 6; Hurling Break Week
Week 13 Tier A round 7, Tier B quarter-finals; Hurling LMcC round 9, NR and LM round 9, CR round 8
Week 14 Football Break week; Hurling LMcC round 10, NR and LM round 10 (played as double-headers to LMcC games), CR round 9
Week 15 Tier A round 8 (to include Ulster and Leinster semi-finals), Tier B semi-finals; Hurling Break Week
Week 16 June bank holiday weekend Provincial Finals, Tier B final; Hurling Break Week June bank holiday weekend
Week 17 Football Break week; Hurling LMcC round 11 (to include provincial finals), CR round 10 (top section played as curtain raisers to provincial finals, other games played with other LMcC games
Week 18 Football playoff round; Hurling quarter-finals, promotion relegation playoff matches
Week 19 Football Quarter-finals; Hurling Break Week
Week 20 Football Break week; Hurling Semi-finals
Week 21 Football Semi-finals; Hurling Break Week
Week 22 Football Break week; Hurling final
Week 23 Football Final

Inter-County Season over by mid-July

August bank holiday weekend start of club championships.
2nd Week of October Provincial club preliminary rounds in Ulster and Leinster
3rd Week of October Provincial club quarter-finals

Railway cups played October bank holiday weekend. Ulster join with Connacht in hurling. Friday Night Hurling semi-final
Saturday Football semi-finals, Sunday Hurling final, Monday Football final

2nd week November Provincial club semi-finals
4th Week November Provincial club final
1st/2nd Week December All Ireland club semi-finals
Stephens days All Ireland Club finals.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 07/01/2016 19:05:51    1815181

The last few posts are creating a system that your typically fashioned GAA congress attendee will ever vote for.

But while your on the NFL style system how about this one:
2 conferences, 4 divisions of 4 in each, teams play home and away against teams in their own division and once against teams in the other divisions in their conference. In each conference the winner of each division goes to play offs along with the four counties with next best record.
Conference make up changes every year
Year 1. Connaught/Ulster and Munster/Leinster
Year 2. Connaught/ Leinster and Ulster/Munster
Year 3. Ulster/Munster - 1division (selected by open draw) and Connaught/Munster + 1division
Year 4 as per year one
All divisions drawn by open draw
All teams play minimum of 18 games
Maximum of 22
Current system has a minimum of 13 - 4(fbd/McKenna/McGrath cup) + 7 (league) + 2 (championship)
Maximum of 20 (depending on province)

Draw the divisions based on last ten years championship performance and you will group teams of same level together and keep mismatches to a minimum while still having everyone in the same competition

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 09/01/2016 15:23:52    1815454

The last few posts are creating a system that your typically fashioned GAA congress attendee will ever vote for.

I assume you mean old-fashioned and never vote for.

I agree really, I mean these are just pipe dreams. It's very likely that the model that will be used for 2017 is the GPAs model, so for football there wont be any other change for 10 years I'd say.

I think hurling could be a little different though. There have been public statements from high profile players and managers that they'd like a more league based system. Cody also mentioned he felt the season should end earlier to facilitate the club championship.

I'd love to see GAA go down a more league based system in both codes. I think it'd be great for the game, I think you'd have fans wanting to go out to watch games every other week.

I really don't like the current NFL, you've pointed out before that it is likely contributing to fewer teams being able to compete come championship time. It's terrible for weaker counties, if a team gets sucked down into division 4 they're going to struggle to get their best players to commit to playing another year at that level.

My posts are just me giving solutions to the following problem:

Retain Provincial championships
Keep provincial championships integrated with the All-Ireland series
Minimise unfairness caused by using a provincial based system.
Integrate a league based competition into the All Ireland competition.
Provide a reasonable minimum number of games for all counties
Make sure as many games are meaningful as possible
Allow weaker counties to get more opportunities to test themselves against the best teams but also that they have meaningful competition against teams around their level.
Show that the season can be played over a shorter timeframe to facilitate club football whilst still allowing for a similar number of matches to be played.

I think those are the key criteria that the GAA needs to look at when coming up with their new competition models. Although I don't have a whole lot of faith in them doing so.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 09/01/2016 17:25:52    1815485

Yes Guys - frustrating, we can't effect change - function of simple minds for sure.
Alright, let's continue our newly invented sport - btw, one other respected poster here once asked me if I ever actually watch a match :)
Merge Wham's A & B League; with Tirawl's US NFL; with Omah's 2+6; as follows:
A Conference - 4 divs of 4 - each div has Top 4 from each prov.
B Conference - 4 divs of 4 - Uls 5th-8th seeds; Lein 5-8; Muns/SouthLein 2+2; Other 4.
All play 14 regular season games - own div twice (6 matches), one div own conf once (4), one of other 3 of 4 divs other conf- not own prov (4).
Top 2 each div in A Conf play 4 Prov Finals; 4 losers join remaining 16 Top 3 teams from all 8 divs in 20-team (8 3rds away) AI KO Rd 1.
4 Prov Champs Playoff Rd - 2 winners to AI QFs; 2 losers to AI KO Rd 2.
6 Rd 2 winners complete AI QF field.
Promo/Relegation 4th/5th and 8th/9th in each respective prov.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 10/01/2016 18:31:23    1815635

If you don't like a Playoff Field of 24, let's try 16 - that is, 4 Prov Finals and 4 B Conf Div Winners hosting 4 Wild Cards (latter from 4 A 3rds or 4 B 2nds).
Or do you prefer 20 teams - with Lein SFs (3 from A, 1 from B); Uls (3A, 1B); Muns and Conn Finals (2A each).
6 to Lein, Uls finals and Muns, Conn champs - 6 losers jioin 2 other B div winners and 6 Wild Cards (14 team KO Rd 1).
3 champs to AI QFs - Lein, Uls, Munsacht Playoff - 3 losers join 7 Rd 1 winners in Rd 2.
5 Rd 2 winners complete AI QFs.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 10/01/2016 20:31:58    1815672

To simplify the rotation of the 8 'out of own div' schedule, A and B divs could be paired up, so each pair plays another pair once every 3 yrs, as follows (yr 1, w plays x; yr 2, w plays y; yr 3 w plays z)

w) Muns A and Uls B
x) Conn A and Lein B
y) Uls A and Muns/SthLein B
z) Lein A and Other 4 B

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 11/01/2016 21:57:55    1815956

You know what though. There's loads of complicated ideas for this. A really good season would be very simple.

Division 1 of 12 teams. Play each other once.
Division 2 of 20 teams split into 2 sections. North and South.

Playoff consists of top 5 from division 1 plus division 2 champion. Top 2 in division 1 getting a bye to the semi-finals.

Division 2 champions determined by semi-finals and final involving top 2 from each section. Division 2 finalist gets promoted also.

3rd and 4th place in each section go into promotion playoffs (keep teams having something to play for). First round 3rd play 4th. Winners into 2nd round against semi-final losers. Winners of that round plays either the 9th or 10th place team from division one with the winners playing in division 1 next season. 11th and 12th place in division 1 get automatically relegated.

Provincial championships are played as a seperate competition.

Teams play a max of 18 games (11 league, 4 provincial, 3 All Ireland playoffs). Played off over a 23 week season.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 12/01/2016 18:38:30    1816143

I would be in favour of retaining a prov champp weak link (such as to a league where the points matter) than total separation.
And....I do want to distinguish between 'complex/elaborate' and 'simplification' - I think the former best fits a description of the 'US NFL' and some of our points above, and should not necessarily be replaced with the latter.

So, it looks like 'inertia' or a 'big freeze' is setting in for Saturday's GAA deliberations - what a pity, but no surprise.
Why not keep the existing format - but simply insert a new Qual Rd 1B [with Qual Rd 1 losers (3rd chance) hosting Prov SF losers]; and give the 'Prov Final and Champs Rd' losers entry to '20-team Rd 2' and '12-team Rd 3', respectively. Then we have, 2 unbeaten and 6 Qualifiers in the AI QFs.
If the Muns and Conn SFs only are two-legged, all teams will play at least their 3rd match by Rd 2.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 13/01/2016 19:05:00    1816428

So predictions for this Saturday's GAA deliberations ? Inertia or Deep Freeze - do nothing ?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 15/01/2016 19:31:26    1816951

We're probably going to get the status quo or this stupid Tommy Murphy cup mark 2 proposal that's come out of nowhere this week.

I'm very pissed with the GAA, they had the opportunity to improve the championship. Make it fairer, offer a better competition for its players and have just turned their back on that.

The inter-county season is a load of sh1te.

Teams play most of their games during the preseason competitions of the league, where they're playing in bad weather to smaller crowds. The championship comes and a teams season will be lucky to consist of 4 matches. Even the top teams will only play 6 or 7 rounds spread out over about 18 weeks.

We're losing players as a result of this. Current players are starting to drop away from inter-county football. The demands are too high and for the teams outside the elite the rewards aren't there.

I think we are also losing potential players to the GAA particularly in the weak counties. Imagine a talented sportsman in Antrim he's been playing football and soccer and he's at a good level now. He gets to 15/16 and the demands are getting higher. He won't be a professional soccer player but he'll be able to play a bit of Irish league probably or if he sticks with Gaelic he can play for Antrim. With the current structures Antrim are going to continue to be no-hopers stuck in division 3/4, playing 2/3 championship games a season, in front of 1 big crowd a season. Training throughout the winter for this "privilege". Forget the training ban, the reality is Antrim start back in November.

There's a similar story for the likes of Carlow, Wicklow where players will be lost to rugby, Louth they get lost to soccer. Louth, Wicklow, Antrim these counties have good populations there's room for these teams to improve, but instead they're being forgotten about by the GAA.

Everyone sporting body is looking to grow in their non-traditional areas whereas the GAA is prepared to let theirs wither and die.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 16/01/2016 09:28:02    1816980

Here's a bit of a daft idea that could make the playing field a little more levelled -
Teams are formed based on their National Election Constituencies. For the upcoming 2016, each TD will represent about 28,000 of the population, and more constituencies are single county (e.g. Kerry and Donegal) than before. Large population center will be split-county of course (e.g. Cork would have 5 teams) - and Dublin (wait for it, part tongue in cheek) would have 10, wow :).
The six counties could be based on Storment or totally revamped.
I know it's daft - but who would win ? While Dublin would be desimated, the other strong powers would remain intact - and
Cavan/Monaghan would be stronger. If played on Prov Basis, the AI Final should have the Lein Champ (given TD, population concentration) against one of the rest.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2605 - 16/01/2016 17:31:07    1817040

@Omahant

A-I football championship: League based to incorporate provincial championships:

Phase 1: 4 groups of 8: every team plays each other 1, games also to include provincial championships rounds up to and including semi-finals:

Groups made up of: Ulster top half plus Connacht top half plus Leinster preliminary round 1 loser:
2016 draw gets

Tyrone,Derry, Cavan, Armagh, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo loser Laois/Wicklow

Group 2 rest of Ulster and Connacht
Antrim, Fermanagh, Donegal, Down,Monaghan, London,Mayo, Galway

Leinster top half plus Munster top half:
Winner Laois/Wicklow, Dublin, Louth, Carlow, Meath, Clare, Limerick,Kerry

Leinster bottom half plus Munster bottom half:
Longford,Offaly,,Westmeath, Wexford,Kildare

Phase 2: 5 teams from each group progress to form 2 by 10 team groups Ulster/Connacht and Leinster/Munster each 5 to consist of provincial finalists plus 3 other best ranked team from the group stages. Teams play 5 more rounds against teams they haven't played to include provincial finals.

Games against eliminated teams are dropped so each team will have played 9 counting league matches.

Playoffs:Aussie Rules style: 6 teams from each group advance, to include provincial champions.
1-3 in each group can loser in early rounds and get a second chance, 4-6 are in single elimination:

2 sides looking roughly like this:

Playoff week 1: 1 and 4 get byes, a 2v3, b 5v6
Week 2: c 1v Winner a, d 4v winner b
Week 3: e loser a v winner d
Week 4: f loser c v winner e
Week 5: Semi-finals: Winner c v winner f

Not many dead rubber matches in the league stage: More than half the teams progressing from every group.

Phase A teams play 3 home, 3 away plus 1 neutral match which will be provincial Semi-finals for teams that make it

Phase B teams play 2 home, 2 away plus 1 neutral match which will be provincial finals for teams making it.

A tier 2 championship can be provided for teams eliminated after phase A although teams may not want to play this.

Season requires 18 game weeks so can be played off quickly to allow time for club championship later.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 31/01/2016 10:59:58    1820780

The majority of inter-county GAA spectators go for the big events of provincial finals and All-Ireland semi-finals and finals. They won't have the appetite for group stages. I've always said that it's only changes from within the current structures that will gain traction. It's reflected in the B championship motion going to congress.

The GAA moves in small steps and change takes time. Group stages are unlikely to ever happen. The hurling qualifiers had them for a while before being abandoned.

If the B championship gets voted through, in a few years they might expand it to 16 teams and bring in an All-Ireland Round of 16 after the provincial finals at the top level. Outside of that I can't see a whole lot else changing.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7859 - 31/01/2016 14:09:51    1820823