The football championship is opting for an All-Ireland group stage. The hurling championship seem ready to opt for a provincial group stage. There's no harm in both codes taking a slightly different route as they see fit for their respective championships.
Last night's Waterford v Kilkenny clash highlights that there will be less such encounters when counties are confined more within their provincial groups.
There was an option to go with 2 groups of 4 in hurling as well. 4 provincial champions and 4 qualifiers would easily provide the top 8.
An example of a hurling super 8 from this year: A: Galway, Clare or Cork, Waterford and Kilkenny. B: Clare or Cork, Wexford, Tipperary and Dublin.
There's a preference in GAA circles to guarantee provincial champions a game in Croke Park. The group games featuring provincial finalists could be staged as a double header in Croke Park.
Provincial champions can be rewarded two home games against the qualifiers. All other teams can have one home game each.
There's arguments both for and against groups in the provincial or All-Ireland series.
Replying To legendzxix: "The football championship is opting for an All-Ireland group stage. The hurling championship seem ready to opt for a provincial group stage. There's no harm in both codes taking a slightly different route as they see fit for their respective championships.
Last night's Waterford v Kilkenny clash highlights that there will be less such encounters when counties are confined more within their provincial groups.
There was an option to go with 2 groups of 4 in hurling as well. 4 provincial champions and 4 qualifiers would easily provide the top 8.
An example of a hurling super 8 from this year: A: Galway, Clare or Cork, Waterford and Kilkenny. B: Clare or Cork, Wexford, Tipperary and Dublin.
There's a preference in GAA circles to guarantee provincial champions a game in Croke Park. The group games featuring provincial finalists could be staged as a double header in Croke Park.
Provincial champions can be rewarded two home games against the qualifiers. All other teams can have one home game each.
There's arguments both for and against groups in the provincial or All-Ireland series."
I prefer the football route - mixed groups, while the Prov Championships keep the KO element. I have pitched before how I would implement this for hurling - here again - Last 5 in both Muns and Lein play KO matches like now to determine thw two Champs. Build two mixed AI Series groups, spliting each of 8 Prov pairings, allocating a team to the group opposite its opponent (forms 5 by 5 grid). Say, Lein QF winner to Group X (row) and its SF/QF opponents in Group Y (column). Muns QF winner to Y, its SF/QF opponents to X. Finally, place the two other SF winners (short side of draw) in the group opposite their Prov Final/SF opponents. Complete all group matches - 5 in X v 5 in Y. Top 3 in each group form own half of AI KO Phase - SFs are - 1st in X v QF winner (2nd v 3rd in X) and 1st in Y v QF winner (2nd v 3rd in Y). OR, to reward teams with better record - have 2 group winners and 4 wild cards in AI KO instead. What do you think ?
all ireland groups all the way for me.or at least try it for 3 years,the earth wont freeze over but somehow i suspect hell will before the munster council agree