I'm more of a hurling man than football, so it says it all when I think that the best GAA weekend of the year was All-Ireland quarter-final weekend.

Since 2001, there's been no weekend to match it. Generally, all eight teams remaining tend to be very good football teams, and to have them all showcased in one bonanza weekend with four exciting matches made it stand out. Sadly, with the introduction of a frankly ridiculous qualifier system, we now have two qualifiers taking place alongside two quarter-finals, as opposed to four quarter-finals in Croke Park, and we've also been robbed of the quarter-final draw, another great highlight!

I hope they change this back. I think the GAA have shot themselves in the foot!

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 30/07/2014 15:18:10    1628522

I Agree very disappointing, often big GAA supporters would make a weekend of the 4 matches, I imagine attendance will be down, probably not to significant though. I dont see the need of this draw new system, there is simpler ways of ensuring its not a repeat of provincial finals than separate qualifiers.

Mayofc (Mayo) - Posts: 95 - 30/07/2014 15:25:22    1628529

Agree with you a lot on this one. August bank holiday weekend was always something most fans looked forward too, and was always a great weekend for the GAA, but the new qualifier system that was put in place to make it easier for county boards to arrange club fixtures has gotten rid of this weekend being used for the 4 quarter finals, for this year anyway. Maybe it can be organised similarly next year, but still with the hope of keeping the August Bank Holiday weekend for the football quarter finals. All the same, I have my own county playing in Croker this weekend so that softens the blow of not having the 4 quarter finals on this weekend a little bit.

OrangeMan_ (Armagh) - Posts: 5 - 30/07/2014 15:28:59    1628533

I was just thinking the same thing myself. We'll know 2 of the semi-finalists before we even know who makes up the other side of the quarter final!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9115 - 30/07/2014 15:32:00    1628539

Ye but we don't want a return to the horrible 6 day turnarounds either, the Gaa just needs to structure the championship better, even if they don't want to change the system they have to organise it better. I mean the championship started the 1st weekend in May yet some counties weren't out till the middle of June, so if they just balanced it out and started the qualifiers earlier then surely all QFs could be played on the bank holiday weekend and there'd be no 6 day turnaround = everybody wins.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/07/2014 15:38:39    1628546

Ye but we don't want a return to the horrible 6 day turnarounds either, the Gaa just needs to structure the championship better, even if they don't want to change the system they have to organise it better. I mean the championship started the 1st weekend in May yet some counties weren't out till the middle of June, so if they just balanced it out and started the qualifiers earlier then surely all QFs could be played on the bank holiday weekend and there'd be no 6 day turnaround = everybody wins.

Do the winners of this weekends games between Monaghan and KIldare and Armagh and Meath not have to play next weekend or am I wrong?? Maybe not a 6 day turnaround, just a 7 day one..

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 30/07/2014 15:50:43    1628555

realman2

Do the winners of this weekends games between Monaghan and KIldare and Armagh and Meath not have to play next weekend or am I wrong?? Maybe not a 6 day turnaround, just a 7 day one..

I presume they do have to play 7 or 8 days later but I wouldn't mind that after a win, at least you have a bit of momentum, but a 6 day turnaround after a defeat, particularly a heavy one has proved to be very difficult for county teams in the past.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/07/2014 16:11:24    1628569

Yes your right realman2 only difference is teams will be coming of a win so confidence should be high.
But before they were after losing a provincial final so were on a low after missing out on silverware and only had 6 days to recover, big difference

Pukefootball (Monaghan) - Posts: 377 - 30/07/2014 16:25:13    1628577

Wholeheartedly agree, the quaterfinal weekend has always been one to look forward to, I prefer the old system

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 30/07/2014 18:09:11    1628645

Yes but you need to look at it now this way
You now have two bumper weekends in the Gaa opinion.
Bank holiday has double header Saturday and double header Sunday, then the following weekend has double header of quarter finals saturday and an all Ireland hurling semi final Sunday

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 30/07/2014 19:21:17    1628680

Agreed Quarter-final weekend on August Bank Holiday weekend was a super idea and should not have been changed. There was the feeling the All-Ireland started here and it was great to be part of it.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 30/07/2014 19:28:40    1628687

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 8222

1628680
Yes but you need to look at it now this way
You now have two bumper weekends in the Gaa opinion.
Bank holiday has double header Saturday and double header Sunday, then the following weekend has double header of quarter finals saturday and an all Ireland hurling semi final Sunday

Bang on Hill man. Speaking sense as ever.

The next 2 weekends in Croker are amazing! Can't wait for them!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13704 - 30/07/2014 19:51:08    1628700

exactly..extra weekend of major gaa matches instead of it all crammed into 1..makes sense for tv also

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 30/07/2014 20:04:23    1628708