A few years ago Tyrone and the capital brought a motion to congress for a champions round. It would have seen provincial champions playoff under the old styled semi-final pairings with the 2 winners advancing to the semi-finals and the 2 losers taking on 2 qualifiers in the quarter-finals.

The 2 groups of 4 will have some similarity at the first weekend. Provincial winners will play each other in the opening group game with qualifiers taking on each other in Croke Park. The difference is the remaining two rounds will see provincial winners take on the qualifier counties 1 game at home and 1 game away.

Some of us have made the point that there needs to be more games in provincial grounds. The group stage will ensure that. Take an example of a groups from this year:

GROUP A
Kerry
Dublin Region
Donegal
Clare

Round 1
Kerry v Dublin Region, Croke Park.
Donegal v Clare, Croke Park.

Round 2
Clare v Kerry, Ennis or Limerick (Stadium requirements?)
Donegal v Dublin Region, Ballybofey?

Round 3
Kerry v Donegal, Killarney.
Dublin Region v Clare, Croke Park.

GROUP B
Galway
Tyrone
Mayo
Tipperary

Round 1
Galway v Tyrone, Croke Park.
Tipperary v Mayo, Croke Park.

Round 2
Mayo v Tyrone, Castlebar.
Tipperary v Galway, Thurles.

Round 3
Tyrone v Tipperary, Omagh?
Galway v Mayo, Salthill.

SEMI-FINALS:
Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B, Croke Park. (Saturday)
Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A, Croke Park. (Sunday)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7844 - 14/08/2016 09:23:43    1900737

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 14/08/2016 10:43:48    1900751

Is this legend guy paid by hogan stand to deliberately rub people up the wrong way? he doesn't seem to know nor comment on games, instead on the politics and topics that are in short, deeply annoying. Every other day a thread is started by him about seedings, ulster, the 4 regions add infinitum. What is wrong with him?

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 14/08/2016 11:14:02    1900763

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 14/08/2016 12:36:10    1900783

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2842 - 14/08/2016 13:19:28    1900795

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7844 - 14/08/2016 14:19:18    1900808

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 14/08/2016 17:00:55    1900832

This sums up the mentality and spirit of this poster. You used this comment to other forum members totally out of context, in other words, you were dying to get a dig in no matter what. A deeply bitter and twisted poster. You should learn to be more sporting, you never know what result lies around the next corner.
Donegalman (All)
I was simply discussing the group stage suggested by the GAA.

Enjoy watching The Sunday Game and have a nice evening! :)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7844 - 14/08/2016 17:08:42    1900837

Let me peddle it again - 'Treble Chance' -
4 Prov Champs playoff - 2 winners to AI QFs, 2 losees to Qual Rd 3;
4 Prov Final losers to Rd 2; 8 SF losers drawn away in Rd 1.5 (or 1A) against 8 '3rd chance' Rd 1 losers;
8 Rd 1 winners to Rd 2.

16-team Rd 1 'Regional Draw' - 8 North, 8 South; 16-team Rd 1.5 'Seeded Draw' above;
20-team Rd 2 'Open Draw' (mouthwatering); 12-team Rd 3 'Seeded Draw' (6 low NFL ranked from 10 Rd 2 away);
8-team AI QFs 'Seeded Draw' (4 low of 6 Rd 3 kept apart).

From all Prov SFs to AI QFs - 3 wins needed in Front Door, 3 in Back Door, 3 in any combo of the two, 3 chances for non-SF teams, 3 match minimum for 32 counties (if Muns/Conn SFs are 2-legged).

The crossover from Provs to Quals is neater than currently, but most importantly - the structure is fair and neutralises Prov imbalance, while preserving Prov tradition.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2590 - 14/08/2016 17:43:17    1900864

Back on topic. The GAA in fairness have come up with a suggestion that will give provincial grounds around the country more games. That's a positive.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts:4953 - 14/08/2016 14:19:18


Ahh, is that what the thread is about? It's just your original post was a bit longwinded and rambling, fairly ambiguous really, hard to know what point you were trying to make.
(Plus, of course, your insistence on referring to the Dublin "Region", possibly suggests to many that you're just trying to wind people up, as you don't add "County" or another moniker to any other teams, and it's not like it makes it quicker to type or anything. Maybe drop the whole "Region" thing and others might be inclined to take you more serious).

Any, for what it's worth, I'm not overly impressed with the new group stage, as it'll only mean more games in provincial grounds in Kerry, Mayo, etc., I don't see how it benefits the the majority of counties, it's really only a benefit in terms of extra income for the elite teams.
However, I suppose being positive, it is a step in the right direction. It's not perfect, but at least the GAA are acknowledging the championship needs changing, even if it is only one small step at a time.

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 14/08/2016 17:52:12    1900868

.....AND for good measure, 3 wins needed in the AI Series - Threes all 'round - hence 'Treble Chance'.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2590 - 14/08/2016 17:57:59    1900872

Any, for what it's worth, I'm not overly impressed with the new group stage, as it'll only mean more games in provincial grounds in Kerry, Mayo, etc., I don't see how it benefits the the majority of counties, it's really only a benefit in terms of extra income for the elite teams.
However, I suppose being positive, it is a step in the right direction. It's not perfect, but at least the GAA are acknowledging the championship needs changing, even if it is only one small step at a time.

extranjero (Wexford)

The GAA are hoping it will invigorate the qualifiers that have gone a bit flat. That there'll be an extra determination to make the group stage. It's not beyond your county to get back to provincial finals and at least one step away from the suggested group stage.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7844 - 14/08/2016 19:25:25    1900928

Is this legend guy paid by hogan stand to deliberately rub people up the wrong way? he doesn't seem to know nor comment on games, instead on the politics and topics that are in short, deeply annoying. Every other day a thread is started by him about seedings, ulster, the 4 regions add infinitum. What is wrong with him?
Donegalman (All) - Posts:2590 - 14/08/2016 11:14:02 To be fair to legend he often comments on games. There is nothing wrong with a lot of discussions on politics and while they may annoy you that doesn't mean they annoy many others.

You could politely ignore the thread about the GAA's suggested group stage if you don't wish to discuss nor read it. Enjoy your county's club championships and winter well! ;)
Back on topic. The GAA in fairness have come up with a suggestion that will give provincial grounds around the country more games. That's a positive.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts:4972 - 14/08/2016 14:19:18But legend can you please stop referring to Dublin as the Dublin Region as its very ignorant


Any, for what it's worth, I'm not overly impressed with the new group stage, as it'll only mean more games in provincial grounds in Kerry, Mayo, etc., I don't see how it benefits the the majority of counties, it's really only a benefit in terms of extra income for the elite teams.
However, I suppose being positive, it is a step in the right direction. It's not perfect, but at least the GAA are acknowledging the championship needs changing, even if it is only one small step at a time.
extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:121 - 14/08/2016 17:52:12 Really this group stage should be at the start of the qualifiers and be more for the weaker sides than the very strong but at least its a step in the right way

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 16/08/2016 13:18:19    1901776

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4225 - 16/08/2016 17:08:12    1901970