For the second weekend in-a-row, Clare footballers must travel away from home for an All-Ireland football qualifier because of the rule which deems that Division 3 and 4 teams automatically receive home advantage when drawn against a Division 1 or 2 team.

Yesterday, Colm Collins' Division 2 outfit bounced back from their heavy Munster SFC semi-final defeat to Kerry with a hard-earned 1-19 to 2-14 victory over Offaly in Tullamore. They'll be on the road again this Saturday when they travel north to the Athletic Grounds to face an Armagh side who played in Division 3 this year, but will join the Banner in Division 2 next year after winning promotion last spring. Armagh have a rich football history and would always fancy themselves against Clare, especially in their own backyard.

Monaghan, a seasoned Division 1 outfit, have also been denied home advantage in the last two qualifier draws because of their league status, but you won't hear them complaining after being pitted with Division 4 minnows Waterford (who they dispatched by 27 points last Saturday) and Leitrim. But without trying to patronise them, it would seem that Clare are being penalised for the huge progress they have made in recent years.

While Gaelic football is a religion in parts of West Clare, the county has spent much of its history in the footballing backwaters and living in the shadows of Munster heavyweights Kerry and Cork. Clare have had to work incredibly hard to climb the ladder and establish themselves in Division 2. Their reward is a difficult trip to Armagh which begs the question: would they better off playing their league football in Division 3 or 4 if they want to make headway in the championship?

One can understand why the rule was introduced as home advantage for a Division 3 or 4 team increases the chances of them upsetting their Division 1 or 2 counterparts. But it doesn't do a county like Clare any favours.

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