Provincial debate: I've asked counties if they want change says GAA President
June 03, 2015
GAA President Aogan O'Fearghail. INPHO
Aogan Farrell says he has asked counties do they want a change to the provincial football championship format.
The GAA President was talking as criticism of the championship structure intensified following Dublin's demolition of the Longford at the weekend, as the Metrolpolitans aim for a tenth Leinster title in eleven years.
"At the last Central Council meeting I asked counties if they have ideas on formats for change to submit them to us," Farrell told RTÉ Sport.
"Counties, in general, tell me they like the provincial championship. It's a dream that in Leitrim you can win a Connacht Championship.
"They want to play in it but some of the counties feel that having being beaten in their provincial championships, they may be better to enter a second-tier competition.
"I would agree with that and I think it's something now that we have to strongly look at.
"If you are a Division 4 team, for example in football, and you lose the first round in your province, perhaps the time is now to say, 'Well, why go into the qualifiers? Why not go into a separate competition and compete with other counties from Division 4'.
"But there should be a route back into Sam Maguire. That's what we are currently looking at."
