Replying To Temple56: "I wasn't asking what club you're from to dismiss your view I was asking for context. Contexts are often shaped by experience and that's natural. But I take your point that the discussion should be about the structure itself not who benefits from it. I do believe Westmeath GAA does not benefit from this that's what makes people like myself most annoyed.
I think where we differ is on what "fairness" means in this context. For me fairness isn't just about everyone starting from the exact same line every year it's also about rewarding performance from the previous season. The protection from relegation in Section A isn't random it's earned by reaching the knockout stages the year before. That's not a "makey-uppy" rule it's a merit-based incentive.
You mentioned the Premier League example, but the big difference is that the Premier League is a straight league format. The Westmeath championship isn't it's a hybrid structure with groups and knockouts. Different competitions use different systems to balance competitiveness and quality. The aim here has clearly been to ensure the strongest teams are more likely to reach the latter stages and from 2017 to 2025 that's what happened.
You're absolutely right that strong clubs should have to earn it every year and they still do. They have to perform well enough the previous season to get into Section A and then still win matches to reach a final. There's no guarantee of silverware. What the format does is reduce the chance of a top-two team being knocked out early because of one off-day or an uneven draw which we did see happen under the old system and we will 100% happen in this "makey-uppy" championship that is somehow passed through even though no one seems to think its fair. Even you have said this new format is flawed.
I don't see it as keeping strong clubs strong I see it as making sure the county final consistently features the two best teams. That benefits standards across the county. At the same time, teams in Section B still have a clear pathway upward promotion is there if they're good enough. Having better match ups = more money for county board. Cant see how they don't see this.
We might just value different things slightly you priorities jeopardy and pure reset every year fairness, while I priorities rewarding performance and ensuring quality at the business end. Neither position is unreasonable. Everyone is entitled to an opinion right or wrong. As you said yourself you seem to be the tiny minority which is why myself and the majority of club players, mangers and fans are outraged at how this format passed."
Replying To Upforthegame23: "To be fair, the argument u put forward is the best ive seen yet. The best teams should have to earn it. I do see merit in that view and will add that some of the teams in group A, let the players off for alot of the summer and only come back for last game of group to get over line, one aspect I dont like and a massive advantage to group A teams,"
Can players belonging to Clubs in Section B not get the same plane home to play the last game group? If a Club has players missing for the earlier games and are still in a position to qualify when they return home it usually means they have very strong squad depth, it is a privilege the stronger teams have. Perhaps the County Board and Killucan should introduce another "makey uppy" rule to prevent Section A Clubs bringing players back during Championship season?
Replying To iarmhiabu: "You mean we are the only County introducing "makey uppy" rules into an existing Championship structure which has been in place for the best part of a decade (obviously proved a success), undermining the integrity of the competition to suit the agenda of a few Clubs, one in particular. This is great "promotion of football" isn't it?"
Would you please read my posts and stop arguing with me about something I'm not arguing about. I'm not in favour of this years system. Go argue with someone who is.
Replying To Jack_Sparrow: "Would you please read my posts and stop arguing with me about something I'm not arguing about. I'm not in favour of this years system. Go argue with someone who is."
I have read your posts, and I understand where you are coming from on relegation but we have a tiered Championship structure. All 12 teams can be potentially relegated, the 6 Section A teams can be potentially relegated to Section B and the 6 Section B teams can be potentially relegated to Intermediate A. Relegating 2 teams from Section A and only 1 from Section B is generally not considered fair in a tiered Championship structure.
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Can players belonging to Clubs in Section B not get the same plane home to play the last game group? If a Club has players missing for the earlier games and are still in a position to qualify when they return home it usually means they have very strong squad depth, it is a privilege the stronger teams have. Perhaps the County Board and Killucan should introduce another "makey uppy" rule to prevent Section A Clubs bringing players back during Championship season?"
No you have completely missed the point again, teams in group a could qualify for knockout stages on maybe 3 or 4 points. Teams in group B needed 7 or 8, the point I made was the argument was good that the best team had to earn the title rather than scrapping by from group A in 1/4 finals and have a group of players return from America then for the knock out stages.
Replying To iarmhiabu: "I have read your posts, and I understand where you are coming from on relegation but we have a tiered Championship structure. All 12 teams can be potentially relegated, the 6 Section A teams can be potentially relegated to Section B and the 6 Section B teams can be potentially relegated to Intermediate A. Relegating 2 teams from Section A and only 1 from Section B is generally not considered fair in a tiered Championship structure."
There's no intermediate A. Just Intermediate with Group A and Group B. There's only 1 intermediate champion who goes on to play in Leinster. So it's a kind of relegation but not a real one because you could still win Intermediate next year if you were good enough. Look I've already said I'm in a minority but it's my opinion. I will say that there seems to be no one on here defending this years system and that tells its own story so I understand your frustration because last years system was better for my club also but my opinion is both structures are flawed but I'm not going repeating the reasons again because it's distracting from the majority discussion.