National Forum

Should There Be A Back Door For Football?

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "There was no reason why they could nt have had an open draw and it would bring extra excitement. Bar a few moment last years football was a snorefest"
Exactly.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/04/2021 20:06:29    2336777

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Replying To yew_tree:  "No Leave it it's done now. The only reason Hurling get a back door is so few counties play it to a high standard. There simply is not enough time to play a football back door. And so what? We will survive. The fact there are no crowds at games makes it soulless anyway.

All our county players can return to their clubs once knocked out and get multiple games. It all starts with the club."
They could have given the Prov Finalists an AI QF KO rd - only 4 more games (less than hurling 2nd chance).

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2584 - 11/04/2021 02:54:18    2336814

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I have to say there is no merit in the back door unless for the stronger counties.... it only means the weaker ones get beaten twice instead of once after spending 2/3 times the amount of finances for what...? Last season Cavan or Tipperary would not have reached the semifinals if there was a back door but more than likely Donegal and Kerry would have.... I think there would be more exiting games if teams knew it was all on the day and if we don't get our act together we will be out.... For weaker counties the provincial title is their only hope of success (Cavan + Tipp) so back door games are a waste of time and money as they would have no chance of winning the All Ireland... The GAA only introduced the back door to generate money and when that ended up falling flat through poor attendance figures they came up with the farcical "super 8s"...!! What next.... the "fabulous 4s"...? Anything to extract money from fools who would pay in to see such rubbish...!!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1926 - 11/04/2021 08:28:11    2336822

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I think there should definitely be a back door. For 16 teams it's one game and you are out. For weaker counties it at least will give them exposure to more championship games and the potential for a good run. For now what are leitrim training for - to have one day out where they are beaten by mayo or roscommon! No disrespect to them but that wouldn't exactly motivate you.

Hurling are managing to fit in 5 league games and each county will have at least two championship games. They are managing to fit in it.

Solution to the scheduling.

1. Let counties resume training tomorrow- no reason to delay it as they will all be training this week anyway in small groups
2. Nice the league start forward a week in line with hurling.
3. Move football final back a week. It only impacts two counties so it isint going to jeopardise the club season

Give us a good season of football and not be playing second fiddle to hurling again. I have nothing against hurling as I thoroughly enjoy it - they are better at advocating for the needs of their game. Football just accept this nonsense

Nogoal (Galway) - Posts: 62 - 11/04/2021 12:02:20    2336841

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Replying To Nogoal:  "I think there should definitely be a back door. For 16 teams it's one game and you are out. For weaker counties it at least will give them exposure to more championship games and the potential for a good run. For now what are leitrim training for - to have one day out where they are beaten by mayo or roscommon! No disrespect to them but that wouldn't exactly motivate you.

Hurling are managing to fit in 5 league games and each county will have at least two championship games. They are managing to fit in it.

Solution to the scheduling.

1. Let counties resume training tomorrow- no reason to delay it as they will all be training this week anyway in small groups
2. Nice the league start forward a week in line with hurling.
3. Move football final back a week. It only impacts two counties so it isint going to jeopardise the club season

Give us a good season of football and not be playing second fiddle to hurling again. I have nothing against hurling as I thoroughly enjoy it - they are better at advocating for the needs of their game. Football just accept this nonsense"
Totally agree

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 11/04/2021 15:24:18    2336862

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Replying To royaldunne:  "It would have created great interest. For the 10 counties outside Dublin in Leinster this will be over after one or two games. Nothing to aim for not even the super 8s. A open draw could have put up numerous great outcomes. A Wicklow or Carlow against a Sligo or Leitrim. I would have loved a cut at Tyrone in navan , Kildare v Roscommon. It would have added the spark , but no we don't have it.
Can you imagine the interest in Dublin drawing mayo in castlebar or Kerry in Killarney? In round one or two ?? It would be fantastic. Once off for one year."
I'd have total faith in at least 5 teams from Ulster coming out of Navan with a win. Plus 3 from Connacht and 3 from Munster.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2013 - 11/04/2021 16:14:55    2336871

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Replying To Tarismelting22:  "Do you believe football teams should have a second chance to stay in the championship?

Will it turn players away from weaker counties knowing they will only get one crack at it?"
simple answer no

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1802 - 13/04/2021 11:52:35    2337048

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "simple answer no"
Not a chance.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 13/04/2021 13:10:09    2337056

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Replying To Nogoal:  "I think there should definitely be a back door. For 16 teams it's one game and you are out. For weaker counties it at least will give them exposure to more championship games and the potential for a good run. For now what are leitrim training for - to have one day out where they are beaten by mayo or roscommon! No disrespect to them but that wouldn't exactly motivate you.

Hurling are managing to fit in 5 league games and each county will have at least two championship games. They are managing to fit in it.

Solution to the scheduling.

1. Let counties resume training tomorrow- no reason to delay it as they will all be training this week anyway in small groups
2. Nice the league start forward a week in line with hurling.
3. Move football final back a week. It only impacts two counties so it isint going to jeopardise the club season

Give us a good season of football and not be playing second fiddle to hurling again. I have nothing against hurling as I thoroughly enjoy it - they are better at advocating for the needs of their game. Football just accept this nonsense"
It's the same for Galway footballers, they haven't a hope of winning an all Ireland yet they still turn out and compete every year in fairness to them.

leitrimguy1985 (Leitrim) - Posts: 57 - 13/04/2021 13:17:20    2337057

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Replying To leitrimguy1985:  "It's the same for Galway footballers, they haven't a hope of winning an all Ireland yet they still turn out and compete every year in fairness to them."
that is true but the same can be said for a lot of counties. These counties have not even a hope of winning their provinces really apart from an odd year here and there, eg Roscommon, Tipperary, Clare, Kildare, Meath, Armagh etc. Never will win anything but still they keep the integrity of the thing so fair play to them

the creeler (Cavan) - Posts: 512 - 13/04/2021 13:24:45    2337060

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "I have to say there is no merit in the back door unless for the stronger counties.... it only means the weaker ones get beaten twice instead of once after spending 2/3 times the amount of finances for what...? Last season Cavan or Tipperary would not have reached the semifinals if there was a back door but more than likely Donegal and Kerry would have.... I think there would be more exiting games if teams knew it was all on the day and if we don't get our act together we will be out.... For weaker counties the provincial title is their only hope of success (Cavan + Tipp) so back door games are a waste of time and money as they would have no chance of winning the All Ireland... The GAA only introduced the back door to generate money and when that ended up falling flat through poor attendance figures they came up with the farcical "super 8s"...!! What next.... the "fabulous 4s"...? Anything to extract money from fools who would pay in to see such rubbish...!!"
It depends on the way you look at it. I do agree the qualifiers do give the bigger teams a better chance and makes it harder in the lesser teams. However with a 2nd chance it also makes things harder for Dublin. In reality Dublin are not troubled in Leinster and go straight into a semi final. If there were qualifier they might have to play a big gun in a quarter final and a semi final. Last year Dublin cruised to their easiest all ireland in my lifetime. At the start of the championship according to the bookies only Kerry Donegal and Tyrone were given any hope. If there were qualifiers the chances were Dublin would have had to face one of them or maybe even all 3 to win and maybe just one if them might have beaten them.So while qualifiers give the stronger more options it also makes the top guns run harder too.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3675 - 13/04/2021 13:27:24    2337062

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The bigger question is, what type of championship will the GAA run when the pandemic is over. Super 8s, not working. Proposed second tier championship tried before, this is the third version with no changes so I don't see it working. Most weak counties will lose players when travel resumes. At least two provincial championship are a foregone conclusion. A straight knock out helped Tipperary and Cavan win a provincial title which probably wouldn't have happened in normal times. There are probably 4-5 teams capable of winning the All Ireland. No team in Leinster can compete for a Leinster, it seems due to Dublin being in the province. There needs to be some imaginative solution (thinking outside the box) in order to revive the football championship and while the back door offer something for a period of time, its time has passed. Like a number of posters have said, with the year that is in it, a complete open draw would be worth a shot but the GAA is a very conservative organisation and things don't change quick if at all.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1910 - 13/04/2021 13:41:30    2337066

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Replying To tonguey:  "that is true but the same can be said for a lot of counties. These counties have not even a hope of winning their provinces really apart from an odd year here and there, eg Roscommon, Tipperary, Clare, Kildare, Meath, Armagh etc. Never will win anything but still they keep the integrity of the thing so fair play to them"
Look up how many Leinsters Meath have won. Should we all bow down to the mighty Cavan now ? :)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/04/2021 13:55:25    2337067

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Look up how many Leinsters Meath have won. Should we all bow down to the mighty Cavan now ? :)"
I am talking about the present teams, not the past ones, but if you want to look at history look at how many all Irelands and Ulsters we have won.

the creeler (Cavan) - Posts: 512 - 13/04/2021 14:07:13    2337069

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Replying To tonguey:  "I am talking about the present teams, not the past ones, but if you want to look at history look at how many all Irelands and Ulsters we have won."
5 all ire vs 7 for Meath I think Cavan have 40 provincial wins and Meath have 21 if memory serves me right, which is some achievement considering Dublin in province

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/04/2021 16:09:29    2337082

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Yes.

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 13/04/2021 16:32:48    2337085

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Replying To royaldunne:  "5 all ire vs 7 for Meath I think Cavan have 40 provincial wins and Meath have 21 if memory serves me right, which is some achievement considering Dublin in province"
And Meath have won 6 of those AI titles since Cavan won its last one in 1952. Imagine, 70 years ago almost; the same length of time that Elizabeth has been the Queen of England.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1910 - 13/04/2021 17:23:32    2337088

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Replying To football first:  "Yes."
Hang on. There's no need to be smart like and actually answer the question. You could be debared for such brazenness.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 13/04/2021 18:44:05    2337094

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Replying To royaldunne:  "5 all ire vs 7 for Meath I think Cavan have 40 provincial wins and Meath have 21 if memory serves me right, which is some achievement considering Dublin in province"
Why is it some achievement with Dublin in the province? Up until the 70s the vast majority of Dublin people were indifferent to gaelic football and indeed most of the county teams up to 50s were country fellas living in Dublin.

leitrimguy1985 (Leitrim) - Posts: 57 - 13/04/2021 19:42:09    2337098

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Replying To leitrimguy1985:  "Why is it some achievement with Dublin in the province? Up until the 70s the vast majority of Dublin people were indifferent to gaelic football and indeed most of the county teams up to 50s were country fellas living in Dublin."
They had a fair amount prior to 1970s. Meath won their first in 40s. 4 of our 7 were won over the last 30 odd years.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 13/04/2021 20:49:07    2337107

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