Time for change.
Hot on the heels of our own Conán Doherty’s ‘World Cup-style championship model’ I’ve decided to get my restructured Championship season mapped out properly.
Champions League and World Cup models are doomed to failure because, very simply, they scare the living daylights out of congress delegates and they still throw up dead rubber games. Sorry Conán.
Unfortunately, we need to restructure the Championship while keeping in mind that any new plan must have reasonable change of getting a two-thirds majority vote at Congress.
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Any restructure that excludes provincial championships will not have much of a chance of getting voted in either.
They remain popular with traditionalists and a lot of players and the provincial councils have too much power and influence over delegates.
The best ideas are the simple ones and that’s what I’m doing – keeping it simple. I’m not changing anything we don’t have in the current structure.
Firstly, I would keep the provincial championships but play them in March before the All-Ireland series.
There would be a shield for first-round losers so every county is guaranteed two games in March. I don’t believe their prestige would suffer – look at the interest in meaningless January cup competitions.
Also, a two-point head start in the All-Ireland series could be given to the winners.
All-Ireland series
What I propose is to flip the season around and make the National League the Championship. The league is the best competition in the GAA calendar year. Where else do we get all the top teams playing each other every week?
The problem with the league is that it’s played in atrocious weather conditions and not taken seriously by some managers. Players are trialled during the league with the Championship in mind and training is tailored towards the summer.
The proposed All-Ireland series would have two main divisions:
• Division 1 (comprised of 1A and 1B)
• Division 2 (comprised of 2A and 2B)
We will crown two All Ireland champions at the end of the year.
This is how it would've looked if it was played this year.
Division 1 All-Ireland
- Seven league games.
- Top two teams in 1A go into All-Ireland semi finals.
- Third and fourth in 1A play first and second in 1B in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Division 2 All-Ireland
- Seven league games.
- Top two teams in 2A go into Division 2 All-Ireland semi finals.
- Third and fourth in 2A play first and second in 2B in the Division 2 All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Two teams would be relegated and promoted from all divisions as normal.
Division 1 Championship
Division 2 Championship
Schedule
Fixtures and burnout and club games are obviously a huge issue but here is a new proposal - using the new format - as to how the year's fixtures schedule would work.
- January – Closed inter-county season/Sigerson Cup
- February – Pre-season inter-county training/Sigerson Cup
- March – Provincial championships played every weekend
Provincial championship
Based on 2016 dates
March 6 - Round One
March 13 - Quarter final
March 20 - Semi final
March 27 - Final
All Ireland Series - Division 1
Based on 2016 dates
April 9/10 - Week 1
April 23/24 - Week 2
May 7/8 - Week 3
May 21/22 - Week 4
June 11/12 - Week 5
June 25/26 - Week 6
July 9/10 - Week 7
All Ireland Series - Division 2
Fixture schedules (based on 2016 dates)
April 16/17 - Week 1
April 30/May 1 - Week 2
May 14/15 - Week 3
June 4/5 - Week 4
June 18/19 - Week 5
July 2/3 - Week 6
July 16/17 - Week 7
Knockout fixtures
July 24 - All-Ireland Division One quarter-finals double header (Croke Park).
July 31 - All-Ireland Division Two quarter-finals double header (Croke Park).
August 7/August 8 - All-Ireland Division One semi-finals (Croke Park).
August 13/14 - All-Ireland Division Two semi-finals (Croke Park).
August 31 - All-Ireland final double header (Croke Park).
Club football
Club leagues can be played during the inter-county season without the involvement of county players.
This restructure will allow the club championship five uninterrupted months (for every county not in All Ireland semi-finals) giving club players championship football in July and August.
Club championships should be streamlined throughout the country with county boards guaranteeing at least four championship games for club players.
Club players can take holidays in June.
U19s
U21s should be merged with minors to form an U19 competition that is played alongside the senior championship.
No U19 should be considered for senior football.
All-Ireland final should be played at a provincial venue.
Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup, which causes friction between county managers and colleges, can run in January and February.
Advantages of this structure
- This system gives every team in the country 7 championship games every two weeks against teams at their own level.
- Most teams in the country would have a chance of making All Ireland quarter finals.
- Addresses the training to matches ratio - more meaningful games and less training.
- Shortens the inter-county playing season from 9 months to 6 months freeing up time for club players
- Gives supporters more championship games
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