There is a solution of sorts staring us in the face, basically copy the NFL.
- discard the provincials completely.
- Create 8 x regional sections of 4.
- Each season, all teams play 12 group stage games, 6 home and 6 away.
- 6 of those fixtures would see home and aways against the 3 teams in their section.
- The other 6 fixtures would be devised semi-randomly based on the previous season's final standings. 2 of the games would be against teams from the top third of the rankings. 2 against teams from the middle third. 2 against teams from the bottom third. Will there be anomalies? Of course. But so has every system.
- Each of the 8 teams that win their section goes through to a last 16 knockout game, with a home fixture.
- Their 8 opponents are the highest ranking teams that didn't win their section. Ie if you finish 4th in your section with 14 points, you outrank any second placed teams with 13 points. There could be 3 of these "wildcards" from one section, none from another.
- Quarter finals would see the 4 highest ranking winners at home, with the 4 lowest ranking winners visiting them.
- The rest is self explanatory.
- No need for a Tailteann Cup. Every county will have played 12 competitive matches and will know where they stand.
The key to this approach is that a "group of death" doesn't mean a quick death.
The other key to it is that as all teams are always being ranked, then there is always something to play for.
It also encourages local derbies initially, but ensures that the knockout stages are represented by the four corners of the country.
Americans are by and large idiots. But nobody does equality in sport like them.
- discard the provincials completely.
- Create 8 x regional sections of 4.
- Each season, all teams play 12 group stage games, 6 home and 6 away.
- 6 of those fixtures would see home and aways against the 3 teams in their section.
- The other 6 fixtures would be devised semi-randomly based on the previous season's final standings. 2 of the games would be against teams from the top third of the rankings. 2 against teams from the middle third. 2 against teams from the bottom third. Will there be anomalies? Of course. But so has every system.
- Each of the 8 teams that win their section goes through to a last 16 knockout game, with a home fixture.
- Their 8 opponents are the highest ranking teams that didn't win their section. Ie if you finish 4th in your section with 14 points, you outrank any second placed teams with 13 points. There could be 3 of these "wildcards" from one section, none from another.
- Quarter finals would see the 4 highest ranking winners at home, with the 4 lowest ranking winners visiting them.
- The rest is self explanatory.
- No need for a Tailteann Cup. Every county will have played 12 competitive matches and will know where they stand.
The key to this approach is that a "group of death" doesn't mean a quick death.
The other key to it is that as all teams are always being ranked, then there is always something to play for.
It also encourages local derbies initially, but ensures that the knockout stages are represented by the four corners of the country.
Americans are by and large idiots. But nobody does equality in sport like them.