Would you be in favour of a second tier?

[lenny]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

[Rossfan]

My comment was in relation to someone saying Antrim would have had great teams if they'd got loads of funding like Dublin.

[Maiden1]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

The LA Lakers have been a bit rubbish the last few years maybe they should go into a second/third tier. Nearly 800 entered the fa cup maybe get it over quicker just make it for the top 8 premier league teams. Carlton only won 2 games in afl last this year maybe there fans be happy enough playing in lower tier.

[lenny]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

The LA Lakers have been a bit rubbish the last few years maybe they should go into a second/third tier. Nearly 800 entered the fa cup maybe get it over quicker just make it for the top 8 premier league teams. Carlton only won 2 games in afl last this year maybe there fans be happy enough playing in lower tier.

You're obviously (a) a bit thick or (b) unable to read. If you're trying to compare carlow, fermanagh, leitrim footballers with la lakers or carlton. The teams I'm talking about have played at the same tier for over 100 years and have never come close to winning anything. The odd win here and there is as good as it gets. Why not have 3 tiers with promotion/relegation so that 6 counties can have the excitement of an all ireland final with 3 counties emerging champions.

[trailer]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

The LA Lakers have been a bit rubbish the last few years maybe they should go into a second/third tier. Nearly 800 entered the fa cup maybe get it over quicker just make it for the top 8 premier league teams. Carlton only won 2 games in afl last this year maybe there fans be happy enough playing in lower tier.

What a stupid f**king way of looking at anything. LA Lakers! Carlton! Narnia! Mordor! Coco United!

[BennyCake]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

But the game has changed. It's no longer about the best players winning the AI. Systems, S&C, yoga, nutritionists, analysis, training weekends is all part of it now. Plus coaching/facilities from an early age helps massively too. The top players are all but paid and looked after better than ever. Time off, recovery, sponsored cars etc etc. The idea of players being looked after years ago was a shower and a hot dinner after training. The more rural counties are at a loss geographically with college, commuting etc, and with fewer jobs.

More than ever results are determined by the county setup and their facilities and back room teams. It's distespectful to say Leitrim lads, commuting from Dublin for training, arriving having drove 2 hours and do same after training. Whereas Dublin could walk to training. Leitrim population is low, and it's insulting to suggest they should just get the finger out, try harder, and you'll get promotion to the top table.

[playwiththewind1st]

My comment was in relation to someone saying Antrim would have had great teams if they'd got loads of funding like Dublin.

Another £26 million in a sports holdall should cover it..

[imtommygunn]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

I agree with this and i'm from Antrim. I don't know why Antrim keeps coming up in this. It has a big city in it and Dublin is a big city too. That is really where the comparison ends. There are more rural clubs than city clubs in Antrim and arguably there are too many clubs in the city too.(and I have heard more city than country people say that).

[Maiden1]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

The LA Lakers have been a bit rubbish the last few years maybe they should go into a second/third tier. Nearly 800 entered the fa cup maybe get it over quicker just make it for the top 8 premier league teams. Carlton only won 2 games in afl last this year maybe there fans be happy enough playing in lower tier.

What a stupid f**king way of looking at anything. LA Lakers! Carlton! Narnia! Mordor! Coco United!

You mean comparing gaa to most other sports were majority of teams have little chance of winning but still like the chance to compete.

Unlike your well thought out enemy of any Irish person who ever lived and must be crushed argument.

[general_lee]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Does that not tell you something? A county containing Ireland’s second city is struggling and has been for decades. Too much potential and it isn’t being harnessed

My comment was in relation to someone saying Antrim would have had great teams if they'd got loads of funding like Dublin.

Where did anyone say this?

[imtommygunn]

In addition various articles say that Antrim have 108 affiliated clubs.

34 clubs play adult men's football. It's not that many compared to stats.

[trailer]

Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford get f all funding yet with much smaller populations are consistently better than Antrim at football.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago no one anywhere talked about funding. The only reason funding is mentioned is because dublin are going for 5 in a row. Therefore for over 100 years fermanagh, leitrim, louth, carlow, waterford all were funded roughly equally and how did those counties do in that time. Funding has become an issue but some counties will never be at the top table in football terms. Players commit to those counties at the mom and train year in, year out with no prospect of winning a championship. If we have 3 tiers like at club level then 3 counties every year will be championship winners. Why should dublin, kerry and mayo be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning an all ireland. If there are 3 levels every county panel will start of the season with ambitions of winning a championship.

The LA Lakers have been a bit rubbish the last few years maybe they should go into a second/third tier. Nearly 800 entered the fa cup maybe get it over quicker just make it for the top 8 premier league teams. Carlton only won 2 games in afl last this year maybe there fans be happy enough playing in lower tier.

What a stupid f**king way of looking at anything. LA Lakers! Carlton! Narnia! Mordor! Coco United!

You mean comparing gaa to most other sports were majority of teams have little chance of winning but still like the chance to compete.

Unlike your well thought out enemy of any Irish person who ever lived and must be crushed argument.

The GAA has it's own unique intricacies. It's not professional for a start and it's greatest strength is it's parochial nature. Comparing it to any professional sporting system is stupid. It's needs a tiered system with promotion and relegation. Anyone with any understanding of competitive sport knows this. Doing nothing is not an option.

[irish345]

would a unseeded straight 32 team knockout not be a option ok  dublin might get drawing against a div 4 team and hammered them but if the draw is kind you may get a div 3 or 4 teams making it to the quarter finals  you go also make the games up to the semi finals best of 3 if it goes to a 3rd game then it be played on a neutral site that way every team is guaranteed a minimum of 2 games anyway

[BennyCake]

would a unseeded straight 32 team knockout not be a option ok  dublin might get drawing against a div 4 team and hammered them but if the draw is kind you may get a div 3 or 4 teams making it to the quarter finals  you go also make the games up to the semi finals best of 3 if it goes to a 3rd game then it be played on a neutral site that way every team is guaranteed a minimum of 2 games anyway

That's what I would suggest. Open draw, first round 2 legs. Knockout after that. Every team gets a home game. And even if Leitrim drew Dublin, how often do the AI champions come to town?

Look at FA Cup the teams that have made the semis or final over the last 30 years or so. Millwall, Chesterfield, Wycombe, Barnsley, Cardiff, Etc etc.

Plus, Dublin Kerry first round, that's one of the big guns gone. Great opportunity for progression for lesser teams. Players would really buy into it knowing they have a chance of doing something.

[Ball Hopper]

Might as well switch the provincial cup competitions to Feb and March altogether, with a back-door for Rd 1 losers within each province.   4 provincial winners play for the Spring Cup.

Run the 4 divisions of leagues mid-May to end of June.  Top 4 in each division into semi-finals.  Normal promotion and relegation.  Winner of Div 1 gets Sam Maguire.  All done by August Bank Holiday.   So four divisions equals four tiers.  Work your way up/down each year based on your performance.

County Championships August to mid-October.  Club finals in December.  Plenty summer football for everyone - club and county players.