Get Rid of provincial club championships

irish345 · May 28, 2019, 05:13:32 PM

what about the idea of getting rid of provincial club championships and just having a single 33 team knockout tournament among the all the county winners like the old european cup and have an open draw so if the tyrone champions have to play the limerck champions in first round in limerick so be it.

Has the time come to nationalise the game

thejuice · May 28, 2019, 05:29:47 PM

I was of the opinion that we run the championship as an open draw straight knock out and play it concurrently with the league in the summer. That way everyone gets 8 games in the good weather, provincial grounds get used. Frees up the rest of the year for clubs. The provincial tournaments can be played off in February or March if people really still have an appetite for it.

An Watcher · May 28, 2019, 05:34:22 PM

Great idea but I do love the provincial club championships. Be a shame to lose them.
Would almost be a trial run for the all Ireland to be played out that way though. Not sure how the club's would feel but don't think it would be any more games e.g. 3 Ulster championship games n then the semi and final compared to 5 games from last 32 on.
Good idea but not totally sold at the same time

thejuice · May 28, 2019, 05:57:02 PM

I obviously didn't see the word club in the title

BennyCake · May 28, 2019, 06:04:37 PM

What about the extra costs involved for teams? Say Gaoth Dobhair having to go to Nemo Rangers or similar journey. There'd be hotels, meals etc for a big squad and back room team. That's alot of expense for a club.

And if GD won that, and had to go back down to face Crokes in Killarney a week or two later? It'd put their lights out.

A long way and extra costs for fans too.

Eamonnca1 · May 28, 2019, 06:17:42 PM

What problem are you trying to solve?

trailer · May 28, 2019, 07:20:48 PM

Quote from: irish345 on May 28, 2019, 05:13:32 PM
what about the idea of getting rid of provincial club championships and just having a single 33 team knockout tournament among the all the county winners like the old european cup and have an open draw so if the tyrone champions have to play the limerck champions in first round in limerick so be it.

Has the time come to nationalise the game

After this idea is thrown in the bin, I move that you be thrown in the bin as well.

brokencrossbar1 · May 28, 2019, 07:26:56 PM

Provincial club football is where some of the best games of the year are played, particularly in Ulster and Connacht. Also it's is a fantastic opportunity for an unfashionable club to win something greater than just their county championship. Not every club will win and All Ireland but any county champions will feel they could win their province. Do you not think that the likes of Mullinalaghta or Gaoth Dobhair deserved to enjoy their day in the sun winning their provincial finals last year?

It is not broken and is a great competition. Keep it as it is.

Cunny Funt · May 28, 2019, 07:49:01 PM

Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on May 28, 2019, 07:26:56 PM
Provincial club football is where some of the best games of the year are played, particularly in Ulster and Connacht. Also it's is a fantastic opportunity for an unfashionable club to win something greater than just their county championship. Not every club will win and All Ireland but any county champions will feel they could win their province. Do you not think that the likes of Mullinalaghta or Gaoth Dobhair deserved to enjoy their day in the sun winning their provincial finals last year?

It is not broken and is a great competition. Keep it as it is.

Couldn't agree more.

Eamonnca1 · May 28, 2019, 07:58:37 PM

Disadvantages of this idea:

Greater distances traveled to games (more pollution, more time spent traveling)
More travel expenses
Fewer local derbies
The death of local rivalries
The death of cherished traditions
The end of a meaningful competition that will be the highest that some teams will ever win

Advantages of this idea:

?

trailer · May 28, 2019, 08:00:25 PM

Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on May 28, 2019, 07:26:56 PM
Provincial club football is where some of the best games of the year are played, particularly in Ulster and Connacht. Also it's is a fantastic opportunity for an unfashionable club to win something greater than just their county championship. Not every club will win and All Ireland but any county champions will feel they could win their province. Do you not think that the likes of Mullinalaghta or Gaoth Dobhair deserved to enjoy their day in the sun winning their provincial finals last year?

It is not broken and is a great competition. Keep it as it is.

The club championships are the best competitions that the GAA have bar none!

Milltown Row2 · May 28, 2019, 09:06:02 PM

Quote from: trailer on May 28, 2019, 08:00:25 PM
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on May 28, 2019, 07:26:56 PM
Provincial club football is where some of the best games of the year are played, particularly in Ulster and Connacht. Also it's is a fantastic opportunity for an unfashionable club to win something greater than just their county championship. Not every club will win and All Ireland but any county champions will feel they could win their province. Do you not think that the likes of Mullinalaghta or Gaoth Dobhair deserved to enjoy their day in the sun winning their provincial finals last year?

It is not broken and is a great competition. Keep it as it is.

The club championships are the best competitions that the GAA have bar none!

And the fact that they eventually brought it to a level that Junior and intermediate teams could have that chance to grace Croke!

Edit: except those cute hoors in Kerry who spoil the football, the hurling is well spread though

Itchy · May 30, 2019, 07:25:53 PM

The only issue with the club championship is the time of year they are played. Shit wet and windy venues with heavy pitches, it suits a type of team.

Milltown Row2 · May 30, 2019, 07:55:02 PM

Quote from: Itchy on May 30, 2019, 07:25:53 PM
The only issue with the club championship is the time of year they are played. Shit wet and windy venues with heavy pitches, it suits a type of team.

The type of team that wins its county final during the better weather?

Itchy · May 30, 2019, 08:43:30 PM

Quote from: Milltown Row2 on May 30, 2019, 07:55:02 PM
Quote from: Itchy on May 30, 2019, 07:25:53 PM
The only issue with the club championship is the time of year they are played. Shit wet and windy venues with heavy pitches, it suits a type of team.

The type of team that wins its county final during the better weather?

Thats what I mean. I've seen a good fast team more suited to hard ground come out and struggle against a team from another county that's full of big mullockers. Big Mullocker could be good enough to win their own county but shouldnt be able to beat the other team normally but the weather is a great leveler. I think it would be great to see the county champions play on fast hard ground but I know thats just not possible at the moment with fixture congestion.