Super 8s

[sid waddell]

A sample calendar for the 2018 inter-county seson may look something like as follows:

April 8: NFL Final
April 15: NHL Final

April 22: Provincial football preliminary rounds
April 29: Provincial football quarter-finals
May 5/6: Provincial football quarter finals, 1 Munster hurling quarter-final
May 12/13: Provincial football quarter-finals/semi-finals, Leinster hurling quarter-finals
May 19/20: Provincial football semi-finals, 1 Munster Hurling semi-final, Football qualifiers Round 1
May 26/27: Provincial football semi-finals,  1 Munster hurling semi-final

Sat June 2: Football qualifiers round 2, Leinster hurling semi-finals
Sun June 3: Munster Football Final, Connacht Football Final
Sat June 9: Football Qualifiers Round 3
Sun June 10: Leinster Football Final, Ulster Football Final
Sat June 16: Hurling Qualifiers Round 1
Sun June 17: Football Qualifiers Round 4
Sun June 24: Munster Hurling Final,  Leinster Hurling Final
Sat June 30: Hurling Qualifiers Round 2

Sun July 1: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 1
Sat July 7: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 2
Sun July 8: All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-finals
July 14/15: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 3
July 21/22: All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals
July 28/29: All-Ireland Football Semi-Finals

August 4/5: Nothing*
August 12: All-Ireland Hurling final
August 26: All-Ireland Football final

*Hurling semi-finals will require a three week gap to the final as a two week gap could require a team play an All-Ireland final on its third week out in a row, if there was a semi-final replay.

You can still get replays even with extra-time in the football championship, and they will still happen.

[seafoid]

A sample calendar for the 2018 inter-county seson may look something like as follows:

*Hurling semi-finals will require a three week gap to the final as a two week gap could require a team play an All-Ireland final on its third week out in a row, if there was a semi-final replay.

You can still get replays even with extra-time in the football championship, and they will still happen.

April 8: NFL Final
10 April : US rounds up Muslims in internment camps
April 15: NHL Final

April 22: Provincial football preliminary rounds
April 27 : CNN shut down
April 29: Provincial football quarter-finals
May 5/6: Provincial football quarter finals, 1 Munster hurling quarter-final, New York State secedes from US
May 12/13: Provincial football quarter-finals/semi-finals, Leinster hurling quarter-finals, NRA declares war on New York Times
May 19/20: Provincial football semi-finals, 1 Munster Hurling semi-final, Football qualifiers Round 1
US declares tariffs of 100% on French products
May 26/27: Provincial football semi-finals,  1 Munster hurling semi-final

Sat June 2: Football qualifiers round 2, Leinster hurling semi-finals, RNC declares Trump president for life
Sun June 3: Munster Football Final, Connacht Football Final, Congress is burnt down
Sat June 9: Football Qualifiers Round 3 , US Government declares emergency powers
Sun June 10: Leinster Football Final, Ulster Football Final, Whitey admits Trump may be dangerous
Sat June 16: Hurling Qualifiers Round 1
Sun June 17: Football Qualifiers Round 4
Sun June 24: Munster Hurling Final,  Leinster Hurling Final, Mexico is attacked
Sat June 30: Hurling Qualifiers Round 2

Sun July 1: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 1, Tariffs of 150% are slapped on Chinese products
Sat July 7: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 2, Trump visits North Korea
Sun July 8: All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-finals Mexico war ends
July 14/15: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 3
July 21/22: All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals
July 28/29: All-Ireland Football Semi-Finals

August 4/5: Nothing* US launches nuclear war against the EU. 
August 12: All-Ireland Hurling final takes place online
August 26: All-Ireland Football final is cancelled

[sid waddell]

A sample calendar for the 2018 inter-county seson may look something like as follows:

*Hurling semi-finals will require a three week gap to the final as a two week gap could require a team play an All-Ireland final on its third week out in a row, if there was a semi-final replay.

You can still get replays even with extra-time in the football championship, and they will still happen.

April 8: NFL Final
10 April : US rounds up Muslims in internment camps
April 15: NHL Final

April 22: Provincial football preliminary rounds
April 27 : CNN shut down
April 29: Provincial football quarter-finals
May 5/6: Provincial football quarter finals, 1 Munster hurling quarter-final, New York State secedes from US
May 12/13: Provincial football quarter-finals/semi-finals, Leinster hurling quarter-finals, NRA declares war on New York Times
May 19/20: Provincial football semi-finals, 1 Munster Hurling semi-final, Football qualifiers Round 1
US declares tariffs of 100% on French products
May 26/27: Provincial football semi-finals,  1 Munster hurling semi-final

Sat June 2: Football qualifiers round 2, Leinster hurling semi-finals, RNC declares Trump president for life
Sun June 3: Munster Football Final, Connacht Football Final, Congress is burnt down
Sat June 9: Football Qualifiers Round 3 , US Government declares emergency powers
Sun June 10: Leinster Football Final, Ulster Football Final, Whitey admits Trump may be dangerous
Sat June 16: Hurling Qualifiers Round 1
Sun June 17: Football Qualifiers Round 4
Sun June 24: Munster Hurling Final,  Leinster Hurling Final, Mexico is attacked
Sat June 30: Hurling Qualifiers Round 2

Sun July 1: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 1, Tariffs of 150% are slapped on Chinese products
Sat July 7: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 2, Trump visits North Korea
Sun July 8: All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-finals Mexico war ends
July 14/15: All-Ireland Football Super 8 Round 3
July 21/22: All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals
July 28/29: All-Ireland Football Semi-Finals

August 4/5: Nothing* US launches nuclear war against the EU. 
August 12: All-Ireland Hurling final takes place online
August 26: All-Ireland Football final is cancelled

You're confusing a lot of 2017 events with 2018 there.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Not an exact poll or anything but notable how many intercounty players have spoken out against it on Twitter today. Some choice language used and all. Lot of frustration there.

[seafoid]

Not an exact poll or anything but notable how many intercounty players have spoken out against it on Twitter today. Some choice language used and all. Lot of frustration there.

Eg
https://twitter.com/JoeBrolly1993

[AZOffaly]

How does this make the championship better?

The media will be happy.  More games between the big guns to talk and write about.

I'm not against it to be honest but I think it's just change for changes sake.

[Zulu]

How does this make the championship better?

The media will be happy.  More games between the big guns to talk and write about.

I'm not against it to be honest but I think it's just change for changes sake.

AZ how do you make that out? You're a defender of the provincials so if you keep them hoe do we improve the format for teams? Are round robin within the provincials? This is far from perfect but it gives provincial winners a second chance, more big games at provincial venues and more high profile games involving the best teams. It doesn't solve all issues but I'm all ears if someone here has the solution.

[sid waddell]

I'd much rather have kept the All-Ireland finals in September, and neither am I a fan of the Super 8 concept, but I really don't get this thing about the changes being bad for clubs.

Each county declares that they will start their county championship no earlier than say, the last week in July. That gives ample time for counties to run off their county championships. Club players will have a much greater degree of certainty as regards when their championship campaign begins and can plan holidays accordingly. Even in Dublin, where championships likely still won't begin until the second week of September, it's ample time to run them off compared to this year.

The Dublin county championship actually proves that club championships are more exciting when run off in a short time frame, in my view.

[ONeill]

I think club players were hoping for something that does make a difference to them, not a pretend change that really doesn't affect the majority atall.

[AZOffaly]

How does this make the championship better?

The media will be happy.  More games between the big guns to talk and write about.

I'm not against it to be honest but I think it's just change for changes sake.

AZ how do you make that out? You're a defender of the provincials so if you keep them hoe do we improve the format for teams? Are round robin within the provincials? This is far from perfect but it gives provincial winners a second chance, more big games at provincial venues and more high profile games involving the best teams. It doesn't solve all issues but I'm all ears if someone here has the solution.

Come on Zulu.  This is popcorn. Big swinging micky. It's a cosmetic change to give more games between big teams.

And as such it is fine. But it's not structural reform.  And its not alleviating any pressures anywhere. In fact I can't see how this doesn't squeeze the accordion more.

I think this is the first step towarda champions league style tiered championships. Then the media partners can spend the entire summer talking about 8 teams and ignoring everyone else.


My preference is for seeded provincial championships based on league finish. And straight knockout

[Zulu]

How is this pretend change? I'm sick of hearing people complain but only want a solution that isn't even possible. We can't have a provincial championship and club and county players playing multiple age groups and two codes. That is the simple reality. Stop complaining and layout the solution rather than knock an imperfect solution.

[Syferus]

I'd much rather have kept the All-Ireland finals in September, and neither am I a fan of the Super 8 concept, but I really don't get this thing about the changes being bad for clubs.

Each county declares that they will start their county championship no earlier than say, the last week in July. That gives ample time for counties to run off their county championships. Club players will have a much greater degree of certainty as regards when their championship campaign begins and can plan holidays accordingly. Even in Dublin, where championships likely still won't begin until the second week of September, it's ample time to run them off compared to this year.

The Dublin county championship actually proves that club championships are more exciting when run off in a short time frame, in my view.

http://www.dublingaa.ie/competitions/results/107502

For someone talking about the greatness of the Dublin Superclub Championship you don't seem to know when it starts.

[AZOffaly]

I told you the solution I'd like.

Also I said I'm not against this I just think it's a sop to the media.

I think you are detached Zulu. Come home

[Zulu]

How does this make the championship better?

The media will be happy.  More games between the big guns to talk and write about.

I'm not against it to be honest but I think it's just change for changes sake.

AZ how do you make that out? You're a defender of the provincials so if you keep them hoe do we improve the format for teams? Are round robin within the provincials? This is far from perfect but it gives provincial winners a second chance, more big games at provincial venues and more high profile games involving the best teams. It doesn't solve all issues but I'm all ears if someone here has the solution.

Come on Zulu.  This is popcorn. Big swinging micky. It's a cosmetic change to give more games between big teams.

And as such it is fine. But it's not structural reform.  And its not alleviating any pressures anywhere. In fact I can't see how this doesn't squeeze the accordion more.

I think this is the first step towarda champions league style tiered championships. Then the media partners can spend the entire summer talking about 8 teams and ignoring everyone else.


My preference is for seeded provincial championships based on league finish. And straight knockout

What does that even mean? Lets say we accept your solution, and I don't, does that get through congress? This is an imperfect solution based on the parameters set by the counties. Is it not worth a go?

[sid waddell]

I'd much rather have kept the All-Ireland finals in September, and neither am I a fan of the Super 8 concept, but I really don't get this thing about the changes being bad for clubs.

Each county declares that they will start their county championship no earlier than say, the last week in July. That gives ample time for counties to run off their county championships. Club players will have a much greater degree of certainty as regards when their championship campaign begins and can plan holidays accordingly. Even in Dublin, where championships likely still won't begin until the second week of September, it's ample time to run them off compared to this year.

The Dublin county championship actually proves that club championships are more exciting when run off in a short time frame, in my view.

http://www.dublingaa.ie/competitions/results/107502

For someone talking about the greatness of the Dublin Superclub Championship you don't seem to know when it starts.

I know when the Dublin club championships begin, mate.

And the new system will give more time for them to be run off.