'Splitting into two groups of 16 is inevitable for football'

Started by seafoid, May 21, 2017, 12:22:44 PM

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Captain Obvious

#150
Niall Carew has voiced his opposition to the introduction of an All-Ireland 'B' football championship.

In an interview with the Irish News, the Sligo manager didn't mince his words when saying: "It would be an absolute disaster.

"You'd be able to count at the Lory Meagher, Nicky Rackard Cup and Christy Ring finals at Croke Park last weekend. Nobody covers those games. The Sunday Game would cover it the first year, just for the craic, but I guarantee you in two or three years' time it'll be the top eight and that's the way it'll be.

"The thing is a 'B' championship wouldn't work. All you have to do is look at the hurling. Teams are getting worse. Anyone who has played at any level knows the more often you play the top teams, the better you'll get.

"You can see what's happened since the Ulster hurling champions no longer qualify for the All-Ireland series. You had Antrim, Derry and Down - three counties who were able to compete.

"Once you stop playing at that level, you're just going to disappear, literally. That's what happened to Ulster hurling; they're not competitive enough."


ardtole

Id argue that Laois, Meath, Westmeath, Carlow and Kerry have improved. Antrim, Offaly, Down and Derry have dropped back, so have their football teams as well. Prehaps Gaa as a whole in Ulster is in a period of decline or stagnation at best.

lenny

Quote from: Captain Obvious on June 16, 2017, 08:19:48 PM
Niall Carew has voiced his opposition to the introduction of an All-Ireland 'B' football championship.

In an interview with the Irish News, the Sligo manager didn't mince his words when saying: "It would be an absolute disaster.

"You'd be able to count at the Lory Meagher, Nicky Rackard Cup and Christy Ring finals at Croke Park last weekend. Nobody covers those games. The Sunday Game would cover it the first year, just for the craic, but I guarantee you in two or three years' time it'll be the top eight and that's the way it'll be.

"The thing is a 'B' championship wouldn't work. All you have to do is look at the hurling. Teams are getting worse. Anyone who has played at any level knows the more often you play the top teams, the better you'll get.

"You can see what's happened since the Ulster hurling champions no longer qualify for the All-Ireland series. You had Antrim, Derry and Down - three counties who were able to compete.

"Once you stop playing at that level, you're just going to disappear, literally. That's what happened to Ulster hurling; they're not competitive enough."

His argument doesn't make any sense. You can't say those counties playing in the meagher, rackard and ring aren't getting big crowds watching them now without comparing it with the crowds they used to get in the old system. My info is only hearsay but from what I hear Derry get a lot more spectators now in the ring or rackard than they ever used to get. The crowds are still small but because the games are meaningful and they have a realistic chance of winning something the numbers watching have gone up.

didlyi

On a side note, it was an utter disgrace that the Christy Ring final was not televised this year. These finals have been fantastic entertainment over the last few years.

Syferus

Quote from: didlyi on June 16, 2017, 09:40:23 PM
On a side note, it was an utter disgrace that the Christy Ring final was not televised this year. These finals have been fantastic entertainment over the last few years.

That they're not tells you the getto some fools are considering driving football into.

Zulu

Stop talking bollocks Syferus, if that's possible of course. The Christy Ring wasn't shown because most people aren't bothered about watching it. Your local junior team might be involved in great matches every week but they don't show them on national TV.

What getto are you talking about? What Narnia are 'these fools' trying to remove Waterford, Antrim, Leitrim, Limerick, Wicklow, Carlow etc, from? Have the current structures served these counties well?

Syferus

Quote from: Zulu on June 16, 2017, 09:52:22 PM
Stop talking bollocks Syferus, if that's possible of course. The Christy Ring wasn't shown because most people aren't bothered about watching it. Your local junior team might be involved in great matches every week but they don't show them on national TV.

What getto are you talking about? What Narnia are 'these fools' trying to remove Waterford, Antrim, Leitrim, Limerick, Wicklow, Carlow etc, from? Have the current structures served these counties well?

What are you going to do about Dublin's €1.5 million euro in grants Zulu, or do you only talk about nonsense format changes?

Rossfan

Senior/Inter/Junior A I Championships with peomotion/relegation.
Provincials as now everyone enters.
Some kind of a League

The bottom 16 or more hurling teams never had many going to see them for over 100 years.
Carew's team aren't going to win Sam or give it a rattle.
Davy's given us a dream to cling to
We're going to bring home the SAM

Catch and Kick

Lory Meagher Cup is a hurling competition among counties that do not take hurling serious; most of them have 1 or 2 clubs to select from. Rackard Cup teams are not much better. You cannot compare these county teams with the bottom 16 football counties.
Bottom 16 counties know their ranking through the league and for long term development that is where they need to progress. They do not need to meet each other in a duplicate competition.
The Championship structure needs to change - it currently favours the strong who avail of the second chance afforded through the Qualifiers. 'Super 8s' (what a name) will only strengthen them further.
Bring it back to a knock out competition and the magic will return!
If you want to give counties more games, consider doing it in the league; maybe a double round system, home and away. Also think about playing it in the summer.

Rossfan

Quote from: Catch and Kick on June 17, 2017, 11:45:54 AM

Bring it back to a knock out competition and the magic will return!


16 Counties will get 1 game and then disappear - is that the magic??
Davy's given us a dream to cling to
We're going to bring home the SAM