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Friday 6th May for start of League. 5 starred games to start Senior and Intermediate then it breaks until County players become available. Junior may continue as no County players involved in this league.

Even the most pessimistic of supporters would assume that Tyrone will make it to at least the AI QF on 25th/26th June. Would it not make more sense to play the starred games from 27th May to 24th June?  I think the aim should be to minimise the long mid season break in the club season.

I would expect Tyrone to reach AI semi at least on 9th/10th July.  If the league starts on 9th May (and is ran off in consecutive weeks), in all likelihood it looks like a minimum 6 week break for club players and possibly 8 weeks if Tyrone get to AI final. Whereas a later league start means only max 4 week break, And also gives club players a few extra weeks in early May to go on holiday when its actually warm somewhere other than the canary Islands 

Sure let's have 8 leagues of 6...sure "level it up even more".

Greencastle will enjoy playing senior football regardless. Great achievement. Theyre a better side than Derrylaughan or pomeroy who they replace. And there isnt  much between them and likes of eglish/pomeroy/galbally who went down!

Sure in a 4 x 12 league you'd have killyclogher/ coalisland in relegation zone and playing the likes of kildress/clogher/gortin the following year.

There's nothing inherently wrong with 16 team leagues. Id say theyre all as competitive as anywhere. Only argument for 12 team leagues is for more games (22 home and away) which could also appease some clubs as it will have effect of diluting the impact of starred games on final table while keeping club players active during county season

Why are Edendork conceding games left right and centre? An absolute disgrace for a senior club.
Surely there should be some sanctions for conceding so often in the same season!
Embarrassing.

If only playing 11 league games a year is the answer then count me out. I'll go and play soccer - my local team play 40 games a season.

Just curious - what local soccer league arranges to have their clubs play close to 40 games a season (assuming there are at least two cup competitions to play for)?

In mid ulster leagues there's 30 league games plus at intermediate level there's 5-6 cups so assuming you get through a round or 2 in a few of them you have 40 games.

Now I'm not suggesting that many games at GAA club level but there are certainly not enough games as it is so to suggest only playing 11 league games is madness. I really do think you'd lose a lot of lads to other sports. The training / games ratio is barely enjoyable as it is.

December, January and February would be all that most club players would want, players love playing and training you know, that's why most of them do it! If they know they have them 3 months off then they can go and plan things for those 3 months.

Going forward I think the coming season will be used to get the split right for the 4 division plan that was passed at county committee level and would have been in now only for covid. When that comes in it's 4 divisions of 12, each team plays 22 league games (play each team home and away), 11 starred which will be played while county season is ongoing and 11 unstarred which will go from mid July and be wrapped up before championship. I think the starred games should be weighted points wise (I.e 2 for winning a starred game and 3 for an unstarred game) but either way plenty of games from the start of May with championship in late Sept to mid November and 3+ months break after that, will be a great system

Surely that 4x12 system isn't required now with the split season at National level? I assume there's been no mention of it because the idea's been dropped.

It was only suggested to deal with the circumstances at the time, which have now changed.

I would have thought all the more reason for it with split season. The big problem that turned up in the survey and workshops that all players done at that time was not enough games so it's a no brainier

Will there be 11 weekends to finish the league before starting the club championship when the AI club is going to finish in the Calendar year? If there is then the 4 x 12s would be a great system.

I have heard that after this season, the county players are not prepared to allow anymore starred fixtures. Understandable when you consider there is possibly 9 county players relegated to Division 2 for 2022 (Eglish 1, Pomeroy 3, Galbally 2, Edendork 3), with the 9 starred games surely a massive factor .

If true that the All-Ireland Final is last week of July, and the club split season is introduced properly, organise the league cups as "pre-season" during June and July (Clubs to opt in/out). Reintroduce the 4 x 12 divisions, playing each team once so 11 league fixtures, beginning the 1st weekend in August (Latest start date – Depending on Tyrone).

If starred fixtures remain, the 1st 11 rounds can be played prior to Tyrone exiting the Championship, so starting early May, which still includes 2 week summer break.

Top in Division 1B, 2 and 3 would be promoted, to Division 1A, 1B and 2 respectively.
Bottom 2 in Division 1A, 1B and 2 would be relegated to Division 1B, 2 and 3 respectively.

The Championship would be dictated by your previous seasons finish so made up as follows:
•   Senior - 12 Division 1A teams & top 4 Division 1B (Including Senior & Intermediate Champions)
•   Intermediate – Bottom 8 Division 1B & top 8 Division 2 (Including Junior Champions)
•   Junior – Bottom 4 Division 2 & all Division 3

Using previous seasons league finish to dictate championship grade will also ensure the competitive nature of league football in Division 1B and 2 at least. Without introducing seeding, or playoffs, it is hard to implement the competitive nature for Division 1A and 3.

There is a serious gulf in talent between the top 8-12 teams in Tyrone club football with the rest of the county.
Reintroducing the 4 x 12 Divisions allows the top 8-12 to battle it out amongst each other in the league, with less cricket scores, whilst also allowing weaker teams to find their own standard at Division 1B, 2 or 3 and have the opportunity to enter the Championship in the Grade above.

11 League Games & Championship – Start League 1st weekend in August and finish last weekend November
22 League Games & Championship – Start League 1st weekend in May and finish last weekend November

If only playing 11 league games a year is the answer then count me out. I'll go and play soccer - my local team play 40 games a season. The 15 league games and 1 championship game is the absolute minimum. Any less than that and it is completely pointless.

Of course clubs don't want to be without their county players and our club is no different, however there needs a balance. Current 9 starred games is too many. But if we can agree on 3 or 4 to get the clubs season going before August that would have to be the small sacrifice paid.

I do like thought of 22 league games but not sure how that would work. Would need mid week games to have any hope.

As I understand it the AI final will be in or around 18th of July going forward.

I think it would be unfair to expect clubs to wait until 25th July for their first game.

A sensible approach would be pencil in say 4-5 starred games beginning middle of June. That means a fair balance between the burden on likes of Edendork / Pomeroy of starred games, while also maximising club games during the summer months. If Tyrone have a bad year then it could end up that clubs have very few games without their county players.

Potentially 2 months until club season starts. Would be nice to know pretty soon. Normally clubs have 3 months pre-season. Also dont see any reason for a shortened season!? If this is how its going to be going forward then fit the games in. If you gave club Feb - June (21 weeks) that should be enough time to get 15 league games plus playoffs and 4 championship rounds.

In saying that i dont see why the clubs should go first. Much more participation at club level and therefore more risk of covid spreading. I think it should be second half of year this year anyway.

Any idea when the 2021 ulster championship draw is?

Its nothing to do with the GAA what lads do with their free time in a public park.
If anyone is training in group of more than 10, not socially distancing in a public park then its an issue for the law. Again nothing to do with the GAA.
What a clown.

Fair point if someone is training their fitness in a public park. But as mentioned by someone else above having Gaelic footballs in use and managers their would be enough evidence to suggest some form of GAA coaching was going on. Plus video and photo evidence would suggest not much social distancing.So in fact has something to do with GAA.

Now youre dictating what type of balls they can use. Cant make this up 😂😂 

As i said if they were doing contact training then thats not on. But i really cant imagine anyone to be that stupid. If theres evidence lets have it...

Its nothing to do with the GAA what lads do with their free time in a public park.
If anyone is training in group of more than 10, not socially distancing in a public park then its an issue for the law. Again nothing to do with the GAA.
What a clown.

Correct me if im wrong, but im fairly certain groups of 10 are allowed to train outside as long as social distancing is adhered to. Plenty of gyms doing outdoor classes. GAA grounds are closed so if a group of 10 lads want to do fitness work together at a public park then what is the problem or am i missing something?
Unless of course they were contact training? In which case that is an issue and would be wreckless behaviour.

Good stuff..still would like a competition for those clubs that exit championship in first 2 rounds to get a few extra games. But beggars cant be choosers.

Just wondering how this will tie in with the proposed league restructure next year or is that being shelved?

Option 1 all the way

[It's a global pandemic never seen before in our lifetime - let's just get on with it]

Wonder how they'll work the league. To get 15 league games in plus 4 championship games...youd need to basically play 2 games a week to get it played in 31 July - 11th October window.

Think the league bes played in a different format. Perhaps taking the form of the Jim Devlin league cups that used to be played.

Play each division in 4 groups of 4. 3 games each. Top 4 into semis, bottom 4 into relegation semis. 4 to 5 weeks to sort out ur league finalists and relegation.

Teams well warmed up for knock out champo played over 6 weeks or so.

Finish season with 3 league finals.

So some teams only get 4 games if they finish mid table in their group and lose 1st round of championship?
There's 11 club weeks. I think a minimum of 8 games (if not 10) should be played in order to keep players motivated. Split league in 2, play everyone once =7 games. Then  play championship with a backdoor. = 2 games. 9 games total.

Also could be a few issues if leagues are split and CCC wants to go ahead with next years league restructure.

Yes some teams only get 4 games but I think whatever format it takes we need to get over the attitude of complaining about everything.

It's a global pandemic never seen before in our lifetime - let's just get on with it

Agree, we're doing well to even be here. It's great to be focusing in again.

Louth GAA released their plans, I don't expect too much change really in and around any county. Championship as in normal, will be settled on day however. Regional League with no promotion or relegation. We can't really ask for much more considering the time frames involved.

No-ones complaining here. Such a defensive attitude WT4E - who made you the authority on all this. 

Football careers are too short, and as someone approaching the end i want to pay as many games as possible. If there's an 11 week window should aim to  maximise the number of games within reason. Why restrict it to 4 games. At the end of the day players want to play.

i think LeoMacs alternative of a secondary competition if you lose 1st /2nd round of championship is a good one. Few extra games for all.

Also Saturday games just to get a few pints when lockdown eventually ends - but not precious on this!

Bit more thought needed for that one but you get the idea - we need more games somehow! 😂

Thats derrys system --->

The 16 clubs all played in the first round.

In the second round winners section the eight winning teams from round one played against each other with the four winners going straight into the quarter-finals.
In the second round losers section the eight beaten teams from round one played against each other.
In round three (also referred to as the quarter-final qualifiers) the four beaten teams from the round two winners section played the four winning teams from the round two losers section.I
In the quarter-finals the four teams who won their first two matches in rounds one and two played the four winners of round three.The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final were knock-out.