Football Qualifiers 2014

[Syferus]

The qualifier system favours the big teams. What's the point in the Louth's, Leitrims even taking part anymore ?. Change is needed.

Louth were a D2 team for years?!

[orangeman]

The qualifier system favours the big teams. What's the point in the Louth's, Leitrims even taking part anymore ?. Change is needed.

Louth were a D2 team for years?!

We need a system that reflects where teams are at currently. Call it two tier or whatever but ask Leitrim etc if they enjoy the current system. The system serves well the bigger teams.

[Syferus]

The qualifier system favours the big teams. What's the point in the Louth's, Leitrims even taking part anymore ?. Change is needed.

Louth were a D2 team for years?!

We need a system that reflects where teams are at currently. Call it two tier or whatever but ask Leitrim etc if they enjoy the current system. The system serves well the bigger teams.

Leitrim enjoy Connacht plenty. They can't keep their panel together after they get knocked out of it most years. A b-tier competition wouldn't change that, sure lads left before they even knew who they were playing.

[orangeman]

The qualifier system favours the big teams. What's the point in the Louth's, Leitrims even taking part anymore ?. Change is needed.

Louth were a D2 team for years?!

We need a system that reflects where teams are at currently. Call it two tier or whatever but ask Leitrim etc if they enjoy the current system. The system serves well the bigger teams.

Leitrim enjoy Connacht plenty. They can't keep their panel together after they get knocked out of it most years. A n-tier competition wouldn't change that, sure lads left before they even knew who they were playing.

Dessie Dolan was saying Leitrim just can't keep them together. There has to be a better way.

[imtommygunn]

The Tommy Murphy cup wasn't the solution. The question really would be why does there need to be a solution?

Maybe have a vote up front among teams(not after they see a draw) and they can "opt out" of qualifiers??

[Syferus]

The Tommy Murphy cup wasn't the solution. The question really would be why does there need to be a solution?

Maybe have a vote up front among teams(not after they see a draw) and they can "opt out" of qualifiers??

What team would dare not even play? It would be a sham.

[WT4E]

Whats the crack with the A and B shite. Is the draw seeded or something now?

[armaghniac]

Whats the crack with the A and B shite. Is the draw seeded or something now?

Hallo! Welcome to 2014.

[imtommygunn]

The Tommy Murphy cup wasn't the solution. The question really would be why does there need to be a solution?

Maybe have a vote up front among teams(not after they see a draw) and they can "opt out" of qualifiers??

What team would dare not even play? It would be a sham.

Well based on all the flak they're getting - Leitrim!

There's nothing wrong with the qualifiers as they are in my view. If teams at that level want to win stuff then they have leagues they can win.

The fixture calendar is bad enough without more congestion on it.

[Maroon Manc]

I'd like to see a change in how the championship is structured as I'd like to see far more competitive games throughout the summer.

I'd be in favour in limiting the championship to 16 teams split into 4 groups of 4. Everyone plays each other home and away. Top team in each group goes into a semi final or the top 2 qualify for a quarter final with home advantage for the group winner. The bottom team in each group would play in a  relegation play off against each other with 2 teams to get relegated.

Similar setup to get promoted into the championship with both finalists would gain entry into the championship.

Every county has at least 6 games and something to play for.

It depends on what you want out of the Championship though, I want to see far more competitive games and this is one way to ensure it.

[Catch and Kick]

The simple truth of the matter is that the GAA structures favour the strong. The Qualifiers are a GAA solution to a simple problem. As usual it's complicated and panders to the every exception to every rule.
There is only one way to run any competition in sport - every team must have the same progression path to the Final.

In times gone by the Provincial title was the only route to the All Ireland. And despite the unequal numbers in the provinces it was fairer - you had to win your own province to proceed and the provincial title in it's own right was a coveted prize.

If the GAA were truly democratic the All ireland series would be either open draw or champions league style. End of story.

As regards counties like the Division 4 teams, indeed maybe all teams outside of the top 12 or so; terrible damage is being done by the constant appointment of outside managers resulting in no development of internal coaches and knowledge.
The counties who are doing best generally have local managers with passion and have structures that ensure the best players are encouraged and want to play for their county.

Unfortunately some of our County Board officers, who have the power and responsibility, are so out of their depth it's not funny.

[thewobbler]

We've been through this 100 times before.

I'd propose that any thoughts or proposals on reshaping the competitions, have to first address these issues:

1. It's not possible for 32 teams to be competitive, in any sport. Therefore giving every team multiple chances to exit and return, is little more than prolonging a competition for the sake of it, and has a negative impact on competitiveness and spectator interest.

2. Until such times as county players can gain "elite" status, thereby allowing them to step aside from club/university/underage championship demands without fear of demonisation, then it's just not practical to remodel county competitions to create more games at that level.

[thewobbler]

Unfortunately some of our County Board officers, who have the power and responsibility, are so out of their depth it's not funny.

I find it a bit disturbing that you'd lay the blame at the feet of county board officers. They may have influence, but they do not actually have control.

[Catch and Kick]

The All Ireland series has to be open to all counties to enter. It's the ALL Ireland. There are plenty of tournaments with 32 teams that are competitive.

[Catch and Kick]

County Board officers are the leaders in all counties. The Executive usually gets it's own way. Unless it has real leaders who are above club politics it gets bogged down and we end up with no direction, no vision and no ambition. This is especially true in counties with no tradition of success, thanks to the lob sided nature of GAA competitions.