Is it time for the Provincially-based Football All-Irelands to be scrapped?

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Just to get a handle on the volume of sentiments (as expressed elsewhere on the board).

The only absolutely fair way for All-Ireland winners to be determined, IMHO, is for every team who reach the same stage in a competition to have played an identical number of games (replays excluded). Whether that be eight groups of four (league based leading to 4 quarter-final pairings), or four groups of eight (league based leading to 2 semi-final pairings), or whatever, can be thrashed out, but the rubicon must be crossed in the first instance and the Provincials must be ditched as an integral part of the All-Ireland.

That's not to say, however, that the Provincials themselves would be ditched -- they would retain a status as competitions in their own right, to be run over a suitable period of the season, perhaps at the expense of the current NFL set-up.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

What are the 'Others' follks, i.e., if whomsoever voted for 'Other' could explain please? Ta.

[orangeman]

I think we needa chamions league type set up - but that won't make any money - people won't go to matches thatv aren't competitive.So it won't happen.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Not sure om, and that would come under an unseeded/seeded open draw. Sure, some ties would be non-events perhaps (and maybe that could be avoided to some extent by restricting to a top N), but others would be surefire crowd-pullers. Would be/could be no worse than the current set-up.

[Croí na hÉireann]

I'd go for Champions League style, 8 groups, a team from each NFL division in each group. Get rid of the O'Byrne Cups and start the NFL earlier. Run the provincial championships on alternating weekends to the group games. This might see the big guns focus on the groups and would give the weaker counties a better chance at provincial level. First and second in the groups compete in the last 16 for the Sam Maguire, third and fourth compete for the Tommy Murphy.

[Lecale2]

If you really want a level playing field make Kerry & Kilkenny play in DM boots with leg irons!

[jodyb]

Geography is the big issue. Very few people are gonna travel to the other end of the country for league type games. The only way it would work is if the groups were based on geography rather than standard. If Kerry had to play wexford and Laois every year, for example  they'd still win their group regularly, but it would make it a bit more of a competition

[his holiness nb]

Leave it be, all this shite talk about munster and Leinster being the weakest and easist provinces yet we had all 4 semi finalists.

Its alright as it is.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Geography is the big issue. Very few people are gonna travel to the other end of the country for league type games...

The only certainty here is that more people would travel for league type games that are an integral part of the Championship than are currently travelling for league only games that aren't. Ergo, what's evidently viable now could only be more viable in a revised system.

[Uladh]

Other

Seeded champions league type format. 8 groups of 4

[orangeman]

Geography is the key - Cork fans won;t go to say Derry etcetc etc

[Tyrone Dreamer]

The only way I think a league type system would work is if the championship was split into two. 16 in the all ireland championship and 16 in the b championship. There could be 2 up 2 down each year. Its the only way all the league games would be interesting whether it be 4 4's or 2 8's. Would create decent public interest with the best teams in the country meeting each week during the summer. Cant see it ever happening though with the weaker counties going mad. Suppose you could play the b championship slightly earlier with the winners going into a playoff with one of the teams 8 teams in the main championship who were through to the last 8. Actually think it would make for a good championship with all teams playing at their own level and everyone still having a chance of winning the main all ireland.

[Gnevin]

It was a poor end to a poor championship and no manner of messing around with formats will prevent this from happening .

[Tankie]

we have to go open draw, there are only two decent provincial champsd anyway (leinster and Ulster). Munster is just a joke at this stage and Galway v Mayo aint much better.

[From the Bunker]

In the championship there has to be the minor prizes to aim for.....ie PROVINCIAL titles- Sligo this year and Westmeath in 2004 value this silverware and I'm sure there are 20 other counties that appreciate winning their Provincial title. Geographically open draw from the start would and could be a nightmare travelling and would also mean straight knock out.....No back door. The Problem with our present system is that no matter how bad kerry are at the begining of the year they are never more than 3 games from an All-Ireland final whereas 3 games will only get an Ulster team to an Ulster final.