Was Div 1 really that strong after all

[Maguire01]

Exactly Timmy - the restructuring of the leagues meant that the divisions this year meant relatively little.  In fact, with only 2 teams promoted form each division and 2 going down, it will probably take 2/3 years for it to settle down so that you can reliably class teams as per their division.

[billy the kid]

I agree that the way the divisions were sorted out last year was far from ideal and gave a very false look on some teams positions eg. Fermanagh, Down dropping to div3 but i think this year has evened it up about right apart from maybe Down in Div 3 Although they were poor in the league at times so maybe deserve to be where they are at in the league, and the divisions for next year will be a fairer reflection on where teams are really at in league terms.

As regards it settling down in 2/3 years I dont see how anything will settle down in 2/3 years with 4 divisions with 2 up 2 down between each. Teams are up and down all the time year after year and this will result in promotions and relegations.

This wil be a more common scenario among middle teir teams who are jockeying about position in div 2/3 most of the time with brief flirtations with div 1 in a generation and some with the ass falling out of the cart and staring div 4 in the face at times.  True Div 1 teams like Galway Kerry and Tyrone (forgive me God) will rarely if ever leave the top flight and true div 4 teams like Carlow, London and Antrim will rarely if ever experience anything else but the mind numbing fare thats on offer in that life. 

[Lazer]

True Div 1 teams like Galway Kerry and Tyrone (forgive me God) will rarely if ever leave the top flight and true div 4 teams like Carlow, London and Antrim will rarely if ever experience anything else but the mind numbing fare thats on offer in that life. 

Out of the 3 true Division one team mentioned, Kerry is the only on that deserves to be mentioned, although Galway more deserved of it than Tyrone. Where were they before 2000? A team that has won 2 All Ireland Finals and both recently cannot be described as true division one team.

[orangeman]

The minnows can always raise their game for a one off game - but week in week out is a more accurate reflection of how good the team is -


Is it time we introduced a league basis for the championship, like the premiership

[DUBSFORSAM1]

The minnows can always raise their game for a one off game - but week in week out is a more accurate reflection of how good the team is -


Is it time we introduced a league basis for the championship, like the premiership

Absolutely not - The great thing about the championship is that it isn't a league and gives teams a better chance

[Armaghtothebone]

The minnows can always raise their game for a one off game - but week in week out is a more accurate reflection of how good the team is -


Is it time we introduced a league basis for the championship, like the premiership

Absolutely not - The great thing about the championship is that it isn't a league and gives teams a better chance

Never has so much rubbish ben said in one sentence.

A better chance of what?
Which teams are given the better chance?
How is this better chance actually given?

What chance did it give Antrim?
What chance did it give Wicklow?
As for Clare,Tipp,Limerick and Waterford their chances were what?

If it was'nt for the vested interests of the provincial councils we'd have been rid of the farce that is "The Provincial Championships" years ago.
Munster 2 teams every year
Connaught 2 teams damn near every year
Leinster 3 maybe 4 teams with an occaisonal surprise every few years
Ulster 2 teams for the last 9 years ( and it's the most open championsip)

Time to ......
1) SCRAP THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sure dont the winners say after the final every year  " Aye it was nice to win but it's really only preparation for the Championsip"?
Played on boggy pitches in the rain with a much higher chance of injury to players.

2) SCRAP THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
We actually play 2 provincial tournaments every year. McKenna Cup, O'Byrne cup etc.
Same old rivalries year in year out usually with the same results

3)COMBINE THE LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE TOMMY MURPHY CUP
4 groups of 8 teams drawn at random (Seed 2 or even 4 teams if necessary)
Each team is then guaranteed 7 "championsip"  games every season.
Top 4 teams from each group go into All Ireland Quarter Finals
Bottom 4 teams in each group go into Tommy Murphy Quarter Finals
Reward group winners with game against a forth placed team in the quarter finals

THE BENEFITS
All teams start on the same footing (no disrespect but I suspect that Kerry are still in pre season mode)
One bad day in June does'nt end a season
Every team in the Quarter Finals will have played the same number of games.
The GAA gets bigger gates
The "weaker" teams get to play at the top level at least 7 times


I appreciate that there will be mismatches and "dead games" but would that be much different from the current system?

The CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE     you know it makes sense
   
 

[Maguire01]

If it was'nt for the vested interests of the provincial councils we'd have been rid of the farce that is "The Provincial Championships" years ago.
Munster 2 teams every year
Connaught 2 teams damn near every year
Leinster 3 maybe 4 teams with an occaisonal surprise every few years
Ulster 2 teams for the last 9 years ( and it's the most open championsip)

Munster - Yes, admittedly a disaster
Connacht - All 5 teams have won the provincial championship in the past 15 years, 4 of them in the last 10 years.
Leinster - 6 different winners since 2007
Ulster - Yes, 2 team in the last 9 years, but 7 of the 9 counties have won in the last 20 years - these things come in cycles and Tyrone and Armagh won't stay at the top forever

2) SCRAP THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
We actually play 2 provincial tournaments every year. McKenna Cup, O'Byrne cup etc.
Same old rivalries year in year out usually with the same results

The same old rivalries is what makes them so appealing!  As for the same results year in year out, just look at Monaghan last year (v Down and Derry), Fermanagh this year (v Monaghan and Derry), Monaghan in 2003 (v Armagh, then AI champions), Cavan in 1997, Down v Tyrone this year.....

THE BENEFITS
All teams start on the same footing (no disrespect but I suspect that Kerry are still in pre season mode)
One bad day in June does'nt end a season
Every team in the Quarter Finals will have played the same number of games.
The GAA gets bigger gates
The "weaker" teams get to play at the top level at least 7 times

How will the GAA get bigger gates? If you draw teams at opposite ends of the country, attendances will take a massive hit.  At what stage do you start playing at neural venues?  Even then, what would the crowds be like?