Is the earlier Championship a success or failure?

[seafoid]

The earlier championship is a culture war.
It's a long stretch to Christmas from the end of July .

Club football.

It's not everyone's cup of tea. I do like listening to club matches on Raidio na Gaeltachta but it will never be the same as the county in an all Ireland final.
The club won 3 all Irelands but I would remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

Then I would respectfully say that the likes of you should be well down the queue when it comes to prioritising the needs of those who follow the GAA.

There are plenty of counties who've never even been in an All Ireland final - so members and players in those counties wouldn't even be able to comprehend what you are talking about

They shouldn't be sacrificed in order to appease armchair 'supporters'.

People who follow county teams are not armchair supporters.
Where do you think the GAA's money comes from ?

[smort]

I never really get why people follow the county team before their club. There are a couple of in my own club who go to every county game going but wouldn't attend any club games or event

I'd say these people make up a tiny minority of gaa supporters

[clonadmad]

The earlier championship is a culture war.
It's a long stretch to Christmas from the end of July .

Club football.

It's not everyone's cup of tea. I do like listening to club matches on Raidio na Gaeltachta but it will never be the same as the county in an all Ireland final.
The club won 3 all Irelands but I would remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

So your club has won 3 Club All Ireland's and you remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

Sweet Jesus

[Blowitupref]

Away and shite

When those 4 counties are preparing for an AIF, approx 2000 clubs will be gearing up for and beginning their club championships

There are those out there for whom the first GAA face they see every week is Joanne Cantwell's, and with all due respect to those people, they shouldn't be given priority over the grass roots members and players

I feel that GAA people will follow GAA regardless

I present this board as my evidence

Currently, there's a World Cup going on and the egg ballers have just finished a very successful Autumn International series

The Ulster Club Football Championship thread somehow still managed to generate 70 pages of discussion

So even when the other 'rival' sports are presenting some of their showcase events, and the great county teams of Ireland are hardly even training, never mind playing, the GAA is still a draw for people

Mostly group stages of the club championship and a lot of club players opted for the overseas adventure than play in those early rounds.

[seafoid]

The earlier championship is a culture war.
It's a long stretch to Christmas from the end of July .

Club football.

It's not everyone's cup of tea. I do like listening to club matches on Raidio na Gaeltachta but it will never be the same as the county in an all Ireland final.
The club won 3 all Irelands but I would remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

So your club has won 3 Club All Ireland's and you remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

Sweet Jesus

I'm not from Laois. Between 1992 and 2015 Galway hurling clubs won 12 all Irelands. Between 1992 and now the county won 1 . An rud is annamh is iontach.

[AustinPowers]

I never really get why people follow the county team before their club. There are a couple of in my own club who go to every county game going but wouldn't attend any club games or event

I'd say these people make up a tiny minority of gaa supporters

Maybe  people who looked for  tickets for Garth Brooks should have have proven  they attended a certain number of smaller  country music concerts in the likes of  Castleblayney,  Athlone or Bundoran , before being allowed entry to the big Garth Brooks match in Croke Park?

[Franko]

The earlier championship is a culture war.
It's a long stretch to Christmas from the end of July .

Club football.

It's not everyone's cup of tea. I do like listening to club matches on Raidio na Gaeltachta but it will never be the same as the county in an all Ireland final.
The club won 3 all Irelands but I would remember those years in terms of how well the county did.

Then I would respectfully say that the likes of you should be well down the queue when it comes to prioritising the needs of those who follow the GAA.

There are plenty of counties who've never even been in an All Ireland final - so members and players in those counties wouldn't even be able to comprehend what you are talking about

They shouldn't be sacrificed in order to appease armchair 'supporters'.

People who follow county teams are not armchair supporters.
Where do you think the GAA's money comes from ?

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

[From the Bunker]

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

I used to be all snobby about the value of people to the GAA. I hated sunshine supporters, people who went to club finals, went to intercounty games only, but had no involvement or interest in the local club. I hated to see them (what i thought) undeserving of tickets etc. But there is no magic formula for fairness. And that goes down many levels in any club.

You see many people in an area drift in and out of the local GAA club. They drift in as a underage player, Senior Player, Mentor/coach, Parent and sometimes as a supporter. Most are only passing through when things are relevant for them . Every club have a core of Families who run the club. I know our local club has 7 or 8 families that are steeped in the club. They hold the power in the club and influence the standing of their children and grand children in the club. Blow-ins may join their inner circle for a while. But they move on as their connect to the club lessens.

[Rossfan]

I think you'll find the 3 or 4 big County games a year people make a good sized € to GAA coffers.
100,000 of them to 3 bigger games @say €30 average is €9m.
It's the hoors who sit at home and want every County game on free TV that get my goat. They're usually the same ones who'll be spouting about the "Grab All Association " etc.

[seafoid]

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

I used to be all snobby about the value of people to the GAA. I hated sunshine supporters, people who went to club finals, went to intercounty games only, but had no involvement or interest in the local club. I hated to see them (what i thought) undeserving of tickets etc. But there is no magic formula for fairness. And that goes down many levels in any club.

You see many people in an area drift in and out of the local GAA club. They drift in as a underage player, Senior Player, Mentor/coach, Parent and sometimes as a supporter. Most are only passing through when things are relevant for them . Every club have a core of Families who run the club. I know our local club has 7 or 8 families that are steeped in the club. They hold the power in the club and influence the standing of their children and grand children in the club. Blow-ins may join their inner circle for a while. But they move on as their connect to the club lessens.

The fortunes of clubs ebb and flow. Ballygunner got relegated in the 80s. Dunmore are intermediate. My club and Portumna are senior B. Teams come and go.
It's the same at county level. I remember when Longford beat Mayo. People will tend to follow success .

[shark]

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

I used to be all snobby about the value of people to the GAA. I hated sunshine supporters, people who went to club finals, went to intercounty games only, but had no involvement or interest in the local club. I hated to see them (what i thought) undeserving of tickets etc. But there is no magic formula for fairness. And that goes down many levels in any club.

You see many people in an area drift in and out of the local GAA club. They drift in as a underage player, Senior Player, Mentor/coach, Parent and sometimes as a supporter. Most are only passing through when things are relevant for them . Every club have a core of Families who run the club. I know our local club has 7 or 8 families that are steeped in the club. They hold the power in the club and influence the standing of their children and grand children in the club. Blow-ins may join their inner circle for a while. But they move on as their connect to the club lessens.

The fortunes of clubs ebb and flow. Ballygunner got relegated in the 80s. Dunmore are intermediate. My club and Portumna are senior B. Teams come and go.
It's the same at county level. I remember when Longford beat Mayo. People will tend to follow success .

It's not the same at county level. Not remotely.
A tiny village can win the all-Ireland club off the back of a generational player and a well timed supporting cast. As you say, they'll be back at their historic level again by the next generation. Caltra are an example from your own county.
A generational player isn't going to do that at county level. The gap is too wide. 

[seafoid]

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

I used to be all snobby about the value of people to the GAA. I hated sunshine supporters, people who went to club finals, went to intercounty games only, but had no involvement or interest in the local club. I hated to see them (what i thought) undeserving of tickets etc. But there is no magic formula for fairness. And that goes down many levels in any club.

You see many people in an area drift in and out of the local GAA club. They drift in as a underage player, Senior Player, Mentor/coach, Parent and sometimes as a supporter. Most are only passing through when things are relevant for them . Every club have a core of Families who run the club. I know our local club has 7 or 8 families that are steeped in the club. They hold the power in the club and influence the standing of their children and grand children in the club. Blow-ins may join their inner circle for a while. But they move on as their connect to the club lessens.

The fortunes of clubs ebb and flow. Ballygunner got relegated in the 80s. Dunmore are intermediate. My club and Portumna are senior B. Teams come and go.
It's the same at county level. I remember when Longford beat Mayo. People will tend to follow success .

It's not the same at county level. Not remotely.
A tiny village can win the all-Ireland club off the back of a generational player and a well timed supporting cast. As you say, they'll be back at their historic level again by the next generation. Caltra are an example from your own county.
A generational player isn't going to do that at county level. The gap is too wide.

Club is about how good your weakest players are.
County needs fruiting plantations in several parishes simultaneously eg Offaly hurlers in the 90s. Plus some dirt. And belief.

But teams do ebb and flow at county level too. It happens in all sports imo.

[Eire90]

if inter county and club championships are played at same time  would that mean that there would be barely any national media coverage on club matches.

[Armagh18]

if inter county and club championships are played at same time  would that mean that there would be barely any national media coverage on club matches.

why would clubs play championship without their best players

[shark]

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what they are.

The funding provided by the "4 county games a year" brigade would be fairly negligible.

And although somewhat intangible, it absolutely pales in comparison to the contributions to the association of the thousands of club players and volunteers.

So my advice to you would be to take your money and watch Man Utd and Leinster all you like.  Don't kid yourself - the association will be absolutely fine without you.

It'll probably be a help actually, as when the big games roll round, some of those deserving folks will be better able to get a ticket.

You and the other armchair lads will love Old Trafford.

I used to be all snobby about the value of people to the GAA. I hated sunshine supporters, people who went to club finals, went to intercounty games only, but had no involvement or interest in the local club. I hated to see them (what i thought) undeserving of tickets etc. But there is no magic formula for fairness. And that goes down many levels in any club.

You see many people in an area drift in and out of the local GAA club. They drift in as a underage player, Senior Player, Mentor/coach, Parent and sometimes as a supporter. Most are only passing through when things are relevant for them . Every club have a core of Families who run the club. I know our local club has 7 or 8 families that are steeped in the club. They hold the power in the club and influence the standing of their children and grand children in the club. Blow-ins may join their inner circle for a while. But they move on as their connect to the club lessens.

The fortunes of clubs ebb and flow. Ballygunner got relegated in the 80s. Dunmore are intermediate. My club and Portumna are senior B. Teams come and go.
It's the same at county level. I remember when Longford beat Mayo. People will tend to follow success .

It's not the same at county level. Not remotely.
A tiny village can win the all-Ireland club off the back of a generational player and a well timed supporting cast. As you say, they'll be back at their historic level again by the next generation. Caltra are an example from your own county.
A generational player isn't going to do that at county level. The gap is too wide.

Club is about how good your weakest players are.
County needs fruiting plantations in several parishes simultaneously eg Offaly hurlers in the 90s. Plus some dirt. And belief.

But teams do ebb and flow at county level too. It happens in all sports imo.

Club is absolutely not about how good your weakest players are. And that's what makes it different. There have been many all-Ireland club winners who have carried lads who wouldn't get in an assess roar of a well balanced club team like Crokes or Ballyhale. You can win in different ways.
Team don't ebb and flow at county level in anywhere close to the same level. There are counties that have never been anywhere close to the top, and there are counties that have never been away from it.
Club level - take your own county again. The 5 football clubs with the most championships in Galway. Only 1 of them has won a championship in the past 25 years. That's ebb and flow. Now do Kerry and Dublin. Yaaawn.
Also "Dirt and Belief"? Try money. I've been involved in 2 intercounty senior setups in the not so distant past. One with money , one without. The difference was ridiculous. They may as well be playing different sports.
The club game beats it every day of the week.