Quote from: Blowitupref on May 01, 2024, 03:31:42 PMQuote from: twohands!!! on May 01, 2024, 03:20:41 PMQuote from: Blowitupref on May 01, 2024, 02:26:14 PMQuote from: twohands!!! on May 01, 2024, 11:52:19 AMQuote from: seafoid on May 01, 2024, 11:25:58 AMThe last rr - pre qf- qf
is the killer
I wonder how many first seeds will win their qf . Will it be 3/4 like last year ?
You would have to assume 4/4 would be the standard every year for the group winners making it the the semis.
This would have been the case last year only for Monaghan's penalty win over Armagh.
I wouldn't be surprised if 3/4 would be the usual most years for the first seeds in as regards making the semis. I think most years you've a very decent chance of one of the Ulster teams turning over one of the other provincial winners.
As you said the the preliminary quarter-finals route with 3 games in 3 weekends looks like an absolute death-trap of a route towards Sam. It's very hard to see a team winning Sam through that route.
Yes would expect that to be the case until such time that all Quarter finalists are given at least two weeks prep time. If we get another 3 Quarter final mis-matches this year as we did last year then HQ need to tweak it.
I don't think there is any chance that all the quarter-finalists are going to be given two weeks prep time for a fair while yet (think 10 years or so).
If you give the four preliminary quarter-finalists two weeks, you would need to give the group winners three weeks (assuming you did't stagger the groups) which would tilt the advantage of winning the group a fair bit away from the group winners. I don't think the powers that be want to reduce the benefit of winning the group/increase the odds for the teams coming 2nd and 3rd in the group.
Even if you were to play around with the timing and stagger the group stages to give all four quarter-finalist two weeks, it would lead to a situation whereby you gave some sides three weeks and some two at a later stage which I think the powers-that be would consider a worse option.
Long story short I think the GAA is going to keep the status quo in place for a good few years yet and that winning your group is going to be key if you want to win Sam.
The powers to be will surely want all of their All Ireland Quarters to be as competitive as they can possibly be? In year one of this new format we got highly competitive Prem Quarter finals decided on fine margins and only one of the All Ireland Quarter finals going that way. If that is repeated this year it will have to be looked at sooner than later.
Topping your group avoiding play off game and not playing any of the group winners in the last 8 is enough of advantage IMO.
HQ in congress were asked about making that tweak to the schedule and the answer was to wait for another year or two to see if it remains an issue.