A team with a bye to provincial semi finals has almost 3 times (2.8 to be exact) as good a chance of the AI as a team drawn in the preliminary round. Fairness demands that all teams play in a provincial quarter final. There are at least 3 options depending on counties' attachment to their provinces.
1. Move teams permanently from Ulster and Leinster to Connacht and Munster (as suggested already).
2. Let teams take turns in the 'wrong' province. Thus, each Ulster county would play in Connacht once every nine years.
3. Play the preliminary rounds as now. Let the winners progress to the quarters as now. Let the losers move to the quarters of the ' wrong province.
1. Move teams permanently from Ulster and Leinster to Connacht and Munster (as suggested already).
2. Let teams take turns in the 'wrong' province. Thus, each Ulster county would play in Connacht once every nine years.
3. Play the preliminary rounds as now. Let the winners progress to the quarters as now. Let the losers move to the quarters of the ' wrong province.