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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To Whammo86: "Trying to schedule league finals and Provincial finals and keeping the flow into the All Ireland is the tricky piece. It'd probably require there to be no league finals." Do you dislike "doubling up" Prov KO ties as league ties? My liking for it is based on reducing total game workload, while retaining all competitions. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 29/01/2025 15:08:31 2588373 Link
Replying To omahant: "Do you dislike "doubling up" Prov KO ties as league ties? My liking for it is based on reducing total game workload, while retaining all competitions." Limerick v Clare in the Munster hurling quarter final and League final on 25 Oct 2020 was the moment in the spotlight for your double up preference. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/1025/1173814-limerick-0-36-clare-1-23/ It hasn't appeared on any of the championship proposals given consideration. Doubling didn't gain any traction for support. I was in favour of semi-finals for 2nd v 3rd in the McDonagh Cup. It went forward for consideration. When McDonagh counties declined the offer of the final moving to the All Ireland semi final day, along with winners only being promoted, the semi final suggestion was taken off the table. Some suggestions get voted through e.g. the McDonagh winner determining the province with 6 teams. Doubling up didn't gain traction. There isn't much point in flogging a preferred format that had an opportunity and didn't gain support. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8459 - 29/01/2025 16:08:54 2588382 Link
Replying To omahant: "Do you dislike "doubling up" Prov KO ties as league ties? My liking for it is based on reducing total game workload, while retaining all competitions." I wouldn't have any issue myself with them. I think they have advantages in terms of retaining the Provincials but maintaining a balanced schedule for all. I think unfortunately people would probably see them as overcomplicated, not to say that they are but I just think it'd be a bit of an alien concept for people. There isn't really anything like it in our regional sporting landscape. It exists in the NBA, which wouldn't exactly have mass widespread appeal over here. There are probably other ways that National League plus Provincial championships could be 2 pathways to an All Ireland which could improve the competitions over the current system. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4386 - 29/01/2025 16:39:18 2588392 Link
As I mentioned before, all my ideas are not based on what I think is 'politically' feasible - but more akin to what I would implement if I was 'a dictator'. One could approach these discussions either way - it seems you are saying my approach is futile, so stop wasting energy :) - ok, you have a point ! omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 29/01/2025 18:03:25 2588403 Link
Replying To Whammo86: "I wouldn't have any issue myself with them. I think they have advantages in terms of retaining the Provincials but maintaining a balanced schedule for all. I think unfortunately people would probably see them as overcomplicated, not to say that they are but I just think it'd be a bit of an alien concept for people. There isn't really anything like it in our regional sporting landscape. It exists in the NBA, which wouldn't exactly have mass widespread appeal over here. There are probably other ways that National League plus Provincial championships could be 2 pathways to an All Ireland which could improve the competitions over the current system." "Alien concept" until it isn't - e g. 2-pts arc; 3 up/ 3 back; dissent 50m etc; or would you have expected a Swiss System (a la Shara) Champions League ? "Your regional sporting landscape" - I'd argue URC double counting of 'national regional' Shield competitions is a good example (6-match subset of 18-match URC league schedule). A lesser example = Calcutta Cup, within Triple Crown, within Six Nations Rugby. My AILC is radical for sure - but more than FRC rules? I don't think so. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 29/01/2025 18:20:31 2588406 Link
Replying To omahant: "As I mentioned before, all my ideas are not based on what I think is 'politically' feasible - but more akin to what I would implement if I was 'a dictator'. One could approach these discussions either way - it seems you are saying my approach is futile, so stop wasting energy :) - ok, you have a point !" Was in response to: legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8454 - 29/01/2025 16:08:54 2588382 omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 29/01/2025 19:11:06 2588412 Link
Replying To omahant: "As I mentioned before, all my ideas are not based on what I think is 'politically' feasible - but more akin to what I would implement if I was 'a dictator'. One could approach these discussions either way - it seems you are saying my approach is futile, so stop wasting energy :) - ok, you have a point !" I wasn't saying that really at all. I was giving a realistic appraisal of your suggestion. I think there's a lot to be said for doubling up games. An issue with having provincials included in the All Ireland is the imbalance of the quality and the schedule that they create and the dead weeks that they create for teams. If people were to take an open minded approach to doubling up of games it probably would give potential to have an exciting championship. Realistically I don't think people would be that open minded about it. Additionally there is also a lot to be said for something more traditional. There are good reasons why the Provincial championships and the National Leagues (albeit the format has varied but mostly its been 4 sections of 8 in some arrangement) have stood the test of time. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4386 - 30/01/2025 05:02:29 2588450 Link
Replying To omahant: "As I mentioned before, all my ideas are not based on what I think is 'politically' feasible - but more akin to what I would implement if I was 'a dictator'. One could approach these discussions either way - it seems you are saying my approach is futile, so stop wasting energy :) - ok, you have a point !" That's fine that you want to share an idea you would implement if you were a dictator! The reality though is that 25 October 2020 was the moment for your double up in the spotlight. The split season was influenced by the COVID season. Noone was looking to retain the double up. It's pointless for me to suggest that the McDonagh should have a semi-final for 2nd v 3rd when it was considered and taken off the table. Colm O'Rourke, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Michael Murphy have spoken in favour of flipping league after provincial championship. Others have spoken in favour of league and provincial championship in parallel. These are valid active discussions. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8459 - 30/01/2025 06:27:35 2588451 Link
@Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4386 - 30/01/2025 05:02:29 Lines crossed - my post was in response to legendz - I initially forgot to indicate it. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 30/01/2025 14:01:15 2588492 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "That's fine that you want to share an idea you would implement if you were a dictator! The reality though is that 25 October 2020 was the moment for your double up in the spotlight. The split season was influenced by the COVID season. Noone was looking to retain the double up. It's pointless for me to suggest that the McDonagh should have a semi-final for 2nd v 3rd when it was considered and taken off the table. Colm O'Rourke, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Michael Murphy have spoken in favour of flipping league after provincial championship. Others have spoken in favour of league and provincial championship in parallel. These are valid active discussions." Yes indeed - COVID and empty stadiums under a spotlight and no interest in doubling up as everyone was fed up with life generally. I prefer to see your 'McD Cup 2nd v 3rd' than you muzzled ! League/Provs, Flip or Parallel? - I do a bit of both in my AILC = SFs/Finals during league phase to preserve prestige, Prelims/QFs out of the way early. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3018 - 30/01/2025 14:08:43 2588494 Link