National Forum

Provincial Championships 2024

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The provincial draws for next year are going to take place on Saturday, October 21st. I don't agree with the early draws. They could wait until after the league and seed the draws based on league placing. If there is a lopsided draw, the media will be complaining all winter. That doesn't do anything to help promote the provincial championships.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8274 - 03/10/2023 21:37:17    2506867

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The Kilkenny County SHC does this - league of 2 groups of 6, before all 12 to straight KO - 1st Rd crossover 3v6, with 4 winners joining 4 'both top 2s' in the QFs (just so simple).

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2875 - 16/10/2023 15:08:02    2508672

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I think the timing of the draw is just to keep people interested and have something to talk about

Seeded draw wouldn't suit Ulster, you might not get a chance at your biggest rival if it was

Whestofthewest (Clare) - Posts: 177 - 16/10/2023 15:55:40    2508681

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The provincial draws for next year are going to take place on Saturday, October 21st. I don't agree with the early draws. They could wait until after the league and seed the draws based on league placing. If there is a lopsided draw, the media will be complaining all winter. That doesn't do anything to help promote the provincial championships."
The provincial championships should be run completely separately from the All Ireland Championship with no bearing on seedings. For me they could have rest weeks in the leagues and run the provincial championships in those rest weeks. The current format is only there to keep the stronger counties strong and so-called weaker counties weak. Unfair too to give seedings based on provincial finalists when some provincial finals are harder to reach than others. All Ireland championship places should be top 15/16,Tailteann winner. Playoffs beween top 2 in Div 3 and 4 and winners play off with bottom 2 in division 2.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7642 - 16/10/2023 16:46:19    2508696

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "The provincial championships should be run completely separately from the All Ireland Championship with no bearing on seedings. For me they could have rest weeks in the leagues and run the provincial championships in those rest weeks. The current format is only there to keep the stronger counties strong and so-called weaker counties weak. Unfair too to give seedings based on provincial finalists when some provincial finals are harder to reach than others. All Ireland championship places should be top 15/16,Tailteann winner. Playoffs beween top 2 in Div 3 and 4 and winners play off with bottom 2 in division 2."
Provincial championship would be pre season competitions then. Played between rest weeks in the league would mean 2nd string line ups and small crowds in attendances for such matches.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3485 - 17/10/2023 16:57:20    2508887

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Provincial championship would be pre season competitions then. Played between rest weeks in the league would mean 2nd string line ups and small crowds in attendances for such matches."
Very fair point and the weather not as good as traditional provincial time. Stronger counties might play understrength teams and reduce the gap a bit to division 3 and 4 teams, maybe a better chance to win their province and at least a chance of playing teams of a higher standard in competition. But having provincials before league finishes would give counties a more level playing field in terms of weeks off or playing start the championship. And make the last few rounds of the league, without finals, more interesting as teams look for qualifying or playoff spots for All Ireland and Tailteann. A fair chance of dead rubbers at that tine too. Having provinces after league would be ok but a bit unfair for some counties from provinces with more games and I think it gives an advantage to some other counties. A bit naive I know but I think current system is just widening the gap in standards between the top and bottom. Lower division counties should get some competitive games somehow against stronger opposition if they want to slowly improve.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7642 - 17/10/2023 17:39:35    2508904

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Provincial championship would be pre season competitions then. Played between rest weeks in the league would mean 2nd string line ups and small crowds in attendances for such matches."
Sensible thing would be to run entire inter county season off in two weekend blitzes. Think of all the revenue to be generated if Croke Park and other venues were freed up when not having to host the bog ball and stick fighting.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3102 - 17/10/2023 22:57:23    2508952

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Very fair point and the weather not as good as traditional provincial time. Stronger counties might play understrength teams and reduce the gap a bit to division 3 and 4 teams, maybe a better chance to win their province and at least a chance of playing teams of a higher standard in competition. But having provincials before league finishes would give counties a more level playing field in terms of weeks off or playing start the championship. And make the last few rounds of the league, without finals, more interesting as teams look for qualifying or playoff spots for All Ireland and Tailteann. A fair chance of dead rubbers at that tine too. Having provinces after league would be ok but a bit unfair for some counties from provinces with more games and I think it gives an advantage to some other counties. A bit naive I know but I think current system is just widening the gap in standards between the top and bottom. Lower division counties should get some competitive games somehow against stronger opposition if they want to slowly improve."
After 20 years of savage batins by Dublin in Leinster what improvements has that brought to Carlow, Wicklow etc

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1944 - 18/10/2023 10:10:45    2508972

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "After 20 years of savage batins by Dublin in Leinster what improvements has that brought to Carlow, Wicklow etc"
Very little. Though Carlow had a bit of a revival under O'Brien and Poacher a few years ago and Wicklow are improving under McConville. Dublin's a big step for any team so neither gonna gauge progress on losing to them. But Leinster is a one horse town and the horse is a seasoned thoroughbbred. Playing teams of a similar standard in league and now guaranteed in Tailteann won't improve them either. Regardless of when it's played I hope they keep the provincial championship but they should have no bearing on All Ireland qualification or seeding. Would be nice too to see a so called weaker county in good form beat a bigger county that's resting players for All Ireland.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7642 - 18/10/2023 12:10:16    2509014

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The provincial draws for next year are going to take place on Saturday, October 21st. I don't agree with the early draws. They could wait until after the league and seed the draws based on league placing. If there is a lopsided draw, the media will be complaining all winter. That doesn't do anything to help promote the provincial championships."
There's every chance Laois still won't even have a manager..Lord almighty!

What's the punishment for giving walkovers at inter-county level these days?!

Laoisvillian (Laois) - Posts: 87 - 18/10/2023 12:56:38    2509025

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Replying To Laoisvillian:  "There's every chance Laois still won't even have a manager..Lord almighty!

What's the punishment for giving walkovers at inter-county level these days?!"
Is Justin McNulty not being lined up for a return?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7642 - 18/10/2023 14:42:58    2509053

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Replying To Laoisvillian:  "There's every chance Laois still won't even have a manager..Lord almighty!

What's the punishment for giving walkovers at inter-county level these days?!"
Nothing seemingly, there were a few this year in the O Byrne Cup.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13783 - 18/10/2023 15:25:27    2509073

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The Provincials actually need to be abolished to be honest. It just feels so tough to justify 4 weekends of action in such a tight calendar with weaker teams only guaranteed one game.

The intercounty football season has too many potential weekends of action. Up to 19 plus rest weeks. I just don't think that fits into a healthy schedule to facilitate good quality club competition. We are seeing that in some of the discussions around finishing the season a week later to allow a rest between league and Provincials. We've players talking about the intensity of the schedule. I just don't think we can have all of an NFL with league finals, provincial championships, group stage championships and 4 rounds of knockout. Something has to give here somewhere.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4329 - 20/10/2023 12:18:17    2509415

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Replying To Whammo86:  "The Provincials actually need to be abolished to be honest. It just feels so tough to justify 4 weekends of action in such a tight calendar with weaker teams only guaranteed one game.

The intercounty football season has too many potential weekends of action. Up to 19 plus rest weeks. I just don't think that fits into a healthy schedule to facilitate good quality club competition. We are seeing that in some of the discussions around finishing the season a week later to allow a rest between league and Provincials. We've players talking about the intensity of the schedule. I just don't think we can have all of an NFL with league finals, provincial championships, group stage championships and 4 rounds of knockout. Something has to give here somewhere."
Better playing real games than 150 training sessions/challenge games

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1944 - 20/10/2023 13:09:42    2509433

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Better playing real games than 150 training sessions/challenge games"
They shouldn't be doing that either.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4329 - 20/10/2023 13:51:57    2509444

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2024 provincial championship draws

ULSTER

Preliminary round
Monaghan v Armagh

Quarter-finals
Down v Antrim
Fermanagh v Armagh
Derry v Donegal
Tyrone v Monaghan/Cavan

Semi-finals
Down/Antrim v Fermanagh/Armagh
Derry/Donegal v Tyrone/Monaghan/Cavan

MUNSTER

Quarter-finals
Tipperary v Waterford
Limerick v Cork

Semi-finals
Clare v Tipperary/Waterford
Kerry v Limerick/Cork

LEINSTER

Preliminary round
Westmeath v Wicklow
Carlow v Wexford
Longford v Meath

Quarter-finals
Kildare v Westmeath/Wicklow
Louth v Carlow/Wexford
Dublin v Longford/Meath
Offaly v Laois

Semi-finals
Kildare/Westmeath/Wicklow v Louth/Carlow/Wexford
Dublin/Longford/Meath v Offaly/Laois

CONNACHT

Quarter-finals
New York v Mayo
London v Galway
Sligo v Leitrim

Semi-finals
New York/Mayo v Roscommon
Sligo/Leitrim v London/Galway

I don't agree with early provincial draws but the GAA have their reasons. 2024 league seeding would be fair for the provincial draws.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8274 - 21/10/2023 18:55:42    2509584

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Replying To omahant:  "The Kilkenny County SHC does this - league of 2 groups of 6, before all 12 to straight KO - 1st Rd crossover 3v6, with 4 winners joining 4 'both top 2s' in the QFs (just so simple)."
So after the league of 2 groups of 6, no-one's eliminated, and those games merely determine what round of the knockout stages you enter?

Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1126 - 22/10/2023 14:09:44    2509627

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Replying To Tacaí Liatroma:  "So after the league of 2 groups of 6, no-one's eliminated, and those games merely determine what round of the knockout stages you enter?"
The bottom 2 sides play off in relegation semis. The winners reenter the draw, while the losers play a relegation final, the loser of which is relegated.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13783 - 22/10/2023 17:25:51    2509641

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Provincial championship would be pre season competitions then. Played between rest weeks in the league would mean 2nd string line ups and small crowds in attendances for such matches."
I thought small crowds is what people wanted given the amount of complaining they do about bandwagoners on GAA forums.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 246 - 22/10/2023 18:22:31    2509654

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What a tough draw for both Monaghan & Cavan... They play in Prelim......then the winner away to Tyrone........ if they somehow get over that, they face Derry or Donegal in Ulster semi.... if a minor miracle happens & one of them get to an Ulster final, then possibly Armagh would be waiting!.... I'm even "sweating" typing this! lol

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 443 - 23/10/2023 19:29:37    2509949

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