I generally don't think there is any brains in our county board. When clearly organising a championship format is not the hardest job in the world they clearly feel it's better and easier for them just to pull balls from a hat. No real thinking involved which they like.
For example teams should not be playing each other in quarter final that have already played each other in there last match.
I don't believe quarter final should be open draw. Every team should be rewarded. 1st plays 2nd from another group etc...
I would imagine every county board would like there two best teams in there county final but ours don't really seem to care at all. It won't happen this year anyway
My semi final prediction is
Mullinalaghta v clonguish
Ballymahon v abbeylara

honlongford (Longford) - Posts: 163 - 14/08/2017 09:24:55    2033068

It should be 1st and 2nd in groups 1 and 2 in one pot. Then 3rd in in groups 1 and 2 along with 1st and 2nd in group 3 in the other pot.

lawdan (Longford) - Posts: 91 - 14/08/2017 10:36:08    2033111

The real problem isn't an open draw though. The problem is having a championship with an odd number of teams. Absolutely nonsensical. All because over the last 15 years it seems that every 2nd year a team relegated from senior in August or September will appeal it in October and be reinstated. All clubs are complicit in this in fairness not just a county board issue.

Having 13 teams then forces the CB into this stupid 3 weighted groups. This is a fault of the county board, the current set up makes absolutely no sense. Idiotic in the extreme.

So what happens this year? Killashee are definitely relegated? Do FMG and Granard play a relegation play off to see who is the 2nd team to go down?

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 14/08/2017 11:52:19    2033154

If somehow we are left with 12 clubs in senior next year (which isn't even a guarantee), the club championship should then be ran as 2 groups of 6 meaning at least 5 games each.

1st in each group go in to either semi.

2nd in group A vs 3rd in group B in one quarter final
2nd in group B vs 3rd in group A in the other quarter

4th & 5th place in each group: championship over.

6th place in each group: relegation play-off

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 14/08/2017 12:15:35    2033178

Agree with previous poster, although I feel five teams in each group would be loads. Clubs, or the hierarchy of clubs, should take their medicine, abide by the rules and go down when relegated - most players are honest enough not to cod themselves with unrealistic expectations. A Senior and Intermediate C'ship of ten teams each (same formats) would leave the Junior and Junior 'B' for second and third strings, along with any potentially revived clubs. I also feel that second/third strings should be allowed move up if they win, relegating first strings. If teams want to be Senior or Intermediate they should work for it. No more bullying from clubs and no more socialism from the County Board, simples.

Stonemadforball (Longford) - Posts: 1 - 14/08/2017 12:55:44    2033205

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 14/08/2017 13:32:53    2033230

Anyway....on this year's championship. Are the semi final pairings already known?

Is it Mull/Killoe vs Dromard/Clonguish and Ballymahon/Mostrim vs Colmcille/Abbey? Or is there another draw after this round?

If the draw is as above, you'd have to say Abbey are favourites by a bit to get to the final from their side.

Then maybe Mullinalaghta after overcoming Dromard in the other semi.

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 14/08/2017 14:29:09    2033277

B&G (Longford) - Posts: 276 - 14/08/2017 20:26:56    2033426

Glonguish will easy beat a very poor dromard team band could make another final wait and see

drunkensailor (Longford) - Posts: 68 - 14/08/2017 20:54:12    2033433

Not so sure about that, I'm inclined to agree with previous predictions....a mullinalaghta v dromard semi with mullinalaghta to come through and meet Abbey in the final. Dromard are to only team to come close to mullinaghta this year, a draw in the league and 1 point defeat in championship. On league form yes they have been a poor team but its all about championship and dromard are always a difficult team to beat, as shown when proving my prediction for a slashers victory very much wrong!!

The format definitly needs some changes alright. they could easily have made the draw a bit less one sided by placing Ballymahon and Colmcille (teams from weakest group) on different sides of the draw. Also with the current format theres no way teams should be able to meet again at q-final stage after playing each other in group stages. Mullinaghta's reward for topping a very difficult group is to have 2 / 3 of same difficult opposition on their side AND the best team from group 2. Madness.

The only positive from it is that one set of players from Mostrim / Ballymahon will get to play in a championhip semi final and have a shot of getting to the big day...which will be a great boost to either club!

Dedrick (Longford) - Posts: 6 - 15/08/2017 17:45:04    2033760

Clonguish haven't played Mullinalaghta yet so can't really judge the Clonguish Dromard game on that. If you did Clinging brought them to extra time in Leader Cup final last year after not training for about 2/3 months! Plus Clinging are after getting back 3 players in their last game against Abbey. It will be a very tight game and could possibly the game of the round.

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1236 - 15/08/2017 18:18:26    2033779

Clonguish obviously, not Clinging!!

Spinx (Longford) - Posts: 1236 - 15/08/2017 21:06:15    2033877

Well if clonguish can't wait that game again dromard something wrong been from a arch rival it's possible the worst dromard team in years with just one good forward and rest are two old and not hungry enough

drunkensailor (Longford) - Posts: 68 - 15/08/2017 21:53:43    2033914

In a county with only 22 clubs? fielding teams I believe 8 clubs taken part in senior championship would lead to a better standard of football with a trickle down effect to intermediate and junior.
As for this senior championship Mullinaghta will come out on top in 1/2 quarter final group and in 3/4 group Colmcille will win though and Mullinaghta to take a hard earned title.

paddy.mac (Longford) - Posts: 13 - 16/08/2017 12:47:17    2034164

How will the knockouts play out?
Mullinalachta should beat Killoe handy enough, they are establishing a dominance over them lately, Killoe have gone way back under O'Donnell. Clonguish going well and back to near full strenght should narrowly get the better of Dromard, and wins for Abbeylara and Ballymahon. One sided semi's and then Mullinalachta should be too strong for Abbey in final. I could be wrong, and someone might come close to Mullinalachta, but I doubt it, Dromard have best chance but won't get past clonguish to be able to challenge them.

botheyesclosed (Longford) - Posts: 115 - 24/08/2017 09:31:10    2037018

lawdan (Longford) - Posts: 91 - 24/08/2017 16:10:30    2037238

Killoe missed the boat lads ?? Don't think they can play any better again. Clonguish got the win like I predicated.. two great games in the park this weekend. Next weekend I don't think we will be saying the same thing. Abbey and ballymahon to dog out wins

honlongford (Longford) - Posts: 163 - 28/08/2017 12:11:55    2039219

What age is Paul Barden now? The man is a hero.

iluvspuds (Longford) - Posts: 160 - 28/08/2017 14:08:48    2039349

honlongford (Longford) - Posts: 163 - 28/08/2017 16:08:49    2039433

The referring in the game yesterday evening had to be one of the worst. As a neutral supporter I feel Dromard were hard done by! Standard of referring really needs to be looked at.

Line11 (Longford) - Posts: 2 - 28/08/2017 17:17:51    2039472