A lot of good ideas here. My idea at the beginning incorporates many of better points -
1) Front Door extenddd by one round with top quality match ups
2) Side Door gives the weaker counties, with a spillover of Ulster QF losers, a fair shot at the TMC.
3) Back Door with a mouthwatering 3rd Rd Open Draw.
4) Reducing the 24-team Prov QFs to simply an allocation exercise to asign 12 to Font Door and 12 to TMC,
puts everyone on an equal footing with all 32 teams getting a 'last chance' (2nd from Front Door, albeit 3rd chance
from Side Door) for at least the next two rounds.
5) Mismatches ard reduced - although I concede they mostly might occur in Prov QFs and Qual Rd 2.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2596 - 02/05/2015 16:04:55    1719672

To combine the Prov structure with a group phase -
1) Play current Prov Prelim and QFs to get Prov SF 16 and Other 16.
2) Put a SF pair from 2 Provs in each group (e.g. Uls & Conn) - Groups A to D.
3) Put Other 16 in similar 'prov pairs' as possible as well in - Groups E to H.
4) After all have played 3 group games - Group winners A to D enter respective Prov Finals,
with the higher team (2nd or 3rd) from the 'other prov' in each group complete the Prov Finals.
5) Top 3 in Groups A to D less the 8 Prov Finalists - that is 4 teams - play the 4 Group E to H winners for 4 places
In 'AI Last 12' places - winners against the 4 Prov Final losers.
6) 4 Prov Champs play 4 winners in the last Qualifiers (from point 5 above) in the AI QFs.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2596 - 02/05/2015 16:37:48    1719681

Seriously, what is wrong with treating current Prov SF 16 and 1st Rd Qual teams (TMC Cupl equally - both streams leading to AI QFs
with losers in both streams crossing over in the Qualifiers to produce 5 of the 8 in the AI QFs ?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2596 - 03/05/2015 17:27:05    1719967

It's an endless discussion omahant. Without motions at congress there won't be any changes. Just the way it is.

I'm surprised Ulster counties don't lobby for qualifier draws to be seeded based on league placing. An Ulster county entering the qualifiers would wind up playing opposition they see as inferior from other provinces.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7853 - 04/05/2015 11:11:52    1720084

National leagues of 6-7 teams divisions - 2 teams promoted, no league finals- games played in Feb and finished on St Patrick day (week earlier for lower divisions)
Division 1: Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon
Division 2: Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Down, Galway, Armagh, Meath,
Division 3: Kildare, Laois, Westmeath, Fermanagh, Tipperary, Offaly
Division 4: Limerick, Sligo, Longford, Louth, Clare, Wexford
Division 5: Antrim, Carlow, Leitrim, London, Wicklow, Waterford

Seeded Provincial Championships (max 4 rounds played over 6 weekends to allow replays if level after extra time) All finals played over May Bank Holiday weekend
Munster: Round 2 (Open draw) - Waterford, Clare, Tipp, Limerick - Semi finals (Open draw) - Kerry, Cork, 2 no. Round 2 winners
Connaught: Round 1: scheduled matches v London and New York, Round 2(Open Draw) - Galway, Leitrim, Sligo (assuming London and New York lose round 1) - Semi finals (Open draw) - Roscommon, Mayo, 2 no. Round 2 winners
Leinster: Round 1 (open draw): Westmeath, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Louth, Longford, Offaly - Quarter finals (Seeded draw) - Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Laois, 4 no Round 1 winners - Semi finals (open draw)
Ulster: Round 1: Antrim v Fermanagh - Quarter finals (seeded Draw): Donegal, Tyrone, Down, Derry, Cavan, Armagh, Monaghan, Round 1 winner - Semi finals (open draw)
All provincial champions, Rups and best Semi finalists (decided by playoffs over May Bank Holiday weekend) go into All Ireland championship (12 teams)
Top 4 ranked league teams not already qualified through provincial championship enter Top 16

All Ireland (top 16) Open Draw - world cup format - Start Mid May - Q final End June, Final August Bank Holiday
Group 1: Connaught champions, Leinster Rup, Munster Play off winner, League qualifier
Group 2: Ulster Champions, Munster Rup, Leinster Play off winner, League qualifier
Group 3: Leinster Champions, Ulster Rup, Connaught Play off winner, League qualifier
Group 4: Munster Champions, Connaught Rup, Ulster Play off winner, League qualifier

Each group winner gets home draw (or can choose Croker) in All Ireland quarter - group winners kept apart in Q final draw - semis are open draw
Top 2 group Rup qualify for All Ireland Q final (results against bottom team in group not counted)
3rd and 4th group Rup play off for 1 All Ireland Q final spot (3rd weekend June)
All Ireland B/Tommy Murphy Cup winner get last Q final spot

All Ireland B - 4 groups - 5 matches in 6 weeks from 2nd Week May until 3rd Weekend of June
Group 1A and 1B - All round 1 losers except New York - 8 teams open draw into 2 groups of 4
Group 2A and 2B - All other teams not qualified for Top 16 - 8 teams open draw into 2 groups of 4
Top of each group enters semi finals (Open Draw) - Championship winner progress to All Ireland Q final

All Club Championships start 2nd Week of August. County teams play from Feb till End of July

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 05/05/2015 11:30:16    1720293

Nothing wrong with the way the championship is now. No matter what way its structured its dublin or kerrys to lose.
Everyone else is playing for the semi finals

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 05/05/2015 12:50:36    1720347

33 county open draw incl London & New York and excl Kilkenny until they feel they could play in it.
Run the Provincials as a stand alone championship.
To hell with the leagues.

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 05/05/2015 13:36:41    1720378

KY4SAM2015
County: Kerry
Posts: 29

1720347
Nothing wrong with the way the championship is now. No matter what way its structured its dublin or kerrys to lose.
Everyone else is playing for the semi finals

Are you sure you are from Kerry? Kerry people normally are not so confident,,,smug maybe. Boasting not usually maybe youse are losing the run of yourselves are the soft all ireland last year!?

gormdubhgorm (Dublin) - Posts: 990 - 05/05/2015 13:50:26    1720385

The Kerry lads are wearing rose coloured glasses, football is in a mess like in the 70s, its Dublin or Kerry for Sam, the rest are just hoping, explain how 5 weak to average Munster teams, 10 Leinster, 7 Ulster, 6 Connect means there is nothing wrong with the champ, we need a strong provincial championships with most Leinster counties in with a chance, teams other than Kerry or Cork in Munster, teams other than Mayo in Connect, Ulster is fairly even but apart from Donegal no AllIreland semi chances there

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 05/05/2015 14:20:23    1720406

Spending has to be capped, it has to be even for every team, you can't have Dublin etc receiving and spending millions while weak counties can't even afford jerseys, you will end up with a mess like the soccer leagues in England

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 05/05/2015 14:22:54    1720408

Are you sure you are from Kerry? Kerry people normally are not so confident,,,smug maybe. Boasting not usually maybe youse are losing the run of yourselves are the soft all ireland last year!?

Even though we are still in a period of transition i still feel we are in the top two. However refs and the media will be against us this year so two in a row will be tough for this young team. Munster is now the toughest province with the combination of kerry, Cork and Tipp the three best teams in any province. If we make it out of our tough munster side of the draw then we are in with a shout.

I think before motions are put forward at Congress, well thought out changes should be discussed in great detail. And HS is a good place for such a discussion, as we have posters from all over the Country.

There is a clear Imbalance in the Championship format, especially when it comes to challenging for the All Ireland series via the Qualifiers. But there is no common thinking on how to best address this as of yet, although some good suggestions.

Clearly Ulster posters have been more vocal on this, as the Qualifier Round 1 will feature the likes of Donegal/Tyrone/Armagh, Down/Derry, Monaghan/Cavan. With Donegal playing Tyrone in Ulster's preliminary round, we are definitely going to have 1 of 2 teams who played Div 1 football in 2015 entering Rd 1.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 05/05/2015 18:26:28    1720584

How long of an off season but virtually no gaelic/hurling should there be?
Should there be a spscific off season of a month or so like December where nobody has any games?
Hurling Is played in many counties in November/December and that's ridiculous and does nothing for the sport considering conditions

Counties need significant number of games and the system has to be more equal and fair to all but club players need more high quality championship games In summer.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/05/2015 18:38:34    1720587

riverboys
County: Mayo
Posts: 257

1720408 Spending has to be capped, it has to be even for every team, you can't have Dublin etc receiving and spending millions while weak counties can't even afford jerseys, you will end up with a mess like the soccer leagues in England

From the county that admitted they are spending an average of 10,000 Euro a week preparing their senior team, I sincerely hope you are not including yourselves in the 'poor weak counties' category.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 05/05/2015 18:52:19    1720591

From the county that admitted they are spending an average of 10,000 Euro a week preparing their senior team, I sincerely hope you are not including yourselves in the 'poor weak counties' category.

While I don't agree with roverboy's proposal to cap spending, it must be pointed out that due to a longstanding and lopsided approach to economic planning in our country, most professional employment opportunties are in the Dublin orbital area, and a lot of the expenditure you're referring to goes on mileage, food costs etc. for Mayo players working up there and travelling back to Castlebar, Bekan etc. for training. With all due respect, that's not a problem that Dublin will ever have.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 05/05/2015 19:49:44    1720613

KY4SAM2015
County: Kerry
Posts: 37

1720434
Are you sure you are from Kerry? Kerry people normally are not so confident,,,smug maybe. Boasting not usually maybe youse are losing the run of yourselves are the soft all ireland last year!?

Even though we are still in a period of transition i still feel we are in the top two. However refs and the media will be against us this year so two in a row will be tough for this young team. Munster is now the toughest province with the combination of kerry, Cork and Tipp the three best teams in any province. If we make it out of our tough munster side of the draw then we are in with a shout.


I think if you keep posting like this and your arrogance then it will be more than the media and refs that will be against yous.....,,.

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 05/05/2015 21:58:11    1720671

This is one of the best ideas I've read that keeps the Provincial Championship but keeps structure and is fairer to more competitive provinces

It would mean Ulster prelim would need to be seeded which it should be already in line with Munster and Leinster

Fair play to the earlier poster. GAA need to open up the debate.

Of all the ideas the Champions League idea is the worst and has no appeal for me but its all about personal preferences. I think we're all agreed current structure/fixture list is not fit for purpose

Option 2 of many
Agreed seeding across each province for their respective first round.
8 round 1 losers should enter the Tommy Murphy Cup - with the winner earning a route back into championship.

The breakdown of teams remaining in each province will be 4 in Munster, 4 in Connaught, 8 in Ulster and 8 in Leinster.
The provincial finalists in each province should earn a Round of 16 place - that's 8 places.
The provincial semi-finalists of Ulster and Leinster shoud also earn a Round of 16 place - that's 4 places.
The provincial semi-finalists of Munster and Connaught should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16.
The provincial quarter-finalists of Ulster should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16.
The provincial quarter-finalists of Leinster should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16.
The Tommy Murphy Cup winner should take the final in the Round of 16.

Provincial winners should be drawn at home against the 3 play-off winners and Tommy Murphy Cup winner.
Provincial runners-up should take on the semi-finalists of Ulster and Leinster, with a separate draw to determine the home team.

Advantages:
* Second tier competition - winner earning a route back into the Championship.
* 3 provincial blocks of 8 teams after the first round - each block of 8 providing 5 teams in the Round of 16.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 189 - 06/05/2015 16:39:51    1720949

Option 2 of many
Agreed seeding across each province for their respective first round.
8 round 1 losers should enter the Tommy Murphy Cup - with the winner earning a route back into championship. basically all div 4 teams

The breakdown of teams remaining in each province will be 4 in Munster, 4 in Connaught, 8 in Ulster and 8 in Leinster.
The provincial finalists in each province should earn a Round of 16 place - that's 8 places.
The provincial semi-finalists of Ulster and Leinster shoud also earn a Round of 16 place - that's 4 places.
The provincial semi-finalists of Munster and Connaught should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16. - Basically loser of Mayo/Galway, SLigo, Tipperary and winner of Clare/Limerick game. Clare/Limerick would be better off losing muster qfinal (same also for tipp/waterford)
The provincial quarter-finalists of Ulster should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16.
The provincial quarter-finalists of Leinster should play-off for 1 place in the Round of 16.
The Tommy Murphy Cup winner should take the final in the Round of 16.

Provincial winners should be drawn at home against the 3 play-off winners and Tommy Murphy Cup winner.
Provincial runners-up should take on the semi-finalists of Ulster and Leinster, with a separate draw to determine the home team.

Advantages:
* Second tier competition - winner earning a route back into the Championship.
* 3 provincial blocks of 8 teams after the first round - each block of 8 providing 5 teams in the Round of 16.

Good plan but their should be more teams in tommy murphy competition or else have an intermediate competition for another last 16 place. Have losing leinster and ulster quarter finalists play for only 2 spots would be fairer

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1109 - 06/05/2015 17:17:54    1720973

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 9597

1720587 How long of an off season but virtually no gaelic/hurling should there be?
Should there be a spscific off season of a month or so like December where nobody has any games?
Hurling Is played in many counties in November/December and that's ridiculous and does nothing for the sport considering conditions

Counties need significant number of games and the system has to be more equal and fair to all but club players need more high quality championship games In summer.

I would like to see less time between Inter-county games during the summer months, with no more than 2 weeks between games.

This would really compact the summer schedule, and open up far more time for Club Championship fixtures during the summer.
Ideally 1st of December until mid-January should be the close season, which would suit students who have 1st semester exams in Mid January.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/05/2015 17:45:21    1720980

Gary
There is a clear Imbalance in the Championship format, especially when it comes to challenging for the All Ireland series via the Qualifiers
Some good discussion here but I'm confused by what you mean here Gary. How is the qualifier system unbalanced do you feel? It's largely an open draw so seems quite fair. Last year 3 division 1 teams entered Rd 1 of the qualifiers with 2 of them losing to division 3 sides which shows that using the league alone to judge the strength of each side can be misleading.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 06/05/2015 18:42:14    1720993