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Two tier championship

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I am sick to death of hearing commentators advocating a two tier championship. Not every match is going to be competitive simple as that there will always be very strong and very weak teams. Creating a two tier championship will only widen the gap between these teams. If a two tier championship had existed monaghan wouldn't of won the Ulster championship in 2013 and Tipperary wouldn't of went on their great run last year, these are just two examples of the top of my head. The Ulster, Munster and Connaught championships are interesting it is only Leinster which needs to get its house in order monaghan90 (Monaghan) - Posts: 8 - 25/06/2017 19:09:08 2004931 Link
Replying To monaghan90: "I am sick to death of hearing commentators advocating a two tier championship. Not every match is going to be competitive simple as that there will always be very strong and very weak teams. Creating a two tier championship will only widen the gap between these teams. If a two tier championship had existed monaghan wouldn't of won the Ulster championship in 2013 and Tipperary wouldn't of went on their great run last year, these are just two examples of the top of my head. The Ulster, Munster and Connaught championships are interesting it is only Leinster which needs to get its house in order" agree 100% with what you are saying. but the gaa has put huge funding into dublin,that has had a bad effect on the rest of leinster. ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 25/06/2017 19:18:27 2004942 Link
Rubbish. Monaghan would have been in the top tier anyway so I don't get your point? Dublin had to beat 2 Division 4 teams to reach a provincial final thats ridiculous. And you say the gap would get even wider - how much wider than 31 points can it get?! How is today going to help Westmeath! benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 25/06/2017 19:22:40 2004945 Link
Replying To monaghan90: "I am sick to death of hearing commentators advocating a two tier championship. Not every match is going to be competitive simple as that there will always be very strong and very weak teams. Creating a two tier championship will only widen the gap between these teams. If a two tier championship had existed monaghan wouldn't of won the Ulster championship in 2013 and Tipperary wouldn't of went on their great run last year, these are just two examples of the top of my head. The Ulster, Munster and Connaught championships are interesting it is only Leinster which needs to get its house in order" I have to say I totally disagree, I would love to see a two tier championship introduced. I don't think it'd widen the gap because the only way to improve is competitve game time and weaker counties aren't getting enough games. Wicklow players are busting a gut 7/8 months of the year, on the field and in the gym, all for two championship games a year, which is a complete joke and totally unfair. There is no incentive for a chap to put on a wicklow Jersey. The tiered championship works in hurling, it keeps counties playing competitve games, winning is a reachable goal unlike in football where it's always the same 4 teams-Dublin, Monaghan, Mayo and Kerry always there or there abouts. For me if I was to introduced a second tier championship, I would allow all counties to play in their Provence and teams knocked out in the first round would play in a second tier championship and then after the next round of games in provinces, those who are knocked out play in the qualifiers and those who lose their 1st qualifier game would also join WW9 (Wicklow) - Posts: 109 - 25/06/2017 19:31:04 2004954 Link
Replying To benjyyy: "Rubbish. Monaghan would have been in the top tier anyway so I don't get your point? Dublin had to beat 2 Division 4 teams to reach a provincial final thats ridiculous. And you say the gap would get even wider - how much wider than 31 points can it get?! How is today going to help Westmeath!" At the time monaghan were in the third division they had been very poor the previous few years and had exited the championship early. Simply going on the system that division 1 and 2 would be top tier and division 3 and 4 would be second tier monaghan90 (Monaghan) - Posts: 8 - 25/06/2017 19:51:27 2004977 Link
Replying To WW9: "I have to say I totally disagree, I would love to see a two tier championship introduced. I don't think it'd widen the gap because the only way to improve is competitve game time and weaker counties aren't getting enough games. Wicklow players are busting a gut 7/8 months of the year, on the field and in the gym, all for two championship games a year, which is a complete joke and totally unfair. There is no incentive for a chap to put on a wicklow Jersey. The tiered championship works in hurling, it keeps counties playing competitve games, winning is a reachable goal unlike in football where it's always the same 4 teams-Dublin, Monaghan, Mayo and Kerry always there or there abouts. For me if I was to introduced a second tier championship, I would allow all counties to play in their Provence and teams knocked out in the first round would play in a second tier championship and then after the next round of games in provinces, those who are knocked out play in the qualifiers and those who lose their 1st qualifier game would also join" The system you're suggesting sounds reasonable, makes much more sense than abandoning provincial championship which is what I am afraid will happen. I just think all teams should at least be given the chance of competing against stronger teams without immediately being dismissed. I would only change it slightly and have teams who lose first round of provincial enter into qualifiers and only after losing then should they go into a 'lower tier' as teams such as Donegal and Tyrone could easily meet in the Ulster first round monaghan90 (Monaghan) - Posts: 8 - 25/06/2017 19:56:34 2004984 Link
I disagree with a two tier championship as well. Carlow and Westmeath have to have the opportunity to play the top teams at some stage. Just to say briefly again, the 8 provincial finalists and qualifier round 2 winners should be going into a Top 16 consisting of 4 groups of 4. Teams not making the Top 16, having had two bites of the cherry in provincial championship and qualifiers, should have the option of entering a second championship, guaranteeing the winner a Top 16 group stage spot in the following year. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7818 - 25/06/2017 20:03:31 2004998 Link
It would be great if the GAA introduced a competition where teams of similar standard play against each other, with the opportunity to move up/down according to results. Many are advocating a two-tier system, but it may be fairer to make it four. I know hurling has the Ring, Rackard and Meagher cups, so selecting who to honour may be tricky. Maybe, for a start, just name them Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 4... streaker (Galway) - Posts: 497 - 25/06/2017 20:11:15 2005003 Link
Replying To WW9: "I have to say I totally disagree, I would love to see a two tier championship introduced. I don't think it'd widen the gap because the only way to improve is competitve game time and weaker counties aren't getting enough games. Wicklow players are busting a gut 7/8 months of the year, on the field and in the gym, all for two championship games a year, which is a complete joke and totally unfair. There is no incentive for a chap to put on a wicklow Jersey. The tiered championship works in hurling, it keeps counties playing competitve games, winning is a reachable goal unlike in football where it's always the same 4 teams-Dublin, Monaghan, Mayo and Kerry always there or there abouts. For me if I was to introduced a second tier championship, I would allow all counties to play in their Provence and teams knocked out in the first round would play in a second tier championship and then after the next round of games in provinces, those who are knocked out play in the qualifiers and those who lose their 1st qualifier game would also join" I think it would widen the gap because the standard of so-called weaker counties won't improve if every league and championship they only play counties of a similar weaker standard. They can only improve by playing some games and testing themselves against a higher standard. Westmeath are a promoted Division 4 team. Dublin, one of the best teams ever. A huge gulf in class. But Carlow were competitive with the Dubs despite the gulf there. It's naive thinking but I think there should be some sort of league competition of divisions with 2 teams from current division 1,2,3 and 4 and some mentoring of the weaker counties before they play the stronger teams. Fermanagh, Wexford and Tipperary were all good enough to get to All Ireland semi finals from their own hard work. Why don't the GAA try improving overall standards and give all GAA counties an interest in our champiinship? GAA top brass seem happy to increase the gap with a top 8 and condescend weaker counties. They're already ignoring many club players wishes. They want an All Ireland and a small Ireland. In 10 years time when kids from the old weaker counties wear Kerry and Dublin jersies, as they'll be getting all the coverage, and prospective weaker counties players ignore the GAA for soccer, rugby, AFL careers, it'll be too late. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 25/06/2017 20:13:36 2005006 Link
Recycled topic for the 10000th time waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 25/06/2017 20:14:47 2005007 Link
What I'm really saying is I think the provincial championships are still important. They've worked for this long and shouldn't be scraped in my opinion. As a monaghan fan winning Ulster in 2013 meant so much and getting eliminated from it yesterday was hugely disappointing monaghan90 (Monaghan) - Posts: 8 - 25/06/2017 20:27:09 2005020 Link
Replying To monaghan90: "What I'm really saying is I think the provincial championships are still important. They've worked for this long and shouldn't be scraped in my opinion. As a monaghan fan winning Ulster in 2013 meant so much and getting eliminated from it yesterday was hugely disappointing" They could try open draw provincial before an open draw All Ireland. Teams still guaranteed two championship games but all games would be knockout. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 25/06/2017 21:11:02 2005075 Link
A two tier championship would have four maybe five teams max in the A championship and 29 teams in the Tommy Murphy Cup version. Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 25/06/2017 21:43:30 2005108 Link
Have the league as the main competition. Winners being All-Ireland Champions. Run the provincial championship in parallel Season starts in late April - end in late August. Defined season! Imagine that You could even have club weekends to enable club Championships progress All for €9.99 Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 25/06/2017 22:31:11 2005168 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "I disagree with a two tier championship as well. Carlow and Westmeath have to have the opportunity to play the top teams at some stage. Just to say briefly again, the 8 provincial finalists and qualifier round 2 winners should be going into a Top 16 consisting of 4 groups of 4. Teams not making the Top 16, having had two bites of the cherry in provincial championship and qualifiers, should have the option of entering a second championship, guaranteeing the winner a Top 16 group stage spot in the following year." Why do teams like Westmeath and Carlow have to have the chance of playing top teams? Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 25/06/2017 22:35:04 2005175 Link
Replying To waynoI: "Recycled topic for the 10000th time" That doesent mean it shouldn't be debated and a solution found. There is a serious problem in the so called lesser counties. I think a two tiered champisonhip based on league standing should be introduced. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 25/06/2017 22:51:08 2005190 Link
I'd support a 2 tier championship system. Division 1 and 2 in the Sam Maguire championship and divisions 3 and 4 in the other championship. I agree with Brolly that the finals and semi finals should be played on the same days. The gap between the best teams and the weakest teams is getting wider and 2 competitive championships would make for good watching. Basing them on the league will also make the league more competitive. letsgosligo (Sligo) - Posts: 98 - 25/06/2017 22:52:27 2005191 Link
Replying To Ban: "Why do teams like Westmeath and Carlow have to have the chance of playing top teams?" Because if they don't get to play, even occasionally, against the better teams then the players simply won't play county football at all and the county team gets weaker and the gap widens year after year. Teams like Carlow and Westmeath have to stay in and eventually they will put an exceptional team together and can win a provincial championship. Back in the early 90's Westmeath were brutal and would surely have been a B championship team if one existed but ten years later they were Leinster champions. Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 25/06/2017 22:55:05 2005194 Link
I can see it possibly killing football in some counties. Spoddgy (Mayo) - Posts: 660 - 25/06/2017 22:57:16 2005196 Link
A two tier championship is a no brainer. It has to come in. Move the minor (u17) final out of Croke Park and play two senior finals (A & B) on the same day. I believe this would revitalise football in the 'lesser' counties. Independent12 (Carlow) - Posts: 20 - 25/06/2017 23:12:19 2005211 Link