Waterford legend John Mullane was on RTE Radio last year and claimed that the Galway clubs have a huge advantage in that they only have to win two matches to be crowned AI champions once they prevail from Galway . He stated the winners from the west get to look at the Munster and Leinster winning sides on a number of occasions and can study them in depth.

Look at our route compared to Kerry or Mayo , it's simply ridiculous at this stage . We get zero reward for beating Tyrone, Armagh and Derry . We end up in the same position as Sligo who had to beat Roscommon .

Do you's seriously think that Tyrone or Donegals training in May is the same as Mayo or Kerry ? Kerry's second team could tailor their training for August every year . If we beat Galway then we run into a fresh Mayo team a week later . I think we will look back in 20 years and laugh how unfair this whole thing is TBH.
It was the same for Leinster counties in the 90s. It's great to see fans faces enjoying the scenes after a provincial victory but should this come at the price of inequality .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/07/2015 14:35:00    1757000

Bearing in mind what happened in Thurles on Sat night, Donegal had to beat Tyrone to get to the Ulster 1/4 final where as Kerry had to beat Tipp in their 1st game to get to the Musnster final. Donegal would have to win 6 games to win an AI this year where Kerry and Mayo have to win just 4. In no other sport does this happen

donegalhills (Donegal) - Posts: 17 - 21/07/2015 15:18:40    1757032

It has sure given the Galway hurlers huge advantages in trying to win the Liam Mc over the last 125 years or so

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 21/07/2015 15:42:27    1757048

Ye beat 2 sides relegated from Div 1 and one from Div 3. Ye lost to the one Div 1 side ye met. What reward are you looking for?! :p

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 21/07/2015 15:49:40    1757052

donegalhills
County: Donegal
Posts: 5

1757032
Bearing in mind what happened in Thurles on Sat night, Donegal had to beat Tyrone to get to the Ulster 1/4 final where as Kerry had to beat Tipp in their 1st game to get to the Musnster final. Donegal would have to win 6 games to win an AI this year where Kerry and Mayo have to win just 4. In no other sport does this happen


Kerry would have to win 6 games to win the All-Ireland this year, and Mayo 5. Quit your whining. Ulster is average this year.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 21/07/2015 16:01:32    1757063

donegalhills

Would you be up for scrapping the Provincial Championships or moving Donegal to Connaught every few years?

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1105 - 21/07/2015 16:15:31    1757071

The Munster, Ulster and Leinster champions have all played the exact same number of games so far in this years championship. Also, Galway have played 1 game more than Donegal so far in this years championship, including going to Crossmaglen and beating Armagh fairly handily, as well as beating Derry without much fuss. I suspect if Donegal, who also have beaten Derry and Armagh in 2 of the 3 games they have won this year, do beat Galway you will not hear Galway complain that they were too tired or any sympathy from Donegal either for the fact Galway had already played an extra game in the championship.
Mullane is wrong about the club hurling as well but that is a different matter.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 21/07/2015 16:25:36    1757076

The whole structure is a farce for sure. Glad to hear a stronger County like Donegal bring this up. If you are complaining about it, just imagine what us weaker counties have to put up with year on year. It beggars belief. Couldn't encourage my kids to commit to inter co football and as a result, the weaker counties get weaker cause less will play it & so on. Demoralising. Yet GAA claim to be progressive!!! eg naming rights to Croke Park Stadium, Sky deal etc!!! Progressive as regards gathering money for sure, but looking after the plight of weaker counties? Way down the agenda. Of course our own county boards have a lot to answer for on this score since they vote at council to keep it the same. Monkey see, monkey do. Shame is that GAA is becoming weaker as an All Ireland spectacle. Total Bore until Quarter final stage. Wake me up when that starts please

arjuna (Longford) - Posts: 88 - 21/07/2015 16:37:58    1757084

Bearing in mind what happened in Thurles on Sat night, Donegal had to beat Tyrone to get to the Ulster 1/4 final where as Kerry had to beat Tipp in their 1st game to get to the Musnster final. Donegal would have to win 6 games to win an AI this year where Kerry and Mayo have to win just 4. In no other sport does this happen .

Donegal would have to win a minimum of 7 games this year to win the all-ireland.
Tyrone,Armagh,Derry,Monaghan,qtr-final,semi-final,final.

Kerry had to win a minimum of 5
Tipperary,Cork,Qtr-final,Semi-final,final

It's not Donegal's fault that the munster final went to a replay.

so yes it is blatently unfair. there is actually no argument.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 21/07/2015 16:51:51    1757093

Counties only cry when they are successful. The problem that Donegal are encountering now has happened to numerous Ulster counties down the years, it is not new. The problem is Ulster counties cannot see beyonfd their own self interests and come up with a seeding system like other provinces. This would impact on the possibility of big home gates early on. It is time ulster counties looked at this possibility.... and not cry only when they are successful and the problem comes to their door.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 21/07/2015 16:53:27    1757095

A whole restructure is needed as discussed every week..Its about time provincial championships had no bearing on quarter final pairings!! It would be more of a benefit to Dublin, Kerry and Mayo aswell.. Provincial championships have to stay also though.. Nothing beats a good provincial games against ur near neighbours! Its what GAA is all about

Spiderman (Donegal) - Posts: 248 - 21/07/2015 17:21:18    1757110

I'm in favour of changing to a format where every county gets a minimum of 6 games but that's for a different argument.

You won't hear Tyrone moaning this year and they've already played 4 championship games and therir 5th is against Sligo. All about the luck of the draw I'm afraid. I suspect we wouldn't have seen the opening post had Donegal beaten Monaghan. My only gripe is that 4th round qualifiers only have a week to prepare for a quarter final whilst provincial winners have 3 weeks and believe me I won't be moaning next year if Glaway can win Connacht.

Donegal played 7 games the year they won the All Ireland, I heard no moaning then, this years vintage are not as impressive hence the gripe.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 21/07/2015 17:29:36    1757122

Ah lads, this just comes off as sour grapes

This has been the system for years, it's tough but what can you do. It's a circular debate but as Oisin McConville mentioned in the Second Captains podcast, go to your local club and join a committee, make some proposals for championship restructure. That's how things get changed.

Still think McGuinness's championship revamp is by far the best proposal so far - GPA idea of a Champions League format is just awful in my opinion.

I'm more annoyed with the Ulster championship draw, we've been in the preliminary round 3 times in the last 5 years or so.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 21/07/2015 17:33:17    1757123

In the highly unlikely event of Donegal winning the AI this year their path would (most likely) be

Tyrone
Armagh
Derry
Monaghan
Galway
Mayo
Dublin
Kerry

Bloody Hell!!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 21/07/2015 17:36:08    1757125

Ulster should really look to get their own house in order. Their provincial semi-finalists at the very least should be seeded so as to avoid the preliminary round. Donegal should complain more to their own provincial council about that.

Ulster has 2 or 3 stand out counties. Most of the rest are competitive in fairness but that's about the size of it. Armagh, Derry, Down and Cavan have all been knocked out of the championship by similar type competitive counties from other provinces.

Get ye're Ulster championship house in order lads and stop all the whining about it.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7823 - 21/07/2015 17:37:49    1757128

Yeah it is unfair and perhaps yes sending Donegal down to Connacht every 9 years is the answer.

One Ulster team should play in Connacht & two Leinster teams should play in Munster and we'll all have three games to the provincial final.

Kerry are on for another soft All Ireland whilst in the improbable scenario that Donegal rose from the ashes and beat Tyrone, Armagh, Derry, Galway, Mayo, Dublin & Kerry to win an All Ireland they really should be allowed to keep the trophy on a permanent basis as that would be the hardest won All Ireland in the history of the sport

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 187 - 21/07/2015 17:53:51    1757145

On the subject of Donegal's Ulster championship path:
Tyrone - Donegal or any Ulster semi-finalist should not be starting out in the preliminary round. If ye want to make it this difficult for ye're selves, well ye simply only have ye're selves to blame.
Armagh - beaten by Galway.
Derry - beaten by Galway.
Monaghan - Kerry had to beat the league runners-up in the Munster final. A tough provincial final should be par for the course in every province!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7823 - 21/07/2015 17:54:31    1757146

Sorry, Donegal would have to win 7, front or back door

donegalhills (Donegal) - Posts: 17 - 21/07/2015 18:03:58    1757151

Soma
County: UK
Posts: 1072

1757076 The Munster, Ulster and Leinster champions have all played the exact same number of games so far in this years championship. Also, Galway have played 1 game more than Donegal so far in this years championship, including going to Crossmaglen and beating Armagh fairly handily, as well as beating Derry without much fuss. I suspect if Donegal, who also have beaten Derry and Armagh in 2 of the 3 games they have won this year, do beat Galway you will not hear Galway complain that they were too tired or any sympathy from Donegal either for the fact Galway had already played an extra game in the championship.
Mullane is wrong about the club hurling as well but that is a different matter.

Stop emabarrasing yourself with this Connaught being strong thing. Sligo were destroyed last Sunday, London for gods sake made it to a provincial final a few years back. If London got to an Ulster final , I would be checking myself in. Your opinions are insane for someone thats too embarrased to name their own county. Your obviously from a county that hasnt won a match in a while .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/07/2015 18:18:16    1757160

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 4411

1757128 Ulster should really look to get their own house in order. Their provincial semi-finalists at the very least should be seeded so as to avoid the preliminary round. Donegal should complain more to their own provincial council about that.

Ulster has 2 or 3 stand out counties. Most of the rest are competitive in fairness but that's about the size of it. Armagh, Derry, Down and Cavan have all been knocked out of the championship by similar type competitive counties from other provinces.

Get ye're Ulster championship house in order lads and stop all the whining about it.

Interesting Legend , think you are spot on here and they should be seeded.

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/07/2015 18:19:53    1757161