Well what do we all think of the new format for the Senior Championship and league??? I think it was time for a change but can't help feel that what they want to achieve by trying to cut down on games that don't pull the crowds in for the earlier rounds is just gonna continue. Now i might be wrong but if you get a group with the likes of Ballymahon and Clonguish playin the likes of Ardagh and Rathcline I'm sure that its only a fight for 1st and 2nd and then 3rd and 4th!!!! Bring back the old straight knock out to bring back excitement to the game!!!! But I'll wait and see before commenting anymore on it. But I like the idea of expanding the top division, more games are needed in the league especially before the championship. It was ridiculous the last few years with teams playing maybe 3 league games at most and then are plunged into the championship!!! Lets rattle off 8-9 league rounds and then teams will be bang on to give us some good football to look at. Just a thought but what do the rest of ye think of it??

Skyjet81 (Longford) - Posts: 19 - 12/11/2008 17:52:41    139897

What is this new format.

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3191 - 13/11/2008 07:47:55    140188

i tink this new format is a great idea,bigger league where matches can be played without county players means it wont drag out all year....championship format is now similar to Lietrim and Roscommon i suppouse every team is gaurenteed a few games and with the league format one shock defeat to a big team mite just leave a group wide open..i tink its a good format and should be a exciting new championship...witht this new format does it mean that the Bertie Allen cup is been abolished?? no harm if it is neway

Ric Flair (None) - Posts: 180 - 13/11/2008 09:08:23    140207

With this new format, will the Leader cup replace the Bertie Allen Cup (as it seems that the league will be played without county players).
If the above is the case while it would suit the county team, players only available for championship matches, it means that extended county panels members(players down the list in pecking order) may only play a handful of matches next year, ie championship round robin games.
Has this new format been approved at County board level? I would have thought that any such changes would need to go throught the proper channels, ie Proposed at County Convention and then voted throught at the First County Board meeting in 2009.

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3191 - 13/11/2008 11:23:32    140327

The new format will mean that county plys only miss club league games when they are both on the same wk end. Only the 25 listed players for each county game miss the club games - any other players on the panel are free to play with their club.

The new format is agreed by clubs at last County Board Meeeting and is in place for 2 yrs [will run for longer if not opposed]

hotwire (Longford) - Posts: 2 - 14/11/2008 12:24:32    141398

great idea to have group stages for the championship. every team is guaranteed 3 games apart from the teams in the 3 team group. it could come down to the last game with all 4 teams in with a chance of winning the group. dont think expanding div 1 is a good idea. the county board get it hard enough to run of nine games a year let alone 14 games. the name of the game is more football for the club player so it cant be all bad.

howshecuttin (Longford) - Posts: 376 - 14/11/2008 14:26:05    141542

Bit harsh there on ardagh and rathcline the..any team can beat any team on any given day!! the development of young players in both these clubs is second to none,and is showing wit a good crop of players.Rathcline have paddy mulooly and james carroll who both featured on county minors last year and play senior football.Ardagh have brian og farrell,shane henry and gerard farrell.Gerard farrell and henry are county u21s this year and i heard henry was askd into senior trials.these have been playin senior football with ardagh for the last 5 years and i dont think they should be brought through so quick although henry averaged 1-3 or 1-4 in most of ardaghs gmes this year and is a very accurate free taker.also a very level headed young man.Plus ardagh have danny and paddy keenan,danny will play a very important part in county teams this year at full forward.

middleoftheroad (Longford) - Posts: 2 - 19/11/2008 00:48:35    144541

Fair play to you middleoftheroad.There is absolutly nothing between teams in Longford and I dont understand why teams like Ardagh and Rathcline come in for so much stick. You have to remember that Ardagh took Abbeylara to a replay in this years championship and were unlucky not to beat Abbey in the first game. Granard finished bottom of division 1 and I dont see their name being mentioned as one of the weaker teams in the county.

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 19/11/2008 18:28:45    145309

Fair play to you middleoftheroad.There is absolutly nothing between teams in Longford and I dont understand why teams like Ardagh and Rathcline come in for so much stick. You have to remember that Ardagh took Abbeylara to a replay in this years championship and were unlucky not to beat Abbey in the first game. Granard finished bottom of division 1 and I dont see their name being mentioned as one of the weaker teams in the county. Also I think the new format for both the league and championship is a great idea.It gives club players more games throughout the year and also more championship games.It was stupid having clubs training for 9 or 10 monthes and maybe only playing 12 games in the year.

heyhey (Longford) - Posts: 80 - 19/11/2008 18:31:49    145312

I'm not so sure about the new format for the League. A lot of posters seem to be in favour but I wonder if they have given it sufficient thought. There were a total of ninety matches played in the division one and two campaigns this year and although run on a consistent basis it still took 5 1/2 months to complete. With the new format I feel it will be a major struggle to fit in 14-15 extra matches and that's not allowing for replays at the knock-out stages. Is it proposed to have midweek matches? If so when are the players to train? What about players who are working away for their Clubs? Will they have to travel home midweek? Assuming that the early-season Cup competitions are to be scrapped, the League proper season will need to commence late Febuary/early March in order to get it finished on time. Clubs will have major problems in getting all the players out so early for what could be important fixtures. As far as county players not participating in some league matches - I think this is a crazy idea. Some clubs will have a problem replacing these players for particular league matches and those who can manage could be faced with huge inconsistencies in team play and performance. There are some clubs who just will not go along with this situation and may not release players for the county giving rise to a club v county wrangle. I know the clubs agreed at County Board to the new format but wait until there's a make or break league match clashing with a county fixture. The agreement will go out the door then. BTW what about the other five clubs outside the 15 selected for this First Division? I haven't heard how these clubs are to be catered for. Perhaps someone might enlighten me. It strikes me that there needs to be a lot more thought put into this format.

CHESELDORMAY (Longford) - Posts: 31 - 20/11/2008 00:58:20    145569