Take a look at the results from the weekend. Division 4 Derry winning with just over 5 minutes left on the clock. Division 3 Offaly leading for a considerable length of time against Meath, Meath falling over the line. Wicklow running Kildare close. Division 4 Limerick (who lost 5 on the bounce) trouncing Tipperary and Clare scrapping over the line against Waterford.

So where are all these hammerings that suggest we need a second-tier championship? Even go back to last weekend and London gave Galway a serious game. The only game from the weekend that could be used to argue for a second tier championship was the Roscommon v Leitrim game.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/05/2019 10:50:19    2183547

When did Jim McDonald join the forum?

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 13/05/2019 11:07:09    2183556

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 13/05/2019 11:17:05    2183561

I agree completely, it's total rubbish talking of a second tier and look at the píss poor coverage these games got as it is. Could you imagine these teams were condemned to a second tier, they basically wouldn't be heard from again.

But then of course you have attention seeking twats like Joe Brolly calling for 3 tiers, it's laughable.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/05/2019 11:26:25    2183570

francie81 (Louth) - Posts: 220 - 13/05/2019 11:34:40    2183575

Yesterday was a fine day, does it make a summer?

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1817 - 13/05/2019 11:47:13    2183581

dave1988 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1234 - 13/05/2019 12:25:11    2183605

My own county has spent most of the last 11 years(since the league revamp) in division 3, and the media coverage received is shocking. Not a word on league Sunday and a small paragraph in print media, that's all weaker counties get. Joe Brolly knows right well that any 2 or 3 tier system will mean RTE only covering the top counties. He is great at shooting his mouth off but doesn't consider the long term impact to weaker counties. It's beyond patronising to suggest that it solves everything by letting the likes of Louth play in Croke Park on AI final day.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1660 - 13/05/2019 12:39:22    2183611

One good weekend doesn't make the lower teams good again, just look at the past decade, 2nd tier is needed, the current system is like Man Utd or Liverpool facing AFC Wimbledon

PyatPree (Cork) - Posts: 376 - 13/05/2019 14:06:26    2183660

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 13/05/2019 14:22:30    2183671

Look at last weekend with Galway in division 1 v London in division 4

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 13/05/2019 14:23:49    2183672

PyatPree (Cork) - Posts: 376 - 13/05/2019 15:19:39    2183693

PyatPree (Cork) - Posts: 376 - 13/05/2019 17:57:51    2183755

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4017 - 13/05/2019 18:31:54    2183775

There should be no 2nd tier championship in football. All teams below division 2 should oppose it. Counties in lower divisions have been competitive in every province aside from leitrim this championship; one shock and a couple of teams unlucky. If a 2nd tier championship is introduced; it will pave the way for a champions league format just like what exists in hurling where all the big teams play one another over and over for television purposes with no coverage of the less competition. Elitism. With no improvement among the weaker counties. Every county should get to play in the championship proper, only counties like dublin will trounce a dibision 3/4 team.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2091 - 13/05/2019 21:05:18    2183815

I was thinking about this issue over the weekend
I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see the div 4 teams put it up to the higher ranked teams
The focus should be on putting in finance and coaching structures in these div 3 and 4 countys
as we all know these countys have produced great footballers over the years and will again
they are all entitled to have their day in the sun and play in the allireland championship/provincial champ
after that then maybe run youre second tier championship when those teams are knocked out
maybe use the div 3 and 4 leauges to determine who plays who at start of it
But it must be backed by the gaa with the final played in croke park on all Ireland final day or the sat before
I think a minor b football championship for these countys would aid the development of these countys too
with the final played before the second tier final in croke park too

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 13/05/2019 21:35:09    2183826

If 3 tiers is too many, why does the NFL have 4 ?
When you look at the unexpected close encounters between strong and weak - you have to wonder - does the strong up the game of the weak - or does the former get complacent - the strong need a hurling-style Limerick v Tipp encounter every game.
I think a 3-tier group phase with all 33 in the Sam hunt via the Provs is a fair compromise.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3205 - 13/05/2019 22:29:45    2183837

You can have both. Start with a tiered championship... But play it on a league basis. And call it say the National Football league. Play the finals away the way they are. Then exactly as it was done up to mid 1990s allow four teams from Division 1, two from 2, one from 3 and 4 into All Ireland quarter finals to play out for Sam. Nobody is excluded from winning Sam and everyone has a chance of winning another trophy. The structure is clear and it has been done before.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 13/05/2019 23:13:56    2183851

Why not keekeep the championship as it is so everyone has a fair crack and the first 16 teams knocked out play in div 2 championship that way everyone can dream of Sam and the lower teams who can't even afford to dream can compete for a paidi o se cup. Let's be honest galway Tyrone roscommon or the Kerry's Dublins or the super 8s are never going to loose a first round game to a leitrim or a new York a Carlow or wicklow. Sure limerick beat tipp but leitrim could beat Sligo or London because they are all smaller teams or predominantly hurling counties. It is the most outdated championship in world sport and needs addressing. Like even if we scrapped the provincials and just have an open draw 4 groups of 8 because even that's fairer than what leitrim faced this year, playing roscommon a div 1 team, if we won play mayo in the semi a div 1 team and if by some miracle we beat mayo we play galway in the final like it's crazy and at this stage if we in leitrim even dream of winning a connaught championship we have to wake up and apologize..

harleys (Leitrim) - Posts: 318 - 14/05/2019 00:55:59    2183864

Exactly. Take Dublin out of leinster anybody can win on the day. Ofally and wicklow proved it. Take kerry out of munster and anybody could win it.

Connaught and ulster already competitive. Honestly the problem is Dublin and kerry not the other 30.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 14/05/2019 01:58:24    2183869