I see they are thinking of going club first next year as unlikely there will be crowds allowed in until later in the year. I think it's a good approach. Club players out of action since September. I know they won't have anything in 2nd half of year but hopefully society will have opened up by then. Inter county needs crowds

Nogoal (Galway) - Posts: 62 - 29/11/2020 22:03:50    2316694

No goal I thought I heard it other way round..all Ireland's to be started in April,finished by July.same intercounty as this year no round robin in hurling,no super 8s in football..club to run then til October-November..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2214 - 29/11/2020 22:44:07    2316712

makes more sense to have intercounty first with no crowds and then hopefully crowds back for club games. Club games facilitate a lot more communities, Each club in most counties getting 3 to 4 championship games gives more outings and enjoyment to more people than 1 loss at county level.

wishfulthinkin (Cavan) - Posts: 1680 - 30/11/2020 01:01:40    2316730

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11229 - 30/11/2020 08:02:32    2316743

Irish examiner reported over the weekend it might be club first now, with the Gaa hoping a vaccine will be in place next year, so they could have crowds at games later in the year.

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 30/11/2020 08:10:39    2316745

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2841 - 30/11/2020 08:48:01    2316752

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 30/11/2020 09:53:58    2316772

The gaa are thinking with their wallets again.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 30/11/2020 10:12:48    2316781

Is there no club All Ireland series in 2021?

gatha (Kilkenny) - Posts: 318 - 30/11/2020 11:24:37    2316832

Yeah I think the original plan was intercounty in spring and summer, then club in autumn and winter. GAA switching it up might be a bit of a revenue booster if there's a vaccine in the latter part of the year and they can pack crowds in. And given how their income would have taken a hit, it's hard to blame them this time.

Leaving aside the money aspect, I actually quite like the idea of a club first split season. Might give some players who previously would not have got a look in - or are late developers so missed underage county development squads - a chance to shine and maybe get a shot at county if they show up well.

I think the other thing is as weather conditions deteriorate heading into autumn and winter, some club pitches wouldn't have the surface, drainage etc. to cope with the wintry conditions. Whereas (you'd hope) the county pitches should be better maintained and kept for winter football. Lastly, if the weather isn't great for a match, that can be a bit of a leveller between county teams, so might make for more even games.

TheBlackDeath (Cavan) - Posts: 73 - 30/11/2020 13:02:19    2316900

Club first is a bad idea.

Because intercounty teams would basically disrupt the club championship by wanting to train.

Intercounty first means clubs get a fair crack afterwards.

If club goes first
What are club players going to do in July, august and September?

At least if intercounty goes first, clubs can play in a league first to start the season in April and build up to championship in July.

Also far more people go to club matches than intercounty. So in terms of capacity allowed, if 500 is allowed later in 2021, this would provide far more benefit to the club scene than the intercounty scene. Being able to go to watch a club match is a greater pleasure for most genuine gaa folk than going to an intercounty game.

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 30/11/2020 14:06:08    2316934

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 30/11/2020 14:36:00    2316952

I think club first is a brilliant idea. Firstly from a positive point of view, it gives players a chance to shine and put themselves into the public eye and a chance to become part of a county panel. They can bring their good club form into the county set up. I agree from a GAA point of view that supporters will have a chance to come again to matches. The GAA need revenue to sustain their activities. I don't think there will be a problem between club and county managers as regards player availability. In Wicklow this year our club programme ran smoothly enough. In relation to supporters attending matches this will depend on a vaccine becoming available. If there is a delay putting club matches first will be alleviated by the availability of live streaming which was a big success this year.

61123 (Wicklow) - Posts: 172 - 30/11/2020 16:21:37    2317016

Are clubs allowed back training tomorrow?
not that I think there is really a need til January, especially when challenge games are not allowed, its not county

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 458 - 30/11/2020 16:31:59    2317024

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 30/11/2020 17:14:21    2317041

Have they confirmed that the inter-county championships will return to the 2019 structures next year? I can see the logic in going club first, with bigger crowds more likely to attend in the 2nd half of the year, especially as this years championships are going into December (you'd only have a few months between inter-county championships otherwise).

But would it be worth scrapping the inter-county leagues next year, and just playing the championships? That might allow maximum time for club first, with a bit of a buffer between club and county seasons, to help avoid possible disruptions to club championship by inter-county training.
In hurling especially, the new group stage championship format is essentially the same as the league (the league was kind of redundant before, even more so now). If they really want to have an uninterrupted club season, and a meaningful inter-county championship, somethings got to give,. In hurling at least, the league feels like its starting to outlive its usefulness

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/11/2020 19:25:00    2317113