The LGFA championships are trying to build attendances. They've a sensible structure with that in mind. The GAA championships have strong attendances. We've seen the qualifiers run in parallel to the provincial championships. We've seen the quarter-finals adopt a round robin format. We're going back to traditional quarter-finals this year. Next year sees the provincial finalists joined by 8 league qualifiers. The GAA moves step by step. A step forward can be reversed if needs be. Some of the changes suggested need to keep that in mind. On the imbalance of counties in provinces, the idea of moving some counties has been suggested and rejected. If any county is not making their provincial final, the onus is on all of them to be well positioned in the league for the qualifiers spots on offer through the league. I accept there is an imbalance that Munster and Connaught teams can qualify for a provincial final after 1 match. At least in Munster, the bye to the provincial finals is earned on the field of play. In qualifying for a Munster final, the two counties are also qualifying for the following year's provincial semi-finals. If there is annoyance over 4 teams being one game away from a provincial final, a compromise solution could be Connaught and Munster semi-finals played over two legs. Then all counties in the country would have to play at least 2 matches to make a provincial final. One step solutions are often the best fit. Step by step!
Replying To legendzxix: "The LGFA championships are trying to build attendances. They've a sensible structure with that in mind. The GAA championships have strong attendances. We've seen the qualifiers run in parallel to the provincial championships. We've seen the quarter-finals adopt a round robin format. We're going back to traditional quarter-finals this year. Next year sees the provincial finalists joined by 8 league qualifiers. The GAA moves step by step. A step forward can be reversed if needs be. Some of the changes suggested need to keep that in mind. On the imbalance of counties in provinces, the idea of moving some counties has been suggested and rejected. If any county is not making their provincial final, the onus is on all of them to be well positioned in the league for the qualifiers spots on offer through the league. I accept there is an imbalance that Munster and Connaught teams can qualify for a provincial final after 1 match. At least in Munster, the bye to the provincial finals is earned on the field of play. In qualifying for a Munster final, the two counties are also qualifying for the following year's provincial semi-finals. If there is annoyance over 4 teams being one game away from a provincial final, a compromise solution could be Connaught and Munster semi-finals played over two legs. Then all counties in the country would have to play at least 2 matches to make a provincial final. One step solutions are often the best fit. Step by step!"
Really just think the Provincial champions only should be in the Sam Maguire. That really is the most sensible step and I wouldn't see why it is an anyway less natural step than having finalists there.
On the LGFA talk, the landscape in ladies football is so different to the landscape in Men's football that it's nonsensical to try to apply their format to our competitions.
There's weaker men's football teams that on their day could put it up to a bottom of division 1 team. Cavan and Tipp won Provincials in 2020 for crying out loud.
If Antrim, a good junior level team went to play a senior level team in ladies football it would be a massacre. Their structure is sensible for them, means nothing to us.
Given the draw for Championship the likely finalists are:
Munster Kerry v Clare/Tipp
Connacht Roscommon v Galway/Mayo
Leinster Dublin v Kildare/Meath (The Leinster Semis don't appear to be drawn yet but you'd guess that whichever of Meath or Kildare avoids Dublin would make it.)
Ulster Tyrone v Armagh/Donegal
With the league tables as they are that would give you the top 16 in the league - unless Tipperary upset the apple cart again.
Worth noting that 2 of Cork/Down/Offaly will be in the second tier, and 2 of Antrim/Limerick/Fermanagh/Louth in the top tier.
Seeds: Dublin Kerry Mayo Tyrone
Kildare Roscommon Clare Armagh
Donegal Monaghan Derry Galway
2 of Meath/Cork/Offaly/Down 2 of Antrim/Limerick/Fermanagh/Louth
There is likely only going to be 2-3 matches in the group stage that decide who qualifies. Most groups will be a formality. You'd expect the top seeds to qualify. Only really between the 2 and 3 seeds for a spot.
Replying To skirge7: "Given the draw for Championship the likely finalists are:
Munster Kerry v Clare/Tipp
Connacht Roscommon v Galway/Mayo
Leinster Dublin v Kildare/Meath (The Leinster Semis don't appear to be drawn yet but you'd guess that whichever of Meath or Kildare avoids Dublin would make it.)
Ulster Tyrone v Armagh/Donegal
With the league tables as they are that would give you the top 16 in the league - unless Tipperary upset the apple cart again.
Worth noting that 2 of Cork/Down/Offaly will be in the second tier, and 2 of Antrim/Limerick/Fermanagh/Louth in the top tier.
Seeds: Dublin Kerry Mayo Tyrone
Kildare Roscommon Clare Armagh
Donegal Monaghan Derry Galway
2 of Meath/Cork/Offaly/Down 2 of Antrim/Limerick/Fermanagh/Louth
There is likely only going to be 2-3 matches in the group stage that decide who qualifies. Most groups will be a formality. You'd expect the top seeds to qualify. Only really between the 2 and 3 seeds for a spot."
Yeah interesting, you'd have better 2nd and 3rd seeds probably capable of turning over the top seeds in a lot of groups on average. 4th seeds would be going for a weaker provincial runner up to get a shot at 3rd place. It kind of feels like yeah there'd probably be 1 or 2 teams with an easy run to the top spot and quarterfinals. A weak 4th seed or poor provincial runner up could be out of their depth but there'd probably be a lot of competitive matches otherwise. I think the way the seeding is planned to work will see big variations between the strength of groups.
Replying To Whammo86: "Really just think the Provincial champions only should be in the Sam Maguire. That really is the most sensible step and I wouldn't see why it is an anyway less natural step than having finalists there.
On the LGFA talk, the landscape in ladies football is so different to the landscape in Men's football that it's nonsensical to try to apply their format to our competitions.
There's weaker men's football teams that on their day could put it up to a bottom of division 1 team. Cavan and Tipp won Provincials in 2020 for crying out loud.
If Antrim, a good junior level team went to play a senior level team in ladies football it would be a massacre. Their structure is sensible for them, means nothing to us."
I agree regards provincial winners. Some county boards have a desire for the Tailteann Cup to start soon after provincial knockout. That's a strong influence right now. I've written before about Leinster and Ulster being double branch championships as they have a full set of quarter-finals. I would classify Connaught and Munster as single branch championships as they do not have a full set of quarter-finals. Another compromise option is for all the provincial winners and only the runners-up of double branch championships to advance through the provincial system. It's another method of guaranteeing that counties must win at least 2 games to advance through the provincial championships.