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I consumed more GAA media in the last week than I have in the past year, and the main lament was "The All-Ireland final should be in September".
Which made me think, well is there an option where it can be?
It can in my opinion, but it will involve inter county managers giving up their players for club action throughout the summer (don't know if a runner).
I was a club player until last year, and I liked the certainty the calendar gave us. But I would have loved if it was throughout the Summer rather than at the back end of it after the best of the summer had passed. And, even the slightest niggle in it meant players missed vital matches with no healing time.
I know a few inter county players and I know they would love a break from the all consuming nature of it by getting back to their clubs at various stages in the year.
Assumptions:
1. Provincials start at the same time.
2. Club weeks every month (except August for teams still in AI Series)
3. A 2 week break before the Provincial Finals.
4. A week of a break before the resumption of inter county activity, so managers can get their team back together.
22/04/2023 Provincial Round 1
29/04/2023 Provincial Round 2
06/05/2023 Club Week
13/05/2023 Club Week
20/05/2023 Break
27/05/2023 Provincial Round 3
03/06/2023 Provincial Round 4
10/06/2023 Club Week
17/06/2023 Club Week
24/06/2023 Break
01/07/2023 Provincial Round 5
08/07/2023 Break
15/07/2023 Provincial Final
22/07/2023 Club week
29/07/2023 Club week
05/08/2023 Break
12/08/2023 AI Quarter Finals
19/08/2023 Break
26/08/2023 AI Semi Final
02/09/2023 Break
09/09/2023 AI Final
16/09/2023 Club from here on
Biggest advantage is the club game is part of the entire summer, not just for when the inter county season is over. Rather than a microwave championship as Donal Og called it its spread out but the club is a big part of the summer.
I won't be here to reply to responses until tomorrow morning GMT as I have footie training for the evening.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1785 - 25/07/2023 09:26:23
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Replying To StoreysTash: "I consumed more GAA media in the last week than I have in the past year, and the main lament was "The All-Ireland final should be in September".
Which made me think, well is there an option where it can be?
It can in my opinion, but it will involve inter county managers giving up their players for club action throughout the summer (don't know if a runner).
I was a club player until last year, and I liked the certainty the calendar gave us. But I would have loved if it was throughout the Summer rather than at the back end of it after the best of the summer had passed. And, even the slightest niggle in it meant players missed vital matches with no healing time.
I know a few inter county players and I know they would love a break from the all consuming nature of it by getting back to their clubs at various stages in the year.
Assumptions:
1. Provincials start at the same time.
2. Club weeks every month (except August for teams still in AI Series)
3. A 2 week break before the Provincial Finals.
4. A week of a break before the resumption of inter county activity, so managers can get their team back together.
22/04/2023 Provincial Round 1
29/04/2023 Provincial Round 2
06/05/2023 Club Week
13/05/2023 Club Week
20/05/2023 Break
27/05/2023 Provincial Round 3
03/06/2023 Provincial Round 4
10/06/2023 Club Week
17/06/2023 Club Week
24/06/2023 Break
01/07/2023 Provincial Round 5
08/07/2023 Break
15/07/2023 Provincial Final
22/07/2023 Club week
29/07/2023 Club week
05/08/2023 Break
12/08/2023 AI Quarter Finals
19/08/2023 Break
26/08/2023 AI Semi Final
02/09/2023 Break
09/09/2023 AI Final
16/09/2023 Club from here on
Biggest advantage is the club game is part of the entire summer, not just for when the inter county season is over. Rather than a microwave championship as Donal Og called it its spread out but the club is a big part of the summer.
I won't be here to reply to responses until tomorrow morning GMT as I have footie training for the evening." Great to hear you are playing a bit of Aussie Rules. It's a good game. That's a good calendar and something like it was back in the day. The problem was intercounty managements won't release the lads back to the clubs, and would be even less likely to release players to play the other code. Also 8 AI quarter finals in 1 weekend will play havoc with the TV people.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/07/2023 11:56:08
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It has the nucleus of a good plan, its when you try to schedule football in that theres an issue.
But i think we do need to change the calendar overall.
Ok theres no need to play All Ireland finals in September, alternatively theres no need to play them in July either, why compress the calendar to the extent it is which affects everyone to counter what is going to be an issue maybe for a few counties?
And where you have the nucleus of a good idea here is in regards to the weeks being set aside for Club, we need to have a t least 4 weekends in or around March/April where counties have the opportunity to play their club games, if certgain counties dont do that then fine them.
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1427 - 25/07/2023 12:43:29
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I'm guessing that calendar is devised with only hurling in mind, since it just allows for five provincial round-robin matches and so on?
Aside altogether from inter-county managers being unlikely to regularly release their players for club duty, I don't see how football would fit in.
Say Wexford footballers are playing Leinster Championship or Tailteann Cup on the weeks you've marked up as "Club Week" - what happens then?
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2622 - 25/07/2023 13:00:29
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I have to say i like the cut of your jib Storeys.
It would be a return to the older days when clubs did manage to play around the inter county. I can recall seeing Dublin footballers playing fierce club matches in between big county games in the 1970s. Kilkenny hurlers managed that until even more recently if i recall correctly.
The championship needs to conclude in September rather than July and the football could be structured similarly on alternate weeks.
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3128 - 25/07/2023 13:29:38
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Replying To StoreysTash: "I consumed more GAA media in the last week than I have in the past year, and the main lament was "The All-Ireland final should be in September".
Which made me think, well is there an option where it can be?
It can in my opinion, but it will involve inter county managers giving up their players for club action throughout the summer (don't know if a runner).
I was a club player until last year, and I liked the certainty the calendar gave us. But I would have loved if it was throughout the Summer rather than at the back end of it after the best of the summer had passed. And, even the slightest niggle in it meant players missed vital matches with no healing time.
I know a few inter county players and I know they would love a break from the all consuming nature of it by getting back to their clubs at various stages in the year.
Assumptions:
1. Provincials start at the same time.
2. Club weeks every month (except August for teams still in AI Series)
3. A 2 week break before the Provincial Finals.
4. A week of a break before the resumption of inter county activity, so managers can get their team back together.
22/04/2023 Provincial Round 1
29/04/2023 Provincial Round 2
06/05/2023 Club Week
13/05/2023 Club Week
20/05/2023 Break
27/05/2023 Provincial Round 3
03/06/2023 Provincial Round 4
10/06/2023 Club Week
17/06/2023 Club Week
24/06/2023 Break
01/07/2023 Provincial Round 5
08/07/2023 Break
15/07/2023 Provincial Final
22/07/2023 Club week
29/07/2023 Club week
05/08/2023 Break
12/08/2023 AI Quarter Finals
19/08/2023 Break
26/08/2023 AI Semi Final
02/09/2023 Break
09/09/2023 AI Final
16/09/2023 Club from here on
Biggest advantage is the club game is part of the entire summer, not just for when the inter county season is over. Rather than a microwave championship as Donal Og called it its spread out but the club is a big part of the summer.
I won't be here to reply to responses until tomorrow morning GMT as I have footie training for the evening." I'd describe this as good in theory but in reality would be impossible to implement for reasons already outlined.
TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 25/07/2023 13:55:24
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I like it, who cares if hurling and football on the same weekend something has to give here. If you wanted, you could push the All-Ireland out further and play it in October. Croke Park would be able to hold matches in October. But maybe he wanted the much lamented All-Ireland in September storeystash? This seems to be the key bone of contention with the dinosaurs.
Maybe, managers need to be told to release players back to their clubs, just like they did years ago? Who gave them all the power, or when did this power grab by them become the norm? They are well able to build these in to their plans given the back room teams now. I doubt if Lee Chin headed back to the Harriers he'd get the **** ran out of him by the club manager who doesn't know his training load to that date, he'd be fit enough I would say.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1259 - 25/07/2023 15:33:13
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It can be made work. Football provinces take 4 rounds max to work.
How about:
22/04/2023 Provincial Round 1 / Football provincials
29/04/2023 Provincial Round 2 / Football provincials
06/05/2023 Club week / Club week
13/05/2023 Club week / Club week
20/05/2023 Break / Break
27/05/2023 Provincial Round 3 / Football provincials
03/06/2023 Provincial Round 4 / Football provincial finals
10/06/2023 Club week / Club week
17/06/2023 Club week / Club week
24/06/2023 Break / Break
01/07/2023 Provincial Round 5 / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
08/07/2023 Break / Break
15/07/2023 Provincial Finals / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
22/07/2023 Club week / Club week
29/07/2023 Club week / Club week
05/08/2023 Break / Break
12/08/2023 AI Quarter Finals / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
19/08/2023 Break / Break
26/08/2023 AI Semi Final / AI Prelim Finals / Tailteann Cup
02/09/2023 Break / Break
09/09/2023 AI Final / Break
16/09/2023 Quarter Finals / Tailteann Cup QF
23/09/2023 Break
30/09/2023 AI Semi Final / Tailteann Cup SF
07/10/2023 Break
14/10/2023 AI Final / Tailteann Cup SF
All-Ireland in mid-October, best games played at best times of year and the QF/SF/Finals in October in Croke Park, so no pitch issues.
Why not? If a few TV matches are the only loss, for the betterment of our games for all, and including the club player throughout the summer and taking the pressure off county boards (especially those with dual codes) then why not. I love the fact that there are club weeks throughout, and even the break weeks would only affect a set number of counties in the latter stages. By the end of July, many counties could have 6 rounds of their club championships done, and the club becomes vibrant again.
Try something different in the name of god.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1259 - 25/07/2023 15:53:21
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "It can be made work. Football provinces take 4 rounds max to work.
How about:
22/04/2023 Provincial Round 1 / Football provincials
29/04/2023 Provincial Round 2 / Football provincials
06/05/2023 Club week / Club week
13/05/2023 Club week / Club week
20/05/2023 Break / Break
27/05/2023 Provincial Round 3 / Football provincials
03/06/2023 Provincial Round 4 / Football provincial finals
10/06/2023 Club week / Club week
17/06/2023 Club week / Club week
24/06/2023 Break / Break
01/07/2023 Provincial Round 5 / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
08/07/2023 Break / Break
15/07/2023 Provincial Finals / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
22/07/2023 Club week / Club week
29/07/2023 Club week / Club week
05/08/2023 Break / Break
12/08/2023 AI Quarter Finals / Football Super 8's / Tailteann Cup
19/08/2023 Break / Break
26/08/2023 AI Semi Final / AI Prelim Finals / Tailteann Cup
02/09/2023 Break / Break
09/09/2023 AI Final / Break
16/09/2023 Quarter Finals / Tailteann Cup QF
23/09/2023 Break
30/09/2023 AI Semi Final / Tailteann Cup SF
07/10/2023 Break
14/10/2023 AI Final / Tailteann Cup SF
All-Ireland in mid-October, best games played at best times of year and the QF/SF/Finals in October in Croke Park, so no pitch issues.
Why not? If a few TV matches are the only loss, for the betterment of our games for all, and including the club player throughout the summer and taking the pressure off county boards (especially those with dual codes) then why not. I love the fact that there are club weeks throughout, and even the break weeks would only affect a set number of counties in the latter stages. By the end of July, many counties could have 6 rounds of their club championships done, and the club becomes vibrant again.
Try something different in the name of god." Would have to take some of the breaks out. Or put the provincial and AI club championships off til January. Otherwise there won't be enough time to run off the club championships.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 25/07/2023 16:51:29
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To incorporate both hurling and football we should look at the following imho
Start the national league games earlier in the year and remove the finals which frees up maybe 3 weeks (we could even look at restructuring the football leagues to 3 divisions of 6 and 2 divisions of 7 if we so chose)
Push back the All Ireland Finals by 2 weeks (why we are having AI finals in July is beyond me) which facilitates another 2 weeks in the calendar. Mirror the hurling league games with football ,starting earlier, remove the finals and reduce the size of the divisions if needed.
Free up 4/5 weeks within the intercounty season where Counties can play rounds of their club championship, if they refuse to do so because an intercounty manager has too much say then fine them and fine them heavily. I mean we have bloody well screwed up the entire GAA calendar for everyone to date and there are counties who still dont even bother starting their club championships until September anyway!
Im still bemused by this current structure where we effectively ban club players from playing meaningful club games for 6/7 months and then rush through said club championships all whilst completely devaluing and diluting our intercounty competitions.
We can work it both ways where club players still have something meaningful to play in the early part of the year and relative certainty as to whats happening later in the year. Meanwhile the intercounty season isnt run as something to get out of the way as soon as possible like it is now but hey maybe we will get another few concerts in Croke Park in August!!
tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1427 - 25/07/2023 17:23:11
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@Exiled - a county that makes it to an All-Ireland Final would either have to have its club championships completed by the end of July in anticipation of that, or else wouldn't get to start the remaining stages until late October. And the second of those would mean that their championships wouldn't be finished in time for their county champions to play in provincial club competitions.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2622 - 25/07/2023 17:31:28
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Most club players I talk to are happy with the system in Limerick anyway.
cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 783 - 25/07/2023 17:36:56
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Replying To tearintom: "To incorporate both hurling and football we should look at the following imho
Start the national league games earlier in the year and remove the finals which frees up maybe 3 weeks (we could even look at restructuring the football leagues to 3 divisions of 6 and 2 divisions of 7 if we so chose)
Push back the All Ireland Finals by 2 weeks (why we are having AI finals in July is beyond me) which facilitates another 2 weeks in the calendar. Mirror the hurling league games with football ,starting earlier, remove the finals and reduce the size of the divisions if needed.
Free up 4/5 weeks within the intercounty season where Counties can play rounds of their club championship, if they refuse to do so because an intercounty manager has too much say then fine them and fine them heavily. I mean we have bloody well screwed up the entire GAA calendar for everyone to date and there are counties who still dont even bother starting their club championships until September anyway!
Im still bemused by this current structure where we effectively ban club players from playing meaningful club games for 6/7 months and then rush through said club championships all whilst completely devaluing and diluting our intercounty competitions.
We can work it both ways where club players still have something meaningful to play in the early part of the year and relative certainty as to whats happening later in the year. Meanwhile the intercounty season isnt run as something to get out of the way as soon as possible like it is now but hey maybe we will get another few concerts in Croke Park in August!!" Yeah, we supposedly made all these changes to suit the club player yet all we have is a situation where the best club players are in Boston and San Francisco and counties won't start their championships until they come back.
At least 10 years ago, the clubs had April to themselves and the diktat inter county managers took that off them. What it has meant in general is the clubs have lost their mojo early in the year.
The proposal storeystash made is to go some way towards balancing the scales and involving the club player throughout the year. Instead of letting the tail wag the dog, as you say if counties don't use club breaks then fine them and fine them heavily, of course a handful of inter county players might be injured, well there are some of them injured at the moment anyway and the show goes on. But if there's a mass removal from club action for the week or two they are supposed to play with them, fine them or throw them out of their inter county competition.
The inter county game might be the revenue generator, but it relies on clubs, clubs selling county tickets, etc to function and to make that money.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1259 - 25/07/2023 18:22:58
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Replying To Pikeman96: "@Exiled - a county that makes it to an All-Ireland Final would either have to have its club championships completed by the end of July in anticipation of that, or else wouldn't get to start the remaining stages until late October. And the second of those would mean that their championships wouldn't be finished in time for their county champions to play in provincial club competitions." That should happen regardless. Its the best competition, played at the worst time.
Move the club championships to run in parallel with the hurling league. Play it on 4G pitches if necessary. It can all be done.
I know it would clash with Fitzgibbon but it can all be managed where there is a will.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1259 - 25/07/2023 18:28:17
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Replying To cityman73: "Most club players I talk to are happy with the system in Limerick anyway." I think most club players are happy with the calendar as it is.
Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1960 - 25/07/2023 18:33:22
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Replying To cityman73: "Most club players I talk to are happy with the system in Limerick anyway." What way do you run off the club championship in Limerick?
Afinestick (Wexford) - Posts: 999 - 26/07/2023 09:16:00
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Replying To Afinestick: "What way do you run off the club championship in Limerick?" "Run off"?
As in get it out of the way quick?
Why not play it?
Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1960 - 26/07/2023 10:48:24
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "That should happen regardless. Its the best competition, played at the worst time.
Move the club championships to run in parallel with the hurling league. Play it on 4G pitches if necessary. It can all be done.
I know it would clash with Fitzgibbon but it can all be managed where there is a will." How can you run the club championships parallel with the hurling League and Fitzgibbon? None of the Counties or Colleges would have any players if their clubs were playing championship the same day.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 26/07/2023 11:09:37
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Replying To Viking66: "How can you run the club championships parallel with the hurling League and Fitzgibbon? None of the Counties or Colleges would have any players if their clubs were playing championship the same day." I think he just means the provincial and All-Ireland club championships. But even still, there would be problems.
Colleges tend to have first call on players for the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson, especially if those players are on any sort of a scholarship. So if a player's college is in action on any given day, and his club is in a provincial competition on the same day, then the club would have to do without him.
Or even allowing for how many Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup matches are played midweek - if the player's club is training that night in preparation for provincial or All-Ireland club competition, the player can't even attend club training.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2622 - 26/07/2023 11:34:52
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Replying To Viking66: "How can you run the club championships parallel with the hurling League and Fitzgibbon? None of the Counties or Colleges would have any players if their clubs were playing championship the same day." Players cant and shouldnt be expected to play everything.
too much expected of a lot of players in colleges, inter county
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 26/07/2023 11:40:00
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