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Another great column by Kieran Shannon (Irish Examiner) today:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists-gaa/arid-41910925.html
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3604 - 15/09/2026 15:26:36
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Replying To omahant: "Another great column by Kieran Shannon (Irish Examiner) today:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists-gaa/arid-41910925.html" Not at all. - Simply cut your own cloth to measure.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3432 - 16/09/2026 08:54:42
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Replying To omahant: "Another great column by Kieran Shannon (Irish Examiner) today:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists-gaa/arid-41910925.html" Can we get an edit button or can a mod fix link so its a hyperlink?
What does article say exactly?
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 4017 - 16/09/2026 11:17:53
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Replying To supersub15: "Not at all. - Simply cut your own cloth to measure." Works in Kerry because its long-established.
In Cork I hear the Divisional teams didn't work too well this year.
Tried to introduce a version of it in Roscommon, ends up with only 1 regional team who get parachuted into a prelim quarter final and get a good batin' there.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 970 - 16/09/2026 11:20:18
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That 'Kerry model' can work in primarily single-code counties or even in counties with distinct hurling and football areas, and few dual players. Somebody could play for their club in a lower grade one week, for a district team in a higher grade the following week, the back to the club and lower grade the week after that, and so on.
But in a county with a large number of dual players who are already playing football one week, hurling the next, football after that etc., and all with their club - where or how do you fit in fixtures for district teams?
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4146 - 16/09/2026 11:41:12
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Replying To Pikeman96: "That 'Kerry model' can work in primarily single-code counties or even in counties with distinct hurling and football areas, and few dual players. Somebody could play for their club in a lower grade one week, for a district team in a higher grade the following week, the back to the club and lower grade the week after that, and so on.
But in a county with a large number of dual players who are already playing football one week, hurling the next, football after that etc., and all with their club - where or how do you fit in fixtures for district teams?" You dont.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20826 - 16/09/2026 12:52:15
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Replying To Viking66: "You dont." Precisely :)
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4146 - 16/09/2026 14:22:38
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Replying To Pikeman96: "That 'Kerry model' can work in primarily single-code counties or even in counties with distinct hurling and football areas, and few dual players. Somebody could play for their club in a lower grade one week, for a district team in a higher grade the following week, the back to the club and lower grade the week after that, and so on.
But in a county with a large number of dual players who are already playing football one week, hurling the next, football after that etc., and all with their club - where or how do you fit in fixtures for district teams?" That's a fair point.
Even without dual players, Kerry's Jack O'Connor complains that his inter-county players are overloaded with three championships (club, county & division).
To get Jack & Kieran on same page - keep three championships but reduce total potential match count (more easily written than done).
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3604 - 16/09/2026 14:30:18
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Replying To Seanfan: "Works in Kerry because its long-established.
In Cork I hear the Divisional teams didn't work too well this year.
Tried to introduce a version of it in Roscommon, ends up with only 1 regional team who get parachuted into a prelim quarter final and get a good batin' there." What's doable in one county may not be doable in another so perhaps its better to leave well enough alone,
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3432 - 17/09/2026 08:43:32
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Replying To supersub15: "What's doable in one county may not be doable in another so perhaps its better to leave well enough alone," It was actually done for a while in Wexford back in the 1970s and into the early 80s. Intermediate & Junior clubs in the Wexford, Enniscorthy, Gorey and New Ross districts would band together to field teams in the senior championships.
Wexford District even won the Senior Football Championship in 1977. But then when they reached the final again in '78, they refused to play, and the title was awarded to Castletown, who they were due to play there.
Have never reliably heard the reason for the refusal. Was once told it was because some players from one club who were due to line out for the District team were away on holidays, but there's much I don't understand about how exactly that might have come about.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4146 - 17/09/2026 12:03:58
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Replying To supersub15: "What's doable in one county may not be doable in another so perhaps its better to leave well enough alone," worth trying in a few counties though beyond where it has. Like Tipp should do it more in hurling and football - worked ok for north tipp with divisional football sides for a time but interest dropped off again. you could propably put a few divisional sides in hurling as well with a south divisional side, west diviional side and maybe even a north divisional side considering number of clubs in north of county who arent senior with some of them never likely to go senior
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 4017 - 17/09/2026 15:36:09
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Replying To KillingFields: "worth trying in a few counties though beyond where it has. Like Tipp should do it more in hurling and football - worked ok for north tipp with divisional football sides for a time but interest dropped off again. you could propably put a few divisional sides in hurling as well with a south divisional side, west diviional side and maybe even a north divisional side considering number of clubs in north of county who arent senior with some of them never likely to go senior" A bit complexed don't you think especially for the small / very small, unestablished counties.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3432 - 17/09/2026 20:26:42
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Replying To Pikeman96: "It was actually done for a while in Wexford back in the 1970s and into the early 80s. Intermediate & Junior clubs in the Wexford, Enniscorthy, Gorey and New Ross districts would band together to field teams in the senior championships.
Wexford District even won the Senior Football Championship in 1977. But then when they reached the final again in '78, they refused to play, and the title was awarded to Castletown, who they were due to play there.
Have never reliably heard the reason for the refusal. Was once told it was because some players from one club who were due to line out for the District team were away on holidays, but there's much I don't understand about how exactly that might have come about." I wasn't aware of that Pikeman, so for a few years it did happen over a large enough area, I can only imagine communication must have been difficult enough as with no smart phones in fact phones of any kind were scarce enough, were they not.? Organization must have been a real problem.
So, Wexford district refused to defend the title they won in 1977. Surely there was a legit enough reason for their refusal to play the game, so their reason must have been documented at club level and recorded in the minutes of the club meetings that dealt with that issue.
In fairness because something like that works effectively in one county (Kerry) doesn't mean it will work effectively well in other counties for historic reasons alone.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3432 - 18/09/2026 09:56:30
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Replying To supersub15: "I wasn't aware of that Pikeman, so for a few years it did happen over a large enough area, I can only imagine communication must have been difficult enough as with no smart phones in fact phones of any kind were scarce enough, were they not.? Organization must have been a real problem.
So, Wexford district refused to defend the title they won in 1977. Surely there was a legit enough reason for their refusal to play the game, so their reason must have been documented at club level and recorded in the minutes of the club meetings that dealt with that issue.
In fairness because something like that works effectively in one county (Kerry) doesn't mean it will work effectively well in other counties for historic reasons alone." I regularly go digging in all sorts of files and archives because I'm a bit of a nerd that way, but checking the Minutes Books of various clubs and the County Board of nearly 50 years ago is beyond me!
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4146 - 18/09/2026 11:44:04
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Just to show how much of a nerd I really am for this sort of thing! Paid a few quid at lunchtime for 24-hour access to an online newspaper archive thing I used to have a subscription to, and here's what I found out, if anybody's interested enough to read it.....
- It involved three players, all from the same club.
- At the time they were knocked out early from their own championship, Senior Final was due to be played early October. They therefore went and booked holidays for end of October/early November. The paper even specified how they went to "tropical Tenerife".
- But, Senior Final ended up being delayed by how a number of replays were needed in both hurling and football (remember it's mostly dual players here), across the different grades. No extra time and penalties in those days!
- It ended up being pencilled in for Sunday 1st November, when these three boyos were away.
- It could have been put back, but probably wouldn't have been played until December, due to other things in the meantime like Castletown playing in Leinster, and still having to complete Intermediate & Junior championships that still involved other Wexford District clubs with players on the District team.
- Castletown pointed out that they'd played their semi-final in September, had already waited five or six weeks, and were unwilling to wait maybe another five or six.
- So, Wexford District were told to either go ahead and pick a team from all the other Intermediate & Junior players in the area, or else concede a walkover.
- And they decided to concede a walkover.
All an unholy mess, but it does show the scheduling difficulties with district teams in a dual county where a player could actually be lining out with four teams during a championship season (club hurling, club football, district hurling, district football).
To be frank, I'm surprised Wexford continued with district teams at all after that, but I do remember going to see Enniscorthy District (where I'm from myself) play in the early 1980s, so it definitely happened for another few years anyway.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4146 - 18/09/2026 14:17:52
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Replying To Pikeman96: "Just to show how much of a nerd I really am for this sort of thing! Paid a few quid at lunchtime for 24-hour access to an online newspaper archive thing I used to have a subscription to, and here's what I found out, if anybody's interested enough to read it.....
- It involved three players, all from the same club.
- At the time they were knocked out early from their own championship, Senior Final was due to be played early October. They therefore went and booked holidays for end of October/early November. The paper even specified how they went to "tropical Tenerife".
- But, Senior Final ended up being delayed by how a number of replays were needed in both hurling and football (remember it's mostly dual players here), across the different grades. No extra time and penalties in those days!
- It ended up being pencilled in for Sunday 1st November, when these three boyos were away.
- It could have been put back, but probably wouldn't have been played until December, due to other things in the meantime like Castletown playing in Leinster, and still having to complete Intermediate & Junior championships that still involved other Wexford District clubs with players on the District team.
- Castletown pointed out that they'd played their semi-final in September, had already waited five or six weeks, and were unwilling to wait maybe another five or six.
- So, Wexford District were told to either go ahead and pick a team from all the other Intermediate & Junior players in the area, or else concede a walkover.
- And they decided to concede a walkover.
All an unholy mess, but it does show the scheduling difficulties with district teams in a dual county where a player could actually be lining out with four teams during a championship season (club hurling, club football, district hurling, district football).
To be frank, I'm surprised Wexford continued with district teams at all after that, but I do remember going to see Enniscorthy District (where I'm from myself) play in the early 1980s, so it definitely happened for another few years anyway." There's no way Prime Time investigate would put together the findings in such a short time as you have in your above post.
Well done.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3432 - 18/09/2026 18:56:06
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THere is a good point in it. Kerry football has led the country for years - in particular, when they only had 3 matches to win an all Ireland, having every good player in the county playing in the county championship allowed players train and play at a higher level that would otherwise have been the case. It was a good part of their success for 100 years.
However, the various backdoor All Ireland championships and now the split season has destroyed that cosy set up.
That model is under pressure at senior club level but delivering a significant amount of wins at All Ireland intermediate and junior club football. Their reduced number of senior clubs, allows them play better teams in the club championships.
That success then results in some of their intercounty players playing year round.
But each county should suit their own strength, giving all players the chance to excel and maximising the number of games available to their own players.
Taking Mayo as an example
The intermediate clubs play 9 league matches before the end of July. With a final (if they are lucky) afterwards.
They will aslo play 2/3 matches in their regional competition.
The Intermediate championship has 3 more matches after that, finished by the last week of September. Season over - good night.
So, start training in January and 15 matches in 9 months.
If you play soccer for your club you would play 18 league and 2 cup games gauranteed.
The GAA schedule gives room for a bit of hurling to be fitted in, giving the dual players the same no of GAA games as a soccer player.
However, it doesnt give a football only player the same no of games. But it could.
If your a 19 year old, your not getting a lot of football as the U21 championship is 1/2 games and thats it.
So there is a huge gap for emerging adult players with no football - guess what - they are off to play soccer.
There is no reason, why Mayo couldnt introduce 8 districts and play a district U23 championship all summer long. That championship would exclude those playing for their clubs first team. That competition gives developing U23 players a decent competition. It would develop the players and build a sense of "district" amoungst those involved.
Over time, as the district identity developes, their could be a senior version taking place instead of the current district competitions.
That senior club district competition would take place during the connacht championship - allowing the county manager to release players into a strong competion (if needed), which would be a much better standard then the county leagues.
Mayo has 4 distinct boards - North/South/East and West.
It is fairly easy to have 8 Districts with 5/6 clubs in each.
West
Achill
Ballycroy
Burrishoole
Islandeady
Kilmeena
Lahardane
East
Ballaghaderreen
Charlestown
Swinford
Moy Davitts
Kiltimagh
Kilmovee
North West
Ballycastle
Belmullet
Cill Chomain
Crossmolina Deel Rovers
Kiltane
Moygownagh
North
Ballina Stephenites
Bonniconlon
Knockmore
Northern Gaels
Ardnaree
Ardagh
Killala
Central
Balla
Breaffy
Castlebar Mitchels
Mayo Gaels
Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin
South West
Ballintubber
Ballinrobe
Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
Louisburgh
Westport
South
Garrymore
Hollymount-Carramore
Kilmaine
The Neale
Shrule/Glencorrib
South East
Aghamore
Ballyhaunis
Claremorris
Davitts
Eastern Gaels
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2056 - 22/09/2026 10:42:32
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Would probably only work in bigger counties with one code stronger than the other.
In Laois, there used to be "area teams" way back years ago. One of them reached a final in the 1940s. There were sporadic ones up until the 1980s and then more recently there were a few senior teams who adopted a few lads from neighbouring junior or intermediate clubs (usually changing the team name by adding "Gaels") e.g. Emo Gaels, Mountmellick Gaels. Then Croke Park said that wasn't legit.
CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 162 - 22/09/2026 12:25:29
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