Anyone any ideas on re-structuring either of the above? (Currently under review)
For hurling anyway, how about something based on the KK model where all teams progress to knockout stages, with group positions determining who they play in knockout round. My understanding is KK operate with two groups, top two in each group straight to quarter finals, remaining eight teams play off for other quarter final places, with bottom two in each group also in relegation zone. One thing strange about it though is they play straight across, ie if you finish third in group a you play third in group b.
I think we could use a modified version, maybe even keeping to three groups.
Any bright ideas out there?
Club Championships/Leagues
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Lone Shark
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The thing about the Kilkenny system is that the group games become a league, and very little effort is put into a lot of those games, since everyone gets into the knockout anyway. It only works because they are willing to play those games without county players, otherwise their system would never get completed. Would there be agreement to do this in Offaly? It would possibly protect some teams from relegation too, since sides like Tullamore or Shamrocks would be missing a disproportionately high amount of players for the group stages (due to dual commitments) and thus would be a lot more likely to end up in the relegation playoffs than a club a like Drumcullen for example, who wouldn't be missing anyone.
I personally like the system Westmeath had. Next year we'll have 12 football senior teams and 13 hurling - so you could have two groups, the winners of each group get straight into the semi finals, second plays third in quarter finals (maybe home advantage for second place?) and ditto for second last playing last in the relegation play offs. It means that there is an advantage for each extra place up the table, so all games are competitive, which is not always a given.
I would say this though - for the sake of the players, can the farce of one game in April be cut out? County players aren't expected to peak consistently over six months, so it's not sair to expect club players to. Last year Lusmagh and Belmont met in what was basically a do or die knockout game in April. It was unfair on both clubs, since the loser effectively had to beat Birr to save themselves from there, which is a big ask for any club in Ireland, let alone Belmont or Lusmagh.
I'd say don't start the club championship any earlier than late June, that way players can be saved being back in training now, more or less.
I personally like the system Westmeath had. Next year we'll have 12 football senior teams and 13 hurling - so you could have two groups, the winners of each group get straight into the semi finals, second plays third in quarter finals (maybe home advantage for second place?) and ditto for second last playing last in the relegation play offs. It means that there is an advantage for each extra place up the table, so all games are competitive, which is not always a given.
I would say this though - for the sake of the players, can the farce of one game in April be cut out? County players aren't expected to peak consistently over six months, so it's not sair to expect club players to. Last year Lusmagh and Belmont met in what was basically a do or die knockout game in April. It was unfair on both clubs, since the loser effectively had to beat Birr to save themselves from there, which is a big ask for any club in Ireland, let alone Belmont or Lusmagh.
I'd say don't start the club championship any earlier than late June, that way players can be saved being back in training now, more or less.