To Whammo86 - apologies, won't allow reply as maximum 4000 characters reached.
That's a fair point, but I wouldn't agree with counties giving the League the title of a secondary competition. I would be delighted to win a League title, but perhaps in Monaghan, it garners more attraction as say, the Intermediate League winners will play Senior Championship the following year, as well as Senior League.
We have rounds of "Star Games" - whereby county players are not permitted to play. Take 2017 for example, it was provided that Rounds 7, 8, 9 - all scheduled for the May/June period - be played where no county players can play, permitting that Monaghan were still in the Championship. A fourth "Star Game" - Round 10 - would be needed if Monaghan progressed to Round 4 of the Qualifiers/All-Ireland Quarter-Final stage, which they have done. And a fifth Star Game be needed if progressed further.
You can be guaranteed that Inter-County players play at least 12 games with their clubs in the League.
Replying To dblackandamber: "Senior, Intermediate & Junior are all the same.
- 12 teams, 2 groups of 6, each team plays each other once. - Top of each group goes into League Final and goes automatically into the Quarter Finals. - Second of each group goes into Shield Final and goes automatically into the Quarter Finals. - Third of each group plays fourth of the other group in playoffs, winners go to Quarter Finals. - Fifth of each group plays sixth of the other group in playoffs, winners go to Quarter Finals. The two losers of 5th/6th placed team playoff games contest the relegation final, with the loser relegated. - Quarter finals are open draw.
Its a good, even and fair system, everyone starts off on an even keel, and has a minimum of 6 games.
Personally I'd make it more cut-throat by having the playoffs 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th, that way to be sure to avoid relegation you'd have to finish 2nd in your group. Also, it adds relegation SF's so every side gets 5 league games and 2 knockout games no matter what."
So if you finish 4th in your group you play a 3rd place team, but if you finish 5th then you play a bottom-placed team?
Late reply, sorry, been in transit. I'm guessing that's it. I'd imagine you'd prefer to play the 3rd place team and know you're already safe than to play the 6th place team and face a relegation final if you lose.
It's interesting, a lot of the Ulster ones are quite similar.
Armagh, Tyrone, Down and Derry have 16 teams and their league and championship are linked.
Championship in Armagh and Down have a back door for 1st and 2nd round losers.
Tyrone and Derry are straight knockout.
Fermanagh, Antrim and Monaghan are all straight knockout.
Meath's system of championship being separate from league and of having group stages is very traditional. Before that I did a bit of research on it I thought group stages were a very recent occurrence in all counties.