Back in 2015 Joe Brolly called for the introduction of a second tier football championship and for it to be named the Paidi O Se Cup. It's about the only good thing Brolly has said in his time as a GAA pundit but the point he was making was that the GAA should get an inspirational figure on the cup so it will be treated with respect. He suggested it be played before the All-Ireland final which I think would be a brilliant idea. The GAA need to move fast on this and not it let be known as a B Championship but nstead make it something counties would aspire to winning.

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 878 - 25/10/2019 14:20:37    2245734

maybe.
i dont know though,naming cups after individuals just eulogises them when others on the team made the same contribution in many cases.
i prefer the sponsored cup,so i would be thinking the "facebook cup" or the "linkedin cup",or that........................

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 25/10/2019 14:24:15    2245736

The Larry Reilly Cup

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12116 - 25/10/2019 14:29:39    2245738

The Aer Lingus Economy Class cup

Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 244 - 25/10/2019 15:29:17    2245749

The Tadhg Kennelly Cup?

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/10/2019 16:11:11    2245758

I'd strongly vote in favour of such a title being placed on the cup. It would be a hugely substantial name to be etched into the silver.

It deserves to be fully supported and backed. If it gets players front and centre and gives them plenty of exposure I think it will become a success. A great mechanism for players currently receiving little broadcast time to really get themselves noticed and this will benefit them in their careers.

It will fail if it doesn't have equal exposure and it'll take millions to market it properly and justly turn it into a competition which we can all be proud of.

I will hold off slating it until I see the final product. I truly hope it gets the funding it derserves. I honestly think it could become something substantial with the right people in charge and a proper funding structure.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 25/10/2019 16:31:46    2245765

When the Christy Ring Cup was launched we were told it was going to be played before one of the All Ireland Hurling semi finals, it didn't take too many seasons for that to fall by the wayside and become an afterthought.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 25/10/2019 18:05:30    2245790

The John Horan Cup.

Does what it says on the tin pot.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 509 - 25/10/2019 18:06:22    2245791

They should call it the "National Championship". By all means name the cup after someone but the tournament itself should have a name that respectfully reflects what it is.

Hurling lower tiers should be rebranded:
National Championship (McDonagh Cup)
Premier Conference (Ring Cup)
Conference 1 (Rackard Cup)
Conference 2 (Meagher Cup)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 25/10/2019 18:35:22    2245793

Dont see name on the Cup making any difference, a lot of young lads playing today will have little knowledge of someone who played the game over thirty years ago. Its sucess (and I think it has to be sucessful from the start or risks dying a very quick death) will depend on how seriously HQ take the competion. Not overly optimistic, but its here now and deserves whatever resources are needed.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2136 - 25/10/2019 19:00:54    2245798

Maybe just 'The Mini Cup' would do.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 25/10/2019 19:33:18    2245801

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 25/10/2019 20:49:20    2245818

Players have to get back to their club championships. The suggested timescale is fine.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 25/10/2019 22:08:49    2245835

The Hybrid Cup

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 25/10/2019 22:43:52    2245840

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 26/10/2019 01:07:10    2245866

This is a massive opportunity for the GAA to implement far reaching changes, but they have to make it equitable and not a second rate competition. Some of the best games of hurling in the past 2 years have been in the Joe McDonagh cup and there is no reason why the same will not be the case in the tier 2 football championship.

1. Give it a fancy name ASAP. The longer its called the tier 2 champo the less likely it is to catch on. Get a marquee sponsor like - BOI perhaps?

2. Neutral venues need to be full to give the fans a good day out, irrespective of the match.
One of the best ways for this tier 2 to fail is if there is no atmosphere and low attendances. To combat this, have the matches in provincial grounds and not Dublin.

3. The games have to have equal billing and even more promotion than the senior championship.
To do this, the GAA should fix these games on a double bill with the highest profile qualifier matches and Super 8s. Should Cork fail to be promoted back to division 2 and then lose to Kerry, they could end up in tier 2. Imagine a qualifier double bill, in neutral Portlaoise, Tullamore or Navan, featuring Kerry v Donegal and Cork v Down?

4. Give the tier 2 counties half the tickets for these double headers no matter who is involved.
It's unlikely Waterford and Leitrim are ever going to be involved in a football match featuring Dublin, but on a double header where they have an equal chance at getting tickets, they might take the opportunity to watch their native county and stick around to watch Dublin v Tyrone in a relatively full stadium.

5. Change the format from the tedious straight knockout and mimic the super 8s in the final phase with double headers.
If there are more games at big venues with big crowds, players will stick around.

kingdom_come (Kerry) - Posts: 76 - 26/10/2019 11:05:46    2245904

I'm not for naming tournaments after people, obvious name the trophy after someone but prefer if they gave it a proper name, as I've seen here before someone suggested calling it Championship 2, I like that name

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 267 - 26/10/2019 11:38:02    2245913

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4210 - 26/10/2019 12:00:38    2245917

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 26/10/2019 14:33:43    2245934

Kerry v Donegal was the football game of the summer.

Laois v Dublin was the hurling game of the summer.

Waterford and Limerick are in Division 4. It'll be a surprise were they to make a Munster final. They should embrace Tier 2. Win at their level and use it as a platform to get to Division 3 and to challenge for a place in the Munster final on a more consistent basis. Sligo, Longford, Laois and Derry are teams that should embrace Tier 2 as well. Her a good run in the summer. Guarantee of a qualifier spot in the following year. Build year on year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7824 - 26/10/2019 20:21:29    2245997