National Forum

Late County Finals - Split Season

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Waterford exited the hurling championship on the 25th May - nice and early as usual.
They played the first round of the club championship on the 10th August - 11 weeks later.
They weren't in a rush to get started anyway, whatever about finishing."
And will be finished waiting 7 weeks for opposition in the club championship.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3176 - 20/08/2025 13:28:55    2632835

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Replying To Seanfan:  "To whom exactly?
There's already too much blather and ***** like up for the match! I just watch the games when they're on ( unless Ros are playing).
2 weeks between Qtrs and Semis and between Semis and Finals is plenty for hype generation in the Counties involved"
True too. Personally I don't mind the Finals being on when they are on.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16932 - 20/08/2025 13:41:35    2632836

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The main intercounty season complaint was the provincial championships starting the week after the league finals. It seems that will be solved next year with the All Ireland championship having one round less.
Completing the All Ireland club championships in the calendar year seems to have been abandoned. If that was solved, there would be a good break for Christmas until the leagues start at the end of January."
It's not that it's been abandoned, it just wasn't a realistic goal in the 1st place.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16932 - 20/08/2025 13:42:33    2632837

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The club championship should be played before the county championships with the team from the previous year representing. This would get them ready to defend their county title. Then shut down everything at the end of October. Scrap the national league and start the inter-county season at the end of March with two division and playoffs. If provinces want a championship go for it. Either pick the top teams in national championships or just fit it in. The current system is ridiculous despite the love in with it and is in reverse. Teams not getting to play in the McCarthy and other teams who would not hold a candle to them in. That is the reality of what we have. Proper promotion and relegation can be achieved also. That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3176 - 20/08/2025 18:57:36    2632873

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Replying To Canuck:  "The club championship should be played before the county championships with the team from the previous year representing. This would get them ready to defend their county title. Then shut down everything at the end of October. Scrap the national league and start the inter-county season at the end of March with two division and playoffs. If provinces want a championship go for it. Either pick the top teams in national championships or just fit it in. The current system is ridiculous despite the love in with it and is in reverse. Teams not getting to play in the McCarthy and other teams who would not hold a candle to them in. That is the reality of what we have. Proper promotion and relegation can be achieved also. That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it."
I'm halfway with you.
provincial & all Ireland club could easily start In July and be over at end of September.
Provincial could be seeded based on county progress in Ireland.
Club who progress past rd 1 of provincial can be given a bye in county championship until final stage.


As for intercounty
Combine London, ULster & Munster (15 teams) into 1 group (then split into A&B)
Combined Connacht & Leinster (16 teams) into anther and do the same exercise

Kerry, Cork, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan, Derry, Cavan/Down in SAM Group 2
Mayo, Galway, Dublin, Meath, Roscommon, Kildare, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath/Sligo in SAM Group 1

7 rounds + provincial finals - top 2 from each province based on head to head results against teams from own province
The top 2 in each group go to All Ireland q finals - next 3 form each group, plus provincial winners (or RUp if winner qualified in top 2) into prelim 1 finals


7 group matches, 1 provincial final, 3/4 rounds of knock out football - 14 matches in season - over 22 weeks.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1571 - 22/08/2025 16:29:45    2633133

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "I'm halfway with you.
provincial & all Ireland club could easily start In July and be over at end of September.
Provincial could be seeded based on county progress in Ireland.
Club who progress past rd 1 of provincial can be given a bye in county championship until final stage.


As for intercounty
Combine London, ULster & Munster (15 teams) into 1 group (then split into A&B)
Combined Connacht & Leinster (16 teams) into anther and do the same exercise

Kerry, Cork, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan, Derry, Cavan/Down in SAM Group 2
Mayo, Galway, Dublin, Meath, Roscommon, Kildare, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath/Sligo in SAM Group 1

7 rounds + provincial finals - top 2 from each province based on head to head results against teams from own province
The top 2 in each group go to All Ireland q finals - next 3 form each group, plus provincial winners (or RUp if winner qualified in top 2) into prelim 1 finals


7 group matches, 1 provincial final, 3/4 rounds of knock out football - 14 matches in season - over 22 weeks."
I do think progress has been made but a long ways to go. Actually football may be a little bit better. The intent should be the best teams are taking part in the National competition. Hurling is way off the mark here. The argument that they are through their province does not hold water when teams from a secondary competition are in. I have no grudge against these teams. In fact I don't like how they get relegated after one season. It will do nothing for Kildare to be sent back down. They are on a high and a chance to lift the boat. The argument of big beatings wrong. Cork got a hefty beating off Tipp. Is that how they should be judged. In fact a few big beatings at the top table this year.
McDonagh teams should win promotion before going into the McCarthy cup. Promotion should be based on two years in the top two. Relegation from the McCarthy cup should be two years bottom finish. An extra team from time to time but deal with that. Maybe going to Munster every second year.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3176 - 22/08/2025 17:49:37    2633146

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We're not even a month after the All Ireland final. The Kerry club championships are down to round 3 of the group stage. Quarter finals next week. An enjoyable few weeks of club football. It is great!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9162 - 23/08/2025 11:01:02    2633193

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Just like that, the Kerry club championships are down to the quarter finals already. August is a great month for clubs. It'll be harder to change the more and more it becomes established.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9162 - 25/08/2025 13:08:00    2633506

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Replying To Canuck:  "I do think progress has been made but a long ways to go. Actually football may be a little bit better. The intent should be the best teams are taking part in the National competition. Hurling is way off the mark here. The argument that they are through their province does not hold water when teams from a secondary competition are in. I have no grudge against these teams. In fact I don't like how they get relegated after one season. It will do nothing for Kildare to be sent back down. They are on a high and a chance to lift the boat. The argument of big beatings wrong. Cork got a hefty beating off Tipp. Is that how they should be judged. In fact a few big beatings at the top table this year.
McDonagh teams should win promotion before going into the McCarthy cup. Promotion should be based on two years in the top two. Relegation from the McCarthy cup should be two years bottom finish. An extra team from time to time but deal with that. Maybe going to Munster every second year."
Hurling is very lopsided and no one cares at all about the league.

They should scrap the hurling leagues altogether.

Tier 1 qualifier - top 12, 4 groups of 3 - top 8 into all ireland group
Tier 2 qualifier - Next 8 - 2 groups of 4 - top 4 join 4 from tier 1 in McDonagh cup
Tier 3 qualifier - next 15 - 5 groups of 3 - top 5 into Christy RIng
Tier 4 qualifier - next 5 into Nicky Rackard
Tier 5 qualifier - bottom 5 into Lory Meagher

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
8 counties

2 Joe McDonagh Cup
8 counties

3 Christy Ring Cup
6 counties + NY

4 6 Nicky Rackard Cup
6 counties

5 6 Lory Meagher Cup
6 counties

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1571 - 25/08/2025 13:40:23    2633517

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Hurling is very lopsided and no one cares at all about the league.

They should scrap the hurling leagues altogether.

Tier 1 qualifier - top 12, 4 groups of 3 - top 8 into all ireland group
Tier 2 qualifier - Next 8 - 2 groups of 4 - top 4 join 4 from tier 1 in McDonagh cup
Tier 3 qualifier - next 15 - 5 groups of 3 - top 5 into Christy RIng
Tier 4 qualifier - next 5 into Nicky Rackard
Tier 5 qualifier - bottom 5 into Lory Meagher

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
8 counties

2 Joe McDonagh Cup
8 counties

3 Christy Ring Cup
6 counties + NY

4 6 Nicky Rackard Cup
6 counties

5 6 Lory Meagher Cup
6 counties"
The hurling league is fulfilling it's purpose. A small minority can want to change it but the 5 divisions of 7 seems likely to be in place for the long-term. An opportunity for incremental improvement before championship.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9162 - 25/08/2025 14:41:18    2633534

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Just like that, the Kerry club championships are down to the quarter finals already. August is a great month for clubs. It'll be harder to change the more and more it becomes established."
Not sure about that. Clubs playing 4/5 weeks in a row is taking its toll and is not sustainable with y injuries stacking up. You get a hamstring injury now and your season is over, after training for the last 7 months.
Hearing plenty club managers speaking up about it.

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 35 - 25/08/2025 19:49:06    2633577

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Replying To richiepmurphy:  "Not sure about that. Clubs playing 4/5 weeks in a row is taking its toll and is not sustainable with y injuries stacking up. You get a hamstring injury now and your season is over, after training for the last 7 months.
Hearing plenty club managers speaking up about it."
How long a gap do they want between games?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 86 - 26/08/2025 10:20:10    2633615

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Just like that, the Kerry club championships are down to the quarter finals already. August is a great month for clubs. It'll be harder to change the more and more it becomes established."
They need to run it off quickly as they still have the county championship to play. Only 8 senior clubs in Kerry, so it's a lot easier to get it through it. They were also able to play the group games 3 weekends in a row, as there was no hurling to consider.
In Galway we alternate weekends between hurling and football.
August is a great month for club action though. It's great for the club players to be able to play their championship games on better pitches.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2492 - 26/08/2025 11:26:44    2633618

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "They need to run it off quickly as they still have the county championship to play. Only 8 senior clubs in Kerry, so it's a lot easier to get it through it. They were also able to play the group games 3 weekends in a row, as there was no hurling to consider.
In Galway we alternate weekends between hurling and football.
August is a great month for club action though. It's great for the club players to be able to play their championship games on better pitches."
Anyone hazard a guess at how many adult Club Championship games will have been played in August?
Ros will have around 70.
Average of 100 per County?
3,200 games?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 86 - 26/08/2025 12:28:50    2633637

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Anyone hazard a guess at how many adult Club Championship games will have been played in August?
Ros will have around 70.
Average of 100 per County?
3,200 games?"
We have had 2 weekends off on account of the Fleadh and EP so probably around 130 games with some midweek Junior B games. Ordinarily there are approx 40 games in a round, we have 5 grades with 12 teams in each grade, plus around 20 Junior B teams.
In an ordinary month with 5 weekends there'd be around 200 championship games played.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16932 - 26/08/2025 13:50:16    2633645

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Anyone hazard a guess at how many adult Club Championship games will have been played in August?
Ros will have around 70.
Average of 100 per County?
3,200 games?"
Between senior, intermediate, Junior A and Junior B - Kerry are looking at around 90 in August. Three rounds of group games and quarter finals this week for most tiers.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9162 - 26/08/2025 14:11:30    2633650

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Between senior, intermediate, Junior A and Junior B - Kerry are looking at around 90 in August. Three rounds of group games and quarter finals this week for most tiers."
36 in Monaghan. Have been able to attend 13. Great entertainment in good weather.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 783 - 26/08/2025 15:27:41    2633668

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Replying To Seanfan:  "How long a gap do they want between games?"
Surely a week gap after playing 2 or 3 weeks in a row is not too much to ask for?
Whats your view?

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 35 - 26/08/2025 17:06:58    2633686

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Replying To richiepmurphy:  "Surely a week gap after playing 2 or 3 weeks in a row is not too much to ask for?
Whats your view?"
Counties have 13 weeks free of Inter County fixures to organise their Club Championships.
Injuries are part and parcel of playing physical team sports, or indeed training for the games.
Managers just have to get on with it.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 86 - 26/08/2025 19:19:07    2633704

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