‘It’s not a panacea, it doesn’t aim to be. The last few years have clearly illustrated that.īack in February 2017 on the eve of the last seminal Congress vote, the ‘Super 8s’ proposal, I appeared on The Sunday Game, canvassing for its introduction. The best thing that McAvoy and Reynolds can do now is acknowledge the writing that is on the wall for the provincial competitions as we know them.Įven allowing for the understandable objections from some towards today’s proposals, the generalisation that the GAA is slow-moving and resistant to change no longer applies. However, even Ulster’s marquee competition is a far cry from its halcyon days when ferocious rivalries enthralled supporters, and the electrifying soundtrack of Jimmy Smyth’s commentary brought the games to life in your living room. If the other provinces even came close to it in terms of competitiveness, we would not be in this situation. Brian’s biggest problem, however, is that there is only one Ulster Championship. In terms of the provincial championships, it is understandable that Ulster GAA CEO Brian McAvoy, and his Leinster counterpart Michael Reynolds, have come out swinging against a proposal that seeks to reduce the relevance of their provincial fiefdoms. If they win that game, after a progressive league campaign, well then, they are entitled to a seat at the top table. Glancing through the teams that have won these divisions in recent years, ie Armagh, Derry, Cork, Westmeath and Cork, all would be confident of giving the top Division 2 teams a good rattle. However in terms of long-term development, and to maintain the interest of supporters and players, it is worth trying at least. Farce will likely ensue otherwise.Įlsewhere, there is an unavoidable waft of tokenism around awarding the Division 3 and 4 winners a pathway to a competition they have no chance of winning that same year. If not, well then, I am sorry it is enough for me to say that the drawing board needs to be revisited. If there is scope for this aspect alone to be changed after a ‘Yes’ vote today, Larry McCarthy et al need to shout it from the rooftops prior to the votes being cast, as this alone will prove a deciding factor for many swing voters on the day. Otherwise, you are effectively asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.
That simple change, or one comparable to it, would likely bring the Monaghans and Mayos of this world onside. Do you still think this is a plausible concept?Ī possible option to square this circle would be that the top two teams in Division 2 would play qualifiers against the winners of Division 3 and 4, with the two winners joining the top 6 Division 1 teams to contest the All-Ireland series.Īt the end of the day the sixth-placed team in Division 1 should be given a higher reward than any team being promoted from Division 2. Need I say more? In the other two years, that finishing position went to Tyrone and Mayo, this year’s All-Ireland finalists. Why, you might ask? Well, over three of the past five seasons, Monaghan have finished in the now-derided sixth place in Division 1. In fact, it is quite conceivable that the reigning All-Ireland champions could finish in this position and be prevented from defending their crown that summer.Įarlier this week, Monaghan’s Darren Hughes plainly spoke about his rejection of the proposals. It is simply not credible that a team that retains its top-tier status cannot compete in that same year’s All-Ireland championship.
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