#theformat

#THEFORMAT

Finally a championship format which addresses many if not all the issues raised with the current championship structure.

The Key Points

The provincial championships remain but with increased importance
The league remains the same but league placing a bearing on championship the following year
Abolishing league finals (Top team crowed champion)
Promotion/Relegation between divisions would be 3 up/3 down
A more defined schedule of games for Inter county teams
Rebooted back door system
More games between counties of similar standard
Defined weekends for clubs to have access to Inter county players on regular basis

The League

As normal - 4 divisions of 8 teams but now with 3 up & 3 down
League Finals abolished
League placing determines which route you take in the All Ireland qualifiers
Shorter gap between end of league to championship

The Qualifiers

All 32 counties go into qualifiers
Qualifiers start after provincial quarter finals
The 8 Division 1 teams are drawn against each other with 6 teams progressing to the last 16
The 8 Division 2 teams are drawn against each other with 3 teams progressing to the last 16
The 8 Division 3 teams are drawn against each other with 2 teams progressing to the last 16
The 8 Division 4 teams are drawn against each other with 1 team progressing to the last 16
In the tiered qualifiers there is a back door which guarantees at least 2 games in the qualifiers

The Provincials

The provincials are played as normal
Provincial semi & finals have increased importance with backdoor safety net removed
Provincial winners who qualify also through qualifiers receive a bye to QF stage and a valuable week off

Here is a sample calendar for the season :

As you may see Division 1 starts two weeks later that the other divisions.

As there is only 2 rounds of qualifiers in Div 1

This is to tighten the gap between games

A sample draw for qualifiers :

Division 4 Qualifiers

Division 3 Qualifiers

Division 2 Qualifiers

Division 1 Qualifiers

This gives every county a realistic target of making the last 16 of the championship

Games against teams of similar standard should result in closer games,a boost to attendances,Plus giving counties more quality games in the Summer and a chance to build momentum

More games between the top teams early in the championship,Plus eliminates the advantage that stronger counties have in weaker provinces

The 12 teams that progress from the qualifiers are joined by the 4 provincial winners

If provincial winners have all ready qualified through the qualifiers they receive a well earned break and a bye to the QF as an extra incentive to win your Province