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PRESS RELEASE
Following
discussions at Down’s GAA County Management Committee meeting last night
(Thursday) on the possible need to re-vitalize the County Football Championship,
GAC have sent an alternative fixture list, including suggestions for a qualifier
system similar to that which is being used at national level, to all clubs for
discussion.
It would allow
clubs to have a second bite at the championship and indeed if this system were
not in place at national level last year our county minor football team would
not be All Ireland Champions.
As it stands at
the moment the championship is compacted into a 6 – 7 week period and whilst
that has its benefits it does not afford people the opportunity to see several
games.
The proposals
would see the championships start in mid-May and would continue through to the
final in early October.
It would mean
that Round 2 (4 championship games) would have to be played during the “July
fortnight” in order to make the fixtures work.
The proposals
would read:
-
Round 1 - All
16 teams meet in an open draw as normal.
-
Round 2 – The
8 winners from Round 1 would be drawn against each other.
-
Qualifier
Round 1 – The 8 losers from Round 1 would play each other in an open draw.
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Qualifier
Round 2 – The 4 winners from Qualifier 1 would meet the 4 losers of Round 2.
-
Quarter-Finals – The 4 winners from Round 2 would play the 4 winners from
Qualifier 2.
-
Semi-Finals –
The 4 winners from the quarter finals would meet.
-
Final
This would give
a total of 27 games as opposed to the 15 games as has been the format to date.
These proposals
will be discussed in detail at the County Board meeting on Wednesday 18th
January where all clubs will be represented. A decision will not be taken until
the February meeting of County Board to give all clubs the chance to discuss the
merits or otherwise of these proposals. |
