The preseason tournaments would still exist with perhaps the matches beginning over the Christmas period (weather permitting of course) so as to avoid the competitions seeping into February.
This leads on to the potential for maintaining the provincial championship. In recent years with the qualifiers, the provincial championships have become less relevant. Winning them gains little advantage except being the shortest route towards the quarter final. When it comes to the quarter final itself, you don't even receive home advantage for winning your provincial crown which in my opinion would maintain their relevance in the overall All Ireland picture. But provides little advantage so maintain them so that teams can still compete to win their provincial championship but keep them separate from the All Ireland.
Play the provincial championships in February and March and with the club finals brought forward to December, the Patrick's day void can be filled by having all four provincial finals played on the one day or at least over the Patrick's day weekend. The Patrick's day GAA tradition has already evolved from the Railway Cup finals to club All Ireland's. Why not further evolve. A festival of football throughout all four provinces.
This leads on to the potential for maintaining the provincial championship. In recent years with the qualifiers, the provincial championships have become less relevant. Winning them gains little advantage except being the shortest route towards the quarter final. When it comes to the quarter final itself, you don't even receive home advantage for winning your provincial crown which in my opinion would maintain their relevance in the overall All Ireland picture. But provides little advantage so maintain them so that teams can still compete to win their provincial championship but keep them separate from the All Ireland.
Play the provincial championships in February and March and with the club finals brought forward to December, the Patrick's day void can be filled by having all four provincial finals played on the one day or at least over the Patrick's day weekend. The Patrick's day GAA tradition has already evolved from the Railway Cup finals to club All Ireland's. Why not further evolve. A festival of football throughout all four provinces.
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