When it comes to the various GAA county championships around the country, some of the formats that are used can cause quite a bit of confusion. The new system that has just been passed in Offaly might be the strangest of the lot.
There are some counties that are known for their unique takes on county championships. The dual championship system in place in Kerry is certainly quite different to what you will see elsewhere, while the likes of Tyrone has persisted with a straight knockout championship.
In most other counties, the format is relatively similar. There are a certain number of clubs in each competition, with a group stage followed by a knockout round to determine the champions.
Offaly will be sticking to that format moving forward, although their championship will feature one distinctive difference.
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Offaly introduce controversial format to county championship
When it comes to the use of group stages, most counties will split the clubs into two groups before then progressing to the knockout rounds. This sees the weaker sides eliminated early on.
However, the groups in Offaly will be very different from 2024 onwards. On Tuesday, they voted in a system that would see every single club in the various tiers of their Gaelic football championship progress to the knockout rounds.
You read that correctly.
Every club at senior, senior 'B', intermediate, and junior levels will progress through the group stages of their respective championships and into the knockout rounds. No club will be eliminated at the end of the group stages.
Instead, those games will be used to determine seedings that will be in place for the draw for the knockout rounds.
With eight teams present in each tier, they will be placed into two separate groups. The top placed team in one group will then play the last placed team in the other group in the the quarter-finals, second place will play second-bottom, and so on.
It seems like a very odd move from the outside looking in. Despite this, it was passed by a mark of 36-18 by delegates at the county board meeting in Tullamore on Tuesday evening.
One immediate issue that springs to mind with this format is that it would allow clubs to cruise through the group stages without that impacting their fortunes later in the competition. In theory, a team could lose every group game and still be crowned county champions.
It all but makes that part of the championship meaningless, even if it does have an impact on seedings for the knockout rounds. While it may have been passed by Offaly club delegates, it has caused quite a bit of debate within GAA circles.
Offaly GAA has approved a new structure for SFC with 2 groups of 4 but every team qualifying for quarter finals. The aim is to provide an extra game for clubs but it does render the group stages fairly meaningless with very little at stake and not much value for spectators.
— Kevin Corrigan (@kevcorrigantrib) November 14, 2023
The structure for the 2024 Offaly SFC is the most ridiculous I’ve ever seen.
In classic GAA fashion, the flaws are blindingly obvious RIGHT NOW but will still have to be played out in front of people’s eyes before it’s inevitably changed for 2025.
It needs to be revoked.— Pat Nolan (@pat_nolan) November 14, 2023
Really praised @Offaly_GAA for their fixture scheduling and releasing of fixtures the last few years.
But why are the competition structures so poor?
A league with no promotion or relegation and now a championship where you can lose all 3 group games & you’re in a 1/4 final🤦♂️— Keith Higgins (@heithkiggins) November 14, 2023
It will be interesting to see how the format is received by players and supporters in 2024. You can't imagine fans turning up in their droves to watch group games that will ultimately have no impact on the outcome of the championship.
This seems like a misstep from the authorities in Offaly.
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