Whose Round Is It Anyway?

For the second time in three seasons, the Derry Competitions Control Committee presents us with a new format for the Club football Championships. And it goes a little something like this: Win your first round game and you're in Round 2; lose your first round game and you're in, erm... Round 2. Well, in as many words. On completion of the eight first round games, the eight winners will play off against each other for a place in the quarter-finals, while the eight losers will do likewise! The question must be asked: what is the point in having a first round at all?

From Friday's Irish News:

"There will be 16 teams in the first round, with eight winners and eight losers. In the second round, the eight winners from the first round will meet each other, with the four winners going into bowl A for the quarter-finals.
The eight first round losers will also play each other, with the four winners going into bowl B for the quarter-finals. In the last eight, the four teams from bowl A will meet the four teams from bowl B. Thereafter, an open draw will decide the semi-final pairings."

For the past two years the four-team group format has been in place. While its inception was welcome, there was a groundswell of support for its removal. It was argued that it contained too many games (to the detriment of the Derry senior football team); that some games were left totally meaningless; and also that it negated the possibility of a 'smaller' club claiming a big scalp (as the stronger sides could more easily negotiate a safe passage out of the group stage).

Amid these criticisms, County officials have elected to change things. And change was required. However, while trying to strike the ever-elusive happy-medium, the CCC have fallen short of the mark. It is logical to assume that the stronger teams should make it out of the first round. But by playing off against each-other in Round 2, half of these teams will be out of the competition by the quarter-final, whilst the perceived weaker sides will still be in it. Plus, only first round losers will get a second bite. The reward for winning your first game is totally intangible.

So let's get this inside a little nutshell. We didn't quite like the straight knockout; didn't fancy the group format either; and now we're turning up our noses at the back-door system. I can hear them grumbling in Owenbeg as I type: "is there no pleasin' yous?!"

Probably not. In two years time, we'll quite possibly be commenting on the CCC wheeling the straight knockout out of retirement. Can't wait!