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"Play semi-finals of Tier-Two Championship in New York" | Kieran Donaghy

Proposing a radical new structure for the Senior Football Championship on last week's Shot Clock,...



Football

"Play semi-finals of Tier-Two Championship in New York" | Kieran Donaghy

Proposing a radical new structure for the Senior Football Championship on last week's Shot Clock, Kieran Donaghy responded to the criticism - constructive or otherwise - his proposal received on this week's show. 

As was to be expected, the proposed restructure put forward by Kieran Donaghy on last week's Shot Clock generated as many fresh questions as it offered solutions to existing problems.

Using his appearance on Thursday's OTB AM to address a number of these, doubts regarding how the lower half of a tiered competition would be treated was examined by the former Kerry star.

"Players got burnt badly by the Tommy Murphy Cup," he acknowledged, "that's what they're afraid [will happen again]."

A competition designed to give weaker counties their meaningful day in Croke Park, the Tommy Murphy Cup commenced and concluded within the dispiriting space of four-years.

Determined to present a plan whereby players plying their trade in the lower of a two-tier structure are given the respect they deserve, Kieran Donaghy outlined his plan to escape the mistakes of old.

"I think getting a good sponsor is important," he noted before moving on to his bigger plans.

"We're always trying to think of ways to promote our games and to incentivise that tier-two competition.

"So, I was checking if it was possible to have the semi-finals of that competition on in Gaelic Park in New York.

"All four teams can go out on the Friday, then there's a game on the Saturday at 2:00pm and another at 7:00pm where all the GAA public in New York come out.

"Every team starting that year out in the competition know that if they get to the semi-final they'll be getting a trip to the United States."

Lending the competition more significance still, Donaghy proposes removing the All-Ireland minor football final from it's current date and playing the proposed tier-two final before the traditional All-Ireland final for the Sam Maguire.

You can watch back the full episode of this week's Shot Clock here. As always, if you've any suggestions for how the proposed Championship structure can be improved, contact the show on any of our social channels. 


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All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Gaelic Football Kieran Donaghy Shot Clock