Senior club championship should be split in two for ‘higher quality’

A member of the Mayo GAA County Board believes it may be time for the Mayo senior football club championship to be split in two.

The current system sees 16 teams divided in four groups of four, made up of the previous years top two of each group, the third placed teams, the three teams who secure safety in the relegation play-offs and the intermediate champions of the previous year.

In his annual report, secretary Ronan Kirrane feels it is now time to look at a Senior A and Senior B Championship to help towards a ‘higher quality of championship’.

“One option would be to grade the teams on their finishing places from the 2025 Championship with the top 8 teams entering Senior A for 2026 and the 7 remaining teams plus the Intermediate winner making up the eighth team.

“Yes, this would mean a team couldn’t win a Senior A Title straight off the back of winning an Intermediate title, but it is a long time since that happened. Another option would be an open draw of the 16 teams with the 8 winners going into Senior A and the 8 losers going into Senior B. There is more risk to clubs in this but at the same time while a team may face difficult opposition victory could have its advantages.

“I feel it is passed time that we look at our struggles and while the championship has produced some great games in recent years the element of risk is gone. You have to take risks. If you don't take any risk, you won't get any reward.” Next year’s Mayo club championship will be an intriguing one even in its current guise as new rules are due to come into effect in the new year.

Mr Kirrane congratulated the Football Rules Committee to help conjure what the new rules would be as they will help games that ‘in the last few years have become uninspiring to say the least’ but felt implementing the rules at club level will be a great challenge, as well as lamenting the abolition of the pre-season competitions which would have helped the adjustment.

“The transition to the new rules will be interesting but will bring about a period of adjustment for us all. It seems strange that in 2025 above all years the FBD League and its counterparts have been stood down.

The greatest concerns for clubs will be in the introduction of these rules at club level. There are many issues at stake and support for referees and officials will be high on that list. However, these rules will be on trial for a year and teething problems will be addressed after the National League when we have all seen how the rules will work.”