Fogarty Forum: Fact checking the new football championship

How do claims about the new football structures stand up?

26 February 2022; Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Larry McCarthy during the GAA Congress at NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Claim:

“In the interest of fairness, it will give everybody a chance to start from an equal footing whenever we get to the knockout stages of the All-Ireland. It’s about a level playing field for all. As it stands, Dublin and Kerry basically get a straight route through. Even allowing for the backdoor, in Ulster there’s a very tough championship to get through before you can even get to face one of those teams” - Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan.