Uncovering the catalysts for real change

At first glance, it seems preposterous, a shambles, a fudge, the proverbial camel you invariably get when a committee tries to draw a horse.

To go to such lengths to fit eight into four. To try to save the provincial championships and leaving them open to mockery instead.

Monaghan going for back-to-back Connacht titles after winning back-to-back in Ulster. Laois winning Munster one year and Connacht the next. What kind of genius or madman came up with that? For a moment; then it kind of grows on you. Everyone still starts out in their own province; everyone can still win their own province. If Ulster means that much to you, well then, win your first game up there and you’ll stay up there. Ulster and Leinster Council are kept happy because they get the same number of games as they do now. Connacht and Munster Council are kept sweet because they get a couple of games more. Their clubs get to know when they play, they get to play regularly in the summer. And it provides even the weird and possibly wonderful dynamic of Galway and Roscommon supporters desperately rooting for Mayo to win a Connacht final because they don’t want some shower from the north or the east taking the Nestor Cup out of the province.