Time to give back-door system the boot, says Sean Óg

SEÁN ÓG Ó hÁILPÍN says the time has come for the back-door system in inter-county GAA to be scrapped, in favour of a return to a traditional knock-out format.

The ex-Cork dual star believes removing the safety net for beaten teams would increase attendances, the intensity of matches and public interest in gaelic games.

“I think the back-door system has gone stale now,” said Ó hAilpín. “It has probably passed its expiry date and to get the punters in again, I think you need to go back to knock-out championship games on a Sunday afternoon.