Páraic Duffy urges Tipp to back championship revamp

Páraic Duffy has urged urge Tipperary County Board delegates to back his proposals to revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship.

The GAA’s director-general travelled to the Thurles Sarsfields centre this week after it was revealed in late September that Tipp would be voting against plans to spice up the championship from 2018.

Duffy’s blueprint for change includes the introduction of a round-robin series at the quarter-final stage of the All-Ireland championship, a suggestion that met with a thumbs-down from Tipperary. Under the stewardship of Liam Kearns, Tipp contested a first All- Ireland semi-final in 81 years when they lost to Mayo in August — and the fear is the new system is heavily weighted in favour of the traditionally stronger counties, and would make it far more difficult for Tipp to reach that stage of the competition again.