The Football decade

Over 50% of the all Irelands were won via the back door, given that it was introduced in 2001. Mickey Harte and Jack O'Conner are the back door kings, specialising in taking the easy route at times.

Kerry have been in 8 finals, Tyrone 3, Mayo, Cork, Armagh and Galway in two, and Meath in one.

It is the first decade the Dubs have not been in an all Ireland final. Without a back door they probably would have made the last two finals. Mind you, Tyrone or Kerry may have won more provincial titles if there had not been a safety net.

Whatever way you look at it, the provincial crown has been devalued with Cork, Dublin and Armagh being the big losers.

Totally agree Patriqué, Mayo and Galway haven't fared to well out of it either.
When you look back at the match stats of this year, both Cork and Kerry have lost 1 game the difference is Kerry got a second chance, Cork didn't.
Something has to be done about this or you will have teams not bothering in their provincial matches and then taking an easy route to the quarter finals and the quality of games will disintegrate further.

once you have a back door teams will always have a second chance and then something happens like today team that loses its first games loses it in a final- did have this arguement on another thread here.
Time to go back to knockout in everything feck the qualifiers and the expense and misery they bring except if your from Kerry, Tyrone , Galway or one of the big boys.

The qualifiers were brought in to benefit the weaker counties but tell me other than Wicklow this year and Fermanagh in 2004, who has benefitted from the qualifiers? Other than the GAAs coffers?
They should have a B All Ireland that any team that gets beaten once is out of contention for the Sam Maguire but they could win this B final instead.

Wexford last year springs to mind.
Tommy Murphy cup was another name for all - ireland b.
People players etc are only interested in main one the real thing the only show in town

4 of the last 5 have been won via the back door. Kerry in 2007 are the only team to have won viathe old route.

I fear this is the future. I remember in 2005 saying Joe Kernan had to be daft for not throwing the first game in Ulster. By the time the all Ireland semi came around Armagh had beaten a who's who of football and were knackered.

O'Conner and Harte are cutehoors.