Provincial Titles

In football, these are now much like the situation in English soccer and say the FA cup.

The FA cup is nothing to the alleged big four, but great for Everton, West Ham, Man City and the rest. The big four need to win the Champions league, or the premiership as a second best.

Provincial titles in Munster, no good to Kerry or Cork, in Ulster no good to Armagh and Tyrone, and in Connacht it is merely bragging rights between Mayo and Galway. It is now Sam or nothing.

Only in Leinster is it still important, and that is possibly due to the fact that no Leinster team has won Sam via the back door.

This is not a snide criticism of back door teams, that's the system for all, but the provincial titles were sure to lose in value.

So it is great if Limerick, Sligo, Antrim, Fermanagh, Monaghan and such win a provincial title, or nearly anyone in Leinster, but not for the alleged "big boys".

Sad but true.

Well written Patrique and very true.

Absolutely P - whatever the alleged intent of the backdoor in helping the 'poor' - which it clearly hasn't - one thing it has certainly done is totally undermine provincial crowns.

If the Leinster Hurling Champ can be more or less done away with so too can the sacred cow.....

Who said anything about doing away with the sacred cow? I was fattening her up in the hope of a nice juicy sirloin and chips. mmmmmm chips!!!!

while i will prob prove your point here pat, there is no doubt to me how much a provincial crown means, 2007 is the greatest day i have had in football wonderfull feeling, while we have had a lot of highs in sligo through the backdoor that win in roscommon was unreal, does the back door kill off the provences? maybe but i honestly dont think, westmeath, laoise or sligo would have there titles without the back door as maybe the big guns started to take there eye of the ball in regards to the provincial titles becuase they knew they had a scond chance

id have to agree wit rich on this one, but with this years championship it might bring the provincial championship back to life as alot of the big guns went out in the first round which means by the time the quater finals come there is surley going to be one or two "weaker teams" in the mix!!