Geaney backs Champions League format for All-Ireland

Kerry footballer Paul Geaney has given his backing to a new Champions League-style format for the All-Ireland Football Championship.

The proposed change is to be discussed at the GAA Annual Congress in February with director general Páraic Duffy in favour of the change.

Speaking to The Irish Independent while on tour with the All Stars in Dubai, Geaney said: “I'd love to play a big home game in Killarney.

“We have Munster Championship there but there's always a cushion that, if you do lose, you have another shot. But it would be great to have something like a knock-out game at some stage or a final group game where things really matter.

“It would be great to see some sort of a change in the format because as it is we had four games in the Championship this year and spent eight months preparing for them.”

Geaney also feels that a round-robin system could also improeve the quality of Munster teams all round, citing the ultra-competitive Ulster Championship as an example of how regular games against top opposition helps sides heading into the All-Ireland proper.

“As a Kerry player, I'd be confident going into every game to beat opposition. Maybe in Ulster there's a lot more slogging to get through to a (provincial) final and then a quarter-final and semi-final with the nature of the hits and the nature of the training and the games on the body,” said Geaney.

“But if you get through Ulster without injury you're in a great place because you've had all the tough battles and mentally you could only be in a great place having got through that.

“We're at a disadvantage in that sense. Mentally, you can't really feel totally satisfied unless you're winning tight games by a point or two.”

Photo (©Inpho/Donall Farmer)

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