GAA Charity League Trophy Proposal

Whetu · 22-01-2015 4:27pm #1

Proposal
This proposal is based on a 111 year old, hugely successful format from New Zealand (The Ranfurly Shield) that fits into the current national and county league competitions. It does not involve any extra games and exists within the existing structure. Over the last 5 years, attendances for Ranfurly Shield Games raised the attendance figures from as little as 45% to as much as 267% and on average, increase by 90%.

The extra attendance would benefit the GAA. How this also benefits Charity is as follows. For each league competition a Charity League Trophy is commissioned. The naming rights for this trophy are sold and these proceeds go to charity.

Competition Format.
The Format is as follows. The initial holder of the Charity League Trophy will be the winner of the League (National or County). The holding county/club must defend the Trophy in challenge matches. All home games are mandatory challenge matches, with the exception of knockout matches (For example a home based semi-final or home based final).

Benefits
1. The existing All-Ireland Leagues would be bolstered by the Charity Trophies. Every game raises the profile of the GAA, the League, the defending team, the challenging team, the Sponsor, the Charity Trophy and the sponsored Charity.
2. Money is raised for Charity via the sponsor and a rise in attendance figures raise money for the GAA.
3. Finally, I would hope that other sports organisations and countries will follow this example and this concept would become a global standard and help good causes everywhere.

ArmaniJeanss · 22-01-2015 4:55pm

No Opinion

I like it I think, though its a novelty really.

If I understand it works as follows.
1) Mayo win the national league, and become the first holders. Mayo.
2) Galway beat Mayo in Castlebar in the Connacht Championship. Galway.
3) Galway win the All Ireland 1/4F, therefore keep the trophy as semifinals don't count. Galway.
4) Following year Galway beaten at home by Laois in the league. Laois now holders of the trophy. Laois.
5) Laois defend it at next home game in the league

Could work, could fall flat, needs a few tweaks but not the worst idea by a long way.

newg300 · 22-01-2015 8:17pm

Personally, I've long proposed (to the odd few who'd listen) that the Railway Cups should be turned into charity competitions, or at least the finals as part of a double header.

You'd be lucky to get a few hundred at a Railway hurling final, yet Leinster played Munster in front of a packed house for the Ken McGrath charity game last year.

Charge a fiver in, and you could split it between a few charities (new ones nominated each year).

iDave · 23-01-2015 10:35am

I'd be in favour of newg300s idea. Why create something new when we have this competition brimming with potential.
If the calendar changes goes through there's been talk of National Leagues being played on Paddys Day. A charity Intro Final I think would be better.

While bored over Xmas I was thinking of crazy ideas and one would be to deliberately fix the opening round of the league in both codes to be the league champions v the All Ireland champions and have it as something similar to the Charity Shield i.e. champions of last years 2 main comp playing each other.

Whetu · 26-01-2015 2:09pm

Example starting from 2010 with Kerry as 2009 League Champions.

Date Home Team Away Team Result
7/2/10 Kerry Dublin 1-10 to 1-12
13/2/10 Dublin Derry 1-11 to 0-07
13/2/10 Dublin Monaghan 2-11 to 1-09
27/3/10 Dublin Galway 0-14 to 1-14
11/4/10 Galway Derry 1-12 to 2-13
6/2/11 Derry Tyrone 1-11 to 0-13
27/2/11 Derry Laois 1-07 to 1-21
19/3/11 Laois Tyrone 0-11 to 1-12
3/4/11 Tyrone Kildare 0-13 to 0-05
12/2/12 Tyrone Derry 2-15 to 0-09
24/3/12 Tyrone Meath 1-12 to 0-05
8/4/12 Tyrone Monaghan 1-16 to 1-06
3/3/13 Tyrone Donegal 1-13 to 0-12
10/3/13 Tyrone Cork 0-08 to 0-14
16/3/13 Cork Donegal 0-12 to 0-10
7/4/13 Cork Mayo 0-10 to 0-11
2/3/14 Mayo Kerry 2-15 to 1-13
16/3/14 Mayo Cork 4-12 to 2-14
7/4/14 Mayo Derry 2-12 to 1-07

Example starting from 2010 with Kilkenny as 2009 National Hurling League Champions
Date Home Team Away Team Result
28/2/10 Kilkenny Offaly 1-17 to 0-12
28/3/10 Kilkenny Galway 1-23 to 2-21
4/4/10 Galway Dublin 0-17 to 0-15
18/4/10 Galway Cork 3-17 to 2-13
13/2/11 Galway Wexford 1-24 to 0-06
13/3/11 Galway Kilkenny 4-14 to 3-13
6/4/11 Galway Tipperary 1-14 to 4-23
17/4/11 Tipperary Wexford 0-17 to 1-14
11/3/12 Tipperary Galway 2-20 to 2-18
18/3/12 Tipperary Waterford 0-31 to 2-15
1/4/12 Tipperary Cork 1-23 to 1-23
10/3/13 Tipperary Kilkenny 2-17 to 1-19
31/3/13 Tipperary Clare 3-19 to 1-14
15/2/14 Tipperary Waterford 2-13 to 0-16
9/3/14 Tipperary Clare 0-20 to 4-15
16/3/14 Clare Waterford 5-18 to 0-20
23/3/14 Clare Galway 0-18 to 1-15

Fireball07 · 26-01-2015 5:47pm

I actually really like the idea, however, I'd make the slight adjustment that it doesn't just apply to the league and carries into the Championship. Not sure if I'd include the pre-season competitions.

What happens if it's a draw though? Presumably, the holder retains the title? Or is extra-time played?

Whetu · 29-01-2015 3:05pm

In the event of a draw, the holder keeps the trophy.

GAA Charity League Trophy Proposal

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