'Round-Robin series is a massive downside for the Ulster teams ' - Ciarán Whelan
Former Dublin player Ciarán Whelan believes there is a massive imbalance in the All-Ireland series when you compare the difficulty Ulster teams have to go through to get to the knockout stages compared to teams in Leinster and Munster
RTÉ GAA analyst and former Dublin star Ciarán Whelan suggests that Ulster teams’ challenges in the All-Ireland series have been intensified by the new All-Ireland round-robin format and the shortened season.
Now in its second year, the format means teams from Ulster could potentially face up to 12 games to reach an All-Ireland final, with the final decided on the day without a replay.
The ongoing discussion about the strength and dedication required to compete in Ulster, compared to Dublin and Kerry in Leinster and Munster respectively, is gaining more attention. Whelan believes the "imbalance" will become more evident under the new group structures.
"It's that imbalance that we talk about," he commented on the RTÉ GAA podcast, discussing Donegal’s recent defeat by Cork.
"If Donegal were to reach a preliminary quarter-final, it's yet another game – a preliminary game, quarter-final, semi-final on top of all the matches they’ve already played in the Ulster championship, and the energy invested there.
"Consider Derry and the injuries they’ve sustained, and Armagh’s injuries – they’ve accumulated a lot of mileage this year, whereas Dublin and Kerry have had a smoother journey.
"It’s a significant disadvantage for Ulster teams... emerging from that system into a round-robin before even reaching a preliminary quarter-final means they have to play three weekends consecutively," he remarked.
Meanwhile, former Kerry player and manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice believes Donegal’s loss to Cork – their first defeat in league or championship this season – could be particularly damaging if they don’t top their group due to their high-intensity playing style.
"If they find themselves in that situation, it wouldn’t be ideal because of how they play. Playing three consecutive weeks would be very demanding."