Please save us from the After Eights

THE inadvertent decision to move the All-Ireland football final back by a week – under a new condensed calendar it had been scheduled to take place at the end of August – because of the Papal visit is something that may have to be looked at as a more long-term arrangement.

A new Championship format such as the Super 8s will take time to absorb its learnings, but the schedule is condensed for its own good.

An extra week has to be found to ensure that there is a ‘gap week’ between the final round and the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Playing four games in five weeks – or if you are Tyrone eight in 10 – at the business end is a little too hectic, but promotionally it also undermines the status of the last four fixtures.

It also may force teams who have already secured a semifinal place taking an ambiguous view of their final round game in the Super 8s.

Much has been made of the fact that Galway do not want to face Dublin in the semifinal, but in an ideal world they will feel they should not have to go full pelt next weekend knowing that they will be playing in a semi-final a week later.

Perhaps, Galway will measure success by reaching the final and go all out for it, but we should not even be asking the question. And we wouldn’t if there was a twoweek breathing window between the end of the Super 8s and the semi-final.

Otherwise, if they are played so close to the group stage they will lose their identity and status. They will not be semifinals, but After Eights.