DOWN mentor Mickey Donnelly has called for a restructuring of the National League so that all counties have an equal number of home and away fixtures.
The current model of four divisions of eight counties equates to seven fixtures per county meaning that some have to hit the road on four occasions and enjoy home field advantage three times while others get one more at home and one less away.
Down were promoted from Division Three last year having played four times in Newry but this year they play at Pairc Esler three times and have to travel to Roscommon, Louth, Cavan and, in round seven, Monaghan.
“If you’ve two defeats in the first two games – especially one defeat at home then you’ve a lot of work to do,” said Donnelly after Down made home advantage count against Cork on Sunday.
The Mournemen were 10 points behind at one stage but, with the home crowd roaring them on, they mounted a brilliant recovery and won by a point.
“We only have three home games,” Donnelly pointed out.
“That has to be looked at because the three-four split is ridiculous – last year nearly every team that was relegated (Kildare who dropped from Division Two were the exception) played four games away from home and that’s not fair.
“We have to make the most out of the home games and it’s great to get a bit of support. The crowd really got behind us when we started to get a bit of momentum.”
The statistics support Donnelly’s viewpoint. Over the last three seasons, 18 counties were relegated from Divisions One, Two and Three. On 11 occasions those relegated counties played three games at home and four on the road.
In terms of promotion from Divisions Two, Three and Four over the same period, the breakdown is the same. 11 of the promoted teams played four games at home and three away and the other seven forced their way up despite having only three fixtures on home soil.
A greater number of home games is no guarantee of success whether it’s staying up or going up. When Down were relegated from Division Two in 2022 the fixtures were in their favour (four at home, three away).
Donnelly suggested that all counties play three games at home and three away in future with the seventh game taking place at a neutral venue.
“Three home and three away and the other game at a provincial venue or at Croke Park?” he proposed.
“I just think it’s a no-brainer, I think it’s unfair at the minute. Four out of the six teams that were relegated the year before (2023) had played four away games so I think it’s something that needs looked at.
“We recognised that the product of Gaelic Football wasn’t where it should have been and we’ve addressed that (with the Football Review Committee’s rule enhancements) and now we have to do the same with the structure of the competitions.”
After a loss on the road against Roscommon and a home win, Down host Meath at Páirc Esler on February 15 but then face three away trips out of four.
“Out of the last four games we have one at home,” Donnelly pointed out.
“It’s a tough run-in when you’ve to go to places like Louth, going to Drogheda isn’t simple.”