O’Hagan calling for a better deal for provincial champions

ARMAGH All-Ireland winner Barry O’Hagan feels the GAA must make a tweak for next season to give provincial champions a better reward for winning their respective provinces.

O’Hagan is enthused with the current championship format and the level of drama it has delivered.

Any changes to what it currently in situ would be minimal. He also stressed the tweak is not just because his native county have been drawn to play away to Kerry this weekend after having played Louth in Inniskeen.

The other example is how Mark McHugh’s Westmeath were away to Galway and travel to Clones this weekend.

With Armagh and Westmeath having backed up winning their provincial title by beating Derry and Cavan respectively, this weekend will be their second away game in succession.

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“There’s always going to be a critique of where systems are not work properly, that it’s too congested and all that,” O’Hagan said.

As Armagh and Westmeath prepared for their provincial titles, Derry and Cavan respectively were deep in their preparations to face them in the All-Ireland opener.

“I know Mark (McHugh) came out after the Galway game, talking about there’s no reward now for winning your provincial title.

“If you think about it, Armagh and Westmeath won their provincial titles for the first in a while. Derry and Cavan had four weeks to prepare for them.”

Armagh’s reward for beating Derry was last weekend’s trip to Ardee while Westmeath’s extra-time win over Cavan set up a trip to Salthill to face Galway.

“Both were beaten for the first time this season. Armagh are now away to Kerry six days later and Westmeath are away to Monaghan in Clones, there’s no reward.”

O’Hagan feels provincial champions should be guaranteed a home game in the all or nothing Round 3. If not that, then some other level of reward for investing energy into winning their provincial title.

He points to his former teammate Kieran McGeeney referencing the Ulster Championship and All-Ireland series are different competitions.

“They are and it (Ulster) has no bearing,” O’Hagan adds. “I do think they need to look at that. Provincial winners need to be getting a home draw or something at this stage.

“I do think Westmeath should have got the reward and they should have been at home to Monaghan.

“They’ll (the GAA) probably look at that as a tweak for next year. It’s not just because it’s Armagh, look at Westmeath too.

“They’ve played three extra times, played six games and have only lost one.

“They were on the road (in Galway) last week and they’re way up the road to Monaghan, which is a tough, tough place to go, particularly with Monaghan having a bit of momentum.

“All you want is fairness for all the competitors in the competition,” O’Hagan added.

He compares it to Mayo who were heavily beaten by Roscommon in Connacht before then losing to Tyrone but are at home this weekend when the season is on the line.

“Armagh have won all but one out of six (championship) matches and they’re away to Kerry,” O’Hagan continued.

“It’s not an Armagh thing. If you’re a manager, all you want is a bit of equality and fairness across the board.

“If they’re putting so much faith in the provincial championships, then back it up.

“They say they don’t want to get rid of the provincial championships, but we’re going to give a slight advantage to whoever wins them.”