It's a sad indictment of what passes for sports journalism in this country that this is even being given airtime and column inches.
Here's what the Official Guide says, it literally couldn't be any clearer:
QuoteDisplay More(iii) All-Ireland Quarter-Final Group Stage The All Ireland Quarter-Final Group Stage shall be on a League basis of two Groups of four teams, with each team in a Group playing the other teams once. The Groupings in year 1 (2018) shall be as follows:
INTER-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS Group 1
Team 1: Munster provincial winner
Team 2: Connacht provincial winner
Team 3: Ulster runner up or team that defeats them in round 4 Team 4: Leinster runner-up, or team that defeats them in round 4Group 2 Team 1: Ulster provincial winner Team 2: Leinster provincial winner Team 3: Munster runner-up, or team that defeats them in round 4 Team 4: Connacht runner-up, or team that defeats them in round 4
The Groupings in the succeeding years shall be determined by the Central Council, and on the basis of two Provincial Champions being in each Group of four teams.
The order of fixtures shall be as follows: Phase 1 Team 1 v Team 2 (venue: Croke Park) Team 3 v Team 4 (venue: Croke Park) Phase 2 Team 1 v Team 3 or 4 (venue: Home advantage for Team 3 or 4) Team 2 v Team 3 or 4 (venue: Home advantage for Team 3 or 4) Phase 3 Team 1 v Team 3 or 4 (venue: Home advantage for Team 1) Team 2 v Team 3 or 4 (venue: Home advantage for Team 2)
The Central Competitions Committee shall make the Draws for Phases 2 and 3. Note: Home Venues shall be subject to approval by the Central Competitions Control Committee > and shall meet the criteria set down by the National Facilities Health and Safety Committee.
The introduction of the Super 8's format was discussed for 32 minutes at the 2017 Congress. That was the window for anybody to have their say or propose amendments. During that time, only Diarmuid O'Donovan from Cork County Board and Dermot Earley from the GPA spoke against the format. 13 speakers supported it and it passed 74:26. That's how the process works, you don't get to come along 16 months later and alter it because you've suddenly decided it's unfair.
Everything I've typed above can be found in two clicks of a mouse from the links below. That's literally all the research this takes. While paper has never refused ink, this willful ignoring of blatant facts in favour of pursuing an agenda for spurious purposes is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon. As much as nobody in Croke Park takes any notice of them, I would favour a spokeperson from HQ pointing this out publicly and calling out everybody peddling this crap for their piss poor professionalism. If only to embarrass the clowns into shutting up and checking their facts once in a while.