National Forum

Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To Onion Breath:  ""The Munster Football Championship is seeded."

I didn't think it was seeded this year. I know they voted to make it seeded but that this will only kick in from 2027? Was this year's Munster draw not an open draw and it just happened that Cork and Kerry were drawn on opposite sides?"
You are correct.
Our learned half Limerick/half Roscommon man hasn't educated himself.

For the benefit of our half a Roscommon man, the Mayo Roscommon rivalry would be just as strong if they played in March or September.

Those lads love beating Mayo in football, no mater where or when or how.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1762 - 23/04/2026 16:40:47    2668175

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Replying To JimB1991:  "The holy grail suggests its the ultimate prize, so why would it need to feed into another competition. The ultimate prize is an all Ireland at your grade.

When you say the votes aren't there, didnt the proposal to remove the link in 2021 get over 50% of the vote just not the 60% needed. Think the GPA were in favour and believe players in some counties who voted against were in favour too but their voices got sidelined.
That propsal wasn't perfect either as it allowed division 3 and 4 winners into the Senior All Ireland, which makes no sense as you're reward for winning your division is likely a slaughtering in the All Ireland series.

The point is though you're making out the vast majority want to retain the link between the provincial and All Ireland and their is no appetite for a change in that but I don't think thats the case at all."
I agree. The process after that vote that nearly got through was bizarre to me. It was so close , to me the natural thing to do was to work through and maybe come back with something else that looked similar.

The proposal itself was let down by the championship format rather than it breaking from the Provincials.

5 from division 1, 3 from division 2 and 1 each from 3 and 4 didn't really make sense.

4 divisions of 8 for championship doesn't make sense, it's too exclusive.

2 groups of 8 or 1 group of 12 are things that I think could make sense.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4626 - 23/04/2026 16:42:15    2668177

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Then they become the McKenna Cup, Mc Gratg Cup etc. You can say they wont but we both know they will."
Speak for yourself. Counties don't lift provincial trophies and cheer because they've a nicer seeding for the All Ireland. It's because they won silverware. The Nestor Cup is not the FBD League.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8530 - 23/04/2026 17:14:33    2668189

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Replying To Seanfan:  "What if--
Provincials were played on a round robin basis?
Connacht 1 group of 5
Munster 1 of 6
Leinster a 5 and a 6
Ulster, add London and 2 groups of 5??

Top 2 Provincial Finals.
6 thirds to play a Prelim round, winners joining the other 12 plus last years TC winners in a knock out AI Championship..
Rest TC."
A disaster of a format, the likes of Waterford, Carlow, Longford, Antrim now in line for several hammerings each year instead of the usual one. Increases the number of meaningless turkey shoots massively.

Round robin works in the munster hurling championship because you have the majority of strong hurling counties in the one province.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 153 - 23/04/2026 18:41:47    2668200

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