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Replying To Whammo86: "The suggestion would be Provincial in March to mid April.
All Ireland taking 15 weekends up to last weekend in July.
Teams would be seeded by Provincial performance, although Provincial runners up shouldn't automatically qualify.
So the Provincials would be moved back but it's not to get them out of the way, it's to provide space for the All Ireland.
I hear you on it being a real cost to lose the NFL as is and the chance for trophies and Croke Park appearances.
My reasoning for it is that the All Ireland is the dominant competition in terms of prestige and whilst other competitions would suffer it's much more important to get the main competition right.
I just think the format I propose would be very effective at getting more of the right fixtures being played in the main competition, at the best window with plenty at stake.
It's an idea that's not pulled together with no real world context.
There was a motion in congress a few years ago that got over 50% of votes that would separate the Provincials from the All Ireland and run the National league afterwards with 4 divisions of 8 moving on to the All Ireland knockout round.
Now I didn't like this proposal myself but it had support outside of Provincial councils including the GPA. Certainly at the time the GPA wanted more games in the championship, have a better season structure overall and make the competition more tiered based.
This moved us towards the 4 by 4 provincial groups, they didn't really work because groups of 4 don't really work that well in GAA where draws don't happen often. If 2 progress too much can be decided before the final day, if 3 progress it's low intensity.
I think there was an alternative to going down the route of this year's championship and going 2 groups of 8 and focusing on the All Ireland. Promotion and relegation would be determined by the championship not the league which is a bit quirky for a good few reasons.
You are getting the games that we to see into April, May, June and out of February and March." I agree with you on the quirkyness of league form determining championship fate. Afterall you hear coaches talking about flooding players in the league for the championship all the time and not every player can/will commit to the league.
However I disagree on your opinion that we somehow need to focus on only one competition to give it more emphasis. I think that the All Ireland has and always will hold centre stage. It shouldn't do so by diminishing other achievements though.
When the dust settles on this season the players and fans of Westmeath and Roscommon will be happy. Armagh fans too maybe given the long burst they have had to win ulster. Sure there may be thoughts of what might have been but they all have a very valued trophy on the shelf as reward for their season. Even the 4 league winners can feel similarly proud. There are 3 teams left in the All Ireland that cant say that. If the bookies are correct all 3 will finish the season that way. My point is that there is significant value in these trophies and the provincials in particular. For many players and counties its their All Ireland.
By pushing them back, as you put it, you are getting them out of the way. You can phrase it whatever way you like but that's what you are doing. They are a very important part of our tradition and culture and they draw significant crowds and tv audiences too. I believe its a mistake to undermine them this way.
Im with the Kerryman on most of this. There isnt a huge amount wrong with this year's format. We need to find a way to have the teams out of provincials early back playing sooner. We need to sort out the draw too. It cant be down to luck whether you are home or away. They are the main things. We also need to reclaim August for the intercounty season to allow it to breath. I dont know how we do that but it will solve a lot of problems in both codes.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 683 - 01/07/2026 17:57:48
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Replying To Saynothing: "This year is the fairest system for years. All teams get their second bite at it. Cream rises to the top." The cream certainly came to the top this year .Leinster in particular.
brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 729 - 01/07/2026 21:21:19
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The only cream that rises to the top of the current format is the champion. The current format by design is a championship to determine the CHAMPION. Heavyweights will be knocked out early. A blunt instrument by design.
It is fine that the provincial championships all determine a champion as well. The problem with the provincial championships is that they are not designed to provide a runner up like a league format would. It would be fine if provincial winners only were rewarded but runners up are also being rewarded.
It is a tough one though. Provincial runners up going to All Ireland Round 1 reduces the gap between provincial finals and the All Ireland championship starting.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9920 - 01/07/2026 22:12:55
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "I agree with you on the quirkyness of league form determining championship fate. Afterall you hear coaches talking about flooding players in the league for the championship all the time and not every player can/will commit to the league.
However I disagree on your opinion that we somehow need to focus on only one competition to give it more emphasis. I think that the All Ireland has and always will hold centre stage. It shouldn't do so by diminishing other achievements though.
When the dust settles on this season the players and fans of Westmeath and Roscommon will be happy. Armagh fans too maybe given the long burst they have had to win ulster. Sure there may be thoughts of what might have been but they all have a very valued trophy on the shelf as reward for their season. Even the 4 league winners can feel similarly proud. There are 3 teams left in the All Ireland that cant say that. If the bookies are correct all 3 will finish the season that way. My point is that there is significant value in these trophies and the provincials in particular. For many players and counties its their All Ireland.
By pushing them back, as you put it, you are getting them out of the way. You can phrase it whatever way you like but that's what you are doing. They are a very important part of our tradition and culture and they draw significant crowds and tv audiences too. I believe its a mistake to undermine them this way.
Im with the Kerryman on most of this. There isnt a huge amount wrong with this year's format. We need to find a way to have the teams out of provincials early back playing sooner. We need to sort out the draw too. It cant be down to luck whether you are home or away. They are the main things. We also need to reclaim August for the intercounty season to allow it to breath. I dont know how we do that but it will solve a lot of problems in both codes." This season's All Ireland has been very good and there will not be change for a while.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4718 - 02/07/2026 01:47:59
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The extension of the season into August is an easy fix
Have the All Ireland semis on last weekend of July and final in mid August
For the 2 teams in the All Ireland final - grant their club champions semi final entry into the club provincial championship so they don't have to play off their club championship like a blitz. Problem solved.
For the teams who lost in the qfinals and prelim rounds of provincials - there is also and easy fix.
1. Seed all provincials - All Ireland champions (if applicable), defending provincial champions, top league finisher and Tailteann cup winner (if applicable) from previous year are the top 4 seeds of their province.
2. Have all entry to Sam Maguire decided by success at provincials as follows:
(a) RD 1 qualifier (played same weekend as provincial semis) - Q final losers and prelim rd losers (4 Ulster, 4 Leinster, 2 Connacht, 2 Munster, 4 prelim losers) play off - Tailteann champs + any league winners get home draw - 8 progress
(c) RD 2 qualifier - semi final losers (8) play 8 RD1 qualifiers - Tailteann cup champions + semi losers at home - 8 winners progress to Sam Maguire rest go to Tailteann cup
OK Tailteann winners don't get auto entry to Sam Maguire - but they get seeded and a few home draws to give them every chance of making it through.
The above keeps championship as championship and league as league. It also gives the likes of Down a chance to progress into Sam Maguire via the qualifiers where the current system locked them out and forced them into the Tailteann cup. Kildare, Westmeath and Offaly could well be in the same boat next year.
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1970 - 02/07/2026 09:39:01
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "The extension of the season into August is an easy fix
Have the All Ireland semis on last weekend of July and final in mid August
For the 2 teams in the All Ireland final - grant their club champions semi final entry into the club provincial championship so they don't have to play off their club championship like a blitz. Problem solved.
For the teams who lost in the qfinals and prelim rounds of provincials - there is also and easy fix.
1. Seed all provincials - All Ireland champions (if applicable), defending provincial champions, top league finisher and Tailteann cup winner (if applicable) from previous year are the top 4 seeds of their province.
2. Have all entry to Sam Maguire decided by success at provincials as follows:
(a) RD 1 qualifier (played same weekend as provincial semis) - Q final losers and prelim rd losers (4 Ulster, 4 Leinster, 2 Connacht, 2 Munster, 4 prelim losers) play off - Tailteann champs + any league winners get home draw - 8 progress
(c) RD 2 qualifier - semi final losers (8) play 8 RD1 qualifiers - Tailteann cup champions + semi losers at home - 8 winners progress to Sam Maguire rest go to Tailteann cup
OK Tailteann winners don't get auto entry to Sam Maguire - but they get seeded and a few home draws to give them every chance of making it through.
The above keeps championship as championship and league as league. It also gives the likes of Down a chance to progress into Sam Maguire via the qualifiers where the current system locked them out and forced them into the Tailteann cup. Kildare, Westmeath and Offaly could well be in the same boat next year." It was always easy to fix format wise.
The issue with August is political and that is not easy to fix. The GPA and the county boards have taken on the mantle of the CPA in that regard. They want to maintain the split season and the first of August deadline. Thats not easy to fix
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 683 - 02/07/2026 11:42:48
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Replying To Whammo86: "This season's All Ireland has been very good and there will not be change for a while." That's about the size of it. Like rearranging chairs at Congress, there'll just be small changes here and there. Avoiding 3 consecutive weekends will have to come from an agreeable solution from the GPA. Giving a meaningful reward for winning the provincial championships will have to come an agreeable solution from the provincial councils.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9920 - 02/07/2026 11:53:32
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "It was always easy to fix format wise.
The issue with August is political and that is not easy to fix. The GPA and the county boards have taken on the mantle of the CPA in that regard. They want to maintain the split season and the first of August deadline. Thats not easy to fix" The reason the GPA don't like it is because the current format allows players from 26 counties to go and play in the states for July/August if they want.
a 2 week delay for tailteann and Sam Maguire changes that number to 14. So the majority of players wont have the states option every year.
I wouldn't think it was a big deal breaker - the deal breaker would be the lack of a break for the All Ireland finalists if there isn't some change to the club provincials, which would allow the All Ireland finalist counties delay their club championship by 2 weeks.
It can be fixed, just like the football rules - just needs the chairman of the GAA to get behind it and make it happen. Burns dropped it when he saw he would need a big campaign to get it through congress and since he wont be chairman at the next congress, he dropped it and left it for the next man.
The next chairman is from wexford and no one in Wexford wants less time for club championships (no matter that they have no chance of making a football or hurling final for the next while), they have the longest club championships in the country.
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1970 - 02/07/2026 12:30:24
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Replying To Saynothing: "This year is the fairest system for years. All teams get their second bite at it. Cream rises to the top." Nothing fair about Armagh getting 4 days notice for a 5 or 6 hour trip to Kerry to play a season ending knock out game or Donegal having to be in Dublin (4,5 or 6 hours) for a 1.15 start to a.........
2A and 3 should be neutral venues.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 711 - 02/07/2026 12:38:44
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Hmmm...
Round 1 - The 8 qualifiers.
Round 2A - 4 winners from Round 1
Round 2B - 4 losers from Round 1
Round 3A - 4 provincial winners at home to 4 provincial runners up.
Round 3B - 2 losers from Round 2A versus 2 winners from Round 2B.
Round 4 - 4 losers from Round 3A at home to the 4 qualifiers from Round 2A and Round 3B.
Quarter finals - 4 winners from Round 3A versus 4 winners from Round 4.
Schedule:
Weekend 5 - Connacht and Munster finals.
6 - Ulster final, Leinster final and All Ireland Round 1.
7 - All Ireland Rounds 2A and 2B.
8 - Rounds 3A and 3B.
(Rest weekend)
9 - Round 4
(Rest weekend and also Tailteann semi finals!!)
10 - quarter finals
So that's it...
Provincial finalists going straight to Round 3A, with an opportunity to go direct to the quarter finals. Provincial winners with home advantage.
The 2 qualifiers who win in Round 2A get a bye to Round 4 but cannot rank higher than the provincial finalists from Round 3A who would have home advantage in Round 4.
2A losers and 2B winners (4 teams altogether) would play on 3 consecutive weekends but that's the tougher scenic route after missing out on their finals, losing a second game and availing of a lifeline to get to Round 4.
Round 4 would not clash with the Tailteann semi finals weekend, giving the 4 Tailteann semi finalists their fully deserved day out in the spotlight.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9920 - 02/07/2026 20:12:26
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Replying To Seanfan: "Nothing fair about Armagh getting 4 days notice for a 5 or 6 hour trip to Kerry to play a season ending knock out game or Donegal having to be in Dublin (4,5 or 6 hours) for a 1.15 start to a.........
2A and 3 should be neutral venues." Thats the nature of a system that relies on the luck of the draw. Football people dont like the round robin and the certainty it brings to fixtures. They want uncertainty.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 683 - 02/07/2026 22:08:07
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Replying To legendzxix: "Hmmm...
Round 1 - The 8 qualifiers.
Round 2A - 4 winners from Round 1
Round 2B - 4 losers from Round 1
Round 3A - 4 provincial winners at home to 4 provincial runners up.
Round 3B - 2 losers from Round 2A versus 2 winners from Round 2B.
Round 4 - 4 losers from Round 3A at home to the 4 qualifiers from Round 2A and Round 3B.
Quarter finals - 4 winners from Round 3A versus 4 winners from Round 4.
Schedule:
Weekend 5 - Connacht and Munster finals.
6 - Ulster final, Leinster final and All Ireland Round 1.
7 - All Ireland Rounds 2A and 2B.
8 - Rounds 3A and 3B.
(Rest weekend)
9 - Round 4
(Rest weekend and also Tailteann semi finals!!)
10 - quarter finals
So that's it...
Provincial finalists going straight to Round 3A, with an opportunity to go direct to the quarter finals. Provincial winners with home advantage.
The 2 qualifiers who win in Round 2A get a bye to Round 4 but cannot rank higher than the provincial finalists from Round 3A who would have home advantage in Round 4.
2A losers and 2B winners (4 teams altogether) would play on 3 consecutive weekends but that's the tougher scenic route after missing out on their finals, losing a second game and availing of a lifeline to get to Round 4.
Round 4 would not clash with the Tailteann semi finals weekend, giving the 4 Tailteann semi finalists their fully deserved day out in the spotlight." You do realise that any proposal to push provincial champions ahead - in your case via skipping them into Round 3A with a home draw - is basically rewarding Kerry for being the sole football county in a province of hurlers.
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1970 - 03/07/2026 09:23:11
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "You do realise that any proposal to push provincial champions ahead - in your case via skipping them into Round 3A with a home draw - is basically rewarding Kerry for being the sole football county in a province of hurlers." Thats the problem with justifiably rewarding the other 3 Provincial winners.
Without a reward the Provincials may become a sort of poor man's thing , nice to win but only means something to the smaller Counties like Ros and Westmeath this year.
And like trying to win the NFL, get in the way of preparations for a Sam campaign.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 711 - 03/07/2026 09:46:26
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Replying To Seanfan: "Nothing fair about Armagh getting 4 days notice for a 5 or 6 hour trip to Kerry to play a season ending knock out game or Donegal having to be in Dublin (4,5 or 6 hours) for a 1.15 start to a.........
2A and 3 should be neutral venues." Well if you look back I've been saying neutral venues all the way. Split the journeys especially supporters.Fair system except for venues.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2824 - 03/07/2026 09:54:12
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "You do realise that any proposal to push provincial champions ahead - in your case via skipping them into Round 3A with a home draw - is basically rewarding Kerry for being the sole football county in a province of hurlers." In the qualifier era:
• 2 All Munster All Ireland finals.
• Tipperary made the All Ireland semi finals.
• Clare and Limerick made the All Ireland quarter finals.
Sin é.
Not unusual for some counties to have district championships that still continue without being linked to county championships. Provincial championships should be able to stand on their own feet. Not seeing any push for that though. All it takes is a motion for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup.
The current talk is around rewarding provincial winners. After standalone finals this year, those who possibly want standalone provincial championships are sleeping at the wheel when this is probably the best opportunity to push for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup. If any changes go ahead for rewarding provincial winners later in the year, it will be a step back from the closest things have gotten to potentially having standalone provincial championships.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9920 - 03/07/2026 10:22:46
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Replying To legendzxix: "In the qualifier era:
• 2 All Munster All Ireland finals.
• Tipperary made the All Ireland semi finals.
• Clare and Limerick made the All Ireland quarter finals.
Sin é.
Not unusual for some counties to have district championships that still continue without being linked to county championships. Provincial championships should be able to stand on their own feet. Not seeing any push for that though. All it takes is a motion for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup.
The current talk is around rewarding provincial winners. After standalone finals this year, those who possibly want standalone provincial championships are sleeping at the wheel when this is probably the best opportunity to push for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup. If any changes go ahead for rewarding provincial winners later in the year, it will be a step back from the closest things have gotten to potentially having standalone provincial championships." Who would be relegated to the TC?
Play offs between the 2B losers?
Ros, Kildare, Cavan and Derry this year
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 711 - 03/07/2026 11:17:38
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Replying To legendzxix: "In the qualifier era:
• 2 All Munster All Ireland finals.
• Tipperary made the All Ireland semi finals.
• Clare and Limerick made the All Ireland quarter finals.
Sin é.
Not unusual for some counties to have district championships that still continue without being linked to county championships. Provincial championships should be able to stand on their own feet. Not seeing any push for that though. All it takes is a motion for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup.
The current talk is around rewarding provincial winners. After standalone finals this year, those who possibly want standalone provincial championships are sleeping at the wheel when this is probably the best opportunity to push for promotion and relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup. If any changes go ahead for rewarding provincial winners later in the year, it will be a step back from the closest things have gotten to potentially having standalone provincial championships." Its not unusual for counties to have district or divisionsl( as we call them) championships. We have 4 in Limerick. They mean nothing though. They used to. You had to win or reach final to compete for the county championship when I was growing up. They used to draw big crowds. Now nothing. They are just above challenge matches
. Those medals went from meaning something to meaning nothing overnight. I googled mayo divisional finals a while back when someone from there was making the same strawman argument. Their District/Divisional finals were played in early march iirc in front of 3 men and a dog. They used to be big there too. Now nothing.
You keep pitching this and I keep pointing out something that you already know. Kerry may not value their provincial medals but I can assure you that the other 5 counties do. We cant let you diminish that achievement
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 683 - 03/07/2026 11:29:34
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "Its not unusual for counties to have district or divisionsl( as we call them) championships. We have 4 in Limerick. They mean nothing though. They used to. You had to win or reach final to compete for the county championship when I was growing up. They used to draw big crowds. Now nothing. They are just above challenge matches
. Those medals went from meaning something to meaning nothing overnight. I googled mayo divisional finals a while back when someone from there was making the same strawman argument. Their District/Divisional finals were played in early march iirc in front of 3 men and a dog. They used to be big there too. Now nothing.
You keep pitching this and I keep pointing out something that you already know. Kerry may not value their provincial medals but I can assure you that the other 5 counties do. We cant let you diminish that achievement" Ros CB resurrected a divisional championship (North +West) ,played as season openers, load of walk overs, no results/reports in local papers.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 711 - 03/07/2026 11:57:07
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