National Forum

Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To Whammo86:  "You've the league to warm up for championship. Why is it triple elimination then.

We have gotten to this point because we keep doing small changes around the edges but I don't know that if you zoom out what we're going to have next year makes a whole lot of sense."
Yeah, sure look it is the reality of it. The league has become established. The provincial championships are like a protected species. The Derry example last year where they were still in the championship after 3 losses was kind of the tipping point where there was a collective decision between Croke Park and the county boards that 3 losses should mean end of the road.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8995 - 10/07/2025 16:18:46    2624849

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Yeah, sure look it is the reality of it. The league has become established. The provincial championships are like a protected species. The Derry example last year where they were still in the championship after 3 losses was kind of the tipping point where there was a collective decision between Croke Park and the county boards that 3 losses should mean end of the road."
There isn't a "the championship"
There are 6 Inter County SFCs - 4 Provincials and Sam/TC.
A Munster SHC team could lose 3 of the 4 games and still qualify for AI.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2530 - 10/07/2025 16:57:09    2624858

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "There isn't a "the championship"
There are 6 Inter County SFCs - 4 Provincials and Sam/TC.
A Munster SHC team could lose 3 of the 4 games and still qualify for AI."
There are six alright. Across the provincial championships and All Ireland championship - there was a negative reaction to Derry, a high profile after winning Division 1, losing 3 games but still being in the hunt.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8995 - 10/07/2025 17:23:26    2624862

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Yeah, sure look it is the reality of it. The league has become established. The provincial championships are like a protected species. The Derry example last year where they were still in the championship after 3 losses was kind of the tipping point where there was a collective decision between Croke Park and the county boards that 3 losses should mean end of the road."
There is no particular logic in saying that three losses is too much. It doesn't apply in hurling where you can have three losses and win the All Ireland.

The football league is as much a qualifying tournament for the All Ireland as the provincials are so why are provincial losses counted as part of this notional threshold of losses whereas league losses are not.

CeachtPeile (Cavan) - Posts: 170 - 10/07/2025 17:25:16    2624863

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The change away from group stages came about because, while its ok to watch teams to give half arsed effort in league and have miss matches in provincial championships (admittedly reduced this year), everyone got on their high horse about miss matches in the All Ireland round robin and having to look at Derry going around losing matches to every half decent team they played, yet somehow making a quarter final.

The new system will come in, and be fine - never to be complained about again no doubt.

However, the lopsided provincials and league that no one wants to win (except Dublin and & Kerry), will continue to be a point of contention.

Jarlath burns has openly stated he wants to move the all ireland final to the end of August, cutting off the amount of time for club championships again.

The only way he will get that over the line is by moving the club interprovincials into the following year.
If that happens, they will have to be played during the league.
For that to happen, the league will have to be modified by reverting to an older format (a) 1999 to 2007, or (b) 2021.
Option (a) will remove the pressure to stay up from the current div 1 and lower div 3 teams, but wont take the pressure of the teams currently ranked 12-18.
Option (b) allows the intercounty season start later, giving December and January off for the majority of intercounty players (and less costs for counties). It gives 2 months for the intercounty clubs fixtures to be in the spotlight and returns the club finals to St Patricks day. It also matches the GAA intercounty season with the AFL season, thus making it easier to arrange international rules (if the GAA even want that)

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1505 - 10/07/2025 18:10:18    2624869

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "There is no particular logic in saying that three losses is too much. It doesn't apply in hurling where you can have three losses and win the All Ireland.

The football league is as much a qualifying tournament for the All Ireland as the provincials are so why are provincial losses counted as part of this notional threshold of losses whereas league losses are not."
The hurling folks often say hurling is different!
The main gripe really was against 3 from 4 advancing. Derry losing 3 across Ulster and their first two group games last year was another stick to beat the perceived lack of jeopardy format with.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8995 - 10/07/2025 18:28:17    2624877

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "There is no particular logic in saying that three losses is too much. It doesn't apply in hurling where you can have three losses and win the All Ireland.

The football league is as much a qualifying tournament for the All Ireland as the provincials are so why are provincial losses counted as part of this notional threshold of losses whereas league losses are not."
It was part of a campaign by HQ and the new President against the Round Robin system, aided by media.
Then HQ suddenly sent out 4 proposals to Counties saying one of them was their preferred option.....
Arm twisting or what!

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2530 - 10/07/2025 18:56:22    2624884

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There are six alright. Across the provincial championships and All Ireland championship - there was a negative reaction to Derry, a high profile after winning Division 1, losing 3 games but still being in the hunt."
For what it's worth, with 3 losses, Derry woud still have to win 5 games to claim Sam - straight KO PQF, QF, SF & F, after 1 group win.
Is '5 & 3' worthy of an AI Champ in either code?
Maybe not, given the traditional KO for more than a century.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3321 - 10/07/2025 23:11:27    2624907

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "It was part of a campaign by HQ and the new President against the Round Robin system, aided by media.
Then HQ suddenly sent out 4 proposals to Counties saying one of them was their preferred option.....
Arm twisting or what!"
3 from 4 was a lame format. Fair play to Cavan for making their group exciting. Cork lost their first game and their second. Winning 1 from 3 to qualify is a low percentage. Next year the round 1 losers have no more safety nets.
With the free weekend likely to be utilised after the league finals, round 2B losers will still exit the championship at the same weekend as Round 3 this year. Round 3 losers next year will still exit the championship at the same weekend as the pre quarter finals this year. Teams won't be knocked out any earlier timewise, just a safety net is being removed and all rounds before the All Ireland quarter finals will be a week later.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8995 - 11/07/2025 07:12:34    2624917

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