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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The current system at the All Ireland 16 stage is great. There needs to be more head to head clashes for the 7 league qualifier spots. Some teams are a bit too comfortable losing a provincial match and going straight through to the All Ireland series regardless."
Teams that are facing a relatively long provincial run of 4 tough matches against Div1/2 sides might understandably take that approach. It would be different for them if it were just a Div4 team in a semi than a Div2 team in a final.
Perspectives on provincials differ in that regard.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1357 - 16/06/2026 16:03:35    2680200

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The current system at the All Ireland 16 stage is great. There needs to be more head to head clashes for the 7 league qualifier spots. Some teams are a bit too comfortable losing a provincial match and going straight through to the All Ireland series regardless."
I disagree. NFL status is competitively fought for every season Jan-March, and imo presents the perfect framework to seed the Sam Maguire competition, as required for current Sam competition qualification.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4814 - 16/06/2026 16:13:39    2680203

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "Teams that are facing a relatively long provincial run of 4 tough matches against Div1/2 sides might understandably take that approach. It would be different for them if it were just a Div4 team in a semi than a Div2 team in a final.
Perspectives on provincials differ in that regard."
The Munster semi final went to extra time last year. Cork lost but still went straight into the All Ireland regardless. A knockout playoff would have tested them.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9832 - 16/06/2026 16:56:28    2680208

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