National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix:  "UEFA Nations League provides a playoff opportunity. The qualifying groups that follow provide direct qualification.
If the National League is before provincial championship, it should be offering a playoff opportunity. Mayo v Roscommon would have an added edge if winning was sealing All Ireland qualification and defeat was meaning a playoff hurdle."
At the expense of having a competitive league? Come on now, lets not model ourselves on soccer, the qualification process there has become a bit of a cod. Just short of having all teams involved.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2086 - 17/06/2026 13:34:55    2680312

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Replying To legendzxix:  "UEFA Nations League provides a playoff opportunity. The qualifying groups that follow provide direct qualification.
If the National League is before provincial championship, it should be offering a playoff opportunity. Mayo v Roscommon would have an added edge if winning was sealing All Ireland qualification and defeat was meaning a playoff hurdle."
Was tried in the hurling championship and has proved a non-runner. Dropped as a result.
Move on.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1359 - 17/06/2026 13:53:11    2680321

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Replying To Square_B:  "At the expense of having a competitive league? Come on now, lets not model ourselves on soccer, the qualification process there has become a bit of a cod. Just short of having all teams involved."
The hurling league is getting in fine. If the provincial championships are to remain linked to the All Ireland, the early rounds currently lack jeopardy where two teams already qualified are playing each other. Cork v Kerry went to extra time last year. Had the result gone the other way, I would still agree with playoff jeopardy.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9838 - 17/06/2026 14:46:53    2680331

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "Was tried in the hurling championship and has proved a non-runner. Dropped as a result.
Move on."
Not sure what you mean there.
There were 4 round of qualifiers before the Super 8s. It isn't overly complicated to have 2 rounds of qualifiers before the All Ireland 16. The league can still be used for byes and seeding the draws.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9838 - 17/06/2026 14:59:29    2680335

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "But they are not really! You still have provincial finalists awarded home venue for first round of championship proper.I like the new system but for it to stand alone provincial finalists should nt count."
Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 1016 - 17/06/2026 15:08:17    2680338

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "The bottom line is you cannot by definition have an equitable All Ireland system that offers an advantage to teams emerging from 4 unequally sized provinces of very different footballing standards.

People talk all the time about the value of a provincial title in its own right. The new system, by breaking the link with AI status, both honours and tests that claim. If a Connacht, Leinster, Ulster or Munster title is worth winning then its worth winning. It stops at that.

Some of the top contending teams now have to make decisions on their horizon for success an d may need to play provincials in 3rd gear, while others have the luxury of wining provincial titles in 3rd gear."
Brilliant assessment, can't be argued with surely?

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 166 - 17/06/2026 15:28:54    2680341

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match."
Not looking to labour the point. If 2 knockout qualifying rounds is a non runner, sin é. The first 4 weekends of the provincial championships are missing a bit of an edge. Direct league qualification instead of a playoff hurdle or two is the reason for that missing edge. Just the way it is.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9838 - 17/06/2026 15:40:28    2680344

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match."
You said they are stand alone competitions but by giving home advantage both competitions are being linked.The format used is like the Kerry county championship except for the link to another competition.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4176 - 17/06/2026 16:57:19    2680353

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Replying To Expertinall:  "Brilliant assessment, can't be argued with surely?"
Simple solution.Take away the link between provincial and All Ireland championshipas.

Let the provincials stand alone and have no bearing on the championship format.Play the provincialscsome other time.

Im sure the likes of Louth and Westmeath might feel sad about it but if its what most want then why not.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4176 - 17/06/2026 17:03:26    2680356

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Amazing that it will be 30 years this September since Mayo played Meath in those finals. Mayo have been in one third of All football finals (that's 10 not including replays) in 30 years. It's an astonishing level of consistency but a shocking return of zero wins."
Wow, Some record and so unlucky on a few occasions.I was just thinking that Kerry have been in 16 finals (not including 2 replays also) but we lucky to get a few wins.
Getting to a final is also brilliant though as the build up is magic.
Someday soon Yewtree I hope you and the Mayo people can enjoy the ultimate win.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4176 - 17/06/2026 18:25:34    2680361

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "You said they are stand alone competitions but by giving home advantage both competitions are being linked.The format used is like the Kerry county championship except for the link to another competition."
Think we also have to have nominated, and back up venues, listed before competition start. I don't think picking random inconvenient grounds to bring a team to is on. If your ground is out of action, notify where you propose to play and next alternative at start of the season.
Hooter and clock etc mandatory too, at those.

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 166 - 17/06/2026 18:46:29    2680363

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