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Replying To Seanfan: "Who would be relegated to the TC?
Play offs between the 2B losers?
Ros, Kildare, Cavan and Derry this year" That's about the size of it.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 03/07/2026 18:56:14
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Replying To Whammo86: "I'd think it likely the Provincials wither and die pretty quickly without that All Ireland link.
I don't think the status quo is fantastic for them though really either.
Having the National League completed before them lowers their impact." Yeah, well look that's it. If anyone wants to complain about a suggestion that has provincial finalists entering the All Ireland in Round 3, let them bring a motion for promotion or relegation between the All Ireland championship and Tailteann Cup. Put up or shut up!
Regards lowering the impact though, the 4 finals were big events. I'd see the first 4 weekends of the provincial championships as missing an edge. The 8 finalists and 8 qualifiers entering at the same stage is the reason for that.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 03/07/2026 19:02:36
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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." That's a good layering to provide reasonable incentive in the Prov SFCs (even if the Author provides a handy Rd 3A berth to his 'own county, in a province of hurlers' :)
Another fair layering:
- Prov SF 16 & Rd 1 AIC 'Other 16'
- Prov F 8 & Rd 2 AIC 16 (SF + Rd 1 losers; latter 3rd chance)
- Prov Champs Playoffs 4 & Rd 3 AIC 20 (F loss + R1&2 wins)
- Rd 4 AIC 12 (2 Prov Champ losers + 10 Rd 3 winners)
- AIC KO QFs (2 unbeaten Prov Champs + 6 Rd 4 winners)
- AIC SFs
- AIC F
- TC KO 10 (Rd 3 losers; '4 low NFL ranked' to Prelim QFs)
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 04/07/2026 03:52:19
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You could have an All Ireland of 3 groups of 6.
Top 2 in each group go to the 12 team knockout round.
Best 4 group winners to quarterfinals, other 8 teams into last 12.
12 teams qualify for the All Ireland at the end of the Provincials.
8 Provincial champions. Previous season's All Ireland champion, Tailteann Cup champion and 2-4 others from the league as needed.
There are 6 qualifiers spaces.
Week 4 is Ulster and Leinster semifinals
week 5 is the Connacht and Munster finals
Week 6 is Ulster and Leinster finals.
Week 7 can be the All Ireland group stage round 1
Week 8 round 2
Week 9 round 3
Week 10 Break
Week 11 Last 12
Week 12 Quarterfinal
Week 13 Break
Week 14 Semifinals
Week 15 Break
Week 16 All Ireland finals.
There's 2 rounds of qualifiers.
16 teams in round 1 made up of teams eliminated before week 4. That can be played in week 5.
The 8 winners of round 1 play the remaining 4 non qualifiers in week 6 for the remaining 6 places.
Qualifiers don't play in week 7.
Provincial champions and Ulster and Leinster finalists don't play in week 8.
Top seeds are the 4 Provincial champions, All Ireland champion and 1 or 2 others from the league.
2nd seeds are the remaining automatic qualifiers.
3rd seeds are the 6 qualifiers.
Tailteann cup of 14 teams. Everyone plays 1 home and 1 away game, all games played to a winner. Any teams winning both games go straight to the quarterfinals. Any team winning 1 game goes to preliminary quarterfinals, any team losing both games are out.
After the preliminary quarterfinals 7 teams remain to be joined by New York to make up 8.
Why is it better?
Every team gets a home and away game in their championship.
Fewer guaranteed league places makes the Provincials more prominent.
Provincial winners seeded and get the best All Ireland schedule.
Only the 4 best group winners going through to the quarters means that there won't be collusion in the final round of group games, the main drawback of groups of 3. Group winners with 2 wins should be treated favourably to those with a draw or a loss.
Qualifiers reduces some of the gap for teams playing their next game after being knocked out of Provincials.
I think it's more fair for an All Ireland round to be the final determining round for qualifiers rather than the siloed provincial championships.
Teams don't play 3 weeks in a row.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 04/07/2026 12:53:13
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Replying To Whammo86: "You could have an All Ireland of 3 groups of 6.
Top 2 in each group go to the 12 team knockout round.
Best 4 group winners to quarterfinals, other 8 teams into last 12.
12 teams qualify for the All Ireland at the end of the Provincials.
8 Provincial champions. Previous season's All Ireland champion, Tailteann Cup champion and 2-4 others from the league as needed.
There are 6 qualifiers spaces.
Week 4 is Ulster and Leinster semifinals
week 5 is the Connacht and Munster finals
Week 6 is Ulster and Leinster finals.
Week 7 can be the All Ireland group stage round 1
Week 8 round 2
Week 9 round 3
Week 10 Break
Week 11 Last 12
Week 12 Quarterfinal
Week 13 Break
Week 14 Semifinals
Week 15 Break
Week 16 All Ireland finals.
There's 2 rounds of qualifiers.
16 teams in round 1 made up of teams eliminated before week 4. That can be played in week 5.
The 8 winners of round 1 play the remaining 4 non qualifiers in week 6 for the remaining 6 places.
Qualifiers don't play in week 7.
Provincial champions and Ulster and Leinster finalists don't play in week 8.
Top seeds are the 4 Provincial champions, All Ireland champion and 1 or 2 others from the league.
2nd seeds are the remaining automatic qualifiers.
3rd seeds are the 6 qualifiers.
Tailteann cup of 14 teams. Everyone plays 1 home and 1 away game, all games played to a winner. Any teams winning both games go straight to the quarterfinals. Any team winning 1 game goes to preliminary quarterfinals, any team losing both games are out.
After the preliminary quarterfinals 7 teams remain to be joined by New York to make up 8.
Why is it better?
Every team gets a home and away game in their championship.
Fewer guaranteed league places makes the Provincials more prominent.
Provincial winners seeded and get the best All Ireland schedule.
Only the 4 best group winners going through to the quarters means that there won't be collusion in the final round of group games, the main drawback of groups of 3. Group winners with 2 wins should be treated favourably to those with a draw or a loss.
Qualifiers reduces some of the gap for teams playing their next game after being knocked out of Provincials.
I think it's more fair for an All Ireland round to be the final determining round for qualifiers rather than the siloed provincial championships.
Teams don't play 3 weeks in a row." If you look at this season Louth, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan would have had to qualify after poor division 2s and no Provincial finals. To be honest I'd be alright with that.
Louth v Dublin in the Leinster semifinals would have seen 1 go straight to the group stage with the other into the qualifiers.
They'd be seeded for a round 2 qualifier along with Down and Wexford.
Cavan and Wexford would have actually found themselves in a round 1 qualifier, which again would've been ok.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 04/07/2026 13:36:37
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At the end of the day again, the current format looks like it'll be in place for the foreseeable. Small tweaks here and there are all that are likely. The low hanging fruit are changes around home advantage. With separating provincial championships from the All Ireland not even remotely on the agenda - provincial winners are likely to get home advantage in Round 2.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 04/07/2026 14:48:24
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Replying To legendzxix: "At the end of the day again, the current format looks like it'll be in place for the foreseeable. Small tweaks here and there are all that are likely. The low hanging fruit are changes around home advantage. With separating provincial championships from the All Ireland not even remotely on the agenda - provincial winners are likely to get home advantage in Round 2." Tweaks only for the foreseeable future I expect.
At the risk if boring ye tweaks I'd want are:-
No perks for losing Provincial Finalists
2B and 3 at neutral venues as they are elimination Round.
If a bigger tweak....teams not making Provincial Finals should have some form of prelims to stop the 5/6 week gap.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 04/07/2026 15:14:29
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Replying To legendzxix: "At the end of the day again, the current format looks like it'll be in place for the foreseeable. Small tweaks here and there are all that are likely. The low hanging fruit are changes around home advantage. With separating provincial championships from the All Ireland not even remotely on the agenda - provincial winners are likely to get home advantage in Round 2." Yeah I agree there will only be tweaks.
The above would improve upon some of the weak bits of the current system.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 04/07/2026 15:52:26
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The qualifier system from 01 to 17 was fine,shoulda been left alone.
Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 203 - 04/07/2026 21:42:24
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Replying To Seniorleague: "The qualifier system from 01 to 17 was fine,shoulda been left alone." Aye, wasn't much wrong with it either. Couldn't use that system now as there are too many games and GAA has shortened the season in favour of concerts.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2898 - 04/07/2026 22:18:44
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Replying To Seniorleague: "The qualifier system from 01 to 17 was fine,shoulda been left alone." Obviously loads of people wanted rid of it.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 04/07/2026 23:18:46
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As promotion and relegation between All Ireland and Tailteann is not on the agenda...
I suppose clearer home advantage for winning the provincials will be the carrot. If that carrot is enough, that should be that.
Bringing in an extra hurdle or two for the qualifiers would be the stick if the carrot doesn't prove to be enough.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 05/07/2026 03:32:41
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Replying To Seanfan: "Tweaks only for the foreseeable future I expect.
At the risk if boring ye tweaks I'd want are:-
No perks for losing Provincial Finalists
2B and 3 at neutral venues as they are elimination Round.
If a bigger tweak....teams not making Provincial Finals should have some form of prelims to stop the 5/6 week gap." For the teams who lost in the qfinals and prelim rounds of provincials - there is an easy fix, the removes the 5/6 gap and increases the importance of the provincials - as the early round losers dont get rewarded with a nice mid season break
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
(B) 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 reason for the 6 week gap is to delay the all ireland series while teams get the chance to win entry to sam via their province.
In the above system (which is like the old qualifiers system) everyone needs to be ready for championshio at the same time
It will have to be brought in when a trend develops of stronger teams chucking it in at provincial stage, to get a nice break before the all ireland
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2002 - 05/07/2026 09:12:10
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "For the teams who lost in the qfinals and prelim rounds of provincials - there is an easy fix, the removes the 5/6 gap and increases the importance of the provincials - as the early round losers dont get rewarded with a nice mid season break
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
(B) 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 reason for the 6 week gap is to delay the all ireland series while teams get the chance to win entry to sam via their province.
In the above system (which is like the old qualifiers system) everyone needs to be ready for championshio at the same time
It will have to be brought in when a trend develops of stronger teams chucking it in at provincial stage, to get a nice break before the all ireland" There are 12 teams in RD1. I presume 4 teams get a bye?
That leaves them plus the 4 winners and 8 losing semifinalists in Rd 2?
How do the 4 rd 1 losers get their second bite?
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 757 - 05/07/2026 11:29:51
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The Ulster and Leinster semi finals are on the 4th weekend of 6 for the provincial championships. If the Ulster and Leinster semi finalists qualified for the All Ireland, everyone would know that the Tailteann could start on the 5th weekend of the provincial championships as all participants will have been knocked out of their provincial championships by the 3rd weekend.
If the 8 qualifiers started in a Round 1 for the 8 qualifiers only - all qualifiers could know that they'll be playing on the 6th weekend of 6.
As promotion and relegation between All Ireland and Tailteann is not on the agenda...
For that reason, making provincial finals should result in entering the All Ireland at a later round. Installing a Round 3A of provincial winners at home to provincial runners up accommodates that.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 06/07/2026 03:07:03
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "There are 12 teams in RD1. I presume 4 teams get a bye?
That leaves them plus the 4 winners and 8 losing semifinalists in Rd 2?
How do the 4 rd 1 losers get their second bite?" Ulster has 9 counties - 1 loses a prelim round. 4 more lose in q finals
Leinster has 3 prelim round losers and 4 q final losers
Connacht has 2 q finsl losers (new york omitted)
Munster has 2 q final losers
Thats 16 teams - 8v 8 - 8 progess in Sam maguire qualifiers. 8 go to tailteann cup
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2002 - 06/07/2026 07:21:29
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "Ulster has 9 counties - 1 loses a prelim round. 4 more lose in q finals
Leinster has 3 prelim round losers and 4 q final losers
Connacht has 2 q finsl losers (new york omitted)
Munster has 2 q final losers
Thats 16 teams - 8v 8 - 8 progess in Sam maguire qualifiers. 8 go to tailteann cup" Would suggest the following tweak...
Qualifier Round 1 on same weekend as Connacht and Munster semi finals - 9 provincial round 1 losers from the 4 provinces. 1 bye based on league ranking. Including New York as they should be able to plan for travelling for a Connacht semi final or Q1, wouldn't expect them to play or travel for any other competition.
Qualifier Round 2 on same weekend as Connacht and Munster finals - 12 provincial round 2 losers from all provinces and 5 teams from Q1. 1 bye for a provincial round 2 loser based on league ranking.
Qualifier Round 3 on the weekend after the Leinster and Ulster finals - 4 provincial round 3 losers from Leinster and Ulster, and 9 teams from Q2. Any byes based going to provincial round 3 losers based on league ranking.
Tailteann winner still automatically qualified for All Ireland. Defending All Ireland winner arguably automatically qualified as well. Q1 to Q3 above would have to be tweaked slightly to allow for where defending winner and/or Tailteann winner exit their provincial championships.
ALL IRELAND
Round 1A
4 provincial winners at home to Seed 2s on league ranking.
Round 1B
Seed 3 v Seed 4, with separate draw for home advantage with the exception of the Tailteann winner who arguably should be guaranteed a home game.
Round 2
Round 1A losers at home to Round 1B winners.
Quarter finals...
Tier 3:
All Q1 losers, except New York, and lower Q2 losers on league ranking for 4 knockout quarter finals. Tier 3 winner guaranteed a Tailteann Tier 2 place in the following year.
Tailteann Tier 2:
All Q3 losers and higher league ranked Q2 losers, except New York, for 4 knockout quarter finals.
Notes...
- The next game after provincial knockout is no more than 4 weeks away, except for defending winners and Tailteann winner who avail of a bye.
- All teams guaranteed 3 games, again with the exception of defending winner and Tailteann winner who avail of a bye from the qualifiers.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 06/07/2026 12:35:51
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Replying To legendzxix: "Would suggest the following tweak...
Qualifier Round 1 on same weekend as Connacht and Munster semi finals - 9 provincial round 1 losers from the 4 provinces. 1 bye based on league ranking. Including New York as they should be able to plan for travelling for a Connacht semi final or Q1, wouldn't expect them to play or travel for any other competition.
Qualifier Round 2 on same weekend as Connacht and Munster finals - 12 provincial round 2 losers from all provinces and 5 teams from Q1. 1 bye for a provincial round 2 loser based on league ranking.
Qualifier Round 3 on the weekend after the Leinster and Ulster finals - 4 provincial round 3 losers from Leinster and Ulster, and 9 teams from Q2. Any byes based going to provincial round 3 losers based on league ranking.
Tailteann winner still automatically qualified for All Ireland. Defending All Ireland winner arguably automatically qualified as well. Q1 to Q3 above would have to be tweaked slightly to allow for where defending winner and/or Tailteann winner exit their provincial championships.
ALL IRELAND
Round 1A
4 provincial winners at home to Seed 2s on league ranking.
Round 1B
Seed 3 v Seed 4, with separate draw for home advantage with the exception of the Tailteann winner who arguably should be guaranteed a home game.
Round 2
Round 1A losers at home to Round 1B winners.
Quarter finals...
Tier 3:
All Q1 losers, except New York, and lower Q2 losers on league ranking for 4 knockout quarter finals. Tier 3 winner guaranteed a Tailteann Tier 2 place in the following year.
Tailteann Tier 2:
All Q3 losers and higher league ranked Q2 losers, except New York, for 4 knockout quarter finals.
Notes...
- The next game after provincial knockout is no more than 4 weeks away, except for defending winners and Tailteann winner who avail of a bye.
- All teams guaranteed 3 games, again with the exception of defending winner and Tailteann winner who avail of a bye from the qualifiers." its embarrasing how you only propose formats that suit kerry first and foremost and not every county.
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3992 - 06/07/2026 14:33:20
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Replying To KillingFields: "its embarrasing how you only propose formats that suit kerry first and foremost and not every county." LOL!
It's embarrassing how you overlook comments that promotion and relegation between All Ireland and Tailteann is not on the agenda.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 06/07/2026 15:07:07
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Replying To Whammo86: "Yeah I agree there will only be tweaks.
The above would improve upon some of the weak bits of the current system." The 3 consecutive weekends in football is a big demand on players. If the league and provincial championships are to remain untouched, the following could be an option:
Connacht and Munster finals
Leinster and Ulster finals
All Ireland Round 1 consisting of 16 qualifiers. Higher 8 on league ranking against lower 8, separate draw for home game.
All Ireland Round 2A: Provincial winners at home to Seeds 2 on league ranking. All Ireland Round 2B: Seeds 3 v Seeds 4, separate draw for home game.
Round 3: 2A losers v 2B winners
Quarter finals...
The 8 teams missing out on Round 1 into Tailteann Cup of 8. Round 2A winners with home advantage in semi finals.
The 8 teams losing in Round 1 could enter a straight knockout 'Mid Tier' Cup. The semi finals could be a curtain raiser to some All Ireland Round 3 games.
It could be possible to have the Tailteann Cup and 'Mid Tier' Cup finals as a double header in Croke Park on the weekend before the quarter finals. Tailteann and 'Mid Tier' winners guaranteed a home game in All Ireland Round 1 of the following year as a carrot for winning both competitions.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 07/07/2026 04:15:08
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