|
Replying To legendzxix: "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." I'd think if you were going 3 tiers they need to be proper championships where teams get a good number of games.
If you'd 12, 10, 10, in groups of 6 and 5, you could actually start the lower tiers the week of the Ulster and Leinster finals because there has to be bye teams anyway.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 07/07/2026 20:05:31
2684756
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "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." If we did go back to groups you probably could have a better schedule, with promotion somewhat determined by the previous season's All Ireland.
Start All Ireland in week 8 you have 9 weeks to get to All Ireland final day.
Week 1 Group round 1
Week 2 Group round 2
Week 3 Break
Week 4 Group round 3
Week 5 Quarterfinals
Week 6 Break
Week 7 Semifinals
With 3 tiers and 3 groups of 4 in tier 1 and 2 groups of 5 in the lower tiers you can get the lower tiers started alongside Provincial finals and only have provincial champions guaranteed a place in tier 1.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 08/07/2026 09:48:47
2684785
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Whammo86: "I'd think if you were going 3 tiers they need to be proper championships where teams get a good number of games.
If you'd 12, 10, 10, in groups of 6 and 5, you could actually start the lower tiers the week of the Ulster and Leinster finals because there has to be bye teams anyway." I'll respond to both posts. Group stage is not on the agenda. Reason: dead rubbers, whether people like that reason or not.
The GPA want to avoid 3 consecutive weekends. Supposedly they might be open to league finals only being dropped, meaning league rounds 3-4-5 might still be on consecutive weekends. A knockout All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers would help avoid 3 consecutive weekends in the All Ireland championship.
Provincial semi finalists could be included in the 16 qualifiers, with an exclusion exception that the 3 counties who have a bye to their semi finals cannot qualify through the provincial route, but must rely on the league route.
I think I get your push back on 3 tiers. At the same time, losing in a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers could be anyone's second game. The 8 Round 1 losers entering quarter finals of a competition that would guarantee Round 1 home advantage in the following year can be a compromise.
A county like Antrim would have to work on winning an Ulster quarter final to get through as a provincial qualifier or improve league ranking.
Suggestion...
All Ireland Round 1 - 16 qualifiers: 8 higher league ranked v 8 lower league ranked, separate draw for home game.
Round 2A - provincial winners at home v Seeds 2 on league ranking. Everyone's target should be to get to 2A through provincial win or league placing.
Round 2B - Seeds 3 v Seeds 4 on league ranking, separate draw for home game.
Round 3 - 2A losers at home v 2B winners. 2A would be heavyweight clashes, which arguably should mean home game in R3.
Quarter finals - 2A winners v R3 winners.
Scheduling....
League - 1, 2, off, 3, 4, 5, off, 6, 7 and off before provincial championships.
The provincial championships could actually be played over 7 weekends, thus avoiding some preliminary round winners playing on consecutive weekends...
1. Leinster and Ulster preliminary
2. Connacht and Munster quarters
3. Leinster and Ulster quarters
4. Connacht and Munster semis
5. Leinster and Ulster semis
6. Connacht and Munster finals
7. Leinster and Ulster finals
8. All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers
9. Rounds 2A and 2B
Off
10. Round 3
Off
11. Quarter finals and onwards...
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 09/07/2026 02:26:53
2684886
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "I'll respond to both posts. Group stage is not on the agenda. Reason: dead rubbers, whether people like that reason or not.
The GPA want to avoid 3 consecutive weekends. Supposedly they might be open to league finals only being dropped, meaning league rounds 3-4-5 might still be on consecutive weekends. A knockout All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers would help avoid 3 consecutive weekends in the All Ireland championship.
Provincial semi finalists could be included in the 16 qualifiers, with an exclusion exception that the 3 counties who have a bye to their semi finals cannot qualify through the provincial route, but must rely on the league route.
I think I get your push back on 3 tiers. At the same time, losing in a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers could be anyone's second game. The 8 Round 1 losers entering quarter finals of a competition that would guarantee Round 1 home advantage in the following year can be a compromise.
A county like Antrim would have to work on winning an Ulster quarter final to get through as a provincial qualifier or improve league ranking.
Suggestion...
All Ireland Round 1 - 16 qualifiers: 8 higher league ranked v 8 lower league ranked, separate draw for home game.
Round 2A - provincial winners at home v Seeds 2 on league ranking. Everyone's target should be to get to 2A through provincial win or league placing.
Round 2B - Seeds 3 v Seeds 4 on league ranking, separate draw for home game.
Round 3 - 2A losers at home v 2B winners. 2A would be heavyweight clashes, which arguably should mean home game in R3.
Quarter finals - 2A winners v R3 winners.
Scheduling....
League - 1, 2, off, 3, 4, 5, off, 6, 7 and off before provincial championships.
The provincial championships could actually be played over 7 weekends, thus avoiding some preliminary round winners playing on consecutive weekends...
1. Leinster and Ulster preliminary
2. Connacht and Munster quarters
3. Leinster and Ulster quarters
4. Connacht and Munster semis
5. Leinster and Ulster semis
6. Connacht and Munster finals
7. Leinster and Ulster finals
8. All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers
9. Rounds 2A and 2B
Off
10. Round 3
Off
11. Quarter finals and onwards..." Jez i must be slow. Ive read your post 3 times and havent a clue how your proposal works.
anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 1103 - 09/07/2026 10:14:47
2684907
Link
1
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "I'll respond to both posts. Group stage is not on the agenda. Reason: dead rubbers, whether people like that reason or not.
The GPA want to avoid 3 consecutive weekends. Supposedly they might be open to league finals only being dropped, meaning league rounds 3-4-5 might still be on consecutive weekends. A knockout All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers would help avoid 3 consecutive weekends in the All Ireland championship.
Provincial semi finalists could be included in the 16 qualifiers, with an exclusion exception that the 3 counties who have a bye to their semi finals cannot qualify through the provincial route, but must rely on the league route.
I think I get your push back on 3 tiers. At the same time, losing in a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers could be anyone's second game. The 8 Round 1 losers entering quarter finals of a competition that would guarantee Round 1 home advantage in the following year can be a compromise.
A county like Antrim would have to work on winning an Ulster quarter final to get through as a provincial qualifier or improve league ranking.
Suggestion...
All Ireland Round 1 - 16 qualifiers: 8 higher league ranked v 8 lower league ranked, separate draw for home game.
Round 2A - provincial winners at home v Seeds 2 on league ranking. Everyone's target should be to get to 2A through provincial win or league placing.
Round 2B - Seeds 3 v Seeds 4 on league ranking, separate draw for home game.
Round 3 - 2A losers at home v 2B winners. 2A would be heavyweight clashes, which arguably should mean home game in R3.
Quarter finals - 2A winners v R3 winners.
Scheduling....
League - 1, 2, off, 3, 4, 5, off, 6, 7 and off before provincial championships.
The provincial championships could actually be played over 7 weekends, thus avoiding some preliminary round winners playing on consecutive weekends...
1. Leinster and Ulster preliminary
2. Connacht and Munster quarters
3. Leinster and Ulster quarters
4. Connacht and Munster semis
5. Leinster and Ulster semis
6. Connacht and Munster finals
7. Leinster and Ulster finals
8. All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers
9. Rounds 2A and 2B
Off
10. Round 3
Off
11. Quarter finals and onwards..." You can design a group stage without dead rubbers.
Top 2 through, 3rd place retain their place, 4th place have to qualify through the league or Provincial championship.
As I've said before the hurling championship has dead rubbers.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 09/07/2026 16:04:34
2684974
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Whammo86: "You can design a group stage without dead rubbers.
Top 2 through, 3rd place retain their place, 4th place have to qualify through the league or Provincial championship.
As I've said before the hurling championship has dead rubbers." Group systems work best when there's relegation/promotion.
A bit of jeopardy for finishing bottom.
Current format is a half way house between Group and Knock out formats, which I suspect is here for the foreseeable future.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 09/07/2026 16:44:25
2684984
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Whammo86: "You can design a group stage without dead rubbers.
Top 2 through, 3rd place retain their place, 4th place have to qualify through the league or Provincial championship.
As I've said before the hurling championship has dead rubbers." I know the hurling championship has dead rubbers. It seems a no no in football from the Super 8s.
Entertaining your group stage talk anyway: 4 provincial winners and the Tailteann winner means not all 3rd placed teams in 4 groups of 4 can retain their place. It might suit that 3rd placed teams playoff for 2 retaining places. 6 places are then vacant for Tailteann winner, Division 1 winner and provincial winners. 3rd place retain their place, 4th place have to qualify through the league or Provincial championship.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 09/07/2026 18:11:51
2684994
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "Group systems work best when there's relegation/promotion.
A bit of jeopardy for finishing bottom.
Current format is a half way house between Group and Knock out formats, which I suspect is here for the foreseeable future." I think it's here for the foreseeable future, I just think the group stage alternative would be better.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 10/07/2026 11:46:42
2685078
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "I know the hurling championship has dead rubbers. It seems a no no in football from the Super 8s.
Entertaining your group stage talk anyway: 4 provincial winners and the Tailteann winner means not all 3rd placed teams in 4 groups of 4 can retain their place. It might suit that 3rd placed teams playoff for 2 retaining places. 6 places are then vacant for Tailteann winner, Division 1 winner and provincial winners. 3rd place retain their place, 4th place have to qualify through the league or Provincial championship." The thought would be that it is almost impossible for all 4 Provincial champions to come from outside the 13 qualifying teams. If it happens maybe the lowest ranked 3rd placed team drops out, or the lowest 2 playoff.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 10/07/2026 11:48:30
2685079
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Whammo86: "I think it's here for the foreseeable future, I just think the group stage alternative would be better." Here for the foreseeable alright. The GPA will be throwing in the grenade of limiting the league to 6 rounds, just as people are getting used to this year's schedule.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 10/07/2026 12:30:04
2685087
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Here for the foreseeable alright. The GPA will be throwing in the grenade of limiting the league to 6 rounds, just as people are getting used to this year's schedule." Four 7 team divisions???
Train for months for 9 games spread from c20th January to c14th June?? 22 weeks?
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 10/07/2026 13:20:14
2685098
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "Four 7 team divisions???
Train for months for 9 games spread from c20th January to c14th June?? 22 weeks?" Best fit might be...
Division 1: 2 groups of 6.
Group winners straight to league final.
6th placed teams relegated.
Arguably 5th placed sides into relegation playoff.
Division 2: 2 groups of 5.
Group winners straight to league final.
Arguably 2nd placed sides into promotion playoff.
5th placed teams relegated.
Arguably 4th placed sides into relegation playoff.
Division 3: 2 groups of 5.
Group winners straight to league final.
Arguably 2nd placed sides into promotion playoff.
4th placed teams in Division 1 would possibly have to playoff for 7th place, in the unlikely event it was the final qualifying spot through the league.
6th placed teams in Division 1 would also possibly have to playoff for 14th place, as it could be the final qualifying spot through the league.
League ranking:
1. Division 1 - winner
2. Division 1 - Runner up
3. 2nd in both Division 1 groups
5. 3rd in both Division 1 groups
7. Division 1 - 4th place playoff winner
8. Division 1 - 4th place playoff loser
9. Division 1 relegation playoff winner
10. Division 2 winner
11. Division 2 runner up
12. Division 2 promotion playoff winner
13. Division 1 relegation playoff loser
14. 14th place playoff winner
15. 14th place playoff loser
16. Division 2 promotion playoff loser.
17. etc., etc., etc..
Division 1 and 2 finals could be the usual league Sunday double header. With no Division 4 - Division 3 final and Division 2 promotion playoff could be the Saturday double header.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 10/07/2026 14:26:29
2685105
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Best fit might be...
Division 1: 2 groups of 6.
Group winners straight to league final.
6th placed teams relegated.
Arguably 5th placed sides into relegation playoff.
Division 2: 2 groups of 5.
Group winners straight to league final.
Arguably 2nd placed sides into promotion playoff.
5th placed teams relegated.
Arguably 4th placed sides into relegation playoff.
Division 3: 2 groups of 5.
Group winners straight to league final.
Arguably 2nd placed sides into promotion playoff.
4th placed teams in Division 1 would possibly have to playoff for 7th place, in the unlikely event it was the final qualifying spot through the league.
6th placed teams in Division 1 would also possibly have to playoff for 14th place, as it could be the final qualifying spot through the league.
League ranking:
1. Division 1 - winner
2. Division 1 - Runner up
3. 2nd in both Division 1 groups
5. 3rd in both Division 1 groups
7. Division 1 - 4th place playoff winner
8. Division 1 - 4th place playoff loser
9. Division 1 relegation playoff winner
10. Division 2 winner
11. Division 2 runner up
12. Division 2 promotion playoff winner
13. Division 1 relegation playoff loser
14. 14th place playoff winner
15. 14th place playoff loser
16. Division 2 promotion playoff loser.
17. etc., etc., etc..
Division 1 and 2 finals could be the usual league Sunday double header. With no Division 4 - Division 3 final and Division 2 promotion playoff could be the Saturday double header." Some teams would only get 7 competitive games!
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 10/07/2026 17:34:08
2685130
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "Some teams would only get 7 competitive games!" Exactly. The current league format is very popular. So popular, the league is providing All Ireland qualification. The GPA will need to reassess if changing a popular league format is really what they want to do.
If consecutive weekends isn't a concern, possibly Leinster and Ulster semi finals a week before their finals could have provincial championships complete over 5 weekends. This frees up a weekend for the league to be 4 blocks of consecutive weekends, with 3 breaks.
The current championship format has been popular. Anyone would be hesitant to make a change. It has to be said though that a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers avoids 2A-2B, R3 and quarters on consecutive weekends.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 11/07/2026 00:51:46
2685171
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "Exactly. The current league format is very popular. So popular, the league is providing All Ireland qualification. The GPA will need to reassess if changing a popular league format is really what they want to do.
If consecutive weekends isn't a concern, possibly Leinster and Ulster semi finals a week before their finals could have provincial championships complete over 5 weekends. This frees up a weekend for the league to be 4 blocks of consecutive weekends, with 3 breaks.
The current championship format has been popular. Anyone would be hesitant to make a change. It has to be said though that a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers avoids 2A-2B, R3 and quarters on consecutive weekends." Would be very tidy but not what we want.
We voted (but not 60%) to get rid of 1 strike and your out qualifiers in 2021 following years of moaning about it.
2022 we had 90% for the group system, 2025 90% for the current "compromise" system.
The current system is flavour of the month after this year's excellent series.
Greatly helped by 10 or 12 teams who could beat each other on any given day.
How would it have been in the last decade when you had 1 team miles ahead of the rest?
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 11/07/2026 11:17:03
2685185
Link
0
|
|
Replying To legendzxix: "I'll respond to both posts. Group stage is not on the agenda. Reason: dead rubbers, whether people like that reason or not.
The GPA want to avoid 3 consecutive weekends. Supposedly they might be open to league finals only being dropped, meaning league rounds 3-4-5 might still be on consecutive weekends. A knockout All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers would help avoid 3 consecutive weekends in the All Ireland championship.
Provincial semi finalists could be included in the 16 qualifiers, with an exclusion exception that the 3 counties who have a bye to their semi finals cannot qualify through the provincial route, but must rely on the league route.
I think I get your push back on 3 tiers. At the same time, losing in a knockout Round 1 of 16 qualifiers could be anyone's second game. The 8 Round 1 losers entering quarter finals of a competition that would guarantee Round 1 home advantage in the following year can be a compromise.
A county like Antrim would have to work on winning an Ulster quarter final to get through as a provincial qualifier or improve league ranking.
Suggestion...
All Ireland Round 1 - 16 qualifiers: 8 higher league ranked v 8 lower league ranked, separate draw for home game.
Round 2A - provincial winners at home v Seeds 2 on league ranking. Everyone's target should be to get to 2A through provincial win or league placing.
Round 2B - Seeds 3 v Seeds 4 on league ranking, separate draw for home game.
Round 3 - 2A losers at home v 2B winners. 2A would be heavyweight clashes, which arguably should mean home game in R3.
Quarter finals - 2A winners v R3 winners.
Scheduling....
League - 1, 2, off, 3, 4, 5, off, 6, 7 and off before provincial championships.
The provincial championships could actually be played over 7 weekends, thus avoiding some preliminary round winners playing on consecutive weekends...
1. Leinster and Ulster preliminary
2. Connacht and Munster quarters
3. Leinster and Ulster quarters
4. Connacht and Munster semis
5. Leinster and Ulster semis
6. Connacht and Munster finals
7. Leinster and Ulster finals
8. All Ireland Round 1 of 16 qualifiers
9. Rounds 2A and 2B
Off
10. Round 3
Off
11. Quarter finals and onwards..." Leinster/Ulster Finalists playing 7,8,9 - 3 in a row?
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 11/07/2026 19:13:12
2685242
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "Would be very tidy but not what we want.
We voted (but not 60%) to get rid of 1 strike and your out qualifiers in 2021 following years of moaning about it.
2022 we had 90% for the group system, 2025 90% for the current "compromise" system.
The current system is flavour of the month after this year's excellent series.
Greatly helped by 10 or 12 teams who could beat each other on any given day.
How would it have been in the last decade when you had 1 team miles ahead of the rest?" We do just need some fewer games.
There's zero slack in the system.
27 weeks of Inter county.
Minimum 6 club championship weeks by 2 codes
That gets us to 39 weeks of action.
You need 10 (you actually need 11 but we assume football and hurling All Ireland club finals won't have an overlap of clubs) weekends.
That leaves only 3 weeks without action to include the time around Christmas and New Year.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 11/07/2026 19:17:36
2685245
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Whammo86: "I think it's here for the foreseeable future, I just think the group stage alternative would be better." Swiss model group phase might be a good option - UEFA going there for WC 2030 and Euro 2032 qualifiers.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 11/07/2026 19:21:47
2685247
Link
0
|
|
Replying To omahant: "Leinster/Ulster Finalists playing 7,8,9 - 3 in a row?" Not 8. Direct to 9. Was just musing anyway.
At the end of the day, if 3 consecutive weekends aren't palatable for players - the GPA will have to push for changes. A big change from when there was a lot of training for fewer games.
Wicklow a big result in the Tailteann. Just like D2 counties pushing for All Ireland success, the top D4 counties will look at what Wicklow have achieved.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 12/07/2026 02:48:25
2685341
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Seanfan: "Would be very tidy but not what we want.
We voted (but not 60%) to get rid of 1 strike and your out qualifiers in 2021 following years of moaning about it.
2022 we had 90% for the group system, 2025 90% for the current "compromise" system.
The current system is flavour of the month after this year's excellent series.
Greatly helped by 10 or 12 teams who could beat each other on any given day.
How would it have been in the last decade when you had 1 team miles ahead of the rest?" Current changes likely for next year...
1a. Round 1 draw split in two.
1b. Possibly provincial winners v Seed 4 and runners-up v Seed 3 in Round 1.
2. Provincial winners with home game in Round 2 as well.
3. It seems Round 3 in neutral venues might be on the cards.
If 1a and 1b applied this year:
Kerry v Kildare
Roscommon v Tyrone
Cork v Meath
Galway v Donegal
Going into the second weekend:
Leinster winner v Derry or Cavan
Ulster winner v Derry or Cavan
Leinster runner-up v Mayo or Louth
Ulster runner-up v Mayo or Louth
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 12/07/2026 03:13:15
2685343
Link
0
|