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I still believe in all 32 counties having the chance to play for Sam every year.
Disconnect the Provincial Championships. 8 groups of 4 with a Division 1, 2, 3 and county in each group. Division 4 team plays all games at home, Division 3 team plays Division 2 and 1 Teams at home, Division 2 team plays Division 1 team at home.
Top two go into last 16 of Sam, bottom 2 into TC. Then straight knockout. Every county gets at least 4 games at Championship speed which will bring some counties up a level. There will be mismatches and dead rubbers but no worse than now. Division 4 teams will believe they can beat a Div 3 team and maybe even a Division 2 team and Division 3 will believe they can beat a Division 2 team.
All rounds played same weekends so all counties have the same gaps between games.
No lobsided nature like Provincials.
opa01 (Cavan) - Posts: 557 - 16/07/2026 16:45:53
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Replying To opa01: "I still believe in all 32 counties having the chance to play for Sam every year.
Disconnect the Provincial Championships. 8 groups of 4 with a Division 1, 2, 3 and county in each group. Division 4 team plays all games at home, Division 3 team plays Division 2 and 1 Teams at home, Division 2 team plays Division 1 team at home.
Top two go into last 16 of Sam, bottom 2 into TC. Then straight knockout. Every county gets at least 4 games at Championship speed which will bring some counties up a level. There will be mismatches and dead rubbers but no worse than now. Division 4 teams will believe they can beat a Div 3 team and maybe even a Division 2 team and Division 3 will believe they can beat a Division 2 team.
All rounds played same weekends so all counties have the same gaps between games.
No lobsided nature like Provincials." 32 counties are already getting an opportunity through the provincial championships which is generous IMHO. Ulster 8, Leinster 8, Munster 4 and Connacht 4 based on defending winners and league placing would set a qualification standard. Not on the cards obviously.
Some provinces are content to have lopsided draws. It would be ok if provincial winners only were going through - all provinces can only produce one winner. Lopsided provincial draws are not designed to provide a realistic runner up. Allowing provincial runners up to go through and the impact of that on other counties is the reason there should be seeding across all provinces based on league placing.
At the very least - the top 2 should be on opposite sides of the draw. Munster are being criticised for that but they are ensuring a place in the final is earned on merit.
Clare are pushing for home advantage for quarter final winners. Whether that is an agreeable compromise remains to be seen. Having the top 2 from the league on opposite sides shouldn't necessarily mean a bye to the semi finals. A bye in any province is something that could go on rotation. Munster would be a matter of 6 teams receiving a bye once over every 3 years.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 17/07/2026 06:13:50
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Replying To legendzxix: "32 counties are already getting an opportunity through the provincial championships which is generous IMHO. Ulster 8, Leinster 8, Munster 4 and Connacht 4 based on defending winners and league placing would set a qualification standard. Not on the cards obviously.
Some provinces are content to have lopsided draws. It would be ok if provincial winners only were going through - all provinces can only produce one winner. Lopsided provincial draws are not designed to provide a realistic runner up. Allowing provincial runners up to go through and the impact of that on other counties is the reason there should be seeding across all provinces based on league placing.
At the very least - the top 2 should be on opposite sides of the draw. Munster are being criticised for that but they are ensuring a place in the final is earned on merit.
Clare are pushing for home advantage for quarter final winners. Whether that is an agreeable compromise remains to be seen. Having the top 2 from the league on opposite sides shouldn't necessarily mean a bye to the semi finals. A bye in any province is something that could go on rotation. Munster would be a matter of 6 teams receiving a bye once over every 3 years." Should be
Last year's Sam and TC winners (2)
This year's Provincial winners ( 2,3 or 4)
The rest in NFL order till you reach 16.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 17/07/2026 10:44:34
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Replying To Seanfan: "Should be
Last year's Sam and TC winners (2)
This year's Provincial winners ( 2,3 or 4)
The rest in NFL order till you reach 16." The drawback:
Tailteann cannot start until after the provincial finals have been completed.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 17/07/2026 11:58:42
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Replying To legendzxix: "The drawback:
Tailteann cannot start until after the provincial finals have been completed." Tidy up the calendar.
No need for 3 weeks between TC semis and final.
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 17/07/2026 14:14:36
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Replying To Seanfan: "Should be
Last year's Sam and TC winners (2)
This year's Provincial winners ( 2,3 or 4)
The rest in NFL order till you reach 16." Good - how about:
Last year's Sam SF 4 and TC winners (5)
This year's Provincial winners (up to 4)
This year's NFL div winners (up to 4)
The rest in NFL order till you reach 16.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 17/07/2026 14:58:10
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Replying To legendzxix: "The drawback:
Tailteann cannot start until after the provincial finals have been completed." Sam & TC 16s should be known before Prov SFCs IMHO - a la, prior year 2B losers played off for 2 down, replaced by TC Finalists.
Why not do it? - I think the Prov SFCs could hold their own, at least in initial years.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 17/07/2026 15:02:54
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Replying To Seanfan: "Tidy up the calendar.
No need for 3 weeks between TC semis and final." What's the affordability of attending Tailteann semi finals on a different date?
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 17/07/2026 15:30:40
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Replying To omahant: "Sam & TC 16s should be known before Prov SFCs IMHO - a la, prior year 2B losers played off for 2 down, replaced by TC Finalists.
Why not do it? - I think the Prov SFCs could hold their own, at least in initial years." That could mean a Tailteann team makes their provincial final. The Tailteann then can't start until 2 weeks after the provincial finals.
The split season and provincial knockout present a perfect storm where the finalists have to go forward to the All Ireland. Grid locked!
A second tier of 8 and a third tier of 8 could have been manageable. A third tier was discussed with counties. Division 4 counties didn't want a glorified Division 4 Cup! Wicklow have ended all discussion about a third tier!.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 17/07/2026 17:03:44
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Another idea (this process is endless :)
- 4 seeded pots, based on NFL divs
- Draw 2 from each pot
- 4 groups of 8
- Play 5 of 7 (avoid 1,1 v 4,4 & 2,2 v 3,3)
- Top 5s to Sam KO 20; Bottom 3s to TC KO 12
- 4 Sam 4v5 (before Rd of 16); & 4 TC 7v8 (as Prelim QFs)
- 4 Prov SFC Champs in Pot 1 (could displace others)
Every team gets a shot at Sam, with ties like Dublin v Waterford avoided.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 17/07/2026 19:22:05
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Replying To omahant: "Another idea (this process is endless :)
- 4 seeded pots, based on NFL divs
- Draw 2 from each pot
- 4 groups of 8
- Play 5 of 7 (avoid 1,1 v 4,4 & 2,2 v 3,3)
- Top 5s to Sam KO 20; Bottom 3s to TC KO 12
- 4 Sam 4v5 (before Rd of 16); & 4 TC 7v8 (as Prelim QFs)
- 4 Prov SFC Champs in Pot 1 (could displace others)
Every team gets a shot at Sam, with ties like Dublin v Waterford avoided." The 2A-2B format seemed to be a hit this year. Minor changes only are likely.
The 2A winners in the Tailteann have home quarter finals. The format is fine. Just needs a buy in from the home supporters to get behind their counties.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 17/07/2026 22:20:56
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Replying To legendzxix: "The 2A-2B format seemed to be a hit this year. Minor changes only are likely.
The 2A winners in the Tailteann have home quarter finals. The format is fine. Just needs a buy in from the home supporters to get behind their counties." Three tiers could work, if there is appetite for it, say:
- Sam 2A teams + 2B winners to 'Sam Last 12'
- Sam 2B losers v lower 2A winners to a 'Mid-Tier 8'
- Lower 2A losers + all 2B teams to 'TC Last 12'
I feel the lower tier (whether T3 or T2) needs the Bottom 12 to avoid a Tommy Murphy, Div 4-style Cup.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 17/07/2026 23:56:38
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Replying To legendzxix: "That could mean a Tailteann team makes their provincial final. The Tailteann then can't start until 2 weeks after the provincial finals.
The split season and provincial knockout present a perfect storm where the finalists have to go forward to the All Ireland. Grid locked!
A second tier of 8 and a third tier of 8 could have been manageable. A third tier was discussed with counties. Division 4 counties didn't want a glorified Division 4 Cup! Wicklow have ended all discussion about a third tier!." With Sam 16 & TC 16 known at start of season, both can start concurrently after Prov SFCs (no need for delay).
In my scenario here, a TC team winning a Prov title then plays in the TC that follows.
After playoffs, 2 Sam 2B losers go down, replaced by TC Finalists (no NFL link).
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 18/07/2026 00:10:01
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2026 format worked well.
Biggest problem is due to the intensity of the games, it appears that your team is better off resting through the provincials rather than playing.
Kerry and Dublin played provincial championships with very different teams than in All Ireland series.
Mayo had to change their team around after Roscommon hammered them
Louth ran out of steam in the semi.
Under the 2026 format, counties need a huge squad, saving their best players to the latter end of the championship.
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2002 - 18/07/2026 06:16:42
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Replying To omahant: "Three tiers could work, if there is appetite for it, say:
- Sam 2A teams + 2B winners to 'Sam Last 12'
- Sam 2B losers v lower 2A winners to a 'Mid-Tier 8'
- Lower 2A losers + all 2B teams to 'TC Last 12'
I feel the lower tier (whether T3 or T2) needs the Bottom 12 to avoid a Tommy Murphy, Div 4-style Cup." Wicklow have ended all talk about a third tier. End of.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 18/07/2026 11:17:59
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Replying To omahant: "With Sam 16 & TC 16 known at start of season, both can start concurrently after Prov SFCs (no need for delay).
In my scenario here, a TC team winning a Prov title then plays in the TC that follows.
After playoffs, 2 Sam 2B losers go down, replaced by TC Finalists (no NFL link)." Hmmm, your missing a few things there like.
- there is usually a weekend off after playing in a provincial final.
- if the Tailteann is starting 2 weeks after the Ulster and Leinster finals, you're not allowing time for the Tailteann semi finals to be in Croke Park on the weekend before the All Ireland quarter finals.
- a Tailteann county knocked out in the first provincial round could be waiting 7 weeks for their next game!
The majority of Tailteann counties are out after the third provincial weekend. Tailteann counties requested a shorter gap between provincial knockout and Tailteann round 1. That's why the draw was earlier this year, before it was known if Cavan, Down or Westmeath were in the Tailteann Cup. With Tailteann round 1 on the weekend of the Connacht and Munster finals - there was only a 4 week gap at most for most counties.
Down got a weekend off after their Ulster semi final, pushing their Tailteann round 1 game against Leitrim to a week later. In Leitrim's case it was a manageable 3 week gap between losing to Galway and playing Down. If say Waterford had drawn Down, Waterford would have had a 5 week gap but that would have been a case of drawing the short straw if drawing a Leinster or Ulster semi finalist.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 18/07/2026 11:39:11
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "2026 format worked well.
Biggest problem is due to the intensity of the games, it appears that your team is better off resting through the provincials rather than playing.
Kerry and Dublin played provincial championships with very different teams than in All Ireland series.
Mayo had to change their team around after Roscommon hammered them
Louth ran out of steam in the semi.
Under the 2026 format, counties need a huge squad, saving their best players to the latter end of the championship." On the flip side it sets up provincial shocks. Division 3 counties who need to get to their final should be going all out. It's been a bit surprising that their hasn't been greater intensity from more Division 3 teams.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 18/07/2026 11:42:54
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Replying To legendzxix: "On the flip side it sets up provincial shocks. Division 3 counties who need to get to their final should be going all out. It's been a bit surprising that their hasn't been greater intensity from more Division 3 teams." Division 3 team gets to Sam.....then what?
Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 18/07/2026 12:57:47
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Replying To Seanfan: "Division 3 team gets to Sam.....then what?" Home advantage in round 1 at least! Looking to emulate their north star of Westmeath 2026.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 18/07/2026 15:00:13
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Replying To legendzxix: "Hmmm, your missing a few things there like.
- there is usually a weekend off after playing in a provincial final.
- if the Tailteann is starting 2 weeks after the Ulster and Leinster finals, you're not allowing time for the Tailteann semi finals to be in Croke Park on the weekend before the All Ireland quarter finals.
- a Tailteann county knocked out in the first provincial round could be waiting 7 weeks for their next game!
The majority of Tailteann counties are out after the third provincial weekend. Tailteann counties requested a shorter gap between provincial knockout and Tailteann round 1. That's why the draw was earlier this year, before it was known if Cavan, Down or Westmeath were in the Tailteann Cup. With Tailteann round 1 on the weekend of the Connacht and Munster finals - there was only a 4 week gap at most for most counties.
Down got a weekend off after their Ulster semi final, pushing their Tailteann round 1 game against Leitrim to a week later. In Leitrim's case it was a manageable 3 week gap between losing to Galway and playing Down. If say Waterford had drawn Down, Waterford would have had a 5 week gap but that would have been a case of drawing the short straw if drawing a Leinster or Ulster semi finalist." You make some good points.
They probably should restrict the draw to avoid a 'Down v Waterford-like' 5-week gap.
omahant (USA) - Posts: 3499 - 18/07/2026 18:05:33
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