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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To Expertinall: "How are you proposing the provincials are seeded?" That depends on the format but they would be seeded 1 in whatever format used. So in the old group format they would be together in pot 1. The next 4 from league in pot 2, next 4 pot 3 and last 4 pot 4. If its a draw then they and top 4 seeded 1 and rest in pot 2. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 310 - 01/05/2026 15:25:52 2670225 Link
Replying To Tadhg2020: "Some counties ( fans and county boards mainly, players and coaches tend to know their standing and want to compete) may see themselves as better than they actually are. The idea of being classified as tier 2 simply doesnt sit with their ego at all. That doesnt mean that they should be humoured or accommodated in any way. If we have 4 league divisions representing 4 different standards of football then it is totally illogical to assume that 1 championship will suffice. An avenue to Sam exists through the provincial championships if you play well enough. There is resistance here to that avenue even. I say seed the provincial championship draws. Then seed the provincial winners in Sam and let the other 12 positions be decided by league position. If you can't qualify by league position or by winning your province you belong in the Tailteann. There is no shame in that. Its a great competition in its own right." Is a straight knockout Tailteann Cup really unreasonable if 2 knockout qualifying rounds were brought in? 1. Munster and Connacht finals. 2. Leinster and Ulster finals & All Ireland Qualifier Round 1. 3. All Ireland Qualifier Round 2 4. All Ireland Round 1 and Tailteann Round 1. 0. {weekend off} 5. All Ireland Round 2 and Tailteann quarter finals. 6. All Ireland Round 3 and Tailteann semi finals. 7. All Ireland quarter finals. 0. {weekend off} 8. All Ireland semi finals and Tailteann final. 0. {weekend off} 9. All Ireland Round final. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 01/05/2026 16:42:43 2670237 Link
Replying To Tadhg2020: "That depends on the format but they would be seeded 1 in whatever format used. So in the old group format they would be together in pot 1. The next 4 from league in pot 2, next 4 pot 3 and last 4 pot 4. If its a draw then they and top 4 seeded 1 and rest in pot 2." Why seeded 1 equally, when provincials are so different? They can't be used to place teams in Sam, as their routes to the same point are so contrasting?? Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 47 - 01/05/2026 18:32:33 2670251 Link
The fact is there has only been a handful of teams over the last few years[ since the league qualification option came in] that have qualified for A.I.C through the Provincial route that were not qualified through the league. Last year I think it was just Clare. edu (Mayo) - Posts: 129 - 01/05/2026 19:09:16 2670257 Link
Replying To Expertinall: "Why seeded 1 equally, when provincials are so different? They can't be used to place teams in Sam, as their routes to the same point are so contrasting??" Because the provincial championships are more important than the league and always have been. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 310 - 02/05/2026 00:02:44 2670308 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Is a straight knockout Tailteann Cup really unreasonable if 2 knockout qualifying rounds were brought in? 1. Munster and Connacht finals. 2. Leinster and Ulster finals & All Ireland Qualifier Round 1. 3. All Ireland Qualifier Round 2 4. All Ireland Round 1 and Tailteann Round 1. 0. {weekend off} 5. All Ireland Round 2 and Tailteann quarter finals. 6. All Ireland Round 3 and Tailteann semi finals. 7. All Ireland quarter finals. 0. {weekend off} 8. All Ireland semi finals and Tailteann final. 0. {weekend off} 9. All Ireland Round final." Yes it is unreasonable. Its a proper competition in its own right and deserves similar respect to the Sam competition. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 310 - 02/05/2026 00:05:43 2670310 Link
Replying To edu: "The fact is there has only been a handful of teams over the last few years[ since the league qualification option came in that have qualified for A.I.C through the Provincial route that were not qualified through the league. Last year I think it was just Clare."]When it happens it's pretty much been always worse for both competitions. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 10:42:59 2670323 Link
On the idea of 2 qualifying rounds for 24 non finalists to reduce to the 7 or 8 league qualifiers; Q1 - lower 16 of 24 based on league. 9-16 drawn against 17-24. Q2 - higher 8 of 24 based on league drawn against 8 Q1 winners. TAILTEANN CUP: 8 teams defeated in Q2. THIRD COMPETITION: 8 teams defeated in Q1. Division 4 counties don't want a glorified Division 4 cup. They are being listened to by HQ, and rightly so. In theory all Division 4 counties could beat higher league opponents in the suggested Q1 and thus leagfrog their higher league rivals into the Tailteann Cup at least. Noone would be unfairly discriminated against or excluded. Most county championships have tiered promotion and relegation. The alternative approach is tiered qualification. Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have tiered qualification. All Ireland, Tailteann and Third Competition can likewise have tiered qualification. Tiered qualification seems more realistic in football. Just the way it is, even if some want to go around in circles arguing against it! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 02/05/2026 11:40:59 2670328 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "On the idea of 2 qualifying rounds for 24 non finalists to reduce to the 7 or 8 league qualifiers; Q1 - lower 16 of 24 based on league. 9-16 drawn against 17-24. Q2 - higher 8 of 24 based on league drawn against 8 Q1 winners. TAILTEANN CUP: 8 teams defeated in Q2. THIRD COMPETITION: 8 teams defeated in Q1. Division 4 counties don't want a glorified Division 4 cup. They are being listened to by HQ, and rightly so. In theory all Division 4 counties could beat higher league opponents in the suggested Q1 and thus leagfrog their higher league rivals into the Tailteann Cup at least. Noone would be unfairly discriminated against or excluded. Most county championships have tiered promotion and relegation. The alternative approach is tiered qualification. Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have tiered qualification. All Ireland, Tailteann and Third Competition can likewise have tiered qualification. Tiered qualification seems more realistic in football. Just the way it is, even if some want to go around in circles arguing against it!" I don't really think a lower tier knockout competition is going to be especially attractive. The whole point of tiered competition is to give games to teams at their own level. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 12:29:20 2670340 Link
A relatively simple season that would have a league based championship and keep the Provincials linked would be the following. Championship 3 tiers of 10, 10, 12. In tiers 1 and 2 every team plays 9 games with top 4 going to semifinals. In tier 3 they play 8 with top 6 going to playoffs. At the end of each season it's 2 up and 2 down between tiers. Season starts with knockout Provincial championship. Should be played off over 5 weeks. End of February and into March. If a team from outside tier 1 wins their Province they will playoff against the lowest rated tier 1 team that hasn't won their provincial championship (starting with the previous season's tier 2 beaten finalist, then 8th placed in tier 1 etc.) That playoff round would happen in week 6, last weekend in March. There'd then be 13 weeks to play off the league phase of the championship, April, May, June. The playoffs semifinals and final would be in July. That season would be so much better than what we currently have. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 12:41:14 2670341 Link
The Provincial councils could even decide what format they want to play their championship in as long as they are completed by the 2nd last weekend in March. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 12:46:12 2670342 Link
Replying To Whammo86: "I don't really think a lower tier knockout competition is going to be especially attractive. The whole point of tiered competition is to give games to teams at their own level." That's what the league is for, games at their own level. If the promotion and relegation tiered level is unlikely to be agreed, the tiered qualification is other option. Example... Ulster quarter final: Antrim defeated by Derry. Qualifier Round 1: Laois v Antrim. Winner onto Q2 and Tailteann at least. Defeated side off to Third Competition with the carrot of at least Q2 and Tailteann in the following year. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 02/05/2026 14:08:44 2670358 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "That's what the league is for, games at their own level. If the promotion and relegation tiered level is unlikely to be agreed, the tiered qualification is other option. Example... Ulster quarter final: Antrim defeated by Derry. Qualifier Round 1: Laois v Antrim. Winner onto Q2 and Tailteann at least. Defeated side off to Third Competition with the carrot of at least Q2 and Tailteann in the following year." No the championship should be a league. The league is played at the wrong time of year. The fixtures being played in February and March are the ones that should be played in April, May and July. The current system is actually well designed at keeping those games from us. It just doesn't make sense. 10 teams playing week in week out for a top 4 spot would be a great competition. The lower tiers would also have teams playing at their right level. If Antrim made in to a tier 3 final where they had come through 9 or 9 rounds of action and proven themselves to be one of the top 2 teams at their level I'd be delighted with them and I'd think the players would have known they'd achieved something and earned their place and they'd be looking forward then to a tough campaign the following season that could be an opportunity to bring them on further. Say the teams outside that top 8 level, winning a tier 2 title and getting up to the top table would be a real achievement too, maybe slightly under winning a provincial title, but not that much really. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 14:34:15 2670360 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "That's what the league is for, games at their own level. If the promotion and relegation tiered level is unlikely to be agreed, the tiered qualification is other option. Example... Ulster quarter final: Antrim defeated by Derry. Qualifier Round 1: Laois v Antrim. Winner onto Q2 and Tailteann at least. Defeated side off to Third Competition with the carrot of at least Q2 and Tailteann in the following year." Says you. The league has traditionally, and continues to be, a warm up competition for the championship and the provincial championships first. Granted, performance in leagues now affects which championship you play in but it is still the warm up competition. You want to change that and demote the 2nd tier all ireland championship to a nothing. Ironically, or maybe because, it will will never affect your county. You totally disrespect the Tailteann Cup and, therefore, any championship proposal you put forward cannot be taken seriously as it comes from a starting point of disrespect. There are 4 divisions in the national league. They are not equal in terms of quality but they are treated with the same respect. They follow the same format and each play their final in CP. There are 4 provincial championships. They are considered to be equal in status. Whether you agree with that or not they do get the same respect, follow the same format and rules etc. There are 2 All ireland series. You want to treat one different to the other. Thats disrespectful and cant happen. They should both get the same respect and to date they have. Long may that continue. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 310 - 02/05/2026 14:48:26 2670363 Link
Replying To Tadhg2020: "Because the provincial championships are more important than the league and always have been." That's not my point, it's simply why does winning four different competions, or reaching their finals, somehow put all teams at an equal point in another competition ? Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 47 - 02/05/2026 17:14:07 2670399 Link
Replying To Expertinall: "That's not my point, it's simply why does winning four different competions, or reaching their finals, somehow put all teams at an equal point in another competition ?" I dont know what you want me to say here if you dont know already which of course you do. The reward for winning the provincial championship has always been access to the All Ireland Championship. The winners were always seeded, if yoi like, because only the winners got access to the all ireland progressing straight to the semi finals. Thats our history and culture. Winning your province counted in its own right but was greatly enhanced because you earned the right to represent your province at national level. This right and recognition remains and should do so going forward. Winning your province should be recognised through being seeded as it has always been. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 310 - 02/05/2026 18:24:35 2670412 Link
Replying To Whammo86: "A relatively simple season that would have a league based championship and keep the Provincials linked would be the following. Championship 3 tiers of 10, 10, 12. In tiers 1 and 2 every team plays 9 games with top 4 going to semifinals. In tier 3 they play 8 with top 6 going to playoffs. At the end of each season it's 2 up and 2 down between tiers. Season starts with knockout Provincial championship. Should be played off over 5 weeks. End of February and into March. If a team from outside tier 1 wins their Province they will playoff against the lowest rated tier 1 team that hasn't won their provincial championship (starting with the previous season's tier 2 beaten finalist, then 8th placed in tier 1 etc.) That playoff round would happen in week 6, last weekend in March. There'd then be 13 weeks to play off the league phase of the championship, April, May, June. The playoffs semifinals and final would be in July. That season would be so much better than what we currently have." This or some variation of it (e.g. my suggestion a couple of weeks ago) is so much faireer, simpler and entertaining than anything that tries to shoehorn provinicials in between league and all Ireland series. JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 160 - 02/05/2026 18:49:49 2670417 Link
Replying To JimB1991: "This or some variation of it (e.g. my suggestion a couple of weeks ago) is so much faireer, simpler and entertaining than anything that tries to shoehorn provinicials in between league and all Ireland series." 1. All Ireland club final players are only back for national league round 5. 2. Any format scrapping the All Ireland quarter finals is removed from reality. People can dream up formats all they want but if they are removed from reality, this format discussion is going around and around for infinity! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 02/05/2026 19:12:33 2670422 Link
Replying To Tadhg2020: "I dont know what you want me to say here if you dont know already which of course you do. The reward for winning the provincial championship has always been access to the All Ireland Championship. The winners were always seeded, if yoi like, because only the winners got access to the all ireland progressing straight to the semi finals. Thats our history and culture. Winning your province counted in its own right but was greatly enhanced because you earned the right to represent your province at national level. This right and recognition remains and should do so going forward. Winning your province should be recognised through being seeded as it has always been." Fine system, if all provinces are equal. Are they? Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 47 - 02/05/2026 19:36:18 2670430 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "1. All Ireland club final players are only back for national league round 5. 2. Any format scrapping the All Ireland quarter finals is removed from reality. People can dream up formats all they want but if they are removed from reality, this format discussion is going around and around for infinity!" If the All Ireland quarterfinals have to persist we will always have a limited All Ireland championship that doesn't get going until the end of June. That was one of the big criticisms of the old qualifiers system. I don't really know why the quarterfinals have to remain, I know they are linked to the 10 year ticket but they played fast and loose with that when they had the super 8, All Ireland quarterfinals they were not really. You could have an arrangement where Croke Park games in the league phase are included in the ticket. People with a ticket could have the option to cancel if they wish, there's no way that the system I've come up with wouldn't be more lucrative and sell-able that the current Frankenstein's monster of a season. That's not the be all and end all of it, really the motivation is just to get the best teams playing one another in the main competition. The Provincials start later than the league All Ireland club players can play with their counties if they want. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4656 - 02/05/2026 19:46:48 2670435 Link