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Football Format Changes Discussion

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This topic is getting more complicated with every post. Solution, forget about provincial finalists getting home advantage. Wherever the teams finish in both Division 1 and 2 that's their seeding for the championship draw. Top of Division 1 plays bottom of Division 2 and so on until bottom of 1 plays top of 2. All neutral venues. Then use the system they have in place this year for remaining games.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2727 - 06/06/2026 23:17:27    2678410

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Replying To Saynothing:  "This topic is getting more complicated with every post. Solution, forget about provincial finalists getting home advantage. Wherever the teams finish in both Division 1 and 2 that's their seeding for the championship draw. Top of Division 1 plays bottom of Division 2 and so on until bottom of 1 plays top of 2. All neutral venues. Then use the system they have in place this year for remaining games."
1. Not a fan of neutral venues. If Kerry happen to get through 2B and have to travel away to Mayo or Tyrone in Round 3, so be it. There's actually an argument for 2A losers being at home in Round 3, similar to how group runners up used to be guaranteed a home preliminary quarter final.
2. Separating provincials from the All Ireland would solve a lot of problems.
3. Giving provincial winners 2 home games, as mooted by Jarlath Burns, so that provincial runners up are still given a home game is extreme. Provincial runners-up should not be guaranteed a home game. Provincial winners should only be guaranteed a home game in Round 1.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9795 - 07/06/2026 12:59:44    2678472

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Replying To legendzxix:  "1. Not a fan of neutral venues. If Kerry happen to get through 2B and have to travel away to Mayo or Tyrone in Round 3, so be it. There's actually an argument for 2A losers being at home in Round 3, similar to how group runners up used to be guaranteed a home preliminary quarter final.
2. Separating provincials from the All Ireland would solve a lot of problems.
3. Giving provincial winners 2 home games, as mooted by Jarlath Burns, so that provincial runners up are still given a home game is extreme. Provincial runners-up should not be guaranteed a home game. Provincial winners should only be guaranteed a home game in Round 1."
Agree with your last sentence.
Losing Provincial finalists should have no perks.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 625 - 07/06/2026 13:23:49    2678478

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Replying To legendzxix:  "1. Not a fan of neutral venues. If Kerry happen to get through 2B and have to travel away to Mayo or Tyrone in Round 3, so be it. There's actually an argument for 2A losers being at home in Round 3, similar to how group runners up used to be guaranteed a home preliminary quarter final.
2. Separating provincials from the All Ireland would solve a lot of problems.
3. Giving provincial winners 2 home games, as mooted by Jarlath Burns, so that provincial runners up are still given a home game is extreme. Provincial runners-up should not be guaranteed a home game. Provincial winners should only be guaranteed a home game in Round 1."
Provincial winners shouldn't get a home draw either, especially when they are so different. Ulster possibly 5 teams can win Ulster, Connacht 3, Leinster now 4, Munster 1.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2727 - 07/06/2026 14:00:07    2678491

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Provincial winners shouldn't get a home draw either, especially when they are so different. Ulster possibly 5 teams can win Ulster, Connacht 3, Leinster now 4, Munster 1."
Of course they should. They are the second most important competitions in the game. The league will not replace the provincial championships. There is a reason why counties blood players in the league for the championship. Ye win a few all itelands and all of a sudden ye want to demote the ulster championship. Go figure.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 557 - 07/06/2026 14:12:56    2678495

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Provincial winners shouldn't get a home draw either, especially when they are so different. Ulster possibly 5 teams can win Ulster, Connacht 3, Leinster now 4, Munster 1."
Just a matter of gathering support amongst Congress delegates for separating the provincials and letting the sacred cows stand on their own legs! ;-)
The 4 provincial finals were grand events this year without needing any kind of reward for winning finals to add anything to the occasions.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9795 - 07/06/2026 14:30:06    2678498

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Replying To Saynothing:  "This topic is getting more complicated with every post. Solution, forget about provincial finalists getting home advantage. Wherever the teams finish in both Division 1 and 2 that's their seeding for the championship draw. Top of Division 1 plays bottom of Division 2 and so on until bottom of 1 plays top of 2. All neutral venues. Then use the system they have in place this year for remaining games."
Most sensible post in a while. Seeding is rewarderd for sustained work and consistency over a period of time, not beating London or waterford or Clare in a provincial semi.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 192 - 07/06/2026 15:16:18    2678516

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Of course they should. They are the second most important competitions in the game. The league will not replace the provincial championships. There is a reason why counties blood players in the league for the championship. Ye win a few all itelands and all of a sudden ye want to demote the ulster championship. Go figure."
Go figure this, are the 4 provincial championships equal? No. Teams can waltz their way to a final while others in a different province have to slough their guts out. Top 16 teams in All Ireland series, end of.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2727 - 07/06/2026 15:47:43    2678523

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