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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Did Wicklow's TC win kill off any chance of a third tier - more value in beating a Down to TC win, than winning a Tier 3 against a bottom 12 team?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3474 - 12/07/2026 15:19:22    2685400

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Replying To omahant:  "Did Wicklow's TC win kill off any chance of a third tier - more value in beating a Down to TC win, than winning a Tier 3 against a bottom 12 team?"
Probably but im reading over on the WM football thread that it is after making it very hard for the current leinster champions to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup next season. Yet another anomaly in the system.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 728 - 12/07/2026 17:46:31    2685422

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Replying To omahant:  "Did Wicklow's TC win kill off any chance of a third tier - more value in beating a Down to TC win, than winning a Tier 3 against a bottom 12 team?"
Hopefully it has as never wanted or need a 3rd tier.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4042 - 12/07/2026 18:48:56    2685442

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Probably but im reading over on the WM football thread that it is after making it very hard for the current leinster champions to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup next season. Yet another anomaly in the system."
Apart from the TC winner the other 15 are decided by the current year's standings.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 748 - 12/07/2026 19:06:20    2685446

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It would be some craic if Wexford and Down stayed up in div 2, with Louth and Dublin getting relegated to div 3.

You could have a situation where the Leinster champions and 2 all Ireland semi finalista dont get back into the sam maguire competition next year.

Que uproar

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1992 - 12/07/2026 22:14:01    2685481

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Probably but im reading over on the WM football thread that it is after making it very hard for the current leinster champions to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup next season. Yet another anomaly in the system."
Westmeath missed out on promotion to D2. Under the rules they have to hope winning D3 is enough or else get back to a Leinster final. Them's the rules.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9967 - 13/07/2026 03:27:36    2685516

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "It would be some craic if Wexford and Down stayed up in div 2, with Louth and Dublin getting relegated to div 3.

You could have a situation where the Leinster champions and 2 all Ireland semi finalista dont get back into the sam maguire competition next year.

Que uproar"
I suppose the fix then is to have automatic qualification of prior year AIC Last 12 & TC Champ, before adding current year Prov Champs (<4, most likely), followed by applying current league ranking to top up to Sam 16.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3474 - 13/07/2026 11:22:46    2685557

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Westmeath missed out on promotion to D2. Under the rules they have to hope winning D3 is enough or else get back to a Leinster final. Them's the rules."
But you agree, them's the AWFUL rules!

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3474 - 13/07/2026 11:24:11    2685559

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Replying To omahant:  "But you agree, them's the AWFUL rules!"
There was talk about whether there should be a tier 3 in football. Division 4 counties were adamant that they did not want a glorified Division 4 cup. Wicklow now will be the north start for all in Division 4.

Those suggesting a tier 3 in football were saying to look at hurling. Wicklow have flipped the script! Hurling should look at football's Tailteann and expand the Joe Mac to 2 groups of 5.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9967 - 13/07/2026 13:13:57    2685584

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There was talk about whether there should be a tier 3 in football. Division 4 counties were adamant that they did not want a glorified Division 4 cup. Wicklow now will be the north start for all in Division 4.

Those suggesting a tier 3 in football were saying to look at hurling. Wicklow have flipped the script! Hurling should look at football's Tailteann and expand the Joe Mac to 2 groups of 5."
No.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 748 - 13/07/2026 13:41:27    2685589

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There was talk about whether there should be a tier 3 in football. Division 4 counties were adamant that they did not want a glorified Division 4 cup. Wicklow now will be the north start for all in Division 4.

Those suggesting a tier 3 in football were saying to look at hurling. Wicklow have flipped the script! Hurling should look at football's Tailteann and expand the Joe Mac to 2 groups of 5."
Gap is far wider in Hurling than football.

Wicklow pushed Dublin all the way and Dublin pushed Kerry all the way yesterday.

Down on their good day was able to beat Donegal the same Donegal who beat Kerry three times this year

You wouldn't see that in Hurling.

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4433 - 13/07/2026 14:00:55    2685599

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