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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "No, im not going to redraw the provinces just to ease your sense of injustice. They are what they are and always have been. They have served both this country and this association well and will continue to do so. Im not aware of any county that wishes to leave their province and be part of another. Im a proud limerick and munster man. I have no desire to become a leinster man. I dont believe any football county wants to leave their province.
Im acutely aware that Galway joined Leinster in hurling. Thats a very different matter though. There are no other competing counties in Connacht."
You are a gas man. Dramatic to say the least. Say they are what they are is such an old fashioned frame of mind. Hurling is struggling to draw eyes from outside their core following because it only has 1 strong province. Leinster a bit better and the weaker counties improving but outside of Galway on their day there's no All Ireland contender there.

Football structures are also evolving because the provincial system is not fit for purpose. Behind the scenes the powerful people on each provincial council are working hard to ensure the provincial championships stay relevant because they know pressure is increasing each year. Mayo lost to Roscommon and performed dreadfully. But everyone leaving the ground that day was still thinking about the draw and getting players back and making a quarter final. And Roscommon are gone after putting everything they had into winning Connacht.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8871 - 17/06/2026 13:41:38    2680317

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "You are a gas man. Dramatic to say the least. Say they are what they are is such an old fashioned frame of mind. Hurling is struggling to draw eyes from outside their core following because it only has 1 strong province. Leinster a bit better and the weaker counties improving but outside of Galway on their day there's no All Ireland contender there.

Football structures are also evolving because the provincial system is not fit for purpose. Behind the scenes the powerful people on each provincial council are working hard to ensure the provincial championships stay relevant because they know pressure is increasing each year. Mayo lost to Roscommon and performed dreadfully. But everyone leaving the ground that day was still thinking about the draw and getting players back and making a quarter final. And Roscommon are gone after putting everything they had into winning Connacht."
I think you may be confused about who the gas man is. I think its really funny that you think that you are qualified to speak for all mayo fans and, on previous posts, all Mayo footballers. You dismiss i the loss as if there was no anger, frustration or disappointment in the performance. Every mayo person I know, and I know quite a few, were all of the above and wanted to win connacht. You say that they were all focused on the draw and injured players etc. Sure what else could they look forward to? Thats all you have left. You have won nothing.
Roscommon may be out ( and every Rossie i know is disappointed with that) but they are the 2026 Connacht Champions. Mayo cant claim anything remotely close to that. You want to take that away from them or greatly diminish the achievement anyway. Why?
You have one more All Ireland than Limerick and one less than Tipperary. Never forget that

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 585 - 17/06/2026 15:35:08    2680342

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "I think you may be confused about who the gas man is. I think its really funny that you think that you are qualified to speak for all mayo fans and, on previous posts, all Mayo footballers. You dismiss i the loss as if there was no anger, frustration or disappointment in the performance. Every mayo person I know, and I know quite a few, were all of the above and wanted to win connacht. You say that they were all focused on the draw and injured players etc. Sure what else could they look forward to? Thats all you have left. You have won nothing.
Roscommon may be out ( and every Rossie i know is disappointed with that) but they are the 2026 Connacht Champions. Mayo cant claim anything remotely close to that. You want to take that away from them or greatly diminish the achievement anyway. Why?
You have one more All Ireland than Limerick and one less than Tipperary. Never forget that"
The Mayo v Galway, Mayo v Roscommon rivalries will outlast any competition structure.

None of those counties go into those games thinking about taking it easy - and having home advantage in 4 weeks time isnt a consideration either. Beating the neighbours over rules everything else

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1895 - 19/06/2026 09:38:21    2680546

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "No, im not going to redraw the provinces just to ease your sense of injustice. They are what they are and always have been. They have served both this country and this association well and will continue to do so. Im not aware of any county that wishes to leave their province and be part of another. Im a proud limerick and munster man. I have no desire to become a leinster man. I dont believe any football county wants to leave their province.
Im acutely aware that Galway joined Leinster in hurling. Thats a very different matter though. There are no other competing counties in Connacht."
You can't have it every way so. Fair enough if you argue the provincial's are important because of local rivalry but they are unfairly balanced so to make the All Ireland the fairest and best championship it can be the link should be broken. To be fair, this years system has worked better in practice at doing that than I thought it would.
Ideally the provincials should hold zero weight in the All Ireland series but this may be a good compromise or the start of a process of completey seperating them.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 211 - 19/06/2026 10:35:40    2680557

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Tweaks I'd like to see
No perks for losing Provincial finalists.
4 Prov Champions play 4 lowest seeds in Round 1.
Neutral venues for "Eliminator" rounds 2B and 3.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 666 - 19/06/2026 10:47:33    2680562

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Away from talk of the Provincials and the unevenness of them.

The All Ireland has been very good this year.

The competitiveness is way up.

Do people like that we don't get more games between top teams? I can't help thinking that's there's just not enough All Ireland championship games per team in football.

I know the league or group phases favour stronger teams and having a more knockout style championship is exciting and more isn't always better but still I can't help thinking we'd have a tasty season if the top teams were playing each other more week in week out in a competition that matters for longer.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4703 - 19/06/2026 15:40:05    2680616

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Tweaks I'd like to see
No perks for losing Provincial finalists.
4 Prov Champions play 4 lowest seeds in Round 1.
Neutral venues for "Eliminator" rounds 2B and 3."
Not a fan of neutral venues. If tomorrow's game was in Armagh, so be it.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9866 - 19/06/2026 17:35:21    2680630

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Away from talk of the Provincials and the unevenness of them.

The All Ireland has been very good this year.

The competitiveness is way up.

Do people like that we don't get more games between top teams? I can't help thinking that's there's just not enough All Ireland championship games per team in football.

I know the league or group phases favour stronger teams and having a more knockout style championship is exciting and more isn't always better but still I can't help thinking we'd have a tasty season if the top teams were playing each other more week in week out in a competition that matters for longer."
When league linked to championship is so popular - why is there a reluctance to use league seeding for balanced provincial draws?

Ulster
8 v 9 in preliminary.
1 to 4 drawn against the rest in quarters.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Leinster
6 to 8 drawn against 9 to 11 in preliminary.
1 to 4 drawn against the rest in quarters.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Munster
3 and 4 drawn against 5 and 6.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Connacht
Opponent v New York on current rotation in quarters.
Opponent v London on current rotation in quarters.
Lower 2 of the remaining 3 in the remaining quarter final.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9866 - 20/06/2026 00:15:20    2680659

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Replying To legendzxix:  "When league linked to championship is so popular - why is there a reluctance to use league seeding for balanced provincial draws?

Ulster
8 v 9 in preliminary.
1 to 4 drawn against the rest in quarters.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Leinster
6 to 8 drawn against 9 to 11 in preliminary.
1 to 4 drawn against the rest in quarters.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Munster
3 and 4 drawn against 5 and 6.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw.

Connacht
Opponent v New York on current rotation in quarters.
Opponent v London on current rotation in quarters.
Lower 2 of the remaining 3 in the remaining quarter final.
1 and 2 on opposite sides of the semi final draw."
Well no, that's not what I'm talking about.

We've a more competitive championship this year.

It's a pity it's knockout based and we aren't getting as many games between top teams.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4703 - 20/06/2026 11:32:32    2680678

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The Hurling format is proving that there is only so much mileage in provincial competition. Great when it first started, but now that every team plays each other every year the magic of the bracket is gone and every year is becoming the same as the last.
The new football format might go the same way over time, but at least the capacity for relatively novel pairings is there every year.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 20/06/2026 12:13:44    2680687

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Well no, that's not what I'm talking about.

We've a more competitive championship this year.

It's a pity it's knockout based and we aren't getting as many games between top teams."
Well, I think it's a pity that there aren't more mid tier head to head clashes for actual All Ireland qualification. For a championship with a long history of knockout football, there is low interest in it!
Tyrone lose to Armagh.
Meath lose to Westmeath.
Donegal lose to Down.
Cavan lose to Monaghan.
Mayo lose to Roscommon.
Derry lose to Monaghan.
Louth lose to Dublin.
All 7 losers are straight through to the All Ireland anyway. Happy days!

The only main battle for All Ireland qualification this year:
Laois beat Offaly in Leinster preliminary. Laois though were beaten by Kildare in the Leinster quarter final. A Laois v Westmeath semi final would have set up a direct shootout for All Ireland qualification. Not to be this year. Not even one All Ireland qualification head to head battle setup.

Kildare v Louth in the 2025 Leinster semi final was the only head to head battle for qualification last year.

Laois v Westmeath and Down v Cavan for All Ireland qualification would have something on the line. It is depending on luck of the draw currently and results elsewhere for the stars to align to serve up these clashes.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9866 - 20/06/2026 12:17:46    2680690

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "The Hurling format is proving that there is only so much mileage in provincial competition. Great when it first started, but now that every team plays each other every year the magic of the bracket is gone and every year is becoming the same as the last.
The new football format might go the same way over time, but at least the capacity for relatively novel pairings is there every year."
I'd be in a minority I'd say but I'd think the hurling would benefit from the group stage being more All Ireland.

I've thought of ways I'd do it and still have a Provincial knockout with some linkage.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4703 - 21/06/2026 10:38:22    2680823

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One thing that might need to be changed next year is the draw for prelim quarters.

Neutral venues is the fairest option.Its no coincidence than in all 4 games the Home teams won.
As a Kerryman I was delighted to get home advantage but it was a huge negative for Armagh who were expected to travel such a distance in a 6 day turnaround.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4186 - 21/06/2026 18:09:04    2680932

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "One thing that might need to be changed next year is the draw for prelim quarters.

Neutral venues is the fairest option.Its no coincidence than in all 4 games the Home teams won.
As a Kerryman I was delighted to get home advantage but it was a huge negative for Armagh who were expected to travel such a distance in a 6 day turnaround."
Agree with you there CiarraiMick, this year has been brilliant so far but as you say, a couple of tweaks, especially more neutral fixtures could be the way forward. Cork or Kerry v Derry or Donegal isn't fair on any team if it's an away fixture. It's championship so neutral venue.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2777 - 21/06/2026 18:43:22    2680944

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Might be madness but I would have preferred the occasion of playing Armagh in Armagh rather than a neutral venue. Not sure neutral venues would bring the same match day atmosphere for these round 1, 2 and 3 games.
Group runners up got home advantage in the previous format. Should getting to 2A rank higher that getting to 2B, i.e. 2A losers being treated the same as group runners up with home advantage in Round 3. If everyone knew winning Round 1 was guaranteeing at least a home game in Round 3, home game will be earned on the field of play rather than by chance. Anyways, I think there'll be a bit of discussion around that when the new championship structure is reviewed at the end of the championship. Some are already pushing for at least 2 home games for provincial winners.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9866 - 21/06/2026 19:23:57    2680964

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Agree with you there CiarraiMick, this year has been brilliant so far but as you say, a couple of tweaks, especially more neutral fixtures could be the way forward. Cork or Kerry v Derry or Donegal isn't fair on any team if it's an away fixture. It's championship so neutral venue."
The eliminating rounds 2B and 3 should be at neutral venues.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 666 - 21/06/2026 19:44:49    2680973

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A certain manager of a losing team now whinging about the new format.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 711 - 21/06/2026 20:09:00    2680980

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Replying To Seanfan:  "The eliminating rounds 2B and 3 should be at neutral venues."
Messengers get shot. Provincial finalists currently get home game in Round 1. It seems there is at least a push for provincial winners to have home advantage in Round 2 as well. This year that would have meant:
2A
Armagh home to Louth
Westmeath home to Galway
2B
Kerry home to Kildare
Roscommon home to Monaghan

My own tuppence worth... Getting to 2A should mean higher seeding than getting to 2B, i.e. treating 2A losers like group runners up in the previous format:

R3
Armagh home to Kerry
Mayo home to Meath
Donegal home to Dublin
Westmeath home to Monaghan

If everyone knows winning in Round 1 guarantees at least home game in Round 3, there can be fewer complaints IMO.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9866 - 21/06/2026 20:16:25    2680985

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Have to say the football is way ahead of the hurling now. Hurling games are either too me sides bore games or scores every minute. The hurling snobs won't like hearing that but for me football is a better watch.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12146 - 21/06/2026 21:46:43    2681028

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