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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To tirawleybaron: "The league is for Kerry (2002- 2026) and Dublin (2011-2022) who need a challenge ahead of a provincial championship they knew they would walk. Anyone else who has done well in the league (div 1), flopped in the championship. Everyone wants to be in Div 1 - but no one wants to win it. - not really a good place to be. There are 2 problems with canning the league 1. Revenue - county boards need income from intercounty matches to make the wheels go around. So losing 7 league matches (3/4 at home) will cost money 2. The league was the only competition which provides a consistent standard of teams and games - this has now changed with Sam Maguire/Tailteann split, but it take some people a while to get away from old ideas. How do you replace the revenue but keep competitions standards? 1. Round robin tiered provincials - local rivalries puts bums on seats, provided they are of the same standard 2. Round robin element to championship In the proposal i made above each county will get 1 home and 1 away match at provincial level against the counties in their province closest to their level - successful counties then get semis and finals - increase in no of games for every county x2, increase for weaker counties by 2/3 Round robin championship each county guaranteed 3 matches (stronger counties) - 4/5 for weaker counties when you add all that up - the no of matches is reduced by 1/2 - creating room in the schedule - but every game is worth winning as winning makes the route easier. That isn't the case in the current league or championship structure." I agree with you but I think it'd be even easier to can the league in my structure where teams get 7 All Ireland championship games, so a minimum of 3 home games in the championship is better than the round robin in my eyes. It's very easy to design those games as being meaningful. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4707 - 26/06/2026 12:06:47 2682025 Link
Replying To Whammo86: "I agree with you but I think it'd be even easier to can the league in my structure where teams get 7 All Ireland championship games, so a minimum of 3 home games in the championship is better than the round robin in my eyes. It's very easy to design those games as being meaningful." Anyone who suggests canning the league does not know what they are talking about. It's a ridiculous suggestion. Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6207 - 26/06/2026 12:22:01 2682030 Link
The league is popular with players and has been given the upgraded status of being linked to All Ireland qualification. There is often giving out about the provincial championships but noone wants to be left out of them! Any tweaking of the league is going to come from accomodating the GPA request for avoiding 3 consecutive weekends. The 2A-2B format looks to be here for the foreseeable. Just a few tweaks around home advantage or not for the first 3 rounds, and possibly increasing the gap between R2 to R3 and R3 to quarters. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9889 - 26/06/2026 12:55:07 2682041 Link
Replying To Greengrass: "Anyone who suggests canning the league does not know what they are talking about. It's a ridiculous suggestion." Really What is its current purpose - To decide who qualifies for Sam Maguire and give out a trophy and day in Croke park to counties who cant achieve it via the championship. Look at the history of it Kerry winners x24, Rup x 8 - last win 2025, last final 2026 Dublin winners x 14 Rup x 15 - last win 2021, last final 2024 Mayo winner x 13 Rup x 9 - last win 2023, last final 2025 Cork winner x 8 Rup x 6 last win 2012 , last final 2015 Meath winner x 7 Rup x 6 last win 1993-94, last final 1999-2000 Derry winner x 7 Rup x 6 last win 2024, last final 2024 Galway winner x 4 Rup x 7 last win 1980-81 last final 2023 Down winner x 4 Rup x 4 last win 1982-83 last final 1989-90 New York win x 3 Rup x 0 last win 1966-67 last final 1966-67 Donegal winner x 2 Rup x 3 last win 2026 last final 2026 Tyrone winner x 2 Rup x 2 last win 2003 last final 2013 Laois winner x 2 Rup x 1 last win 1985-86 last final 2003 Cavan winner x 1 Rup x 5 Last win 1947-48 last final 2002 Armagh winner x 1 Rup x 3 last win 2005 last final 1993-94 Roscommon winx1 Rup x 2 last win 1973-74, last final 1980-81 Offaly winner x 1 Rup x 2 last win 1997-98 last final 1997-98 Monaghan win x 1 Rup x 1 last win 1984-85 last final 1985-86 Longford win x 1 Rup x 0 last win 1965-66 Kildare winner x 0 Rup x 5 last final 1990-91 Wexford winner x 0 Rup x 3 last final 2005 Carlow winner x 0 Rup x 1 last final 1953-54 Louth winner x 0 Rup x 1 last final 1948-49 Fermanagh win x 0 Rup x 1 last final 1934-35 So its a closed shop - simply another title for successful counties to win - and they don't even appreciate winning it. So what is the benefit - a div 4 title for weaker counties - even the ones that win it (div 4) are usually a county who had a bad year to end up there in the first place. What would be more beneficial - 1. a round robin provincial championship with games against local rivals (at the same level) 2. a 3 tiered championship with success in one tier providing immediate access to the tier above, so in a good (bounce back) season you get a shot at a higher level. the Tailteann cup has already over taken a div 3 league title in value - Down didn't get into Sam Maguire for winning div 3 - but will do for winning tailteann. The current issue is the Tailteann is being won by Meath, Down, Kildare etc, counties that should be operating at a higher level - there is still nothing for the weaker counties (Wicklow may prove that wrong yet, but it would be a big surprise if they did). Once set up, winning any of the 3 tiers in championship would be far more valuable than winning a div 4 league title. In the case of Louth - winning tier 2 and getting straight into an All Ireland q final - would be an achievable possibility every year. Winning div 1 of the league and/or Sam Maguire is not. When all counties review the current set up and focus on progressing in the All Ireland - everyone will sacrifice the league and provincial championships as the current system doesn't reward the winners of either. Watching the top teams hold their punches in the league shows where the problem is - anyone who cant see that doesn't know what they are looking at. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1935 - 26/06/2026 14:34:42 2682075 Link
Replying To Greengrass: "Anyone who suggests canning the league does not know what they are talking about. It's a ridiculous suggestion." It's not canning the league it's modifying it and making it the championship. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4707 - 26/06/2026 14:36:24 2682076 Link