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New Format 2026 All Ireland

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For me it's actually a tragedy that we couldn't just get to an All Ireland with 3 tiers of 12, 10 and 10.

It could actually facilitate such a better calendar overall.

The league stage could be played over 20 weeks from March to July with a club break every month (and except July) for each code and playoffs going on in August. The season is have in mind would take place over 25 weeks and there'd still be at least 9 weeks maybe even 12 at a push to play club championship before needing to get into Provincial club action.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 15/03/2025 15:36:51    2596515

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I just think it'd be a better direction to go to tiered national championship and ditch the Provincials. If provincials can't justify 6 weeks in the calendar is that indicative of their value."
The tiered hurling championship group stage is efficient with the majority of teams playing 5 games over 6 weekends. The knockout provincial football championships see the majority play 2 games over 6 weekends.
In the absence of a national tiered championship, the provincial championships need to adopt some form of qualifying standard.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 15/03/2025 16:24:24    2596522

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The tiered hurling championship group stage is efficient with the majority of teams playing 5 games over 6 weekends. The knockout provincial football championships see the majority play 2 games over 6 weekends.
In the absence of a national tiered championship, the provincial championships need to adopt some form of qualifying standard."
I don't think they have to. I can think of other ways of making them more relevant.

They could be played in parallel with the league for instance.

You could not have a double elimination All Ireland.

I actually don't know what that's adding.

You could have it at the start of the season as a partial qualifier for a 2 groups of 8 All Ireland.

There's probably other ways to have a sensible season without having to withhold Provincial entry from some participants.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 15/03/2025 17:22:36    2596539

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I don't think they have to. I can think of other ways of making them more relevant.

They could be played in parallel with the league for instance.

You could not have a double elimination All Ireland.

I actually don't know what that's adding.

You could have it at the start of the season as a partial qualifier for a 2 groups of 8 All Ireland.

There's probably other ways to have a sensible season without having to withhold Provincial entry from some participants."
In parallel and 'double up' as league over 20 weeks, prior to an AIC KO over 7 weeks more.

'Double up' has two main advantages - Prov SFC ties are more important 'when' match pts are on the line and teams will play a similar quantity of pre-AIC KO ties (and quality mix).

I know - I'm beating my own dead horse - and nobody cares.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3155 - 15/03/2025 18:16:44    2596549

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Replying To omahant:  "In parallel and 'double up' as league over 20 weeks, prior to an AIC KO over 7 weeks more.

'Double up' has two main advantages - Prov SFC ties are more important 'when' match pts are on the line and teams will play a similar quantity of pre-AIC KO ties (and quality mix).

I know - I'm beating my own dead horse - and nobody cares."
At last......

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2167 - 15/03/2025 18:36:42    2596553

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I don't think they have to. I can think of other ways of making them more relevant.

They could be played in parallel with the league for instance.

You could not have a double elimination All Ireland.

I actually don't know what that's adding.

You could have it at the start of the season as a partial qualifier for a 2 groups of 8 All Ireland.

There's probably other ways to have a sensible season without having to withhold Provincial entry from some participants."
Is there an appetite for a knockout 16 for the All Ireland? I thought that wasn't favoured when counties were presented with options last summer?
To retain the current league and provincial championships with more rest weekends, the All Ireland should be a knockout 16.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 15/03/2025 19:59:48    2596571

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Is there an appetite for a knockout 16 for the All Ireland? I thought that wasn't favoured when counties were presented with options last summer?
To retain the current league and provincial championships with more rest weekends, the All Ireland should be a knockout 16."
I don't think there's an appetite for tiered provincials though either. Something along those lines was put forward last year for a new championship and wasn't given much consideration.

I do agree that It is tough to have a knockout All Ireland 16 though, particularly when there's a 2nd tier competition.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 16/03/2025 07:59:31    2596662

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I don't think there's an appetite for tiered provincials though either. Something along those lines was put forward last year for a new championship and wasn't given much consideration.

I do agree that It is tough to have a knockout All Ireland 16 though, particularly when there's a 2nd tier competition."
That's fair too regards probably no appetite for tiered provincials. No appetite for scrapping league finals either. There is probably more appetite for avoiding teams having to play three weekends in a row when making the All Ireland quarter finals than allowing for a weekend off after league finals.
A weekend off after league finals currently would put the Leinster and Ulster finals on the same weekend as the final round of the hurling championships group stage. The GAA in terms of an overall master plan would probably want to avoid that. The hurling community not be happy with Round 5 on a Saturday.
The only option really is to lengthen the intercounty season by ONE week. Good luck to them in finding that weekend when they are as rare as hen's teeth in the split season!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 16/03/2025 11:07:11    2596682

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Replying To legendzxix:  "That's fair too regards probably no appetite for tiered provincials. No appetite for scrapping league finals either. There is probably more appetite for avoiding teams having to play three weekends in a row when making the All Ireland quarter finals than allowing for a weekend off after league finals.
A weekend off after league finals currently would put the Leinster and Ulster finals on the same weekend as the final round of the hurling championships group stage. The GAA in terms of an overall master plan would probably want to avoid that. The hurling community not be happy with Round 5 on a Saturday.
The only option really is to lengthen the intercounty season by ONE week. Good luck to them in finding that weekend when they are as rare as hen's teeth in the split season!"
I do think a re-evaluation of the split season could be of benefit to everyone though also.

Week 1 NFL1 (roughly start of February)
Week 2 NFL 2
Week 3 Break
Week 4 NFL 3
Week 5 Provincial Preliminaries
Week 6 Club break 1
Week 7 Club break 2
Week 8 NFL 4
Week 9 Provincial Quarterfinals
Week 10 Club break 3
Week 11 Club break 4
Week 12 NFL 5
Week 13 Provincial Semifinals
Week 14 Club break 5
Week 15 Club break 6
Week 16 NFL 6
Week 17 Provincial Finals (roughly last weekend May)
Week 18 Club break 7
Week 19 Club break 8
Week 20 NFL 7
Week 21 NFL Finals
Week 22 Break
Week 23 AI round 1 (roughly start of July)
Week 24 break
Week 25 AI round 2
Week 26 AI round 3
Week 27 AI Quarterfinals
Week 28 break
Week 29 AI Semifinals
Week 30 Break
Week 31 AI Finals (roughly last weekend of August)

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 16/03/2025 11:43:22    2596688

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@Whammo86, not sure the appetite is there for that blended mix.
County Championships are supposed to be limited to 16. They should all be completed within 6 rounds. Allowing for hurling and football, county championships should be completed over 12 weekends. Can the provincial club championships or All Ireland club championships find the extra weekend required?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 16/03/2025 12:04:58    2596694

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I do think a re-evaluation of the split season could be of benefit to everyone though also.

Week 1 NFL1 (roughly start of February)
Week 2 NFL 2
Week 3 Break
Week 4 NFL 3
Week 5 Provincial Preliminaries
Week 6 Club break 1
Week 7 Club break 2
Week 8 NFL 4
Week 9 Provincial Quarterfinals
Week 10 Club break 3
Week 11 Club break 4
Week 12 NFL 5
Week 13 Provincial Semifinals
Week 14 Club break 5
Week 15 Club break 6
Week 16 NFL 6
Week 17 Provincial Finals (roughly last weekend May)
Week 18 Club break 7
Week 19 Club break 8
Week 20 NFL 7
Week 21 NFL Finals
Week 22 Break
Week 23 AI round 1 (roughly start of July)
Week 24 break
Week 25 AI round 2
Week 26 AI round 3
Week 27 AI Quarterfinals
Week 28 break
Week 29 AI Semifinals
Week 30 Break
Week 31 AI Finals (roughly last weekend of August)"
There are 12 weekends from the second weekend of August to the final weekend of October. This allows provincial club and All Ireland club championships to remain as they were last year.
The key to the one extra weekend being sought is county championships, which are supposed to be limited to 16, being completed over 12 weekends. The All Ireland 16 from next year will be completed over 6 rounds. GAA HQ will finally be setting a good example for county championships!!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 16/03/2025 12:41:24    2596699

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Replying To legendzxix:  "@Whammo86, not sure the appetite is there for that blended mix.
County Championships are supposed to be limited to 16. They should all be completed within 6 rounds. Allowing for hurling and football, county championships should be completed over 12 weekends. Can the provincial club championships or All Ireland club championships find the extra weekend required?"
Yeah I don't think it be a bad thing for there to be more room for club action. The sort of calendar I suggest there would facilitate the Noel McCaffery type motion to get more club games with county players and also push out the All Ireland finals out to August, something else that would be popular.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 16/03/2025 13:13:18    2596701

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Yeah I don't think it be a bad thing for there to be more room for club action. The sort of calendar I suggest there would facilitate the Noel McCaffery type motion to get more club games with county players and also push out the All Ireland finals out to August, something else that would be popular."
The McCaffery motion aside, as a basic - county leagues are running parallel to inter county championship. The All Ireland club championship should go parallel with the Allianz leagues. If decoupling the league from championship is required, so be it.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 16/03/2025 14:09:02    2596707

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I wonder if seeding all Provs similarly is best:

Prior Yr Prov Final 8 to Next Yr Prov SFs;
Prior Yr Prov SF 8 losers to Next Yr Prov QFs; and
Prior Yr non-SF 17 to Next Yr Prov QFs, PQFs or 1st Rd (league ranking as tie breaker).

Ulster SF2 - QF2 - PQF3 - 1stRd2
Lein SF2 - QF2 - PQF1 - 1stRd6
Conn SF2 - QF3 - PQF2
Muns SF2 - QF4

So, Ulster and Leinster have 5 rds;
Connacht has 4 rds; and
Munster has 3 rds (no change)

The PQFs and 1stRd ties should be very competitive.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3155 - 16/03/2025 15:52:20    2596726

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Replying To omahant:  "I wonder if seeding all Provs similarly is best:

Prior Yr Prov Final 8 to Next Yr Prov SFs;
Prior Yr Prov SF 8 losers to Next Yr Prov QFs; and
Prior Yr non-SF 17 to Next Yr Prov QFs, PQFs or 1st Rd (league ranking as tie breaker).

Ulster SF2 - QF2 - PQF3 - 1stRd2
Lein SF2 - QF2 - PQF1 - 1stRd6
Conn SF2 - QF3 - PQF2
Muns SF2 - QF4

So, Ulster and Leinster have 5 rds;
Connacht has 4 rds; and
Munster has 3 rds (no change)

The PQFs and 1stRd ties should be very competitive."
The biggest complaint currently is about the need for a weekend off after league finals. That's the current conundrum to be fixed. It seems the only viable options are the drastic option of cutting the football league finals altogether or else allowing the inter county season being extended by one weekend.
Intercounty championships currently have 4 months from early April until the end of July. Club championships have 6 months minus 3 weekends (2 weekends for Christmas and the final weekend of January) from early August until after mid January.
The All Ireland Senior Football Championship from 2026 will have 16 teams. It'll take 6 rounds to complete. County championships are supposed to be limited to 16 teams. A dual county should be able to complete hurling and football championships over 12 weekends in total. That can be completed from the second weekend of August until the final weekend of October. All of that frees up the first weekend of August for the inter county season to be extended by one weekend. Job done! ;-)

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 17/03/2025 08:11:59    2596848

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Just move the All Ireland Finals back 2/3 weeks and give time between League Finals and the start of the Championship… simply stuff really.. but as usual the GAA couldn't organise a p… up in a brewery…!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3659 - 17/03/2025 10:13:17    2596863

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Just move the All Ireland Finals back 2/3 weeks and give time between League Finals and the start of the Championship… simply stuff really.. but as usual the GAA couldn't organise a p… up in a brewery…!"
All well and good saying move the finals back 2 or 3 weeks, it will have an impact on the club championships scheduling. 1 week is all that is needed. No need to crack a nut with a sledge hammer!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8631 - 17/03/2025 13:22:42    2596894

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The biggest complaint currently is about the need for a weekend off after league finals. That's the current conundrum to be fixed. It seems the only viable options are the drastic option of cutting the football league finals altogether or else allowing the inter county season being extended by one weekend.
Intercounty championships currently have 4 months from early April until the end of July. Club championships have 6 months minus 3 weekends (2 weekends for Christmas and the final weekend of January) from early August until after mid January.
The All Ireland Senior Football Championship from 2026 will have 16 teams. It'll take 6 rounds to complete. County championships are supposed to be limited to 16 teams. A dual county should be able to complete hurling and football championships over 12 weekends in total. That can be completed from the second weekend of August until the final weekend of October. All of that frees up the first weekend of August for the inter county season to be extended by one weekend. Job done! ;-)"
I don't actually know if that's the biggest complaint.

There's quite a few complaints or if not complaints, bad circumstances with the current system.

You've a motion getting through from Dublin with strong backing (far from a small constituency) that's frustrated with the access that clubs get of their county players.

A dual county could get their club championships played off over 12 weeks but is that actually what we want? I really don't know about that at all.

At the same time you've people in the inter county game raising concerns over the league schedule and the demands of it on the players whilst also then discussing how the league isn't actually something that they care for winning.

The whole system makes no sense.

The league is actually a good competition for those outside the top of the tree but is rushed off in February and March. Like what!

I'm absolutely shocked that others can't seem to see the problems with the league.

People like it because the format is neat and makes sense and is meritocratic but the reality of the league is that the good aspects are being put to use in a secondary competition, played at a bad time of year still and where the top teams actually don't want to perform at their best lest they give their hand away before the business end of the season.

So we get good fixtures on paper but not the games to match on the pitch and we will continue to wait until All Ireland quarters or semifinals day before there's a match worth actually paying attention to. Provincial finals don't even really matter that much for some teams.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 17/03/2025 14:01:17    2596898

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Just move the All Ireland Finals back 2/3 weeks and give time between League Finals and the start of the Championship… simply stuff really.. but as usual the GAA couldn't organise a p… up in a brewery…!"
The inter county season already takes up 27 weeks of the year.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4437 - 17/03/2025 14:06:01    2596899

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Replying To Whammo86:  "The inter county season already takes up 27 weeks of the year."
2 more won't make any difference.. there are 52 in a year you know… We simply can't have a situation where teams would rather not reach the Final of our 2nd most important competition… Why are the GAA charging into these games if the teams don't want to win them… Wakey Wakey GAA…..

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3659 - 17/03/2025 16:37:30    2596917

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