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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix:  "UEFA Nations League provides a playoff opportunity. The qualifying groups that follow provide direct qualification.
If the National League is before provincial championship, it should be offering a playoff opportunity. Mayo v Roscommon would have an added edge if winning was sealing All Ireland qualification and defeat was meaning a playoff hurdle."
At the expense of having a competitive league? Come on now, lets not model ourselves on soccer, the qualification process there has become a bit of a cod. Just short of having all teams involved.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2088 - 17/06/2026 13:34:55    2680312

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Replying To legendzxix:  "UEFA Nations League provides a playoff opportunity. The qualifying groups that follow provide direct qualification.
If the National League is before provincial championship, it should be offering a playoff opportunity. Mayo v Roscommon would have an added edge if winning was sealing All Ireland qualification and defeat was meaning a playoff hurdle."
Was tried in the hurling championship and has proved a non-runner. Dropped as a result.
Move on.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1361 - 17/06/2026 13:53:11    2680321

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Replying To Square_B:  "At the expense of having a competitive league? Come on now, lets not model ourselves on soccer, the qualification process there has become a bit of a cod. Just short of having all teams involved."
The hurling league is getting in fine. If the provincial championships are to remain linked to the All Ireland, the early rounds currently lack jeopardy where two teams already qualified are playing each other. Cork v Kerry went to extra time last year. Had the result gone the other way, I would still agree with playoff jeopardy.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9840 - 17/06/2026 14:46:53    2680331

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "Was tried in the hurling championship and has proved a non-runner. Dropped as a result.
Move on."
Not sure what you mean there.
There were 4 round of qualifiers before the Super 8s. It isn't overly complicated to have 2 rounds of qualifiers before the All Ireland 16. The league can still be used for byes and seeding the draws.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9840 - 17/06/2026 14:59:29    2680335

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "But they are not really! You still have provincial finalists awarded home venue for first round of championship proper.I like the new system but for it to stand alone provincial finalists should nt count."
Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 1018 - 17/06/2026 15:08:17    2680338

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "The bottom line is you cannot by definition have an equitable All Ireland system that offers an advantage to teams emerging from 4 unequally sized provinces of very different footballing standards.

People talk all the time about the value of a provincial title in its own right. The new system, by breaking the link with AI status, both honours and tests that claim. If a Connacht, Leinster, Ulster or Munster title is worth winning then its worth winning. It stops at that.

Some of the top contending teams now have to make decisions on their horizon for success an d may need to play provincials in 3rd gear, while others have the luxury of wining provincial titles in 3rd gear."
Brilliant assessment, can't be argued with surely?

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 167 - 17/06/2026 15:28:54    2680341

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match."
Not looking to labour the point. If 2 knockout qualifying rounds is a non runner, sin é. The first 4 weekends of the provincial championships are missing a bit of an edge. Direct league qualification instead of a playoff hurdle or two is the reason for that missing edge. Just the way it is.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9840 - 17/06/2026 15:40:28    2680344

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Ah in fairness there should be some reward for getting to provincial finals. Those teams don't have as much of a rest as others so I don't have a problem with those teams getting a home draw in their first match."
You said they are stand alone competitions but by giving home advantage both competitions are being linked.The format used is like the Kerry county championship except for the link to another competition.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4177 - 17/06/2026 16:57:19    2680353

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Replying To Expertinall:  "Brilliant assessment, can't be argued with surely?"
Simple solution.Take away the link between provincial and All Ireland championshipas.

Let the provincials stand alone and have no bearing on the championship format.Play the provincialscsome other time.

Im sure the likes of Louth and Westmeath might feel sad about it but if its what most want then why not.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4177 - 17/06/2026 17:03:26    2680356

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Amazing that it will be 30 years this September since Mayo played Meath in those finals. Mayo have been in one third of All football finals (that's 10 not including replays) in 30 years. It's an astonishing level of consistency but a shocking return of zero wins."
Wow, Some record and so unlucky on a few occasions.I was just thinking that Kerry have been in 16 finals (not including 2 replays also) but we lucky to get a few wins.
Getting to a final is also brilliant though as the build up is magic.
Someday soon Yewtree I hope you and the Mayo people can enjoy the ultimate win.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4177 - 17/06/2026 18:25:34    2680361

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "You said they are stand alone competitions but by giving home advantage both competitions are being linked.The format used is like the Kerry county championship except for the link to another competition."
Think we also have to have nominated, and back up venues, listed before competition start. I don't think picking random inconvenient grounds to bring a team to is on. If your ground is out of action, notify where you propose to play and next alternative at start of the season.
Hooter and clock etc mandatory too, at those.

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 167 - 17/06/2026 18:46:29    2680363

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Replying To Expertinall:  "Think we also have to have nominated, and back up venues, listed before competition start. I don't think picking random inconvenient grounds to bring a team to is on. If your ground is out of action, notify where you propose to play and next alternative at start of the season.
Hooter and clock etc mandatory too, at those."
Thats fair enough.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4177 - 17/06/2026 20:22:27    2680370

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Simple solution.Take away the link between provincial and All Ireland championshipas.

Let the provincials stand alone and have no bearing on the championship format.Play the provincialscsome other time.

Im sure the likes of Louth and Westmeath might feel sad about it but if its what most want then why not."
It's not what most want.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1117 - 17/06/2026 20:27:04    2680371

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Simple solution.Take away the link between provincial and All Ireland championshipas.

Let the provincials stand alone and have no bearing on the championship format.Play the provincialscsome other time.

Im sure the likes of Louth and Westmeath might feel sad about it but if its what most want then why not."
It's no surprise that it's the Kerry posters that have the problem with the new AI Series as they were the team that had most to gain from the old system.
The League positions have a bearing on some of the16 teams that contest the AI Series.
The provincial finalists get home advantage in their first match in the AI Series.
It's a fair enough system and this along with the new rules have given the GAA Football Championship a new lease of life.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 1018 - 17/06/2026 21:26:47    2680380

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Replying To Expertinall:  "Think we also have to have nominated, and back up venues, listed before competition start. I don't think picking random inconvenient grounds to bring a team to is on. If your ground is out of action, notify where you propose to play and next alternative at start of the season.
Hooter and clock etc mandatory too, at those."
The more random pairings the championship throws up the morel likely it is that county grounds will be inadequate for demand. The interests of the 'home' county need to be prioritised over those of people who can't get tickets.

There are lots of instances even in English and Scottish soccer were season ticket holders miss out on games because the host has a small ground. FA Cup is classic example.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4400 - 18/06/2026 08:32:09    2680393

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "It's no surprise that it's the Kerry posters that have the problem with the new AI Series as they were the team that had most to gain from the old system.
The League positions have a bearing on some of the16 teams that contest the AI Series.
The provincial finalists get home advantage in their first match in the AI Series.
It's a fair enough system and this along with the new rules have given the GAA Football Championship a new lease of life."
LOL!
Saying have a problem is extreme like. Just merely highlighting that the first 4 weekends are missing an edge. I don't agree with 1 Connacht and 2 Munster teams only winning one game to gain All Ireland qualification through the provinces. There should be a fixed number of 8 automatic spots:
4 provincial winners
2 provincial runners up from Leinster and Ulster, as they have a full set of 4 quarter finals.
1 All Ireland defending winner.
1 Tailteann winner.
If the All Ireland winner and/or Tailteann winner qualify via their provincial championship:
Rank the Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists on league placing. The top ranked could take the 1 or 2 freed up automatic places.

PLAYOFF
16 teams should enter a playoff for 8 qualifier spots. This can be the Saturday after the Leinster and Ulster finals:
The Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists should be guaranteed at least a playoff spot.
All remaining places based on league ranking.

All Ireland Round 1:
8 automatic qualifiers drawn at home to a playoff winner.
The Tailteann winner would actually gain a home game.
An Ulster or Leinster semi finalist could actually gain a home draw as well.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9840 - 18/06/2026 10:37:47    2680405

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Replying To legendzxix:  "LOL!
Saying have a problem is extreme like. Just merely highlighting that the first 4 weekends are missing an edge. I don't agree with 1 Connacht and 2 Munster teams only winning one game to gain All Ireland qualification through the provinces. There should be a fixed number of 8 automatic spots:
4 provincial winners
2 provincial runners up from Leinster and Ulster, as they have a full set of 4 quarter finals.
1 All Ireland defending winner.
1 Tailteann winner.
If the All Ireland winner and/or Tailteann winner qualify via their provincial championship:
Rank the Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists on league placing. The top ranked could take the 1 or 2 freed up automatic places.

PLAYOFF
16 teams should enter a playoff for 8 qualifier spots. This can be the Saturday after the Leinster and Ulster finals:
The Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists should be guaranteed at least a playoff spot.
All remaining places based on league ranking.

All Ireland Round 1:
8 automatic qualifiers drawn at home to a playoff winner.
The Tailteann winner would actually gain a home game.
An Ulster or Leinster semi finalist could actually gain a home draw as well."
As Leinster is now weakest no way their runner up should get any perk.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 655 - 18/06/2026 12:14:48    2680423

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