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Football Format Changes Discussion

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Replying To omahant: "I'd be of the view that if restrictions are not explicitly stated, they don't exist - a bit like the VERY EXPLICIT '20 seconds limit' kick out rule :)" Or they allow a simple format through Congress this weekend with a motion later in the year to keep winning provincial winners apart in Round 2A. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8530 - 20/02/2025 14:30:52 2592100 Link
ALTERNATIVE FOOTBALL INTER COUNTY SEASON Here is how the 3 Divisions of the N.L could look like. DIVISION 1[ 12 Teams] 1A Galway Kerry Derry Roscommon Tyrone Cavan 1B Armagh Donegal Dublin Mayo Monaghan Cork In The Championship Division1A teams play Division 1B [for a 6 game schedule in one single 12 team group] Kerry ---A.I.C games are---Armagh Donegal Dublin Mayo Monaghan and Cork. Dublin -A.I.C games are ---Galway Kerry Derry Roscommon Tyrone and Cavan. Bear in mind that after the League that one D1 team will be relegated to the Intermediate Championship to be replaced by D2 Winner. DIVISION 2 [ 12 Teams] 2A Meath Fermanagh Down Clare Antrim Wicklow 2B Louth Kildare Westmeath Sligo Offaly Laois DIVISION 3 [8 Teams] NORTH Leitrim Longford Tipperary London SOUTH Limerick Wexford Carlow Waterford Along with playing each team in its own division -teams play 2 opponents from opposite division to make for a 5 game schedule in order to match the D1 + D2 schedule. edu (Mayo) - Posts: 89 - 20/02/2025 21:47:03 2592183 Link
@edu (Mayo) - Posts: 87 - 20/02/2025 21:47:03 Just wondering if your 'mid season' relegation is better than at 'season end' after AIC? Little difference, I suppose - because either way, a D1 or D2 team will play all 'own tier' 11 opponents in consecutive AIC/League. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3085 - 20/02/2025 23:19:40 2592192 Link
Replying To omahant: "@edu (Mayo) - Posts: 87 - 20/02/2025 21:47:03 Just wondering if your 'mid season' relegation is better than at 'season end' after AIC? Little difference, I suppose - because either way, a D1 or D2 team will play all 'own tier' 11 opponents in consecutive AIC/League." There is season end relegation [and promotion] after A.I.C . but it is to the following seasons League. Under this rolling link structure a Tier 3 team is potentially never more than one season away from being a Tier 1 team. edu (Mayo) - Posts: 89 - 21/02/2025 00:05:35 2592193 Link
The football championship could take on the 4 groups of 5 format if the season was extended to the end of August. The club championships would have to be allowed complete at the end of February, meaning decoupling league from championship. In 4 groups of 5, 2nd and 3rd can go through to preliminary quarter finals with less complaints. The 8 quarter finalists can automatically qualify for the following year. A carrot for winning the group being guaranteed qualification for the following year. All counties can be ranked 1 to 32 on championship performance. Where counties exit at the same stage, the previous best championship performance can determine who ranks higher. The 20 competing in the All Ireland then can be 8 provincial finalists, 8 quarter finalists from the previous year, 1 Tailteann winner and 3 wildcards based on championship ranking. Where there is duplication of qualification, simply allow more wildcards. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8530 - 21/02/2025 02:41:45 2592195 Link
Replying To edu: "There is season end relegation [and promotion after A.I.C . but it is to the following seasons League. Under this rolling link structure a Tier 3 team is potentially never more than one season away from being a Tier 1 team."]I think this is the big problem with the current format. Good championship performance doesn't get rewarded in the championship structure. Division 2 teams are really scrapping to get into the top tier competition. They don't even know what they need to do to get in there. So every game in Division 2 is a dog fight. In Division 3 it is imperative to get promoted so again vital importance on every game to join that dogfight for the following year. For these teams the provincial championship is also massive; getting to the provincial final is the only way to assure your participation outside maybe the top 10. So after this intense dogfight to get into the competition the reward is then to go into the group stages to play the Division 1 teams who effectively have used the league for blooding new players and get lads peaking for the Knock out rounds. The lack of real jeopardy in these groups creates a lull where the intensity can drop off completely. While the double elimination format will help out here - it doesn't change that Kerry can plan to peak for June whereas Cork need to be on it for February and March and again in the early summer. brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 391 - 21/02/2025 10:38:09 2592232 Link
Replying To edu: "There is season end relegation [and promotion after A.I.C . but it is to the following seasons League. Under this rolling link structure a Tier 3 team is potentially never more than one season away from being a Tier 1 team."]Nice. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3085 - 21/02/2025 13:19:28 2592278 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "The football championship could take on the 4 groups of 5 format if the season was extended to the end of August. The club championships would have to be allowed complete at the end of February, meaning decoupling league from championship. In 4 groups of 5, 2nd and 3rd can go through to preliminary quarter finals with less complaints. The 8 quarter finalists can automatically qualify for the following year. A carrot for winning the group being guaranteed qualification for the following year. All counties can be ranked 1 to 32 on championship performance. Where counties exit at the same stage, the previous best championship performance can determine who ranks higher. The 20 competing in the All Ireland then can be 8 provincial finalists, 8 quarter finalists from the previous year, 1 Tailteann winner and 3 wildcards based on championship ranking. Where there is duplication of qualification, simply allow more wildcards." I'd amend slightly (might be more transparent): Where counties exit at the same stage, the RECENT LEAGUE performance can determine who ranks higher. Although league is decoupled, this is a modest tie breaker. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3085 - 21/02/2025 13:22:43 2592279 Link
@brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 391 - 21/02/2025 10:38:09 Like rugby union's World Cup, there's a lot to be said for the best performers in a one tournament getting automatic berths for the next one. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3085 - 21/02/2025 13:29:22 2592281 Link
Replying To omahant: "I'd amend slightly (might be more transparent): Where counties exit at the same stage, the RECENT LEAGUE performance can determine who ranks higher. Although league is decoupled, this is a modest tie breaker." The Errigal Ciaran contingent aren't back playing with Tyrone yet. It is flawed to be using league linked to championship when intercounty players who've played in the latter stages of the club championships need a break. There is enough incentive in the league as seen in hurling this year that the top division brings bigger crowds and more money. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8530 - 21/02/2025 14:44:50 2592292 Link
So the group stage proved a dismal favour and now we return in 2026 to a qualifier system which I can only hope is a temporary solution squabbled together in panic. Due to Munster seeding their championship we again arrive at a situation where Kerry, regardless of league form, require only one win each year to guarantee a home fixture in the Last 16 of AISFC, and subsequently ensure their seeding for the following year's Munster Championship. Of the four teams Kerry could possibly face, three are Division Four and one is Division Two. Kerry essentially have a permanent bye into a home Last 16 match against a non-provincial finalist regardless of whether they lose every league game from here to eternity. SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 445 - 22/02/2025 18:48:09 2592486 Link
@SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 445 - 22/02/2025 18:48:09 They could do better - 4 Champs + 1 Tailteann + 11 League High 8 Div 1 teams host AIC Rd 1 omahant (USA) - Posts: 3085 - 22/02/2025 20:24:28 2592505 Link