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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: 4713 - 26/06/2026 12:06:47    2682025

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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

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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: 9894 - 26/06/2026 12:55:07    2682041

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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

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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: 4713 - 26/06/2026 14:36:24    2682076

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Replying To Whammo86:  "It's not canning the league it's modifying it and making it the championship."
So it is canning both the league and the provincial championship....

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 625 - 26/06/2026 16:29:19    2682110

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Replying To Whammo86:  "It's not canning the league it's modifying it and making it the championship."
Some might say read the room...
1. The national league is popular.
2. The provincial championships are enjoying a positive bounce.
3. The 2A-2B format has proved a hit so far.

Now on the flip side as a GAA+ subscriber, I think the first 4 weekends of the provincial championships are missing an edge. Some are concerned however about Down beating Donegal in a qualifying round and impact of that on the All Ireland championship and any tiered levels. If that's the way things are, that's the way things are. There is low value in the GAA+ subscription when the early provincial rounds have low impact on All Ireland qualification.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9894 - 26/06/2026 16:47:21    2682113

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "So it is canning both the league and the provincial championship...."
You're making stuff up lad.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 26/06/2026 19:21:16    2682129

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Some might say read the room...
1. The national league is popular.
2. The provincial championships are enjoying a positive bounce.
3. The 2A-2B format has proved a hit so far.

Now on the flip side as a GAA+ subscriber, I think the first 4 weekends of the provincial championships are missing an edge. Some are concerned however about Down beating Donegal in a qualifying round and impact of that on the All Ireland championship and any tiered levels. If that's the way things are, that's the way things are. There is low value in the GAA+ subscription when the early provincial rounds have low impact on All Ireland qualification."
With all due respect this is far from a definitive room.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 26/06/2026 19:34:33    2682131

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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."
So you aren't canning the league and the provincial championship?

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 625 - 26/06/2026 23:26:29    2682162

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "So you aren't canning the league and the provincial championship?"
No

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 27/06/2026 09:16:37    2682172

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I'm not going to entertain the idea that my suggestion that the proposal to make league be the championship is some sort of fringe idea. It wasn't long ago that an idea to separate Provincial from championship and to have the league be the championship garnered a majority of votes at congress just not enough to get the change through.

The idea may or may not have lost popularity in the meantime but it's definitely not a fringe suggestion out of touch with the association as some would paint it here.

For clarity I don't think the Provincials should be removed and I think they should retain a link to the All Ireland.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 27/06/2026 09:45:34    2682176

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I'm not going to entertain the idea that my suggestion that the proposal to make league be the championship is some sort of fringe idea. It wasn't long ago that an idea to separate Provincial from championship and to have the league be the championship garnered a majority of votes at congress just not enough to get the change through.

The idea may or may not have lost popularity in the meantime but it's definitely not a fringe suggestion out of touch with the association as some would paint it here.

For clarity I don't think the Provincials should be removed and I think they should retain a link to the All Ireland."
But see here's the thing, you dont seem to realise this but you are getting rid of the league as we know it. Its currently a stand alone competition with its own structure, sponsors etc. It has recently added a link to AI and TC but it is the early season competition. You ARE talking about getting rid of it completely.
What you are talking about is adding a larger round robin format to the league. I cant recall why you went with groups of 7 but that's what you are talking about none the less. You can dress it up as a league if yoi want but you yourself use the words " canning the league" in the post i highlighted above so yoi aren't confused. You know what you are proposing. That implies that this round robin will run from early May right through to the end of june. It may even start earlier. That means you want to play the provincials in late February, March and April. So you are turning them into the McKenna Cup. How will teams be seeded for this " championship league"

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 625 - 27/06/2026 11:16:56    2682181

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "But see here's the thing, you dont seem to realise this but you are getting rid of the league as we know it. Its currently a stand alone competition with its own structure, sponsors etc. It has recently added a link to AI and TC but it is the early season competition. You ARE talking about getting rid of it completely.
What you are talking about is adding a larger round robin format to the league. I cant recall why you went with groups of 7 but that's what you are talking about none the less. You can dress it up as a league if yoi want but you yourself use the words " canning the league" in the post i highlighted above so yoi aren't confused. You know what you are proposing. That implies that this round robin will run from early May right through to the end of june. It may even start earlier. That means you want to play the provincials in late February, March and April. So you are turning them into the McKenna Cup. How will teams be seeded for this " championship league""
Fair point on the being confusing I was inconsistent between posts.

I'm proposing 8 teams per group but 7 rounds of action.

I'd think that Provincials should be played in March and April. They wouldn't be like the McKenna cup because they are linked to championship and played later. March/April not January.

The championship would need 15 weeks really and be well spaced.

I'd propose that each group have 2 Provincial champions in them. At most 2 Provincial finalists and at most 4 Provincial semi-finalists.

I'd have that a team can't play a team that they met in a Provincial finalists or semifinal.

So Provincial champions are seeded but if a team had tough semifinals and finals they'd avoid those teams in the league stage. It's not perfectly fair but it's a natural way of getting things more even.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 27/06/2026 12:51:14    2682194

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "But see here's the thing, you dont seem to realise this but you are getting rid of the league as we know it. Its currently a stand alone competition with its own structure, sponsors etc. It has recently added a link to AI and TC but it is the early season competition. You ARE talking about getting rid of it completely.
What you are talking about is adding a larger round robin format to the league. I cant recall why you went with groups of 7 but that's what you are talking about none the less. You can dress it up as a league if yoi want but you yourself use the words " canning the league" in the post i highlighted above so yoi aren't confused. You know what you are proposing. That implies that this round robin will run from early May right through to the end of june. It may even start earlier. That means you want to play the provincials in late February, March and April. So you are turning them into the McKenna Cup. How will teams be seeded for this " championship league""
If getting rid of the National league is too much for people I'd think it'd be better as a purely preparatory competition.

You could move Provincial and All Ireland club alongside it and managers would be able to select players still playing with their clubs.

I think this could facilitate moving the All Ireland a little later and still have time for club championship.

In that system I'd have the Provincials between the championship, the All Ireland championship be 2 groups of 6 teams for the top 2 tiers with a 3rd tier of 1 group of 8.

Provincial champions would be guaranteed a tier 1 spot.

Provincial finalists would play in at worst tier 2 and the 3rd tier can start at the same time as Provincial finals.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4713 - 27/06/2026 12:58:21    2682195

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