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New Format 2026 All Ireland

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Replying To Manutd1993:  "Why can't the Gaa just go back to the club system of Senior, Intermediate & Junior All Ireland Championships for inter county everyone would be happy with that have 12 teams in Senior 12 Intermediate & 8 in Junior if your good enough to win a Junior then move up to Intermediate & win that you will be well prepared for Senior championship & there won't be as much hammering's teams would be playing at there level & have the 3 finals on All Ireland weekend Junior & Intermediate on Saturday followed by going back to a Minor All Ireland followed by Senior All Ireland Final would be a festival off football & lower teams would get to play same weekend as Senior All Ireland Final in Croker would be great crowds from them smaller counties up in Dublin for that weekend!"
Agree with that except I'd have it 10 12 10. Play each other once in a league format and top 4 or 6 advance to a finals series like aussie rules in each div. Have a secondary knock out cup competition before hand or during the league championship itself with 32 teams all in a hat

boxtyburgerbuns (Leitrim) - Posts: 218 - 13/04/2025 11:31:01    2601673

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Agree with all except putting the Minor on with the Senior.
Only a few hundred people from the Minor finalists will get to see their team at €100 each.

Hurling, Camogie, LGFA, and every Co Board have graded Championships with promotion/relegation.

The one "outlier" is men's football with a half baked, complicated 2 tier effort."
With the likes of Donegal v Derry, Tyrone v Cavan, Cork v Kerry, Galway v Roscommon and Donegal v Monaghan of little relevance to All Ireland qualification already - having provincial championships as standalone isn't entirely a big leap. The current provincial championships seem to be relying more on the desire to win the championships with low relevance to the All Ireland picture. Possibly somewhere down the line there will be a 3 year trial.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8678 - 13/04/2025 11:50:11    2601675

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Replying To Manutd1993:  "Why can't the Gaa just go back to the club system of Senior, Intermediate & Junior All Ireland Championships for inter county everyone would be happy with that have 12 teams in Senior 12 Intermediate & 8 in Junior if your good enough to win a Junior then move up to Intermediate & win that you will be well prepared for Senior championship & there won't be as much hammering's teams would be playing at there level & have the 3 finals on All Ireland weekend Junior & Intermediate on Saturday followed by going back to a Minor All Ireland followed by Senior All Ireland Final would be a festival off football & lower teams would get to play same weekend as Senior All Ireland Final in Croker would be great crowds from them smaller counties up in Dublin for that weekend!"
I proposed a three-tier AIC (8-12-8, bottom 4 eliminated) at the end of my AILC structure. Season starts with a league, two-tiers of 16, incorporating 'intra-tier' Prov KO ties.
Teams placed top 8, 9-20, 21-28 to AIC tiers 1,2,3.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3185 - 13/04/2025 20:20:48    2601730

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Replying To omahant:  "I proposed a three-tier AIC (8-12-8, bottom 4 eliminated) at the end of my AILC structure. Season starts with a league, two-tiers of 16, incorporating 'intra-tier' Prov KO ties.
Teams placed top 8, 9-20, 21-28 to AIC tiers 1,2,3."
Is there anyvway you could make it more complicated? !!!!!

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2215 - 13/04/2025 23:43:34    2601760

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Is there anyvway you could make it more complicated? !!!!!"
No need to crack a nut with a sledgehammer! Cork v Kerry and Galway v Roscommon are just missing a bit of jeopardy. Winning should be sealing All Ireland qualification. Losing meaning the potential banana skin of a playoff. A bit of jeopardy.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8678 - 14/04/2025 11:39:23    2601814

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Replying To legendzxix:  "No need to crack a nut with a sledgehammer! Cork v Kerry and Galway v Roscommon are just missing a bit of jeopardy. Winning should be sealing All Ireland qualification. Losing meaning the potential banana skin of a playoff. A bit of jeopardy."
In my AILC, winning Cork/Kerry or Galw/Rosc Prov ties contributes to AIC qualification - like in UEFA, league placing determines which of three competitions you qualify for - UCL, UEL or UcfL - or none at all.
Winning a Prov title is like Ireland winning rugby's 2025 Triple Crown, while falling short of the ultimate prize.
Was it worth winning then - or did we fail? - it can remain in the "eye of the beholder".
No need for that sledgehammer !

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3185 - 14/04/2025 15:35:54    2601876

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Replying To legendzxix:  "No need to crack a nut with a sledgehammer! Cork v Kerry and Galway v Roscommon are just missing a bit of jeopardy. Winning should be sealing All Ireland qualification. Losing meaning the potential banana skin of a playoff. A bit of jeopardy."
Ok but could it just be that the qualifiers should be altered.

Like you could have round 1 being 3 from Leinster, 1 from Ulster, 2 each from Connacht and Munster.

4 teams knocked out.

Round 2: 4 round 1 winners, 20 other teams that didn't win their Province. 12 ties , those teams join the All Ireland last 16.

Last 16 straight knockout.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4454 - 14/04/2025 18:54:29    2601908

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Ok but could it just be that the qualifiers should be altered.

Like you could have round 1 being 3 from Leinster, 1 from Ulster, 2 each from Connacht and Munster.

4 teams knocked out.

Round 2: 4 round 1 winners, 20 other teams that didn't win their Province. 12 ties , those teams join the All Ireland last 16.

Last 16 straight knockout."
Tailteann Cup???

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2215 - 14/04/2025 19:34:20    2601921

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Replying To Whammo86:  "Ok but could it just be that the qualifiers should be altered.

Like you could have round 1 being 3 from Leinster, 1 from Ulster, 2 each from Connacht and Munster.

4 teams knocked out.

Round 2: 4 round 1 winners, 20 other teams that didn't win their Province. 12 ties , those teams join the All Ireland last 16.

Last 16 straight knockout."
I agree with a lot of that. Munster and Connacht have two provincial rounds to make a final. Ulster and Leinster have three provincial rounds to make a final. Counties knocked out of Provincial Rounds 1 and 2 from the 4 provinces should be treated similarly.
Provincial Round 1: 9 losers
QUALIFIER ROUND 1: 8 Provincial Round 1 losers. 1 bye based on league ranking to Q2.
Provincial Round 2: 12 losers
QUALIFIER ROUND 2: 11 PR2 losers and 5 Q1 winners. 1 bye based on league ranking to Q3.
Provincial Round 3: 4 losers (after Leinster and Ulster semi finals).
QUALIFIER ROUND 3: 3 PR3 losers and 9 Q1 winners. 1 bye based on league ranking to AI.
The above can be altered slightly depending on how the Tailteann winner progress in the province. The All Ireland and the Tailteann can still be double elimination format or whatever else suits and is agreeable! All qualifying rounds should use league seeding.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8678 - 14/04/2025 21:17:26    2601944

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