All Ireland Championship 2025.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Galway probably didn't too bad when in possession but just didn't have enough of it in the first half.

O'Callaghan, Kilkenny, O'Cofaigh Byrne and O'Dell were superb whereas Conroy & D'Arcy were very poor and had no impact on the game. Some of the matchup didn't work, McGrath struggled on O'Callaghan as did Hernon. I suspect they would have both done better if they'd swapped.

I know its not easy but Tierney had a relatively simple pass to Kelly when he scored the equalising point.

Culhane found very wanting for Dublins last 2 scores, not a great cameo from him.

Thompson excellent again, for a 20 year old he looks more then as ease at this level; His goal was brilliant.

Huge game in 2 weeks against Derry, hope to see a reaction. If Armagh & Galway beat Derry and the Dubs beat Armagh it would leave the last round of fixtures as a dead rubber.

Not really as Im sure Armagh and Galway would both prefer a home draw as an away one, Down and Cavan look likely to be 3rd seeds and no disrespect Galway and Armagh would beat either comfortably you would say

That is true but the beauty of Cavan being drawn in a tougher group means that if they finish 3rd they'll have a 66% chance of facing a Louth/Monaghan/Down/Meath/Roscommon/Cork and a 33% chance of facing a Dublin/Galway/Derry/Armagh.

So being in tougher group can benefit you long term if you can sneak a win.

[tiempo]

Serious bunch of crying Declan Bonners on this thread

Major zzzzzzzzz's wittering on about the format

I think some people prefer the idea of sport than actually getting on with doing it

[armaghniac]

Huge game in 2 weeks against Derry, hope to see a reaction. If Armagh & Galway beat Derry and the Dubs beat Armagh it would leave the last round of fixtures as a dead rubber.

There still would be difference between second and third. Some of the other teams coming second e.g. Tyrone could be hard to beat in a preliminary QF. The teams coming third might not be as good.

[weareros]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

[Dreadnought]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Exactly. It's definitely an improvement on what we have currently. And you only know who you get when the draw is done after each round. That creates a narrative and story rather than 3 known set games in a mini league

[Blowitupref]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

[Captain Obvious]

Clare echo journalist v Peter Keane

[Dreadnought]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

[Mario]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

That's very similar to the 2022 format that was scraped

[SouthOfThe Bann]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

Wouldn't agree with that. Whole championship be over too quick then.

System in place next year seems like a good balance.

[Dreadnought]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

Wouldn't agree with that. Whole championship be over too quick then.

System in place next year seems like a good balance.

Too quick? Why do we want to elongate stuff for the sake of it? We're reaping what we sow currently by adding in games that people do not want to go to.

This way provincials are rewarded, and you get a second chance. Gives games time to breath, develop the storylines, get TV lined up for them and so on. Less is more sometimes, rather than keeping as many teams as possible playing for longer than is needed (which is a money issue which is another problem coming down the line)

[Dreadnought]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

That's very similar to the 2022 format that was scraped

I think we need to go back to formats like that. The more we t**ker, the more people move away from them - we are literally seeing this. Games need consequence, not just games for games sake. When games have something actually riding on them, the story builds and crowds show up. We need to step back a bit and not try to have too many games and teams sticking around after being beaten multiple times and the heart gone out of them

[SouthOfThe Bann]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

Wouldn't agree with that. Whole championship be over too quick then.

System in place next year seems like a good balance.

Too quick? Why do we want to elongate stuff for the sake of it? We're reaping what we sow currently by adding in games that people do not want to go to.

This way provincials are rewarded, and you get a second chance. Gives games time to breath, develop the storylines, get TV lined up for them and so on. Less is more sometimes, rather than keeping as many teams as possible playing for longer than is needed (which is a money issue which is another problem coming down the line)

I'm not sure about you but I actually quite enjoy watching football week on week and next years system seems like quite a good balance.

I think your one of those people that would give out no matter what system is in place.

[Dreadnought]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

Wouldn't agree with that. Whole championship be over too quick then.

System in place next year seems like a good balance.

Too quick? Why do we want to elongate stuff for the sake of it? We're reaping what we sow currently by adding in games that people do not want to go to.

This way provincials are rewarded, and you get a second chance. Gives games time to breath, develop the storylines, get TV lined up for them and so on. Less is more sometimes, rather than keeping as many teams as possible playing for longer than is needed (which is a money issue which is another problem coming down the line)

I'm not sure about you but I actually quite enjoy watching football week on week and next years system seems like quite a good balance.

I think your one of those people that would give out no matter what system is in place.

I hear that, but sure there's no point just filling the place with games for the sake of it

That's quite the stretch you're making there about me. I liked the old system is all. I recall games with big crowds. Now an accumulated crowd for some teams 3 group games would not be over what a one off game would be 15 years ago. Crowd are voting with their feet and just think we need to take a step back and see what games works and what doesn't

[SouthOfThe Bann]

If the 2026 format was in play this year, it would have meant the 8 provincial finalists (Kerry, Clare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Armagh) were drawn at home to Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone, Derry, Cavan, Cork, Down.

8 winners of that round would play each other for a 1/4 final place.

8 losers would play each other for right to play 4 losers above for a 1/4 place.

So you could still be in championship after 2 losses, but not 3. So an improvement of sorts. But lack of seeding in for example Munster means someone bound to get an easier Round 1 draw.

Needs to be changed that only the provincial winner gets home advantage.

I'd like to have seen a further tweak. Have provincial winners straight to quarter final, have that reward. On weekends of the finals, have the 8 who qualify on League play each other to get down to 4 teams. Those 4 winners play provincial final losers in 4 preliminary QFs. Those 4 winners go on to play provincial winners at their home. Easy format right there, and you minimise weekends too. Can create a small gap between league and Championship start with this too

Wouldn't agree with that. Whole championship be over too quick then.

System in place next year seems like a good balance.

Too quick? Why do we want to elongate stuff for the sake of it? We're reaping what we sow currently by adding in games that people do not want to go to.

This way provincials are rewarded, and you get a second chance. Gives games time to breath, develop the storylines, get TV lined up for them and so on. Less is more sometimes, rather than keeping as many teams as possible playing for longer than is needed (which is a money issue which is another problem coming down the line)

I'm not sure about you but I actually quite enjoy watching football week on week and next years system seems like quite a good balance.

I think your one of those people that would give out no matter what system is in place.

I hear that, but sure there's no point just filling the place with games for the sake of it

That's quite the stretch you're making there about me. I liked the old system is all. I recall games with big crowds. Now an accumulated crowd for some teams 3 group games would not be over what a one off game would be 15 years ago. Crowd are voting with their feet and just think we need to take a step back and see what games works and what doesn't

Ah I'm only winding.

I did do a quick fact check on 2022 attendances and the largest attendance pre-quarter final was 16.5k.

We had 18k in Salthill on Saturday I believe. Crowds in the other games weren't great though.

We should get good attendances at Tyrone Donegal and Armagh Derry Next weekend too. So there's rough and smooth with both systems.

I do agree in the old system the likes of smaller counties like Cavan would show out in massive numbers in the first round of Ulster because you could be gone after one or two games. The likes of Cavan just haven't the population to be turning up every week. Whereas the likes of Armagh or Donegal have somewhat larger populations and can sustain relatively big crowds; plus they are going very well.