Congress

[Rossfan]

Off the top.of my head
Since 1990 finalists
Cork
Meath
Down
Donegal
Dublin
Derry
Kerry
Tyrone
Galway
Mayo
Armagh
Kildare
Semi finalists
Fermanagh
Cavan
Monaghan
Wexford
Tipperary
Provincial winners
Roscommon
Clare
Leitrim
Westmeath
League winners
Offaly
Laois
Provincial finalists
Louth
Antrim
Sligo

That's a lot of counties that have had relative success in last 35 years but if you would rather it whittled down to the same 8 or 10 from now on then that's your perogative.

Where did I say I wanted anything whittled down?
3 Counties won 17 of the last 20 AIs.

[Blowitupref]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

[thewobbler]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

We've had this format in Down Club Championships for years now and in my experience only does three things.

1. It renders the first round of fixtures pointless, and results in tepid football. There is no jeopardy, and underdogs in each tie rarely do anything other than accept a defeat with a whimper. They save themselves for competitive matches.

2. Once the first round draw is made, the underdogs/weaker teams will often just down tools completely. For example if Kerry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal all stay apart in the draw, it limits the chances of them taking each other out in the "back door", which means a weaker side then has to beat 2-3 of them in knockout football to reach the final. Which isn't going to happen.

3. It alleviates pretty much any chance of an odds-on favourite for the championship being turned over. They might be caught once. But it won't happen twice.

[GTP]

16 teams, the eight provincial finalistsand the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.
Losing provincial finalists should not be included, it is easier to qualify from some provinces and in all depending on the draw can see teams having an easy route to a final.
I don't really mind the current structure but people in the GAA are obsessed with saying any game that isn't knockout is irrelevant and doesn't mean anything. 

[Saffron_sam20]

is it not a bit unfair dropping New York into the lowest tier in hurling? surely theyll hammer all round them.

[statto]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

We've had this format in Down Club Championships for years now and in my experience only does three things.

1. It renders the first round of fixtures pointless, and results in tepid football. There is no jeopardy, and underdogs in each tie rarely do anything other than accept a defeat with a whimper. They save themselves for competitive matches.

2. Once the first round draw is made, the underdogs/weaker teams will often just down tools completely. For example if Kerry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal all stay apart in the draw, it limits the chances of them taking each other out in the "back door", which means a weaker side then has to beat 2-3 of them in knockout football to reach the final. Which isn't going to happen.

3. It alleviates pretty much any chance of an odds-on favourite for the championship being turned over. They might be caught once. But it won't happen twice.

Could expand point 1 to advise every team in Senior Championship playing Kilcoo accepts defeat with a whimper. 

[armaghniac]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

And only neutral venues of course? Can players decide that a particular neutral venue does not suit?

[Rossfan]

Seems nobody is speaking up for the current system so you'd expect the "Sigerson" system motion to pass.
Has it to get 60%?

[marty34]

Seems nobody is speaking up for the current system so you'd expect the "Sigerson" system motion to pass.
Has it to get 60%?

What's the 60% all about at Congress?

You'd think it would be 50+1.

[armaghniac]

Seems nobody is speaking up for the current system so you'd expect the "Sigerson" system motion to pass.
Has it to get 60%?

What's the 60% all about at Congress?

You'd think it would be 50+1.

Presumably the 60% is to ensure that people believe it is really worth the effort of changing, otherwise you could be flipping rules back and forth.

[Rossfan]

It used to be 66.6666666%

[Captain Obvious]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

We've had this format in Down Club Championships for years now and in my experience only does three things.

1. It renders the first round of fixtures pointless, and results in tepid football. There is no jeopardy, and underdogs in each tie rarely do anything other than accept a defeat with a whimper. They save themselves for competitive matches.

2. Once the first round draw is made, the underdogs/weaker teams will often just down tools completely. For example if Kerry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal all stay apart in the draw, it limits the chances of them taking each other out in the "back door", which means a weaker side then has to beat 2-3 of them in knockout football to reach the final. Which isn't going to happen.

3. It alleviates pretty much any chance of an odds-on favourite for the championship being turned over. They might be caught once. But it won't happen twice.

Underdog story is one of the best things about any team sport.  GAA HQ with each congress seems to making such stories become less and less with each change they make.

[Armagh18]

The 2026 championship format that will more than likely be voted in this weekend.

MOTION 19: This motion is to do with the structure of the All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup. The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round One (eight teams)

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams)

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v Winners of Round 2B

Quarter-Finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 Winners

There would be no round robin element. The proposal also includes that the Tailteann Cup adopts a similar structure. New York will enter in Round 2A against a Round One winner

Rest of the motions https://www.gaa.ie/article/annual-congress-2025-the-motions-explained

We've had this format in Down Club Championships for years now and in my experience only does three things.

1. It renders the first round of fixtures pointless, and results in tepid football. There is no jeopardy, and underdogs in each tie rarely do anything other than accept a defeat with a whimper. They save themselves for competitive matches.

2. Once the first round draw is made, the underdogs/weaker teams will often just down tools completely. For example if Kerry, Dublin, Galway and Donegal all stay apart in the draw, it limits the chances of them taking each other out in the "back door", which means a weaker side then has to beat 2-3 of them in knockout football to reach the final. Which isn't going to happen.

3. It alleviates pretty much any chance of an odds-on favourite for the championship being turned over. They might be caught once. But it won't happen twice.

 

Surely it would still be a big scalp for a lower D2 side to beat a Kerry/Dublin etc in an opening round?

And the good thing is theres no odds on favourite this year, any Division 1 side could beat each other I reckon on any given day and could add the Rossies to that potentially.

[Rossfan]

It's Championship not a Social welfare competition.
It's meant to be brutal as it eliminates the little lads and let the best teams at it in the closing stages.
The groups were criticised from all sides for being too nice to too many teams.

[Armagh18]

It's Championship not a Social welfare competition.
It's meant to be brutal as it eliminates the little lads and let the best teams at it in the closing stages.
The groups were criticised from all sides for being too nice to too many teams.

At least that leaves more jeopardy rather than being able to lose 3 games (including provincial) and still be in the championship.

I prefer it to the group but first preference for me would be straight knockout.