All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[David McKeown]

One of the issues I have with the condensed season is that I feel it takes away from the excitement and anticipation you used to get building to a big game. This system has amplified that particularly with the draw being made so early. Hopefully that improves when we get to the actual knockout rounds

[Ronnie]

Dublin v Louth
Cork v Meath
Monaghan v Mayo
Westmeath v Cavan
Kerry v Donegal
Galway v Kildare
Armagh v  Derry
Roscommon v Tyrone

[Rossfan]

Re the provincials, the semi finals are now more important than the final itself for the team aspiring to do well in the championship.

At the risk of repeating myself....
Only the 4 Champions should be seeded/given home draw.
Remaining 12 in the same pot.

(Would prefer if the Group systems had been maintained with tweaks but sin scéalveile)

[EoinW]

Let me see if I have this straight:

8 games, with the 8 winners and losers pairing off.  The 4 teams that win a second time get a bye to the Quarter final.  The 4 teams which lose twice are out.  The 8 teams which split their games playoff with four advancing to the QF.

Essentially, when the 8 initial winners meet it's the same as the provincial finals under the old system - the winners going straight to the QF, the losers getting a second chance.

Aren't these additional 20 games redundant?  Why not return to the Back Door system?  One benefit: there would be time to replay drawn games and no championship games would be decided by a shootout.  You know, choose competition integrity over cheap entertainment.

I suppose going back to the old system, the GAA would be seen as having made a mistake changing the system in the first place.  We all know bureaucrats never admit when they're wrong.

I shouldn't complain.  After all its the GAA.  Don't like the system or the rules, just be patient, wait a few years and they'll change again.

When I began watching 15 years ago I thought the unique system and amateur status of the players set the GAA above all other sporting competitions.  Unfortunately the former could not be counted on to last.

Reminds me of my younger days, when I'd take a deck of cards or dice and, with my imagination, create my own sports league.  After a few seasons I'd get bored with the format and change things up.

The difference is that I was a little kid.  What's the GAA's excuse?

[Rossfan]

Cheer up Eoin.

[trileacman]

Cheer up Eoin.

A mature, considered response.

Eoin's right, the constant churn of fixtures, rules, structures, underage groups and split season is putting the casual fan off the GAA.

The GAA brass now have an addiction to tinkering, like Father Ted trying to take the dents out of the car. Every change brings with it 2-3 large consequences and yet the GAA continues to pile up the changes.

[Laois Rising]

I hate this backdoor, second chance nonsense. Straight knock out was the way to go. Provincial champions straight through to quarter finals, losing provincial teams into last 12 and the 8 remaining teams starting out in a preliminary qualifier knock out game to make the last 12. The losing provincial finalists can have a home draw for their last 12 game if you want. Every game then is do or die and straight knockout. What a championship should be.   

[JoG2]

I hate this backdoor, second chance nonsense. Straight knock out was the way to go. Provincial champions straight through to quarter finals, losing provincial teams into last 12 and the 8 remaining teams starting out in a preliminary qualifier knock out game to make the last 12. The losing provincial finalists can have a home draw for their last 12 game if you want. Every game then is do or die and straight knockout. What a championship should be. 

Indeed

[Rossfan]

Must be the Sun!

[Armagh18]

I hate this backdoor, second chance nonsense. Straight knock out was the way to go. Provincial champions straight through to quarter finals, losing provincial teams into last 12 and the 8 remaining teams starting out in a preliminary qualifier knock out game to make the last 12. The losing provincial finalists can have a home draw for their last 12 game if you want. Every game then is do or die and straight knockout. What a championship should be. 

Indeed

Like that idea but the argument against it is the imbalance in the provinces, depending on what mood Cork are in Kerry can get to a quarter final without breaking a sweat, same with Dublin and Leinster.

[Solo_run]

Provincials are dead. Time to be innovative and have a new structure.

[JollyGreenGiant]

I hate this backdoor, second chance nonsense. Straight knock out was the way to go. Provincial champions straight through to quarter finals, losing provincial teams into last 12 and the 8 remaining teams starting out in a preliminary qualifier knock out game to make the last 12. The losing provincial finalists can have a home draw for their last 12 game if you want. Every game then is do or die and straight knockout. What a championship should be.   

I understand why nearly 30 years ago the AI Hurling was revamped. Galway were essentially assured of a semi final place, and Ulster was so far behind Leinster and Munster that it made sense that in order to join the "big boys" the Ulster rep ought to have one proper test against a potential AI winner. Hurling was always Munster's game, but at the time Leinster had several pretenders.

Football could have easily carried on without any backdoor. Ultimately it provided a platform for Munster and Leinster teams to lose provincially, without it scuppering their AI track, which was often helped by playing several fixtures in advance of the QFs which built up confidence. The argument used be that it was unfair to end a summer after one game. But in truth, there was still the NFL and the Club game. So it wasn't all a waste.

[JollyGreenGiant]

I hate this backdoor, second chance nonsense. Straight knock out was the way to go. Provincial champions straight through to quarter finals, losing provincial teams into last 12 and the 8 remaining teams starting out in a preliminary qualifier knock out game to make the last 12. The losing provincial finalists can have a home draw for their last 12 game if you want. Every game then is do or die and straight knockout. What a championship should be.   

I understand why nearly 30 years ago the AI Hurling was revamped. Galway were essentially assured of a semi final place, and Ulster was so far behind Leinster and Munster that it made sense that in order to join the "big boys" the Ulster rep ought to have one proper test against a potential AI winner. Hurling was always Munster's game, but at the time Leinster had several pretenders.

Football could have easily carried on without any backdoor. Ultimately it provided a platform for Ulster, Munster and Leinster teams to lose provincially, without it scuppering their AI track, which was often helped by playing several fixtures in advance of the QFs which built up confidence. The argument used be that it was unfair to end a summer after one game. But in truth, there was still the NFL and the Club game. So it wasn't all a waste.

[smort]

Have your league, then provincials, then after that I'd love to see an unseeded knockout competition, fa cup style.

With around 32 teams, it's almost made for it. 5 rounds, good draws, bad draws, minnow taking out a giant, two favourites meeting in the first round. Unfamiliar matches. Reduced playing season and fixture congestion

[Armagh18]

Provincials are dead. Time to be innovative and have a new structure.

wise up.