All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[Rossfan]

No danger of the Quarter Finals being moved from Croker.
The old *Qualifier system was more rewarding to Provincial winners but we dumped that by 90%- 10%.
We dumped its replacement by a similar margin 2 years later.

* It also saved teams having 5 or 6 weeks gaps between games.

[blanketattack]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

If the provincials are to have meaning, there has to be more incentive, tweaks will be needed.

Maybe provincial champions are guaranteed home draws until the semi-finals?
I'm not sure I'd give provincial losers anything beyond a home draw in round one - that'd see a real prize for the winner!

I'd also maybe have the team with the higher league placing as the home team in all games (excepting provincial winners).

And quarter finals need not be played at Croker, but at a nominated venue for the 'home team' (home if minimum capacity allows).

Like the sound of that except for Kerry getting a home quarter final every year!

Croke Park more suited to Kerry than Killarney anyway

[onefineday]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

If the provincials are to have meaning, there has to be more incentive, tweaks will be needed.

Maybe provincial champions are guaranteed home draws until the semi-finals?
I'm not sure I'd give provincial losers anything beyond a home draw in round one - that'd see a real prize for the winner!

I'd also maybe have the team with the higher league placing as the home team in all games (excepting provincial winners).

And quarter finals need not be played at Croker, but at a nominated venue for the 'home team' (home if minimum capacity allows).

Like the sound of that except for Kerry getting a home quarter final every year!

I know, that was a consideration, but as we now know, they're not actually that unbeatable when playing at home to half decent opposition. The whole talk before the Donegal game was that they'd lost once since 1995 at home in championship football. Now it could be said that they've lost twice in 4 years, when mayo and Donegal came to town!!

[straightred]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

Yes - there has to be a prize for winning a provincial

How about the 4 provincial winners get a bye to the quarter final
The 8 non provincial finalists playoff against each other
The winners of these playoffs play the beaten provincial finalists giving you the other 4 quarter finalists.
Less games but every single game is knockout
Less onerous on players

[Armagh18]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

Yes - there has to be a prize for winning a provincial

How about the 4 provincial winners get a bye to the quarter final
The 8 non provincial finalists playoff against each other
The winners of these playoffs play the beaten provincial finalists giving you the other 4 quarter finalists.
Less games but every single game is knockout
Less onerous on players

Yeah thats what I suggested here last week. Probably goes back to the question of are you better playing games or coming in off a long break, Kerry could potentially get their first competitive game of the year in a QF knock out against Donegal or Galway if that was in this year. 

[Rossfan]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

Yes - there has to be a prize for winning a provincial

How about the 4 provincial winners get a bye to the quarter final
The 8 non provincial finalists playoff against each other
The winners of these playoffs play the beaten provincial finalists giving you the other 4 quarter finalists.
Less games but every single game is knockout
Less onerous on players

We had that in 2022 but 90% voted against it.

How about -
Provincial winners straight to 2A.

8 non Provincial Finalists play Prelim Round , losers to 2B.

Winners play Provincial Finalists in Round 1.Winners to 2A, losers to 2B.