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.

[From the Bunker]

There is nothing wrong with the present system. When you reward Provincial winners you create a easy pathway in the AI series from an easy pathway in Munster for Kerry. It's worth the sacrifice of an open draw. Just to see them have a bit of hardship.

The AI series is a different competition now. And should be embraced as such.   

[weareros]

If All-Ireland series is a different competition to provincial (which it is), it should go straight from league into All-Ireland series. Top 16 is known and just go with that for All-Ireland series and seed it.

[Iarmhí Abú]

That was a thrilling weekend of action.  Football is really flourishing under the new rules.

Westmeath got the job done.  That's the bottom line at the end of 90 minutes.  We've abandoned the traditional 70 minutes, seemingly preferring to string teams along to outlast them in marathon tests of resolve.  One former player joked that the lads are having so much fun in this campaign that they don't want to come off the pitch until they have no choice 😀.

It was important to back up the provincial title with further progress.  The one slight regret from 2004 was the poor quarter final.

The game itself was compelling.  It must be acknowledged from the outset that the weather had a major impact.  The wind grew stronger as the game wore on and culminated in a heavy downpour in extra time.

Cavan had the benefit of the wind for the second half of the game and the first period of extra time.  They won each period by six points.  Westmeath had the elements aiding them for the first half and the final period of extra time.  They won the first half by six points and scored 1-07 without reply in the last half of extra time.

Westmeath didn't manage to sustain their previous levels of accuracy or intensity.  The post-provincial final slump was evident.  The concession of three goals was symptomatic of a slight drop in standards.  Crucially we did have periods of cohesion which kept things on track.  The critical point was that the errors didn't seem to dampen the belief or willingness to dig really deep to find a way. 

We started the second period of extra time six points in arrears.  We had lost the previous 45 minutes by 12 points.  It was lashing rain but the gale was at our backs. We immediately went after two pointers. The first effort sailed wide but then Senan Baker hit the target.  Wallace followed up immediately with another and there was only one outcome possible then.  The crowd knew it too and the place was bouncing. John Heslin drew a superb save from Brady as he sought to kill the game. The reprieve was temporary as Heslin atoned for his profligacy by picking Casey's pocket and set Kelly and O'Sullivan off to do the rest. 

There was an element of 'walking wounded' about the team at the end.  Tadhg Baker, Daniel Scahill and Shane Allen were all carrying knocks as the game progressed.  Whittaker limped off again and will need a long rest when the season ends.  Brian Cooney and Conor Dillon were utterly spent when they came ashore.
Shane Ormsby also cried off beforehand, I felt we missed him during the second half.

Cavan were especially well served by Emmanuel Shehu and Paddy Lynch from the outset. Conor Casey and Darragh Lovett were inspired off the bench and McVeety also showed his class.  Shehu is a really exciting player.  McCabe had them well prepared and their kick-out routines were very effective.  They also sought to slow down play and defuse Westmeaths propensity for cavalry charge attacks.  The long period to prepare was evident.  They were undone by a few errors and offered up turnovers which hurt them at times.

Westmeath's season now extends to a sixth and seventh match, at least.  The hill gets much steeper now. 

Armagh showed their credential once again.  They're on the march and kept Derry at arms length.  Louth reignited their 2025 spirit while Mayo got over the line.  Monaghan need to work out how to play for 70 minutes.  They are superb when the get going.  Their inconsistency is stalling a team with a high ceiling.  Both Cavan and Monaghan could do with a kind draw to refocus. Louth will not fear anybody now.  Dublin have a lot to think about.  They're having a tough time.  I think they would benefit from a few more supporters turning up.

Tomorrow morning it all starts again.

[From the Bunker]

That was a thrilling weekend of action.  Football is really flourishing under the new rules.

It is also helped by the fact that Dublin have fallen back to the pack (or should i say fallen to the middle of the pack. And Kerry are looking venerable this year.

[Main Street]

I don't know about the format yet as the season hasn't been played out. For Monaghan I have not known a season where there have been so many players injured since the start of the year. Had there been a replay in the Ulster final, both finalists would've had to play 3 games in 2 weeks. It's also possible that there be a 2 week stretch later on where teams may well have to play 3 games. Even counties with a large pool of quality players such as Kerry and Dublin are struggling, the Canavan kids are also out. I don't know how other squads are bearing out. That ruling on provincial replays has to be seriously questioned and a minimum 2 weeks between rounds. Player welfare needs to be given more consideration than more punters through the turnstiles.

[Tatler Jack]

That was a thrilling weekend of action.  Football is really flourishing under the new rules.

It is also helped by the fact that Dublin have fallen back to the pack (or should i say fallen to the middle of the pack. And Kerry are looking venerable this year.

Venerable or vulnerable?

[Rossfan]

three of the eight All-Ireland SFC Round 2 games on Saturday and Sunday week will not be shown live.

It is GAA+'s intention to stream three games while RTÉ are set to shown two on Sunday, 1pm and 3.30pm throw-ins. The early games are due to RTÉ's World Cup coverage of Germany and Netherland games that evening.

GAA+ will again have first call on the plum fixtures providing there are no requests from counties to play on Sunday.

[Armagh18]

three of the eight All-Ireland SFC Round 2 games on Saturday and Sunday week will not be shown live.

It is GAA+'s intention to stream three games while RTÉ are set to shown two on Sunday, 1pm and 3.30pm throw-ins. The early games are due to RTÉ's World Cup coverage of Germany and Netherland games that evening.

GAA+ will again have first call on the plum fixtures providing there are no requests from counties to play on Sunday.

Can think of one team that might want a Sunday game!

[armaghniac]

three of the eight All-Ireland SFC Round 2 games on Saturday and Sunday week will not be shown live.

Why determine this in advance?
There are two issues here, GAA+ should provide a service as well as try and make money. Cork and Tyrone could play and geography makes it challenging for supporters to get to such a game, but GAA+ might not regard it as the most attractive fixture of the round and might not bother covering it. Other games could have a small capacity and people could be locked out, Donegal may play in Letterkenny, although GAA+ will probably cover Donegal regardless. But where will Louth play if at "home"?