New Format 2026 All Ireland

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It's great to have the club championships back. Hoganstand are giving good coverage. The Irish Independent to be fair had 5 storylines to watch over the weekend. The "New Format 2026 All Ireland" applied based on some 2025 results and some extreme examples would have something as follows: ROUND 1 Kerry v Roscommon Donegal v Tyrone Galway v Dublin Louth v Monaghan Armagh v Derry Mayo v Cavan Meath v Cork Clare v Down ROUND 2A Meath v Kerry Dublin v Armagh Tyrone v Cavan Monaghan v Down ROUND 2B Galway v Donegal Roscommon v Louth Derry v Mayo Cork v Clare ROUND 3 Kerry v Mayo Dublin v Donegal Cavan v Cork Down v Louth QUARTER FINALS Meath v Cavan Armagh v Kerry Tyrone v Down Monaghan v Donegal Galway or Donegal and Derry or Mayo would be knocked out after Round 2B. Kerry or Mayo/Derry and Dublin or Donegal/Galway would be knocked out after Round 3. 2 to 4 of the strong All Ireland contenders, depending on the draws, will be looking at elimination before the quarter finals. The "blunt instrument" that Burns & Co are looking for. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 10/08/2025 08:02:38 2630817 Link
https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/337762 "Sarsfields beat Cashel King Cormacs by 0-25 to 1-19 in their Group Two closer at Holycross on Saturday evening but agonisingly missed out on progression by the narrowest of margins - they needed to win by one more point to leapfrog Cashel into second place in the final group standings." This is the drawback of the group stage format in championship. You can beat a team but they might progress on points difference. The advantage of the double eliminator format is that you are not depending on results from elsewhere. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 07/09/2025 15:41:03 2635175 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/337762 "Sarsfields beat Cashel King Cormacs by 0-25 to 1-19 in their Group Two closer at Holycross on Saturday evening but agonisingly missed out on progression by the narrowest of margins - they needed to win by one more point to leapfrog Cashel into second place in the final group standings." This is the drawback of the group stage format in championship. You can beat a team but they might progress on points difference. The advantage of the double eliminator format is that you are not depending on results from elsewhere." Roll on "double eliminator". omahant (USA) - Posts: 3556 - 08/09/2025 14:58:21 2635342 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/337762 "Sarsfields beat Cashel King Cormacs by 0-25 to 1-19 in their Group Two closer at Holycross on Saturday evening but agonisingly missed out on progression by the narrowest of margins - they needed to win by one more point to leapfrog Cashel into second place in the final group standings." This is the drawback of the group stage format in championship. You can beat a team but they might progress on points difference. The advantage of the double eliminator format is that you are not depending on results from elsewhere." Also, maybe that points to "head to head" as a better alternative (but it should be consistently applied, for 3+ tied teams as well). omahant (USA) - Posts: 3556 - 10/09/2025 14:18:12 2635591 Link
There is an argument for a head to head mini table when more than two are level on points. The usual matter of a motion and agreement! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 10/09/2025 17:53:58 2635635 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/337762 "Sarsfields beat Cashel King Cormacs by 0-25 to 1-19 in their Group Two closer at Holycross on Saturday evening but agonisingly missed out on progression by the narrowest of margins - they needed to win by one more point to leapfrog Cashel into second place in the final group standings." This is the drawback of the group stage format in championship. You can beat a team but they might progress on points difference. The advantage of the double eliminator format is that you are not depending on results from elsewhere." No it isnt a drawback of a group format. you simply change rules that if teams are level on points the first decider is head to head result and then go down to other criteria. KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 4010 - 12/09/2025 12:33:42 2635843 Link
Replying To KillingFields: " Replying To legendzxix: "https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/337762 "Sarsfields beat Cashel King Cormacs by 0-25 to 1-19 in their Group Two closer at Holycross on Saturday evening but agonisingly missed out on progression by the narrowest of margins - they needed to win by one more point to leapfrog Cashel into second place in the final group standings." This is the drawback of the group stage format in championship. You can beat a team but they might progress on points difference. The advantage of the double eliminator format is that you are not depending on results from elsewhere." No it isnt a drawback of a group format. you simply change rules that if teams are level on points the first decider is head to head result and then go down to other criteria." I'd be a fan of group systems precisely because the results of other fixtures impact teams. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 14/09/2025 11:23:02 2636068 Link
But why the obsession with head to head overriding points difference. The idea of a group stage is that you get a second chance. If you have a bad ref/injury and lose a match narrowly why should you have to be continually penalized if you recover and hockey everyone else after that? tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2045 - 15/09/2025 10:54:44 2636214 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "But why the obsession with head to head overriding points difference. The idea of a group stage is that you get a second chance. If you have a bad ref/injury and lose a match narrowly why should you have to be continually penalized if you recover and hockey everyone else after that?" I agree with you, I don't really see the point to head to head as a tiebreaker. It makes there more likelihood of dead rubber going into the final round also. The one problem with scoring difference is that 1 blowout result can dominate. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4731 - 15/09/2025 12:11:10 2636234 Link
Replying To Ciaran359: "This makes the most sense, we're currently caught between wanting more guaranteed meaninful games, and lacking the jeopardy of championship. If you were going with a league-based system, would it make sense to combine your 12-10-10 with provincials, by running provincials like the triple crown in rugby? (@omahant, I think that's your "double up" system?) It would keep the provincial pride, but wouldn't put extra games onto teams" Yes, that's my 'double up'. Taking that 12-10-10, divs 2 & 3 could be round robins (9 games), 'doubling up' intra-div Prov KO, and play any additional 'stand alone' cross-div Prov games as well. To reduce game count, Div 1 could either be '3 groups of 4' (A hosts B, B hosts C & C hosts A, for 8 games), or '4 groups of 3' [AhB, BhC, ChD, DhA, (AvC & BvD host 1 or 2, away 2 or 1), for 9 games]. AIC Sam 8 - Div 1, top 8 of 12, Aussie AFL-style Playoffs AIC 2 KO 10 - Teams placed 9-18, PQFs: 15v18 & 16v17 AIC 3 KO 10 - Teams 19-28, PQF: 25v28 & 26v27 AIC 2 SF 4 play Div 1 the next year (0-4 promoted) AIC 3 SF 4 play Div 2 the next year (0-4 promoted) omahant (USA) - Posts: 3556 - 15/05/2026 19:22:48 2673225 Link
Replying To omahant: "Yes, that's my 'double up'. Taking that 12-10-10, divs 2 & 3 could be round robins (9 games), 'doubling up' intra-div Prov KO, and play any additional 'stand alone' cross-div Prov games as well. To reduce game count, Div 1 could either be '3 groups of 4' (A hosts B, B hosts C & C hosts A, for 8 games), or '4 groups of 3' [AhB, BhC, ChD, DhA, (AvC & BvD host 1 or 2, away 2 or 1), for 9 games . AIC Sam 8 - Div 1, top 8 of 12, Aussie AFL-style Playoffs AIC 2 KO 10 - Teams placed 9-18, PQFs: 15v18 & 16v17 AIC 3 KO 10 - Teams 19-28, PQF: 25v28 & 26v27 AIC 2 SF 4 play Div 1 the next year (0-4 promoted) AIC 3 SF 4 play Div 2 the next year (0-4 promoted)"]No! Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 915 - 16/05/2026 11:54:10 2673280 Link
What's people's thoughts on rounds 2 and 3 changing to neutral venues? Round 1 staying as home fixture as a reward for provincial finalists dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 985 - 03/08/2026 12:31:27 2688539 Link
Replying To dickie10: "What's people's thoughts on rounds 2 and 3 changing to neutral venues? Round 1 staying as home fixture as a reward for provincial finalists" Rounds 2B and 3 should be neutral as they are knock out eliminating games. Only Provincial Champions should be guaranteed a home draw in Round 1 (and maybe 2A?) Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 915 - 03/08/2026 13:27:03 2688546 Link
Replying To dickie10: "What's people's thoughts on rounds 2 and 3 changing to neutral venues? Round 1 staying as home fixture as a reward for provincial finalists" Well, provincial winners getting 2 home games might be on the cards. There was a bit of talk about Round 3 being neutral as both have lost one game each. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 03/08/2026 14:35:06 2688554 Link
2026 format is perfect. Best championship ever with best possible result. There will be no changes for the foreseeable tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2045 - 03/08/2026 15:52:21 2688557 Link
Replying To dickie10: "What's people's thoughts on rounds 2 and 3 changing to neutral venues? Round 1 staying as home fixture as a reward for provincial finalists" Definitely agree with neutral venues. There'll be bigger crowds and less travelling for families. Plus it'll be less expensive for families especially. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2946 - 03/08/2026 16:06:07 2688559 Link
Replying To dickie10: "What's people's thoughts on rounds 2 and 3 changing to neutral venues? Round 1 staying as home fixture as a reward for provincial finalists" Which province benefits more from that scenario ? Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 180 - 03/08/2026 22:13:40 2688586 Link
I'd have the 8 home teams drawn in Rd 1, play away in Rd 2 (and vice versa). Draw both rds in advance of the 'open draw' Rd 1 (plenty of devilment with Prov Champs potentially going head-to-head in either or both rds. And you think 2026 was exciting - why not go for it? omahant (USA) - Posts: 3556 - 04/08/2026 03:13:11 2688597 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "2026 format is perfect. Best championship ever with best possible result. There will be no changes for the foreseeable" 100%. Maybe a couple of neutral venue rounds , ie the Mayo Tyrone game in Enniskillen or Sligo or Donegal v Cork half roads. but perfect otherwise. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2946 - 05/08/2026 20:45:57 2688764 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Definitely agree with neutral venues. There'll be bigger crowds and less travelling for families. Plus it'll be less expensive for families especially." I would have higher League position home in Round 2, and definitely neutral for Round 3. ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1232 - 05/08/2026 21:57:45 2688773 Link

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New Format 2026 All Ireland