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New Format 2026 All Ireland

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Why not a two-round Open Draw, every team playing once at home, once away. Double winners to AI QFs, double losers out and single winners to Prelim QFs (variable match count). Even if Kerry hosts Dublin in Rd 1, the winner is guaranteed a Prelim QF berth and the loser is on the ropes (great excitement and bite about such a pairing). omahant (USA) - Posts: 3555 - 08/08/2026 14:24:11 2689081 Link
Replying To ORIELMAN85: "I would have higher League position home in Round 2, and definitely neutral for Round 3." At least teams in 2B get 2 or 3 weeks notice but Round 3 getting 5 days..... Crying out for neutral venues there. If Donegal had played Dublin in Hyde or Castlebar and Armagh v Kerry was in Croke Park or Salthill...... Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 915 - 09/08/2026 12:54:54 2689168 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "At least teams in 2B get 2 or 3 weeks notice but Round 3 getting 5 days..... Crying out for neutral venues there. If Donegal had played Dublin in Hyde or Castlebar and Armagh v Kerry was in Croke Park or Salthill......" Home draws are the only way to get large attendences, or at least holding it to an adjoining county . Playing Cork/Kerry v Derry in Mullingar isn't an attractive proposition for anyone. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2045 - 10/08/2026 08:29:03 2689254 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "Home draws are the only way to get large attendences, or at least holding it to an adjoining county . Playing Cork/Kerry v Derry in Mullingar isn't an attractive proposition for anyone." The quarter finals in hurling are neutral venue. Central council rejected giving provincial runners up home advantage. I think there will be a strong push for Round 3 to be a neutral venue. Both teams have lost a game. Round 2A teams will have had their shot at going direct to the quarter finals. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10075 - 10/08/2026 10:29:27 2689270 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "Home draws are the only way to get large attendences, or at least holding it to an adjoining county . Playing Cork/Kerry v Derry in Mullingar isn't an attractive proposition for anyone." From Folyeside to Mullingar would be more tempting than to Tralee. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2946 - 12/08/2026 21:21:47 2689627 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "The quarter finals in hurling are neutral venue. Central council rejected giving provincial runners up home advantage. I think there will be a strong push for Round 3 to be a neutral venue. Both teams have lost a game. Round 2A teams will have had their shot at going direct to the quarter finals." In hurling, Kerry, Derry or Mullingar would not be involved :) omahant (USA) - Posts: 3555 - 12/08/2026 21:36:42 2689629 Link
Tyrone beat Mayo- reward have to beat Kerry and Dublin to reach the Final. Mayo lost to Tyrone -punishment only have to beat Meath, Cork and Louth to reach the Final. Losing shouldn't get a team an easier path. Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 915 - 18/08/2026 13:08:25 2690303 Link
Think definitely need to change luck of the draw if your home or away. Likes of what happened Meath with 3 away games in a row in cork, Derry and castlebar really is tough and nothing to say it couldn't happen next year. I know media harped on about it at the timr me snd Meath are fast becoming media darlings like Kildare under mcgeeney but still very bad luck dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 985 - 19/08/2026 12:24:49 2690428 Link
last two posters complaining about luck of the draw. What about luck of the provincial draw then? COrk and Kerry have an easy route to last 16 - based on luck of geography Championship should be open draw for every thing - league is the competition for no luck tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2045 - 19/08/2026 17:56:57 2690488 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "last two posters complaining about luck of the draw. What about luck of the provincial draw then? COrk and Kerry have an easy route to last 16 - based on luck of geography Championship should be open draw for every thing - league is the competition for no luck" Ah sure why not toss a coin then if you want luck to be the primary decider? How about fairness? Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 915 - 20/08/2026 10:32:33 2690554 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "Tyrone beat Mayo- reward have to beat Kerry and Dublin to reach the Final. Mayo lost to Tyrone -punishment only have to beat Meath, Cork and Louth to reach the Final. Losing shouldn't get a team an easier path." Was bad luck ok, but you can never change that unless everyone plays everyone else. That competition is called the League, although theres an element of luck still with that, as you could have 4 home games rather than 3, and dont play everyone home and away. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20656 - 20/08/2026 10:53:15 2690565 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "last two posters complaining about luck of the draw. What about luck of the provincial draw then? COrk and Kerry have an easy route to last 16 - based on luck of geography Championship should be open draw for every thing - league is the competition for no luck" Fair AIC for All: Sam Maguire Cup ✓ Play Prov Prelims & QFs ✓ Prov SF 16 + Rd 1 AIC 'Non-SF 16' ✓ Prov F 8 + Rd 2 AIC 16 (SF losers + '3rd chance' Rd 1 losers) ✓ Prov Champs Playoff 4 + Rd 3 AIC 20 (F losers + Rds 1/2 winners) ✓ Rd 4 AIC 12 (2 Champ Playoff losers + 10 Rd 3 winners) ✓ AI QFs (2 Champ Playoff winners + 6 Rd 4 winners) ✓ SFs ✓ F ______ Structure leads to: ✓ Last 32: Prov QFs neutralised - win, lose or bye - ALL teams go to the next round with back door guarantee ✓ Last 24: win Prov SF, AIC Rd 1 or Rd 2 ✓ Last 14: win Prov F or AIC Rd 3 ✓ Last 8: win Champs Playoff or AIC Rd 4 omahant (USA) - Posts: 3555 - 20/08/2026 13:32:23 2690611 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Was bad luck ok, but you can never change that unless everyone plays everyone else. That competition is called the League, although theres an element of luck still with that, as you could have 4 home games rather than 3, and dont play everyone home and away." Timing of teams "pulling the hand brake" does not make the league fair. Without the hand brake, an already promoted or relegated team plays with less gusto providing opponent with softer points opportunity. omahant (USA) - Posts: 3555 - 20/08/2026 13:47:25 2690619 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "Tyrone beat Mayo- reward have to beat Kerry and Dublin to reach the Final. Mayo lost to Tyrone -punishment only have to beat Meath, Cork and Louth to reach the Final. Losing shouldn't get a team an easier path." Who should Tyrone have gotten in the QF then? They can't have gotten Louth, Cork or Galway as they'd won 2 games. That leaves Dublin, Kerry or Monaghan. CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1759 - 20/08/2026 18:25:36 2690673 Link