I don’t think anybody knows what the format is or why they’re having draws before the provincial finals have been played.
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Wtaf. So there is no benefit of winning the leinster championship for dublin
The non provincial finalists have a clear focus now for their game, which is a big advantage. Their opponents, meanwhile, have a physically and emotionally draining game before they play in the All-Ireland series commences.
Cavan, for example, will be hoping Westmeath win Leinster and celebrate accordingly before they meet each other a fortnight later.
Kerry likewise have a tricky Munster final v Cork to navigate while Donegal can begin planning for Killarney already.
I think it’s a better system than the group stages but leave the draw until the provincial finals are over. If teams have only six days notice for a fixture etc so be it.
This system kind of devalues or undermines the provincial championships.
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Which is the aim
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Round 1
The eight provincial finalists will be drawn at home against the eight next best placed teams according to league position.
Round 2A
The eight winners of the Round 1 ties will be drawn against each other in Round 2A. The four winners from this stage progress to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.
The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings. The first team drawn will be at home.
Round 2B
The eight losers of the Round 1 ties will be drawn against each other in Round 2B. The four losers at this stage will exit the championship. The draw will be subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings. The first team drawn will be at home.
Round 3
The four losers of the Round 2A ties will be drawn against the four winners of the Round 2B ties. A draw will determine the home venue for each pairing. The draw will be subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and, where possible, repeat pairings from Round 1.
The four winners at this stage will advance to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals, where they will be drawn against the four winners from Round 2A.
I assume it’s no advantage to win the province when it comes to home advantage for round 2 and 3?
Christ
Is there many sports that this weird structure
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Am i right in saying that the winners of the first round matches will then play the other winners, where the losers will be out. Meanwhile the losers of the first round matches will then play the others losers, and the winners will then go through to play the winners of the winners?
Winners play winners, losers play losers. Losers of losers v losers are out. Simples…
No -
Round 1
8 v 8
Round two
A - 8 winners against each other - 4 progress to quarters
B- 8 losers play each other - 4 losers are out
Round three
4 teams that lost in A play 4 winners from B winners. Four teams progress along with the four teams that won their opening 2 games
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That is the best draw Louth could have hoped for. They will be absolutely fucking chomping at the bit.
Easy be the Louth manager today
Are they not contesting the Tailteann at all? Of course you don’t recognise it as a competition.
What do you think now? Just take a step back and analyse the situation here and see can you piece this together.
I’m completely out of the loop but I was looking at the draw wondering how I missed the result of the Cork/Kerry Munster final result.
Me too ,but I looks like It’s basically every team gets two chances to win one game to get to group stages
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Seems a decent system to me
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Except Down
Down couldnt beat Laois a few weeks ago and everyone is sad because they wont get a chance contest the All Ireland 
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Surely the logical step is that we end up with a three tier all Ireland series.
The actual system isn’t bad; not perfect but seems better than the last couple of years.
Similar to what they used to use in Limerick (and possibly Clare) for club championships before they went to round robin.
Definitely should have prevented repeat pairings for the first round though.
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