New All-Ireland SFC format restores jeopardy 

The All-Ireland SFC will take on an entirely new shape next month, with the GAA abolishing the group phase and replacing it with a qualifier-style series designed to restore jeopardy.

The move, approved at last year’s GAA Congress with an overwhelming 92.8% backing from delegates, marks the most significant restructuring of the football championship since the introduction of the round-robin system in 2023.

The now defunct group phase had been widely criticised for its lack of consequence, with three of the four teams in each group advancing to the knockout rounds.

The new format aims to correct that by reinstating a clearer, more unforgiving pathway. The draws for the new format are set to take place this Monday.

Under the revamped system, the eight provincial finalists form the backbone of the Sam Maguire race. They are joined by the next seven highest-ranked teams based on league position, along with the Tailteann Cup winners, to create a 16-team first round. Crucially, provincial finalists are guaranteed home advantage in that opening round, where they will be drawn against one of the other eight qualifiers.

Kerry and Cork meet each other in the Munster final on Sunday week, so both will be on home soil first day out.

The eight winners from Round 1 advance to Round 2A, where they are drawn against each other. The four Round 2A winners then progress directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, restoring a sense of reward and momentum that had been lost in the group era.

For the eight Round 1 losers, the road becomes more treacherous. They drop into Round 2B, where they pair off to produce four winners who keep their championship hopes alive. 

Those four then face the four Round 2A losers in Round 3 — effectively a last-chance qualifier round. The winners of those four ties complete the quarter-final line-up.

Every game matters again. There are no safety nets. 

Supporters have welcomed the return of meaningful matches, while managers will face the challenge of preparing teams for a championship that demands immediate sharpness.