Sport

All-Ireland SFC round robin format explained as GAA issue pre-championship update

A new format for the All-Ireland SFC will kick in this summer, as 16 teams are set to battle it out for the Sam Maguire trophy.
A new format for the All-Ireland SFC will kick in this summer, as 16 teams are set to battle it out for the Sam Maguire trophy. A new format for the All-Ireland SFC will kick in this summer, as 16 teams are set to battle it out for the Sam Maguire trophy.
By Kieran Lynch

On Wednesday morning, the GAA issued a pre-championship media briefing predominantly centred around the round robin stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the Tailteann Cup.

Listed below are some of the key takeaways from their update:

- Following the completion of the provincial semi-finals, the draw for the round robin stage of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Tailteann Cup will take place live on GAAGO on Tuesday May 2.

- The All-Ireland round robin teams will be made up of the eight provincial finalists from 2023, last year’s Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath, and the seven next best teams based off of Allianz Football League position in 2023 (or eight, if Westmeath reach the Leinster final). If New York reach the Connacht final, they will host a home match during the All-Ireland Series.

- The seeding of the group will run as follows: Seed 1: Four provincial champions; Seed 2: Four provincial runners-up; Seed 3: Four next best league teams; Seed 4: Three next best league teams, plus Westmeath.

The four provincial champions will go into the round robin stage as the highest seeded teams.
The four provincial champions will go into the round robin stage as the highest seeded teams. The four provincial champions will go into the round robin stage as the highest seeded teams.

- The round robin fixtures will begin on May 21, with the Munster and Connacht finalists involved. The Ulster and Leinster finalists enter the round robin phase the following week, as their provincial finals follow Munster and Connacht.

- The four group winners advance into the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The second and third placed teams play in a Preliminary quarter-final (with the second-placed team holding home advantage) and the fourth placed teams in the groups are eliminated from the championship.

- Each team will play one home game, one away game and one game at a neutral venue. With Croke Park the chosen neutral venue during the round robin phase, Dublin may play twice at Croke Park, as it is also their home venue.

Dublin will likely get two play two round robin games at Croke Park.
Dublin will likely get two play two round robin games at Croke Park. Dublin will likely get two play two round robin games at Croke Park.

- There could be a first ever draw for the All-Ireland SFC semi-final pairings this year. The traditional pre-set provincial match-ups no longer apply.

- The Tailteann Cup final is set to be played as part of a double header with one of the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.

- Going forward, counties must submit a 26-man squad to the GAA by Thursday mornings, which will then be published on Friday afternoon, allowing players to be informed at Thursday night training. Up to four stand-by players can also be registered in specific circumstances.

- Fielding a player who is not named in the matchday panel of 26 registered with the GAA, or among the maximum of four stand-by players, would result in that county forfeiting the match.