More championship changes? GAA Congress explained

matt gault - bbc sport ni senior journalist

Thu, 20 Feb 2025, 3:22 am·4-min read

Armagh's Conor Turbitt and Jarly Og Burns celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup — In 2024, beaten Ulster finalists Armagh won two of their three round-robin games en route to clinching a first All-Ireland title since 2002 [Getty Images]

Less than three months after Gaelic football's new playing rules were emphatically backed at a Special Congress, the GAA's powers that be are switching focus back to the championship's structure.

In November, delegates endorsed transformational changes devised by Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee (FRC), including two-point scores, 1v1 throw-in contests and a rule whereby all teams must keep at least three outfield players in each half of the field at all times.

The brave new era has not dawned without teething problems, but after three rounds of the Allianz Football League, there is a strong sense that the FRC's changes pave the way for more exciting, high-scoring games.

And with the game showing off its new coat of paint, the GAA is once again exploring the idea of revamping the championship to achieve what every fan has craved for years: exciting matches played in a competition shaped by drama and jeopardy.

This weekend, delegates will vote on a new-look All-Ireland series. BBC Sport NI explains what the future may hold.

When and where is Congress?

Congress will take place on Friday and Saturday at two venues in Donegal: the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town and Central Hotel & Leisure Centre.

The consideration of motions will begin at 10:35 GMT on Saturday with Congress set to conclude by 16:30.

What would the new championship look like?

Derry's Odhran Lynch celebrates after helping the county beat Mayo on penalties — In 2024, Derry beat Mayo on penalties in a preliminary quarter-final after losing two of their three round-robin games [Getty Images]

A total of 40 motions will be debated and voted on by delegates on Saturday, but motion 19 - which concerns the football championship's structure - is unsurprisingly attracting the most attention.

The proposal is that the 2026 All-Ireland Championship would comprise 16 teams: the eight provincial finalists, the seven highest-ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners.

The biggest change in the new format would be the elimination of the round-robin format, which was introduced for the 2023 season on a three-year trial basis (so it will continue throughout the 2025 campaign).

While these group stages have guaranteed more games, they have been criticised for lacking jeopardy and drama. Currently, 24 matches are played across four, four-team groups to eliminate just four teams.

Under the new structure, the championship from 2026 would look as follows:

Round 1

Eight provincial finalists v eight highest-ranked teams

Round 2A

Winners of Round 1 (eight teams) play each other; the winners would advance to the quarter-final

Round 2B

Losers of Round 1 (eight teams) play each other

Round 3

Losers of Round 2A v winners of Round 2B

Quarter-finals

Round 2A winners v Round 3 winners

Essentially, teams will be able to book a quarter-final spot after two games.

The Tailteann Cup would follow a similar structure.

Provincial final replays

Ciaran Thompson hits a penalty for Donegal in last year's Ulster final — The past two Ulster finals have been decided by a penalty shootout, with Donegal beating Armagh in last year's decider at Clones [Getty Images]

Also of considerable interest is motion 3, submitted by the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), which centres on the 'winner on the day' concept.

If this motion is approved, provincial finals will not be 'winner on the day'. Instead, they will go to a replay if teams cannot be separated after extra-time. A penalty shootout would only be required if teams cannot be separated after extra-time in the replay.

This is interesting given that the 2023 and 2024 Ulster finals were both decided by penalties; Derry beat Armagh in 2023 and Donegal defeated Armagh last year.

If passed, All-Ireland finals will go straight to a replay if teams are tied after the regulation 70 minutes.

"These proposals both address specific scenarios which arose this year and gave rise to some disquiet," GAA director general Tom Ryan noted in his annual report.

"That is the value of a trial, you learn, you listen, and you adapt."

What else will be debated?

Motion 1, submitted by Tipperary club Nenagh Eire Og, centres on the 'thrown' handpass in hurling. If passed, a player must strike the ball with the hand not carrying the sliotar.

Motion 10, submitted by Kilkenny club Danesfort, regarding the use of association property. Currently, Central Council can permit central, provincial or county property to be used for other purposes, but Danesfort want that to be extended to club level.

Motion 12, submitted by Dublin club Clontarf, centres on playing restrictions. It proposes that, in order to play inter-county championship football, a player must have played in four club league games in the same calendar year. The four games could be a mix of both football and hurling.

Motion 14, from Maastricht GAA in the Netherlands, proposes that Europe be added to the Lory Meagher Cup (fifth-tier hurling) from the 2026 season.

The GAA website has a breakdown of all 40 motions that will be debated at Congress.