2023 has seen the GAA introduce the latest major change to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
The provincial championships were played off as usual, this year between April 8th and May 14th. As was the case last year, teams then competed for the top tier Sam Maguire Cup and the second tier Tailteann Cup.
How does the new GAA All-Ireland SFC work?
This year, a 16-team group stage was introduced for the counties competing for Sam Maguire. That will be followed by preliminary quarter-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the final.
Who qualifies for the Sam Maguire Cup?
- The eight provincial finalists
- The previous year's Tailteann Cup winners (this year Westmeath)
- The next seven best-placed teams at the conclusion of the Allianz Football Leagues.
- If Westmeath were to reach the Leinster final, then it would be the next eight best-placed in the league rankings.
2 April 2023; Dublin captain James McCarthy leaves the pitch with the cup after winning the Allianz GAA Football League Division 2 Final match between Dublin and Derry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
What are the GAA league rankings?
1. Mayo
2. Galway
3. Roscommon
4. Tyrone
5. Kerry
6. Monaghan
7. Dublin
8. Derry
9. Armagh
10. Donegal
11. Louth
12. Cork
13. Kildare
14. Meath
15. Cavan
16. Fermanagh
17. Clare
18. Limerick
19. Down
20. Westmeath
21. Offaly
22. Antrim
23. Sligo
24. Wicklow
25. Longford
26. Tipperary
27. Laois
28. Wexford
29. Leitrim
30. Carlow
31. Waterford
32. London
[See Also: GAA To Announce 26-Man Matchday Championship Panels On Fridays]
Rankings were after promotions and relegations between the divisions were applied. League final winners were ranked higher than the team they beat in their divisional decider.
29 May 2022; Seán Kelly of Galway lifting the cup after the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Galway and Roscommon at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
How does the All-Ireland SFC group stage work?
Teams were drawn into four seeded groups of four teams each. Those who had played each other in their provincial finals could not be drawn into the same group, though counties who played each other earlier in the provincial championship could be drawn together.
The draw took place on May 2nd on GAA GO, after the provincial semi-finals, but before the finals.
All-Ireland SFC group stage seedings
Seed 1 – Provincial champions
Seed 2 – Provincial runners-up
Seed 3 – The next four ranked by league status
Seed 4 – Westmeath and the next three ranked by league status.
9 July 2022; Luke Loughlin of Westmeath GAA celebrates his side's second goal, scored by teammate Kieran Martin, 18, during the Tailteann Cup Final match between Cavan and Westmeath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Teams will play three games in the group stage, one at home, one away, and one at a neutral venue.
Round 1: Seed 1 v Seed 3, Seed 2 v Seed 4 (20/21 May and 27/28 May)
Round 2: Seed 3 v Seed 2, Seed 4 v Seed 1 (3/4 June)
Round 3: Seed 1 v Seed 2, Seed 3 v Seed 4 (17/18 June)
[See Also: Joe Canning Baffled By One Of GAA's 'Maddest Decisions']
How does the All-Ireland SFC knockout stage work?
The first-placed team in each group goes straight through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed teams will play in the preliminary quarter-finals.
24 July 2022; Kerry manager Jack O'Connor and his squad celebrate with the Sam Maguire trophy after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
When does the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals draw take place?
The four second-placed teams from each group will be drawn at home to play the four third-placed teams in the preliminary quarter-finals. Those matches will be played on the weekend of June 24/25 and are subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and repeat pairings from the group stage. The draw for those games will take place on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One after the news at 8:30am on Monday, June 19th.
The All-Ireland quarter-finals, which will be played at neutral venues, will take place on July 1/2. Those will see the four first-placed teams from the four groups drawn against the four preliminary quarter-final winners. Games are first subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and where possible repeat pairings from the group stage.
The All-Ireland semi-finals will be played on July 15/16 and the All-Ireland final on July 30. The semi-finals are, where possible, subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the championship.
Preliminary quarter-finals, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will be played under winner-on-the-day rules. The All-Ireland final will have extra-time in the original fixture and will be winner on the day in the event of a replay only.
See Also: 26-Man Matchday Championship Panels To Be Announced On Fridays
