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2023 All-Ireland SFC format explained

The Sam Maguire Cup.

The Sam Maguire Cup.

With a new All-Ireland SFC format being adopted in 2023 the upcoming Allianz Football League carries added significance.

Ultimately the 16 counties that will compete in Round One the All-Ireland series are to be seeded in the following way:

First seeds: The four provincial champions

Second seeds: The four provincial runners-up

Third seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league

Fourth seeds: The next four highest ranked teams at the conclusion of the league

There is one exception - the previous year's Tailteann Cup winner (Westmeath, 2022) if not already qualified as one of the teams will be eligible instead of the lowest ranked fourth seeded team following the conclusion of the Allianz Football League.

It must be noted that a league final winner will be considered a higher seed than the team they defeated in the final.

The remaining 16 teams, who don't advance to the All-Ireland SFC, will compete in the Tailteann Cup. New York will enter the Tailteann Cup at the preliminary quarter-final stage.

All-Ireland SFC

During the Round One group phase the schedule of matches is pre-determined with each team playing one home and one away game in the opening two rounds. Round Three fixtures will be played at neutral venues.

Game 1: Seed 1 v Seed 3, Seed 2 v Seed 4

Game 2: Seed 3 v Seed 2, Seed 4 v Seed 1

Game 3: Seed 1 v Seed 2, Seed 3 v Seed 4

Where two teams are involved in a tie breaker, the outcome of the meeting of those counties will be used.

In the event of teams finishing on equal points in the groups, the tie shall be decided by

the following means and in the order specified below:

- Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting

of the two teams in the group

- Score difference – subtracting the total scores against from the total scores for

- highest total score for

- highest total goals for

- A play-off

Twelve counties will advance to the All-Ireland SFC knockout stages.

The four preliminary quarter-finals will consist of the second placed teams being at home to third place teams, subject to avoiding of repeat provincial final pairings and where possible repeat pairings from Round One.

At the quarter-final stage the four group winners will meet the preliminary quarter-final victors, subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and where possible repeat pairings from Round One.

The quarter-finals, and semi-finals will be winner on the day with venues for those rounds to be determined by the CCCC.