Jim McGuinness backs new football championship format brought in by Congress

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has welcomed the recently approved changes to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship structure, believing they will enhance competitiveness and reduce the burden on both players and supporters.  

The revised championship format, set to come into effect in 2026, which was passed during the Annual Congress in Donegal Town last weekend, will see the competition streamlined to 16 teams, featuring the eight provincial finalists and the highest-ranked Allianz League finishers, including the Tailteann Cup winner.  

This change eliminates the current round-robin system and is expected to place greater emphasis on provincial success. 

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“I think that’s good,” McGuinness said of the new structure. “It’ll eliminate dead rubbers. It’ll put a premium on teams trying to get to the provincial finals. It’ll make the provincial championships more competitive as a result, I would suggest,” he said. 

The Donegal boss also highlighted the potential benefits of a more balanced schedule, with fewer games and better spacing between fixtures. 

“A game less as well, which is good. They’re going back into August with the championship anyway. So, maybe there’s an opportunity,” he said.  

“If they do it right... I think there might be an opportunity for two weeks between every game and without doing much at all. I think that would be very welcome based on the intensity levels that are required now.” 

McGuinness also pointed to the challenges supporters face with the current structure, where consecutive match weekends can create financial strain. 

“The championship now has been played over three weeks and expecting families to, if you get to a final, cough up three times in the one paycheck. I don’t think that’s right as well. I don’t think that’s in line with our ethos.” 

While McGuinness is broadly supportive of the championship restructure, he was less enthusiastic about certain FRC rule changes, particularly those relating to defensive positioning following a Galway sending off in his team’s 0-21 to 0-14 defeat on Sunday. 

Reflecting on Donegal’s loss to Galway, he pointed to a situation where his side was forced to keep three players back despite the opposition being down to 14 men under the new 3v3 rule. 

“I think what happened today was a bit farcical,” he said. “When the opposition have a man sent off and they have two black cards, and you have to leave three back to mark one man, there’s something not right there.  

“So clearly that would have to be looked at.” 

The rule, which requires teams to keep at least three outfield players inside their own half at all times, has been a subject of controversy since its introduction, with many arguing it creates unintended tactical imbalances. 

Despite his frustration, McGuinness stressed his willingness to work within whatever framework is set by the GAA. 

“In the main, I’ve said it in earlier rounds, whatever they decide to go with, we’ll coach to the rules.”