Super 8s: Groups confirmed and list of matches

Jack O'Toole

The inaugural Super 8 series is here and Kerry, Galway, Kildare, Monaghan, Donegal,
Dublin, Tyrone and Roscommon will play in the first ever trial of the series.

The Super 8 series will see a revamp of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final structure where the final eight teams will play three group stage matches with the top two highest ranking teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Here’s the teams, how it works and the dates.

Groups:

Group 1

Kerry
Galway
Kildare
Monaghan

Group 2

Donegal
Dublin
Tyrone
Roscommon

Matches:

Round 1

Saturday July 14th
Group 2
Tyrone v Roscommon, Croke Park
Donegal v Dublin, Croke Park

Sunday July 15th
Group 1
Kildare v Monaghan, Croke Park
Kerry v Galway, Croke Park

Round 2

Saturday July 21st/Sunday July 22nd
Group 1: Kildare v Galway, Newbridge

Monaghan v Kerry, Clones.

Group 2: Tyrone v Dublin, Omagh

Roscommon v Donegal, Dr Hyde Park.

Round 3

Saturday August 4th/Sunday August 5th
Group 1: Kerry v Kildare, Killarney

Galway v Monaghan, Salthill

Group 2: Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey

Dublin v Roscommon, Croke Park

*Venue and times subject to change

How it works:

The four provincial champions and the four winning teams from round four of the All-Ireland qualifiers play three games each in two groups of four teams during the months of July and August.

Each group consists of two provincial champions and the two losing finalists of the other two provinces or the team that beats them in round four of the qualifiers.

The two provincial champions meet and the two qualifiers meet in Croke Park in the first round.

In phase two the round four qualifier teams have home advantage and the provincial winners are at home in phase three. Dublin, if they qualify, will also play their home game at Croke Park.

Two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. The top two teams in each group advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Tie-breaker

If only two teams are level on group points –

The team that won the head-to-head match is ranked first
If this game was a draw, score difference (total scored minus total conceded in all group games) is used to rank the teams
If score difference is identical, total scored is used to rank the teams
If still identical, a play-off is required

If three or more teams are level on group points, score difference is used to rank the teams.

What are they saying:

“We’re not proposing anything radical here. We have to be prepared to experiment with new ideas. We have absolutely nothing to lose by giving it a trial run as we can always change again if we think it’s not working” – Paraic Duffy, former GAA Director-General.

“The inter county game is the pinnacle at which players at all levels strive to play at. The idea of players participating in a competition with a revised format which does not have the support of over 70 per cent of squads is something the GPA finds impractical” – Dermot Earley, Chief Executive of the GPA.

“Super 8 is in!What a load of sh**e…More games to delay club champs, more money for GAA, would they not just do a Super 32 altogether” – Podge Collins, Clare