Peter Canavan: League should take precedence over provinces in seeding system

RTÉ football analyst Peter Canavan argues the seeding system for the All-Ireland football championship group phase requires an overhaul ahead of the inaugural season under the new format.

Following the provincial championships, counties will be sorted into the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup competitions, the former comprising of four groups of four, consisting of the provincial winners and runners-up, the next best seven placed teams in the league (who didn't reach a provincial final), and the 2022 Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath.

At the conclusion of the league, Allianz League Sunday assessed the current top-16 ranked teams a week out from the provincial championships.

With the provincial finalists usually - though not always - drawn from the top two divisions, it would be anticipated that the composition of the Sam Maguire will look roughly as it does now, though Meath, ranked in 14th spot could be vulnerable if Clare, for instance, reached the Munster final.

Ordinarily, Division 3 winners Cavan would now be occupying the 15th spot, however the peculiarly lop-sided Connacht draw means that a Division 4 outfit - or a non-competitor in the league in New York - is destined to reach the provincial decider.

"I think that's a bit harsh on teams that have performed really well in the league" Peter Canavan pinpoints tweaks he feels should be made to the championship seedings and structure#RTEGAA #AllianzLeagueSunday pic.twitter.com/hPOvPqWtzX

What will alter is the seedings, with performance in the provincial championship taking precedence over the league. Should league champions Mayo stumble in their Connacht opener against Roscommon next week, they will slip from number one spot to being a third seed for the All-Ireland group