National Forum

Looking Forward To 2026

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "We ran Donegal close but didn't seal the deal, an old failing that needs to be addressed. Overall in 2025 I think we were miles off the top 8."
Yeah agree totally miles off this year hence why we lost to Cavan . But I blame management for that . We can't seem to close out tight games is it because of fitness levels . .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 422 - 24/10/2025 13:58:52    2641391

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Expect it to be a tough year for Donegal. No doubt they will be very competitive but getting over the line is another thing. Not sure they have enough quality and struggle if they don't get their swarm game with runners from deep going. A running team and ironically their most important player can't run."
Given we hammered Meath by 20 points in the semi final this year you'd be better worrying about Meath's prospects than ours in all fairness.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3534 - 24/10/2025 21:39:03    2641430

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Replying To S1234:  "Yeah agree totally miles off this year hence why we lost to Cavan . But I blame management for that . We can't seem to close out tight games is it because of fitness levels . ."
Mayo can't kick the ball over the bar, their old failing still haunts them, lack of scoring forwards.
Ciarán Moore showed how to do it in the Hyde, I enjoyed that fantastic point and victory very much I have to say.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3534 - 24/10/2025 21:44:00    2641431

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Given we hammered Meath by 20 points in the semi final this year you'd be better worrying about Meath's prospects than ours in all fairness."
And then collapsed v Kerry ..

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 422 - 25/10/2025 10:00:33    2641455

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Mayo can't kick the ball over the bar, their old failing still haunts them, lack of scoring forwards.
Ciarán Moore showed how to do it in the Hyde, I enjoyed that fantastic point and victory very much I have to say."
I also enjoyed seeing Kerry beat you out the gate the only time I have ever cheered Kerry on was against you lot that day and it made my day !

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 422 - 25/10/2025 10:05:17    2641459

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Given we hammered Meath by 20 points in the semi final this year you'd be better worrying about Meath's prospects than ours in all fairness."
Meath weren't really ready for the stage of competing for an All-Ireland and early misses drained confidence out the them plus injury to Menton. Meath came from nowhere and had an impressive year but were disappointed with the finish. They had 6 or 7 injuries to important players and expect continued progress for 2026. They also have good individuals from minor and U20 teams in development squads ready to make next step. Meath will be fine next few years and will look to compete for Leinster and promotion from Div. 2.
Will be an interesting year for Donegal to see what is left in their tank given the intensity of the way McGuinness goes about things. Will he have learned also that blanket is too risky against good forwards. Time will tell!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 830 - 25/10/2025 12:18:11    2641478

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Replying To S1234:  "I also enjoyed seeing Kerry beat you out the gate the only time I have ever cheered Kerry on was against you lot that day and it made my day !"
Wow that's some level of dislike :-D

I was supporting Donegal in the final as they were the underdogs, and it was a shame that things panned out the way they did for them, but Kerry were excellent and fully deserved their win. I have supported Mayo for the same reason in many games. I'd support Tyrone against anyone even if they were favourites, once they weren't playing us, which they likely won't be for a few years, or more! That being from my time living in Coalisland.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17347 - 25/10/2025 12:25:47    2641484

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Replying To S1234:  "I also enjoyed seeing Kerry beat you out the gate the only time I have ever cheered Kerry on was against you lot that day and it made my day !"
Nothing tops the 2012 final though, that was one fantastic day for us, almost as good as '92 win. the 92 semi final springs to mind as well too, another great day.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3534 - 25/10/2025 13:09:11    2641493

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Meath weren't really ready for the stage of competing for an All-Ireland and early misses drained confidence out the them plus injury to Menton. Meath came from nowhere and had an impressive year but were disappointed with the finish. They had 6 or 7 injuries to important players and expect continued progress for 2026. They also have good individuals from minor and U20 teams in development squads ready to make next step. Meath will be fine next few years and will look to compete for Leinster and promotion from Div. 2.
Will be an interesting year for Donegal to see what is left in their tank given the intensity of the way McGuinness goes about things. Will he have learned also that blanket is too risky against good forwards. Time will tell!"
I agree Meath have progressed but by how much is hard to guage. If the Dubs get a bit of impetus from the new management and get even one or two additions in the league it might prove tough for Meath.
If the Dubs retake the Leinster title with some conviction it could be a momentum staller for the royals?

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1028 - 25/10/2025 13:27:12    2641498

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Replying To sligo joe:  "I agree Meath have progressed but by how much is hard to guage. If the Dubs get a bit of impetus from the new management and get even one or two additions in the league it might prove tough for Meath.
If the Dubs retake the Leinster title with some conviction it could be a momentum staller for the royals?"
Yes the Dubs are likely to improve but who are they likely to get back and even if they do, are these players going back at their best? I think key for Dublin is maintaining COC fitness. I don't think it will be a quick fix for them. Next year from Meath's point of view, I think they will take it one step at a time with the league campaign first. Meath can't take anything for granted in Leinster as remember Louth are champions.
Kildare and Offaly also improving. I don't think it'll be as simple as it may sound in Dublin taken back Leinster. Meath have plenty of other things to worry about apart from Dublin but beating them again would maintain progress.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 830 - 25/10/2025 15:45:27    2641521

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There were 7 clear All Ireland contenders after the league. A few managerial changes are unlikely to change that. There are about 7 challengers then who on their day can cause the main contenders problems.
From a Kerry perspective, we'll winter well I suppose. Been all go since the start of August. Club championships and then county championship. Tough going. County final tomorrow. Players going off on holidays then before resting up for the winter.
Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh were the favourites going into the quarter finals. They'll be the 4 to beat going into 2026. You look at Tyrone then and Mayo. Tyrone with youth success. Mayo just squeezed out by Donegal. Serious competition.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9236 - 25/10/2025 16:17:57    2641531

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Yes the Dubs are likely to improve but who are they likely to get back and even if they do, are these players going back at their best? I think key for Dublin is maintaining COC fitness. I don't think it will be a quick fix for them. Next year from Meath's point of view, I think they will take it one step at a time with the league campaign first. Meath can't take anything for granted in Leinster as remember Louth are champions.
Kildare and Offaly also improving. I don't think it'll be as simple as it may sound in Dublin taken back Leinster. Meath have plenty of other things to worry about apart from Dublin but beating them again would maintain progress."
Well I think "Meath can't take anything for granted in Leinster" is an understatement.
The point I'm making is if (and I do agree it's a significant "if") Dublin do regroup and win Leinster with a bit to spare it would suck a lot of oxygen from the Meath project.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1028 - 25/10/2025 16:54:55    2641533

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Replying To sligo joe:  "Well I think "Meath can't take anything for granted in Leinster" is an understatement.
The point I'm making is if (and I do agree it's a significant "if") Dublin do regroup and win Leinster with a bit to spare it would suck a lot of oxygen from the Meath project."
Yes it probably would but it would take a good bit of a turnaround. Dublin have just lost Cluxton and John Small already since end of season. Two major losses on the field. I just don't see where they can immediately return to glorys of recent years in swashbuckling style. Have you reasons for optimism? There has been a slow decline for Dublin maybe 5 years despite success in 2023 and this can be very hard to arrest.
Let's see. Meath are unlikely to fall back so I think the margins will be tight next year in Leinster.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 830 - 25/10/2025 18:49:35    2641540

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Mayo can't kick the ball over the bar, their old failing still haunts them, lack of scoring forwards.
Ciarán Moore showed how to do it in the Hyde, I enjoyed that fantastic point and victory very much I have to say."
Plenty of young forward talent coming through so hopefully in the years ahead that will change.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11809 - 25/10/2025 19:01:49    2641543

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There were 7 clear All Ireland contenders after the league. A few managerial changes are unlikely to change that. There are about 7 challengers then who on their day can cause the main contenders problems.
From a Kerry perspective, we'll winter well I suppose. Been all go since the start of August. Club championships and then county championship. Tough going. County final tomorrow. Players going off on holidays then before resting up for the winter.
Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh were the favourites going into the quarter finals. They'll be the 4 to beat going into 2026. You look at Tyrone then and Mayo. Tyrone with youth success. Mayo just squeezed out by Donegal. Serious competition."
Yerra Yerra legend we all know that Kerry and the Cliffords have set the standard now, they will be even harder to stop next year, I expect a big improvement from the Dubs with new management in, they have too many good players not to be considered serious contenders, hopefully Meath and Louth will push them hard in Leinster, Kerry will walk through Munster as usual, can't see Cork doing much though they always lift their game for Kerry,
Ulster a battleground as always, we are going for 3 in a row though I wish we'd keep the focus on Sam Maguire but Jim places very high value on Ulster.
Galway, Tyrone, Armagh, Dubs, all serious challengers for Kerry next year though.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3534 - 25/10/2025 19:07:47    2641546

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Plenty of young forward talent coming through so hopefully in the years ahead that will change."
Yeah hopefully Yew they will come through for you, I watched a bit of young McDonald playing for Crossmolina, he's a hell of a talent if you can hold on to him there, a player like him could be the X factor mayo have lacked in years gone by.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3534 - 25/10/2025 19:41:40    2641551

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Yerra Yerra legend we all know that Kerry and the Cliffords have set the standard now, they will be even harder to stop next year, I expect a big improvement from the Dubs with new management in, they have too many good players not to be considered serious contenders, hopefully Meath and Louth will push them hard in Leinster, Kerry will walk through Munster as usual, can't see Cork doing much though they always lift their game for Kerry,
Ulster a battleground as always, we are going for 3 in a row though I wish we'd keep the focus on Sam Maguire but Jim places very high value on Ulster.
Galway, Tyrone, Armagh, Dubs, all serious challengers for Kerry next year though."
Galway??! Who lodt to meath haha love it the dellusion!

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 422 - 26/10/2025 10:33:54    2641616

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No doubt Kerry will be team to beat next year but the assumption that Dublin will be really strong is hard to see based on personal available. Cluxton and John Small gone further depletes them. Armagh have put a tough slog in last 5 years as have Galway. Their better players are aging and have miles on the clock so may not be overly competitive at later stages either.
Tyrone are an interesting one but need to find balance in forward line with so many small players.
Still think there's lots to be developed with new rules and going for more risk free flowing football.
There may be room for a few surprises teams will to go for it. Teams with strength at midfield and capable shooters will continue to progress.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 830 - 26/10/2025 16:50:16    2641705

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Does anyone know when the league fixtures are to be released?

Ciaran359 (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 28/10/2025 11:51:51    2641992

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Replying To Ciaran359:  "Does anyone know when the league fixtures are to be released?"
Usually get the draft provisional fixtures out around the end of next month

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17347 - 28/10/2025 13:04:05    2642003

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