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Looking Forward To 2026

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It was generally accepted after the league that there were 7 strong contenders. Will see in the league if that has changed over the winter.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9319 - 20/12/2025 17:53:43    2649006

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It was generally accepted after the league that there were 7 strong contenders. Will see in the league if that has changed over the winter."
Lol yerra to you .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 575 - 20/12/2025 22:36:06    2649033

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I think the new rules have changed alot of things and Donegal would have been likely winners in the old game this year while Armagh would have been difficult to dislodge also. Teams with strong midfield platform and good shooters up front will get rewards and expect teams to kick more and be more direct. Dublin need to change their style from last few years to back to the early Jim Gavin days and if they iron out a few things could be really strong if Con stays fit. Everyone seems to be dismissing Meath as lucky last year but injuries to key players and naivety in semi final left them looking alot worse than they are capable of. Increasing squad depth, and the more experience this year means they could be a force next year. Mayo need shooters as they seem to struggle for 2 pointers and to get up to 20 pt mark. I think Galway should be managed better and are not showing true potential.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 877 - 21/12/2025 10:01:13    2649046

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Replying To winatallcost:  "I think the new rules have changed alot of things and Donegal would have been likely winners in the old game this year while Armagh would have been difficult to dislodge also. Teams with strong midfield platform and good shooters up front will get rewards and expect teams to kick more and be more direct. Dublin need to change their style from last few years to back to the early Jim Gavin days and if they iron out a few things could be really strong if Con stays fit. Everyone seems to be dismissing Meath as lucky last year but injuries to key players and naivety in semi final left them looking alot worse than they are capable of. Increasing squad depth, and the more experience this year means they could be a force next year. Mayo need shooters as they seem to struggle for 2 pointers and to get up to 20 pt mark. I think Galway should be managed better and are not showing true potential."
Good post . Andy said we need to nail on 2 pointers next season. Mcstay & co didn't concentrate on them enough. Andy has brought up some talented young forwards from under 20s. Like Darragh Beirne & Niall hurley. Here is hoping for a better season next year couldn't be much worse then this years season sure !

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 575 - 21/12/2025 11:59:12    2649060

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Replying To winatallcost:  "I think the new rules have changed alot of things and Donegal would have been likely winners in the old game this year while Armagh would have been difficult to dislodge also. Teams with strong midfield platform and good shooters up front will get rewards and expect teams to kick more and be more direct. Dublin need to change their style from last few years to back to the early Jim Gavin days and if they iron out a few things could be really strong if Con stays fit. Everyone seems to be dismissing Meath as lucky last year but injuries to key players and naivety in semi final left them looking alot worse than they are capable of. Increasing squad depth, and the more experience this year means they could be a force next year. Mayo need shooters as they seem to struggle for 2 pointers and to get up to 20 pt mark. I think Galway should be managed better and are not showing true potential."
Obviously Kerry and Donegal were the teams that adapted best to the new rules in 2025.It is interesting that you think Donegal would have beaten Kerry in the final under the old rules.With the dynamism and attitude that Kerry brought in to the final they would have won with the old rules as well.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1210 - 21/12/2025 19:19:40    2649124

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Replying To gunman:  "Obviously Kerry and Donegal were the teams that adapted best to the new rules in 2025.It is interesting that you think Donegal would have beaten Kerry in the final under the old rules.With the dynamism and attitude that Kerry brought in to the final they would have won with the old rules as well."
Ironically I think Kerry only adapted during league final but really found rhythm when hammering all the Ulster teams. Not sure the old rules would have enabled them to play with such abandon. Don't think Donegal adapted at all and just played their old game within the new rules running everything through the hands.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 877 - 21/12/2025 19:46:56    2649126

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It was generally accepted after the league that there were 7 strong contenders. Will see in the league if that has changed over the winter."
Can you the 7.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3800 - 22/12/2025 00:29:59    2649150

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Can you the 7."
Donegal, Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Galway.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9319 - 22/12/2025 13:14:28    2649189

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Cavan were fantastic in Castlebar. Fully deserving winners.

Donegal and Galway got off to a flying start in 2025 national league. Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh of course were all favourites going into quarter finals. They'll all be chomping at the bit to tear into 2026. Tyrone then and Mayo will be in All Ireland contention as well.
7 main All Ireland contenders again. Up to the challengers to mount a challenge.

ALL IRELAND CONTENDERS - 7
Donegal, Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Galway.

PROVINCIAL CHALLENGERS - 7
Monaghan, Derry, Cavan, Meath, Louth, Cork and Roscommon

TOP 16 BATTLEGROUND - 7
Down, Fermanagh, Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath, Clare and Sligo."
Your own Kerry will be the clear favourite to retain the title. Contenders will be Donegal again and Galway should they find the form if 2024,2022 instead of greatly underachieving as they did this summer.

We have seen the best of Armagh in 2024 most of their best players have retired or past their best now they are contender to reach the last 4.

Tyrone another that might reach the last 4 and that will be their class ceiling for the year. Some good young players coming through that will need time to show their true worth at senior level

Dublin back to back Quarter final exits and lost their Leinster crown for a reason. Big rebuilding job for Ger Brennan and don't have the past underage success to pick from. Probably another Quarter final exit for them.

Mayo a long way from a contender the last few years, round 12 exit in 2024, group stage exit this summer. Andy Moran will use the media to hype up the team but end result is a team far from contenders for the All-Ireland in 2026.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 639 - 22/12/2025 13:40:19    2649192

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Replying To Drax_the_destroyer:  "Your own Kerry will be the clear favourite to retain the title. Contenders will be Donegal again and Galway should they find the form if 2024,2022 instead of greatly underachieving as they did this summer.

We have seen the best of Armagh in 2024 most of their best players have retired or past their best now they are contender to reach the last 4.

Tyrone another that might reach the last 4 and that will be their class ceiling for the year. Some good young players coming through that will need time to show their true worth at senior level

Dublin back to back Quarter final exits and lost their Leinster crown for a reason. Big rebuilding job for Ger Brennan and don't have the past underage success to pick from. Probably another Quarter final exit for them.

Mayo a long way from a contender the last few years, round 12 exit in 2024, group stage exit this summer. Andy Moran will use the media to hype up the team but end result is a team far from contenders for the All-Ireland in 2026."
That's a far more realistic appraisal right now. A county might exceed those expectations, but to say there are 7 real contenders is optimistic.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17866 - 22/12/2025 15:13:49    2649205

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's a far more realistic appraisal right now. A county might exceed those expectations, but to say there are 7 real contenders is optimistic."
Exactly. There is currently only one real contender and that is Kerry. They just won all ireland at a canter by 10 pts and swotted aside each of the other teams during knockouts. Maybe someone will take them out and open things up but hard to know who. Mayo and Dublin have alot of ground to make up even to be included in best of the rest.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 877 - 22/12/2025 16:28:51    2649218

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Exactly. There is currently only one real contender and that is Kerry. They just won all ireland at a canter by 10 pts and swotted aside each of the other teams during knockouts. Maybe someone will take them out and open things up but hard to know who. Mayo and Dublin have alot of ground to make up even to be included in best of the rest."
Kerry.
Donegal, Tyrone, Galway maybe.
After that......

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 285 - 22/12/2025 17:55:11    2649229

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