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National Football League 2026

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Replying To Saynothing:  "It was Legendzxix and who would rule out the same two teams on All Ireland final day."
Armagh and Galway have been impressive as well. From Tyrone up in the league, and probably add in Down as well, will be challengers to the leading contenders.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9570 - 23/03/2026 16:24:52    2662607

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Armagh and Galway have been impressive as well. From Tyrone up in the league, and probably add in Down as well, will be challengers to the leading contenders."
You are very optimistic lad. Down are a good footballing team, but miles off that level. Monaghan are unlikely to be challenging either. There's Kerry, then a second tier of maybe 3, then another 3 or 4. Thats Football this year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18897 - 23/03/2026 22:17:56    2662710

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Replying To Viking66:  "You are very optimistic lad. Down are a good footballing team, but miles off that level. Monaghan are unlikely to be challenging either. There's Kerry, then a second tier of maybe 3, then another 3 or 4. Thats Football this year."
Swap Dublin for Kerry in recent times and that's how it is every year, Kerry with Clifford on board are strong favs in my book to retain Sam Maguire, only hope I see is if they can be caught a bit cold by someone after they breeze through Munster but it's hard to see them slipping up.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3786 - 24/03/2026 10:42:50    2662778

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Swap Dublin for Kerry in recent times and that's how it is every year, Kerry with Clifford on board are strong favs in my book to retain Sam Maguire, only hope I see is if they can be caught a bit cold by someone after they breeze through Munster but it's hard to see them slipping up."
Don't forget with the short turn around these players have to contend with injuries will play a massive role. Clifford injured and its open shop.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2590 - 24/03/2026 11:49:01    2662805

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Replying To Viking66:  "You are very optimistic lad. Down are a good footballing team, but miles off that level. Monaghan are unlikely to be challenging either. There's Kerry, then a second tier of maybe 3, then another 3 or 4. Thats Football this year."
More respecting the opposition. Down gave Galway a good game last year. The nature of upsets is that they are exactly that - upsets!! Meath pulled off 3 upsets last year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9570 - 24/03/2026 12:29:33    2662827

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Replying To legendzxix:  "More respecting the opposition. Down gave Galway a good game last year. The nature of upsets is that they are exactly that - upsets!! Meath pulled off 3 upsets last year."
Of course upsets are possible every year. But we still call them upsets.....

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18897 - 24/03/2026 13:22:40    2662853

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Random question - Has the mark and advantage rule with the mark been done away with? I can't remember seeing any in the league this year but last year it was a regular thing

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1935 - 24/03/2026 14:33:03    2662881

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Carlow v Longford...
Longford won by 5 points in the regular league game. Both lost a couple of game along the way. Longford getting the win over Wicklow to get into the final was impressive. Carlow seem to have been installed as favourites.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9570 - 24/03/2026 14:56:59    2662890

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Replying To Mayonman:  "Random question - Has the mark and advantage rule with the mark been done away with? I can't remember seeing any in the league this year but last year it was a regular thing"
No it hasn't. There were still a number across league campaign I notice but team are opting to kick very rarely into full forward line so that is probably why you don't see it.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 951 - 25/03/2026 08:29:14    2663007

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I think Galway are really being overlooked this year. The star power they have is unmatched throughout the country. Finnerty is the best footballer in the game at the minute and its not even close. He'd get a shot off in a telephone box. With the likes of Comer and Walsh to come back I dont expect too much of a challenge in Connacht. Only teams that I think have a real chance at competing with us are Kerry (on a dry day) and Donegal (on a wet day). All this aside from the fact that Thompson is yet to come back and we competed with and bet any big team in the league with half a team. Says a lot about the strength of the panel.....

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 12 - 25/03/2026 09:24:29    2663018

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "I think Galway are really being overlooked this year. The star power they have is unmatched throughout the country. Finnerty is the best footballer in the game at the minute and its not even close. He'd get a shot off in a telephone box. With the likes of Comer and Walsh to come back I dont expect too much of a challenge in Connacht. Only teams that I think have a real chance at competing with us are Kerry (on a dry day) and Donegal (on a wet day). All this aside from the fact that Thompson is yet to come back and we competed with and bet any big team in the league with half a team. Says a lot about the strength of the panel....."
I'm not overlooking Galway anyway. Kerry drew with Galway and Armagh. Donegal drew with Galway and beat Armagh. Armagh and Galway were involved in league games that brought something like a championship battle last Sunday. All 4 are probably the leading contenders but there are tough challengers as well who'll be confident of causing upsets.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9570 - 25/03/2026 10:29:08    2663035

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "I think Galway are really being overlooked this year. The star power they have is unmatched throughout the country. Finnerty is the best footballer in the game at the minute and its not even close. He'd get a shot off in a telephone box. With the likes of Comer and Walsh to come back I dont expect too much of a challenge in Connacht. Only teams that I think have a real chance at competing with us are Kerry (on a dry day) and Donegal (on a wet day). All this aside from the fact that Thompson is yet to come back and we competed with and bet any big team in the league with half a team. Says a lot about the strength of the panel....."
Ye must have won the League?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 427 - 25/03/2026 10:34:56    2663036

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "I think Galway are really being overlooked this year. The star power they have is unmatched throughout the country. Finnerty is the best footballer in the game at the minute and its not even close. He'd get a shot off in a telephone box. With the likes of Comer and Walsh to come back I dont expect too much of a challenge in Connacht. Only teams that I think have a real chance at competing with us are Kerry (on a dry day) and Donegal (on a wet day). All this aside from the fact that Thompson is yet to come back and we competed with and bet any big team in the league with half a team. Says a lot about the strength of the panel....."
Probably should have come in with something more subtle, if you had any concerns about troll labels.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4618 - 25/03/2026 10:58:05    2663044

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "I think Galway are really being overlooked this year. The star power they have is unmatched throughout the country. Finnerty is the best footballer in the game at the minute and its not even close. He'd get a shot off in a telephone box. With the likes of Comer and Walsh to come back I dont expect too much of a challenge in Connacht. Only teams that I think have a real chance at competing with us are Kerry (on a dry day) and Donegal (on a wet day). All this aside from the fact that Thompson is yet to come back and we competed with and bet any big team in the league with half a team. Says a lot about the strength of the panel....."
Don't think Jack O Connor will be asking PJ to swap Clifford for Finnerty.

HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 441 - 25/03/2026 11:05:50    2663045

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Armagh and Galway have been impressive as well. From Tyrone up in the league, and probably add in Down as well, will be challengers to the leading contenders."
If there are groups, let's hope that Kerry get a 'group of death' for a change. A challenge for them before the qfinals.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4618 - 25/03/2026 11:37:23    2663050

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