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National Football League 2026

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Replying To monaghanmad:  "Down not far behind Monaghan or Roscommon. We went down to Div 2 last yr with a new group of players and wiped the floor in it. We beat Down when it mattered too. People in Monaghan actually thought we were going to struggle. We hammered you in Navan last year, you never see a team come to clones and make a mockery of us like we did to you. Big difference being consistently good and being consistently underachieving, lets see how Meath do this year when the surprise package is gone, can you get out of div 2 and stay at a top level? That will determine how close you are to the bottom of Div 1. Don't expect to have consistently long championships every year if you are not consistent in the league."
Nobody really cares overly so about league. Mayo made League final last year and McStay was moved on quickly while Kerry got to final after a poor start as Donegal had no interest in. Ideally teams do like to play in Div 1 but won't lose too much sleep unless there is a threat of dropping to Tailteann Cup.
Down could and probably should have beaten Monaghan in Championship. Monaghan might go ok in League but won't be much good if Cavan were to beat them in Ulster. Beggan's kicking is a useful weapon but unfortunately don't think Monaghan have much strength in depth or strenght at midfield to push on.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 901 - 21/01/2026 20:04:36    2652403

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Div1:
Dublin v Donegal
Galway v Mayo
Kerry v Roscommon
Monaghan v Armagh
Two top 7 All Ireland contender clashes. Donegal and Galway came flying out of the traps last year. Monaghan v Armagh interesting on Monaghan's return to D1.

Div2:
Meath v Derry
Tyrone v Kildare
Cork v Cavan
Offaly v Louth
Meath v Derry an interesting start in the battle for promotion.

Div3:
Down v Clare
Laois v Limerick
Fermanagh v Wexford
Westmeath v Sligo
Clare and Limerick have to improve their league standing if they are to catch Cork for a higher Munster seeding.

Div4:
Waterford v Longford
London v Tipperary
Wicklow v Leitrim
Antrim v Carlow
The top 3 or 4 should be planning for a good Tailteann run in the summer. Possibly two days out in Croke Park this year, if not three days for D4 finalists.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9371 - 22/01/2026 08:21:31    2652435

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Div1:
Dublin v Donegal
Galway v Mayo
Kerry v Roscommon
Monaghan v Armagh
Two top 7 All Ireland contender clashes. Donegal and Galway came flying out of the traps last year. Monaghan v Armagh interesting on Monaghan's return to D1.

Div2:
Meath v Derry
Tyrone v Kildare
Cork v Cavan
Offaly v Louth
Meath v Derry an interesting start in the battle for promotion.

Div3:
Down v Clare
Laois v Limerick
Fermanagh v Wexford
Westmeath v Sligo
Clare and Limerick have to improve their league standing if they are to catch Cork for a higher Munster seeding.

Div4:
Waterford v Longford
London v Tipperary
Wicklow v Leitrim
Antrim v Carlow
The top 3 or 4 should be planning for a good Tailteann run in the summer. Possibly two days out in Croke Park this year, if not three days for D4 finalists."
Name 7 All Ireland contenders and give a bit of detail on each as to why you think they are a contender?

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3818 - 22/01/2026 12:02:25    2652487

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Nobody really cares overly so about league. Mayo made League final last year and McStay was moved on quickly while Kerry got to final after a poor start as Donegal had no interest in. Ideally teams do like to play in Div 1 but won't lose too much sleep unless there is a threat of dropping to Tailteann Cup.
Down could and probably should have beaten Monaghan in Championship. Monaghan might go ok in League but won't be much good if Cavan were to beat them in Ulster. Beggan's kicking is a useful weapon but unfortunately don't think Monaghan have much strength in depth or strenght at midfield to push on."
I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3672 - 22/01/2026 12:40:12    2652493

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Nobody really cares overly so about league. Mayo made League final last year and McStay was moved on quickly while Kerry got to final after a poor start as Donegal had no interest in. Ideally teams do like to play in Div 1 but won't lose too much sleep unless there is a threat of dropping to Tailteann Cup.
Down could and probably should have beaten Monaghan in Championship. Monaghan might go ok in League but won't be much good if Cavan were to beat them in Ulster. Beggan's kicking is a useful weapon but unfortunately don't think Monaghan have much strength in depth or strenght at midfield to push on."
No one is talking about Monaghan pushing on. We understand we are in a period of rebuild. We rebuilt from 2016 to 2024 in division and reaped the rewards of blooding players such as O hanlon, Bannigan, Mc carthy, O toole, Mohan, Lavelle in div 1 in those years and we will reap the rewards of blooding the next crop in div 1 too. There's a greater chance over a sustained period in div 1 that you be more consistent in the championship.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 451 - 22/01/2026 14:43:54    2652511

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Name 7 All Ireland contenders and give a bit of detail on each as to why you think they are a contender?"
Was thinking the same. Id only have 5, 4, or 3, could be argued that there are only 2 even, and none of the 5, 4, 3 or 2 are playing eachother.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18100 - 22/01/2026 15:29:57    2652529

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it."
That is just not true at all . It did not mean a big deal as the week after the Rossies knocked us out cause we were wrecked .
A competition that yourselves had no interest in at all last year and you say it means everything to mayo? So ridiculous .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 706 - 22/01/2026 15:35:39    2652532

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it."
Another embarrassing post. Nobody in Mayo players included think winning the league is important. They ended up in last league final almost by accident they certainly didn't target it. They almost got relegated and somehow ended up in the final. It wasn't a target at all.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8727 - 22/01/2026 15:51:33    2652536

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Replying To Viking66:  "Was thinking the same. Id only have 5, 4, or 3, could be argued that there are only 2 even, and none of the 5, 4, 3 or 2 are playing eachother."
Whichever way you want to phrase it - there is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders. It will be interesting to see where all are and the challenge of the challengers.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9371 - 22/01/2026 15:59:41    2652538

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Another embarrassing post. Nobody in Mayo players included think winning the league is important. They ended up in last league final almost by accident they certainly didn't target it. They almost got relegated and somehow ended up in the final. It wasn't a target at all."
Having to play a provincial championship game a week after the league finals was ridiculous. That's sorted this year. All counties outside of Dublin, Dublin who have enjoyed home league ground advantage at the business end of the championship since 2011, should welcome the extra game in Croke Park.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9371 - 22/01/2026 16:44:27    2652549

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it."
I don't think anybody in mayo considers Kevin Mcstays term a success despite winning the league. Last year mayo reached a league final by default because we had to win the previous game to avoid relegation.

Of course once in the final any team would want to win. In hindsight mayo put up a bigger fight there than Kerry's AI final opponents...

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 501 - 22/01/2026 16:50:36    2652552

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Whichever way you want to phrase it - there is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders. It will be interesting to see where all are and the challenge of the challengers."
Kerry, Donegal.
Then Tyrone.
Then Armagh, Galway, Dublin.
The rest.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 326 - 22/01/2026 17:02:02    2652556

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Kerry, Donegal.
Then Tyrone.
Then Armagh, Galway, Dublin.
The rest."
Mayo are rebuilding for sure and we wont be contenders this year but paddy powers odds on Mayo already is very interesting and would throw your above prediction a bit off..
Think Galway are below Dubs .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 706 - 22/01/2026 17:40:34    2652568

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Div 1
Dublin will be going all out for this - new manager and new momentum
Monaghan & Mayo/Roscommon to go down

Div 2
Tyrone should romp it at their leisure with Derry
Cavan and Louth to go down

Div 3
The usual Westmeath and Down battle with both going up
Fermanagh and Wexford for the drop

Div 4
Antrim to bounce back up with Wicklow in tow
London for the wooden spoon.


As for the first round

Dublin v Donegal - Dublin
Galway v Mayo - draw
Kerry v Roscommon - Kerry
Monaghan v Armagh - Armagh

Div2:
Meath v Derry - Derry
Tyrone v Kildare - Tyrone
Cork v Cavan - Cork
Offaly v Louth - Draw

Div3:
Down v Clare - Down
Laois v Limerick - Draw
Fermanagh v Wexford - Draw
Westmeath v Sligo - Westmeath

Div4:
Waterford v Longford - longford
London v Tipperary - Tipp
Wicklow v Leitrim - Wicklow
Antrim v Carlow - Antrim

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1652 - 22/01/2026 17:41:25    2652569

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Whichever way you want to phrase it - there is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders. It will be interesting to see where all are and the challenge of the challengers."
That's pretty evasive. That's like saying there are a top 13 contenders for Liam McCarthy.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18100 - 22/01/2026 17:53:46    2652570

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Kerry, Donegal.
Then Tyrone.
Then Armagh, Galway, Dublin.
The rest."
I think thats spot on, only the 5 I had didnt include Dublin, who won't win it this year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18100 - 22/01/2026 17:55:26    2652571

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Whichever way you want to phrase it - there is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders. It will be interesting to see where all are and the challenge of the challengers."
I asked you a question and you answer another poster instead.

There is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders? Clearly wasn't In 2025 and I highly doubt there will be this year either.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3818 - 22/01/2026 19:29:13    2652590

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it."
In recent memory, also won division 1 in 2019. Nice day out but I think most supporters would hold Connaught title in higher regard. Before that think we won it in early 2000s. Surprised you're not more familiar with our league form given how much you post about Mayo.

Immer (Mayo) - Posts: 52 - 22/01/2026 20:32:40    2652595

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