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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To hlynch12: "Kerry v Dubs in Killarney" That would have been interesting! Dublin away to Cavan is sort of game they might win and prolong the death of a thousand cuts! BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4367 - 02/06/2026 09:10:45 2677174 Link
Replying To Cumann1: "Galway people have said Fitzgerald is your best fullback. You can't compare O'connor to Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is in his prime. I heard Thompson didn't have to go to the States. I'm sure Cooke could have got a job here if he really wanted to play for Galway. It's not clear at all that Joyce said that to them. If they thought there was a real chance of an all Ireland medal they would have stayed. Best of luck to them" Ah sure as long as 'you heard' about Thompson that's sound so, never mind the truth. The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 848 - 02/06/2026 09:19:25 2677180 Link
Replying To Cumann1: "Galway people have said Fitzgerald is your best fullback. You can't compare O'connor to Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is in his prime. I heard Thompson didn't have to go to the States. I'm sure Cooke could have got a job here if he really wanted to play for Galway. It's not clear at all that Joyce said that to them. If they thought there was a real chance of an all Ireland medal they would have stayed. Best of luck to them" They might think he's the best option but that's their opinion on it. You mentioned that the number of appearances determines where a player is in the pecking order and you're trying to move the goalposts on it. Erasmus is going abroad, does it make a difference where he goes for it, he'd still have missed it. Peter Cooke would then likely have to get a job with less of a wage, if it were you would you be willing to do the same? You're right on it not being certain what Joyce said, but it's very likely along the lines of that they wouldn't get as much minutes in the Championship as they'd like, why else leave the panel? Galway have as much chance of winning the All-Ireland as anyone else you know. ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 80 - 02/06/2026 09:26:06 2677184 Link
We got the draw I was dreading. Oh well, sure we'll head up there and see how it goes! Colm O'Callaghan will be a huge loss. bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 570 - 02/06/2026 09:52:17 2677194 Link
Replying To ColmFlaherty: "They might think he's the best option but that's their opinion on it. You mentioned that the number of appearances determines where a player is in the pecking order and you're trying to move the goalposts on it. Erasmus is going abroad, does it make a difference where he goes for it, he'd still have missed it. Peter Cooke would then likely have to get a job with less of a wage, if it were you would you be willing to do the same? You're right on it not being certain what Joyce said, but it's very likely along the lines of that they wouldn't get as much minutes in the Championship as they'd like, why else leave the panel? Galway have as much chance of winning the All-Ireland as anyone else you know." It's not mandatory to go abroad for Erasmus, you can Google it. Come on man Ireland has one of the best pay rates in the world and Cooke has had years to get a job here. We don't know why they left the panel but if they thought they had a real chance of winning an All Ireland it's unlikely they would have left. Galway don't have as much chance of winning Sam as Kerry and Donegal, not many would argue with that. Cian O'Neil also walking away from the management team to join Kerry last year was a big loss too Cumann1 (Mayo) - Posts: 154 - 02/06/2026 10:31:16 2677214 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "One more chance is grand. Current structure is laughable. Totally meaningless games until musical chairs ends in 8." How are they meaningless games? Big advantage to getting the job done in 2 games and a rest before the quarters IMO. Much more jeopardy than the group format. JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 184 - 02/06/2026 10:31:44 2677215 Link
Replying To gwanyagudthing: "A lot of the people on here need to grow up - arguing like children. It's not even banter, just complete nonsense." One county seems to have been way over-indexing on these types for the last while. Tiresome stuff PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 374 - 02/06/2026 10:39:02 2677220 Link
Replying To JimB1991: "How are they meaningless games? Big advantage to getting the job done in 2 games and a rest before the quarters IMO. Much more jeopardy than the group format." The round 2 games involving Mayo, Ros and Meath look interesting, while the 5 games involving Donegal, Kerry, Armagh, Galway and Dublin should see those 5 sides advancing with wins. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4760 - 02/06/2026 11:50:53 2677260 Link
Replying To JimB1991: "How are they meaningless games? Big advantage to getting the job done in 2 games and a rest before the quarters IMO. Much more jeopardy than the group format." I refer you to the "one more chance" bit. Covers teams who have only lost one. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4367 - 02/06/2026 11:56:43 2677265 Link
Replying To Cumann1: "It's not mandatory to go abroad for Erasmus, you can Google it. Come on man Ireland has one of the best pay rates in the world and Cooke has had years to get a job here. We don't know why they left the panel but if they thought they had a real chance of winning an All Ireland it's unlikely they would have left. Galway don't have as much chance of winning Sam as Kerry and Donegal, not many would argue with that. Cian O'Neil also walking away from the management team to join Kerry last year was a big loss too" Well given the fact that in the year 2026, Galway have drawn to both Kerry and Donegal, I'd think they'd have as good of a chance as them. ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 80 - 02/06/2026 12:09:59 2677272 Link
Replying To ColmFlaherty: "Well given the fact that in the year 2026, Galway have drawn to both Kerry and Donegal, I'd think they'd have as good of a chance as them." If Galway won the all Ireland this year it should not surprise anyone, they have been to the final in recent years have been at the business end of the championship for the last couple of years, this year they seem to have a fit panel to play with Walsh/Comer etc. I don't think there is much between Donegal/Galway/Armagh/Kerry, I see the winners this year coming from them. ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 299 - 02/06/2026 13:08:24 2677298 Link
Replying To PressureKick: "One county seems to have been way over-indexing on these types for the last while. Tiresome stuff" Thats for sure brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 655 - 02/06/2026 13:20:57 2677305 Link
Replying To Cumann1: "It's not mandatory to go abroad for Erasmus, you can Google it. Come on man Ireland has one of the best pay rates in the world and Cooke has had years to get a job here. We don't know why they left the panel but if they thought they had a real chance of winning an All Ireland it's unlikely they would have left. Galway don't have as much chance of winning Sam as Kerry and Donegal, not many would argue with that. Cian O'Neil also walking away from the management team to join Kerry last year was a big loss too" Google pay rates for New York City there Mr googler and compare to ireland..... systematic (Galway) - Posts: 300 - 02/06/2026 14:03:19 2677324 Link
Replying To ColmFlaherty: "Well given the fact that in the year 2026, Galway have drawn to both Kerry and Donegal, I'd think they'd have as good of a chance as them." The majority of GAA people and the bookies would see it differently. League is a different kettle of fish Cumann1 (Mayo) - Posts: 154 - 02/06/2026 14:10:02 2677327 Link
The Championship has felt like shadow-boxing so far so I was looking forward to finally getting some knockout matches in round 2B. But that draw's a little underwhelming, Monaghan v Rossies the only one hard to call. The round 2A draw is a bit more intriguing despite not being knockout. I expect there'll be debate about the structure again if one of the round 2A winners gets knocked out in the QF without getting a second chance. M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 484 - 02/06/2026 14:16:18 2677333 Link
Round 2A Tyrone v Mayo - Tyrone to get revenge for last year Louth v Armagh - Armagh to steam roll Louth Donegal v Cork - Donegal to win pulling up Galway v Westmeath - Galway to burst the Westmeath bubble Round 2B Derry v Meath - Derry to kick a bunch of wides and lose. Kildare v Kerry - Kerry to win at their leisure Cavan v Dublin - Cavan to finish the Dubs off or 2026 Monaghan v Roscommon - Roscommon to bounce back one last time. So qfinalist will be Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal and Galway round 2 Meath, Kerry, Cavan and Roscommon against Mayo, Louth, Cork and Westmeath tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1845 - 02/06/2026 14:26:56 2677338 Link
Replying To M Lyster: "The Championship has felt like shadow-boxing so far so I was looking forward to finally getting some knockout matches in round 2B. But that draw's a little underwhelming, Monaghan v Rossies the only one hard to call. The round 2A draw is a bit more intriguing despite not being knockout. I expect there'll be debate about the structure again if one of the round 2A winners gets knocked out in the QF without getting a second chance." I disagree. I think it's been a fantastic championship so far with plenty of upsets and brilliant matches. How is Meath and Derry an easy game to call? I'd also argue with the way Dublin are playing that Cavan match is alost a 50 50 also crispsandwich99 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 02/06/2026 14:27:23 2677339 Link
Replying To M Lyster: "The Championship has felt like shadow-boxing so far so I was looking forward to finally getting some knockout matches in round 2B. But that draw's a little underwhelming, Monaghan v Rossies the only one hard to call. The round 2A draw is a bit more intriguing despite not being knockout. I expect there'll be debate about the structure again if one of the round 2A winners gets knocked out in the QF without getting a second chance." Best structure there has ever been. Can't please everyone. Every format has flaws but this so far has been the best iteration. There will be some shocks in these games by the way. eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 381 - 02/06/2026 14:46:34 2677350 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "Round 2A Tyrone v Mayo - Tyrone to get revenge for last year Louth v Armagh - Armagh to steam roll Louth Donegal v Cork - Donegal to win pulling up Galway v Westmeath - Galway to burst the Westmeath bubble Round 2B Derry v Meath - Derry to kick a bunch of wides and lose. Kildare v Kerry - Kerry to win at their leisure Cavan v Dublin - Cavan to finish the Dubs off or 2026 Monaghan v Roscommon - Roscommon to bounce back one last time. So qfinalist will be Tyrone, Armagh, Donegal and Galway round 2 Meath, Kerry, Cavan and Roscommon against Mayo, Louth, Cork and Westmeath" Writing off Mayo ..it's a 50/50 game S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1155 - 02/06/2026 14:47:10 2677351 Link
Replying To systematic: "Google pay rates for New York City there Mr googler and compare to ireland....." Haha, so Cooke couldn't survive in Ireland on the wages Google pay here? If he really wanted to play for Galway he'd have got a job here years ago Cumann1 (Mayo) - Posts: 154 - 02/06/2026 15:16:46 2677359 Link