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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Well we know it won't be Roscommon who lose the final."
Roscommon are out so it can't be them in the final. We'll see what the draw brings this morning.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2713 - 22/06/2026 05:48:41    2681086

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Louth v Kerry no surprise there

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 114 - 22/06/2026 08:13:46    2681095

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Quarter final lottery predictions:
Galway v Dublin
Cork v Monaghan
Louth v Mayo
Tyrone v Kerry

Galway, Dublin, Kerry and Tyrone the 4 strong All Ireland contenders but anything can happen. Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh were the favourites going into the quarter finals last year. Only Donegal of the 4 favourites got through last year. Anything can happen in championship and it usually does."
Predicted Galway v Dublin and Tyrone v Kerry anyway.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9870 - 22/06/2026 08:42:47    2681104

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Agree.Kerry are not a one man team regardless of what some say.Just delighted to move on to quarters tbh.Tyrone going well too Saynothing and good to see Darragh Canavan back."
Looking forward to what is hopefully a great game. All the best CiarraiMick.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2780 - 22/06/2026 08:57:45    2681108

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Attendances have been brilliant this year. Mainly due to the new rules. Moving that free forward was a poor call in my opinion, and we saw some even harsher examples at the latter stages of the club championships. However, the rule changes overall have made football a far better game. Way more contests for possessionln, more 1-on-1 battles, especially for defenders and goal scoring chances and goals scored have increased significantly."
Nothing wrong with brining that free forward.
That rule has killed all the messing and timewasting at the end of games.
Donegal were trying to get forward for a shot at goal - Dub player tried to waste time and got punished. Proper order.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1906 - 22/06/2026 09:34:04    2681121

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Looking forward to what is hopefully a great game. All the best CiarraiMick."
Thanks Saynothing and best wishes also.Hopefully a great game and may the best team win.Not the draw I wanted but cest la vie.The clash will bring the best out of both teams and hopefully no injuries.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4190 - 22/06/2026 09:45:00    2681126

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Replying To Curlew66:  "What do mean by "the unsporting behaviour of Donegal supporters " ? .. I've always found them friendly , up for the craic and generally sporting. Surely they were hardly responsible for the constant loud booing during the second half of Round 1 in Killarney ."
Same as that. Did not see any unpleasantness yesterday before, during, or after the match. All very civilised as it is between all counties with few exceptions and that is usually drunken young fellas, of which Donegal do not seem as plagued as others. Nor do ourselves as we age ungracefully on the Hill.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4411 - 22/06/2026 09:53:08    2681129

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Replying To brayballer:  "Guess what. Who is giving out about the nrw format now?. Surprise surprise its Jimmy mcguinness."
Just because he is giving out doesn't mean he is wrong. @ the end of the day it is the same for all teams, and I bet there is not an intercounty manager that does not want more time for the championship. I am against the condensed championship as these are not professional players.

Here are some facts about our amatuer game.
Up until the back door system came in the championship was 18 weeks, and the eventual all Ireland winners had to play 5/6 games depending on which province you were from and ignoring replays

Back door system came in
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 6/7 matches or as Galway did play 8 games in 18 Weeks as Galway did

Under the current system
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 8/9 matches in 14 Weeks

So 4 less weeks and 2 more games minimum, Also through in the fact that the National football league used to be run over before and after Christmas roughly 20 weeks leading into championship while now it starts in Feb ends in Mar 9 weeks , while being expected to play 9 matches

Old System League and championship roughly 15/16 matches played across 38 week
New format League and championship roughly 17/18 matches played across 23 weeks, 15 less weeks

ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 307 - 22/06/2026 10:11:56    2681143

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Predicted Galway v Dublin and Tyrone v Kerry anyway."
One game you probably didn't want as Tyrone will the week break will be well up for it.

Great for underdog Louth or Monaghan reaching the semi-final at least now.

Galway,Mayo will really fancy their chances to reach the last 4 now.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4012 - 22/06/2026 10:12:20    2681144

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I think everyone will be happy with their respective draws, even Tyrone who will relish the chance to get stuck into Kerry. I think the games are all in Croke Park, you'd be thinking that there will be near full houses for the games. Fantastic to see.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2121 - 22/06/2026 10:48:45    2681153

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "Just because he is giving out doesn't mean he is wrong. @ the end of the day it is the same for all teams, and I bet there is not an intercounty manager that does not want more time for the championship. I am against the condensed championship as these are not professional players.

Here are some facts about our amatuer game.
Up until the back door system came in the championship was 18 weeks, and the eventual all Ireland winners had to play 5/6 games depending on which province you were from and ignoring replays

Back door system came in
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 6/7 matches or as Galway did play 8 games in 18 Weeks as Galway did

Under the current system
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 8/9 matches in 14 Weeks

So 4 less weeks and 2 more games minimum, Also through in the fact that the National football league used to be run over before and after Christmas roughly 20 weeks leading into championship while now it starts in Feb ends in Mar 9 weeks , while being expected to play 9 matches

Old System League and championship roughly 15/16 matches played across 38 week
New format League and championship roughly 17/18 matches played across 23 weeks, 15 less weeks"
Do you hear any players complaining?

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1126 - 22/06/2026 11:19:36    2681170

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "Just because he is giving out doesn't mean he is wrong. @ the end of the day it is the same for all teams, and I bet there is not an intercounty manager that does not want more time for the championship. I am against the condensed championship as these are not professional players.

Here are some facts about our amatuer game.
Up until the back door system came in the championship was 18 weeks, and the eventual all Ireland winners had to play 5/6 games depending on which province you were from and ignoring replays

Back door system came in
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 6/7 matches or as Galway did play 8 games in 18 Weeks as Galway did

Under the current system
If you win all your matches you could pick Sam up after 8/9 matches in 14 Weeks

So 4 less weeks and 2 more games minimum, Also through in the fact that the National football league used to be run over before and after Christmas roughly 20 weeks leading into championship while now it starts in Feb ends in Mar 9 weeks , while being expected to play 9 matches

Old System League and championship roughly 15/16 matches played across 38 week
New format League and championship roughly 17/18 matches played across 23 weeks, 15 less weeks"
its still only 5/6 matches to win an All Ireland - add in 1 provincial match as a warm up and off you go.

The current system has shown that winning provincials isn't good for long term Sam Maguire chances, unless your in Munster as the standard is poor there.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1906 - 22/06/2026 11:37:45    2681175

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Thanks Saynothing and best wishes also.Hopefully a great game and may the best team win.Not the draw I wanted but cest la vie.The clash will bring the best out of both teams and hopefully no injuries."
Win or lose I hope this new system is here to stay, maybe a few tweets around neutral grounds but it gets the thumbs up from me.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2780 - 22/06/2026 12:06:36    2681185

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I don't think there can be any qualms about Kerry being installed as favourites but it counts for very little. Tyrone were a tough opponent in last year's semi final. The toughest of all the games against Armagh, Tyrone and Donegal last summer. Tyrone would have had a few regrets after last year. I was expecting that Kerry and Tyrone would be locking horns again this year.
Dublin and Galway have built up a rivalry in the last couple of years. Galway winning a Croke Park quarter final and Dublin striking back in Salthill last year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9870 - 22/06/2026 12:10:28    2681186

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Replying To Square_B:  "I think everyone will be happy with their respective draws, even Tyrone who will relish the chance to get stuck into Kerry. I think the games are all in Croke Park, you'd be thinking that there will be near full houses for the games. Fantastic to see."
100%. Happy enough with the draw, as I'm sure Mayo are.

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 594 - 22/06/2026 12:28:15    2681191

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Louth v Kerry no surprise there"
Lucky for Kerry that your prediction didn't come off!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2582 - 22/06/2026 12:45:06    2681198

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Replying To legendzxix:  "I don't think there can be any qualms about Kerry being installed as favourites but it counts for very little. Tyrone were a tough opponent in last year's semi final. The toughest of all the games against Armagh, Tyrone and Donegal last summer. Tyrone would have had a few regrets after last year. I was expecting that Kerry and Tyrone would be locking horns again this year.
Dublin and Galway have built up a rivalry in the last couple of years. Galway winning a Croke Park quarter final and Dublin striking back in Salthill last year."
No qualms at all.
Any qualms on your end about Dublin playing us in 'Home league advantage since 2011' Park?

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2907 - 22/06/2026 12:46:39    2681200

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Win or lose I hope this new system is here to stay, maybe a few tweets around neutral grounds but it gets the thumbs up from me."
Agreed.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4190 - 22/06/2026 12:48:27    2681202

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Looking at the form of teams that are still in the competition. Looking at the league and championship this year.

Wins and games played
Cork 10/13
Westmeath 9/14
Kerry 8/13
Donegal 7/12
Roscommon 6/12
Dublin 6/13

Incredibly the flaw in the format enables Kildare to only win 2/11 games and still be in the championship as long as some provincial winners. (Why prolong the torture for us?) I think that needs to be looked at alongside elongating the calendar to preventing the latter stages of the championship turning into an attrition battle that suit the rich counties.

Crusty_Ring (Kildare) - Posts: 19 - 22/06/2026 12:49:54    2681203

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "One game you probably didn't want as Tyrone will the week break will be well up for it.

Great for underdog Louth or Monaghan reaching the semi-final at least now.

Galway,Mayo will really fancy their chances to reach the last 4 now."
Without doubt. Tyrone will be well up for it. It's a draw that will have brought the Kerry group back to earth. It's a great draw though. These are the games to be involved in.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9870 - 22/06/2026 12:49:58    2681204

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