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Football Championship 2026

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Various random thoughts..... thought I'd keep it here rather than create a new thread..... Disilluioned football fan for many years, and posted here as such - unwatchable, embarrassing spectacle - basically outdoor basketballl / olympic handball, whatever. Been quite extreme in my views, due to disillusion / apathy as I have ponificated let teams handpass all day long, but they ant handpass forwards - too much denigration in response. But my point / objective was - its contests, fieldings - that cause excitement, not necessarily scores, and hurling has that in abundance - football was a boring - outside of our tribal loyalties. Football was a handpass snoozefest. 1. So happy now, change in rules has made it more watcheable - even though I'm an extremist ( with good intentions), I'd probaly lleave the rules alone for a now while to settle and see how coaching and playing styles eviolve; maybe a s time for very subtle changes, not the 'extreme' changes we havejust had ( even though they have been transformational).. Perhaps I'm not that extremist, after all - was just desperate!! 3. Non-fooball fans I know thought it great - "best match I watched in ages", they only started to watch because they heard Mayo were in it , Before that no interest - but thought far better spectacle than expected - they swicthed-off years ago watching the handpass exhibitions 2. Welled-up at the end, and stlll do. more so because I'm thinking of all great supporters of Mayo who have passed away over such along period and missed the joy of Sunday. When herself said why are you crying ( not a big football fan) - I explained - she burst into tears also!!! 3. Kudos to referree Mark McNally - you cant get every decision right, but noted as a ref who let them play - it was instrumental in us having a great contest. Part of my previous disillusionment was frees for a defender who was barely touched getting frees. Long may 'let them play' continue;, but has to go with 'no mercy' for a dirty egregious foul. Manly, but fair is what is required 4. New rules means tham smaller counties, like my owm, have a better chance - 4-5 strong ball-winners in the middle of the park, who can give you better than 50-50 chance in kick-outs - then release a couple of fast forwards, game on., Prior to this I thought any contenders needed 15 athlettic basketballers 5. Ambitons of winning All-Ireland 2027 ? Dont mean they will, just saying - Mayo, Kerrry, Cork, Dublin,, Tyrone ( my own personal tip), Donegal ( though need a re-think - re-invention)_, Galway, Roscommon ( best team in Connacht - something Mayo cant say!!!), Armagh, Monaghan, Louth, Westmeath, Derry - why not? Its where we want to be. Mayo won - deservedly - but they are not a domiinat team, well, not yet - and I dont see it. But will be forever grateful if football progresses onwards to where Mayo have brought it Yours, a re-invigorated fan Solo_Run (Leitrim) - Posts: 228 - 28/07/2026 21:04:19 2687907 Link
Replying To Fionn: "So you have your own county to get relegated and not win Leinster next year. And Kerry to win 1 in a Row. Mmmm, interesting. Hard to call any of the 3 competitive football provinces tbh. But the Hurling province will be another cake walk for Kerry. Unless of course something of a rarity happens. Plenty of time to ponder all that though. Could be a few changes to management personnel between now and then for a few counties. And look how well that worked for Mayo…" Regarding Meath, I don't want to tempt fate :( RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 65 - 28/07/2026 22:20:39 2687917 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Congratulations again to Mayo! Dublin's delight for Mayo is understandable and amusing. Dublin supporters were openly talking about the home league ground dynamic after the 2013 final. Dublin supporters were sheepish after 16-17 knowing their opponent was coming out the wrong side of an unequal contest. Mayo deserve their day in the sun. Like all proper counties, achieved without needing their home league ground at the business end of the championship." Yeah they should've moved Croke Park to Killarney waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13671 - 28/07/2026 23:18:30 2687927 Link
Replying To waynoI: "Yeah they should've moved Croke Park to Killarney" Well, after Kerry took advantage of home advantage against Armagh in Round 3 - having the All Ireland final in Killarney would have been most welcome!! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10029 - 29/07/2026 09:38:16 2687944 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Congratulations again to Mayo! Dublin's delight for Mayo is understandable and amusing. Dublin supporters were openly talking about the home league ground dynamic after the 2013 final. Dublin supporters were sheepish after 16-17 knowing their opponent was coming out the wrong side of an unequal contest. Mayo deserve their day in the sun. Like all proper counties, achieved without needing their home league ground at the business end of the championship." Who are 'proper' counties, and who are not? Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 179 - 29/07/2026 09:45:09 2687946 Link
Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage. I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game. Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that? Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 387 - 29/07/2026 11:41:31 2687968 Link
Replying To Cbar: "Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage. I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game. Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that?" Armagh 2002 and Mayo 2026 were similar. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10029 - 29/07/2026 12:05:25 2687974 Link
Having re-watched the entire game again I think Sunday was not only one of the great days in the GAA but one of the great days in Irish sport. tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 496 - 29/07/2026 13:12:17 2687987 Link
Replying To Cbar: "Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage. I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game. Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that?" I dont remember any ill will between kerry and armagh in 02. Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 241 - 29/07/2026 13:38:12 2687995 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "I dont remember any ill will between kerry and armagh in 02." There was none. Kerry supporters stayed back to congratulate Armagh, just as they did on Sunday for Mayo. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10029 - 29/07/2026 14:28:48 2688012 Link