National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The provincial championships in hurling have a qualification standard. If it is completely implausible for a qualification standard for the provincial championships in football - I nearly would agree with flipping the provincials before league."
Massive crowd in Carrick today by all accounts. Leitrim first Connacht semi final in a long time. You can't be taking that away from them. If they were playing Waterford today you wouldn't get 500 at it.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12050 - 25/04/2026 15:14:59    2668540

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The main gripe I have against provincial championships is that there is no qualification standard. If provinces were limited to the following based on league ranking: Ulster - top 8, Leinster - top 8, Munster - top 4 and Connacht - top 4, it would set something of a qualification standard. The 9 missing out could enter a second tier cup where the winner could be guaranteed a place in their provincial championship in the following year."
I see merit in this format within our new condensed competition but then again you would like every county to have at least one shot at the Championship . I doubt very much if the joy and delight during and after Leitrim's win at Markievcicz Park will be replicated at any first round or QF this year… this is what it's all about in many ways. Unfortunately Leitrim wouldn't have made top 4 in Connacht this year and would have been deprived the opportunity to compete.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 655 - 25/04/2026 15:57:57    2668546

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Massive crowd in Carrick today by all accounts. Leitrim first Connacht semi final in a long time. You can't be taking that away from them. If they were playing Waterford today you wouldn't get 500 at it."
Yeah sure look a massive result for Leitrim to get there. What's rare is wonderful.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9660 - 25/04/2026 16:10:56    2668548

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Massive crowd in Carrick today by all accounts. Leitrim first Connacht semi final in a long time. You can't be taking that away from them. If they were playing Waterford today you wouldn't get 500 at it."
They're not sitting in the €35 Stand if there is a massive crowd.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 25/04/2026 16:22:34    2668552

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A good competitive performance by Leitrim. Clare are finally in the Tailteann Cup having avoided it for long enough. They could actually have a good summer.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9660 - 25/04/2026 20:43:36    2668626

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Massive crowd in Carrick today by all accounts. Leitrim first Connacht semi final in a long time. You can't be taking that away from them. If they were playing Waterford today you wouldn't get 500 at it."
Massive?
Under 5k

Belclare98 (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 25/04/2026 21:14:06    2668639

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Get rid of the tailteann cup I say. Offers nothing

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 148 - 25/04/2026 21:52:21    2668653

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Replying To Belclare98:  "Massive?
Under 5k"
I posted that before the game and said "by all accounts" in reality it was a very poor crowd. Tomorrow will have a big crowd but maybe not as much as thought. There will be plenty of empty seats in the stand with those ticket prices.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12050 - 25/04/2026 22:24:48    2668669

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Replying To ohwow:  "Get rid of the tailteann cup I say. Offers nothing"
A bit like Laythrum.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 25/04/2026 22:49:48    2668674

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Replying To ohwow:  "Get rid of the tailteann cup I say. Offers nothing"
Disagree . It's great for the lower division teams like yourselves .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1096 - 26/04/2026 05:29:26    2668690

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Replying To ohwow:  "Get rid of the tailteann cup I say. Offers nothing"
The qualifiers should never have been dropped. Not too complicated to have 24 non finalists playoff over 2 knockout rounds for the 7 or 8 league qualifier spots.
The Tailteann has a place but would more suit as a straight knockout for those not making the All Ireland 16, after two bites of the cherry.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9660 - 26/04/2026 11:00:04    2668727

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When was the last time a division 4 team beat a division 1 team,or team coming down from division 1 at least? Wondering was it Carlow against Kildare in 2018?

Anyway, my point is, whatever about the Tailteann Cup, after yesterday and last Sunday, when Leitrim nearly pipped Galway and could have, and Wicklow did likewise v Dublin, hopefully that puts an end to the likes of Colm O'Rourke and Jim Gavin trying to isolate Div 4 counties further by placing them into some kind of junior championship.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1830 - 26/04/2026 11:15:50    2668731

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Replying To S1234:  "Disagree . It's great for the lower division teams like yourselves ."
Yourselves too, might be an All Ireland title you can win

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 148 - 26/04/2026 11:18:08    2668734

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Replying To ohwow:  "Get rid of the tailteann cup I say. Offers nothing"
Offers the opportunity to win matches and the opportunity to play in Croke Park and guarantee a spot in the Sam Maguire competition should you win it. Your lack of research remains remarkable low on whatever you post on here.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3930 - 26/04/2026 11:18:55    2668735

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Offers the opportunity to win matches and the opportunity to play in Croke Park and guarantee a spot in the Sam Maguire competition should you win it. Your lack of research remains remarkable low on whatever you post on here."
I know what it offers and it offers nothing, it is a way of separating teams from the main competition.

You don't need a degree to see this is unfair. Bearing in mind there isn't a hope of a division 2 team winning an all Ireland either and prob half of div one also. Why separate it at 3 and 4.

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 148 - 26/04/2026 11:30:04    2668739

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Replying To S1234:  "Disagree . It's great for the lower division teams like yourselves ."
It would be a great first step for Andy Moran in getting confidence into the Mayo team.....

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 920 - 26/04/2026 11:38:15    2668743

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "When was the last time a division 4 team beat a division 1 team,or team coming down from division 1 at least? Wondering was it Carlow against Kildare in 2018?

Anyway, my point is, whatever about the Tailteann Cup, after yesterday and last Sunday, when Leitrim nearly pipped Galway and could have, and Wicklow did likewise v Dublin, hopefully that puts an end to the likes of Colm O'Rourke and Jim Gavin trying to isolate Div 4 counties further by placing them into some kind of junior championship."
Division 4 counties have been clear already that they do not want a glorified Division 4 Cup. Only lazy pundits and lazy journalists are not listening.
Division 3 and 4 counties should be lobbying for 2 knockout qualifying rounds based on league ranking.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9660 - 26/04/2026 11:48:36    2668754

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This hooter rule to end a half of football is killing the game. Down had the ball and Donegal didn't care when they were playing about with it outside the 40 Mt arc. At least keeping the game alive until the ball goes dead there is something to play for. Stupid rule.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2644 - 26/04/2026 15:40:33    2668801

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The qualifiers should never have been dropped. Not too complicated to have 24 non finalists playoff over 2 knockout rounds for the 7 or 8 league qualifier spots.
The Tailteann has a place but would more suit as a straight knockout for those not making the All Ireland 16, after two bites of the cherry."
I'd agree with that, the qualifiers was a great system. We didn't know how good we had it then. I've nothing against the Tailteann but as you say, straight knockout after falling out the Championship proper is where the competition should sit.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2000 - 26/04/2026 16:25:39    2668815

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Some win for down

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1280 - 26/04/2026 16:40:54    2668820

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