National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To Commodore:  "Down started today like they finished against Donegal, but Armagh last week got a glimpse of the Down kickout and attacking strategy and just suffocated you.

Donegal had moved Caolan McGonigle from No 6 to midfield help mark Murdock, leaving the center of their defence physically exposed for direct running. Down had a few successes in the first 10 minutes, but Armagh weren't having it and just put a roadblock there.

The other thing Armagh targetted was the Down kickout, last week Down dominated their own kickout and launched a lot of attacks from that, but Armagh again suffocated Down around the middle and starved you of oxygen."
Donegal won plenty of the down kick in the first half last week. Their shot efficiency for scores was abysmal and it helped keep down in the game and then they really grew into it and drove it on. Armagh were ruthless today in every aspect of their game.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1005 - 03/05/2026 19:53:31    2670732

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "Well you could also say they had to be third from bottom in division 2. Down for relegated from division 2 last year and that was the real problem. No point moaning about a tough Ulster draw."
They were relegated last season on a head to head rule against Louth on the basis of a one point defeat away from home (2-17 to 0-22) . If score difference was used they would have survived. Tyrone (5 points) and Cavan ( 4 points) survived on fewer points in Division 2 this season. Down had 6 points (3 wins) it was an unlucky relegation. Provincial championships should be run as stand alone competitions not linked to the All Ireland.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1758 - 03/05/2026 20:03:55    2670737

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Separate provincial championships from the All Ireland they are great competitions but no longer relevant to the All Ireland. Division 3 and 4 teams at the start of the year play Taillteann Cup Division 1 or 2 play Sam Maguire. The two teams promoted from Division 3 play All Ireland football the following year and the two teams relegated from Division 2 drop to Taillteann Cup. Scrap League finals and head to head rule go back to score difference.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1758 - 03/05/2026 20:13:24    2670740

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Replying To if_in_doubt:  "Fun while it lasted but normal service about to resume in Leinster with another easy title on the way for Dublin.

Meath must be kicking themselves."
What sort of tripe is this. Why are Meath even mentioned. And if you think the dubs have an easy leinster you know nothing

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1973 - 03/05/2026 20:57:25    2670744

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "The Munster and Connacht championship should be merged, with each provincial council taking responsibility for running the completion every second year.

That would mean 12 teams, with the four top teams seeded and into the quarter finals, and 8 unseeded with open draw between them to provide 4 winners who would make up the quarter finals.

At the moment the four seeded teams might be Kerry, Galway, Roscommon and either Mayo or Cork. It would make for a great championship each year and remove the issue you mentioned which can also apply in Connacht where it's often too easy to reach a provincial final for one of the big guns.

It would then mean 6 teams not 8 make Sam Maguire based on reaching a provincial final, leaving 10 places to be decided by league finishing positions."
Yeah, just wait for the backlash to that sensible proposal. Kerry and Cork are the munster football championship, and guaranteed their home draws.

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 48 - 03/05/2026 21:26:07    2670749

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Sad to see Down out of senior championship.

They have had great teams during my time and my dad and uncles were in awe of their team if early 60s.

Hope they get back soon.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4262 - 03/05/2026 21:31:18    2670750

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "The Munster and Connacht championship should be merged, with each provincial council taking responsibility for running the completion every second year.

That would mean 12 teams, with the four top teams seeded and into the quarter finals, and 8 unseeded with open draw between them to provide 4 winners who would make up the quarter finals.

At the moment the four seeded teams might be Kerry, Galway, Roscommon and either Mayo or Cork. It would make for a great championship each year and remove the issue you mentioned which can also apply in Connacht where it's often too easy to reach a provincial final for one of the big guns.

It would then mean 6 teams not 8 make Sam Maguire based on reaching a provincial final, leaving 10 places to be decided by league finishing positions."
You might be onto something Onion Breath but what would you do with Leinster then? In reality like the hurling we have the sacred cows .
In Hurling the Munster championship and in football the Ulster championship.

I for one would hate to lose the Ulster football or Munster hurling championships.They are enthralling.

The Leinster hurling championship has improved alot but ots not a Leinster competotion when Galway play in it.Both Antrim and Kerry played in it too.

The whole system is a bit comical.Even in the football besides winning the cup there is no bonus for a winning provoncial team.In fact its very possible the losers in the provincial finals might get an easier draw than the winners.

A proper new format is needed but how do you suit all.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4134 - 03/05/2026 21:36:21    2670752

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "You might be onto something Onion Breath but what would you do with Leinster then? In reality like the hurling we have the sacred cows .
In Hurling the Munster championship and in football the Ulster championship.

I for one would hate to lose the Ulster football or Munster hurling championships.They are enthralling.

The Leinster hurling championship has improved alot but ots not a Leinster competotion when Galway play in it.Both Antrim and Kerry played in it too.

The whole system is a bit comical.Even in the football besides winning the cup there is no bonus for a winning provoncial team.In fact its very possible the losers in the provincial finals might get an easier draw than the winners.

A proper new format is needed but how do you suit all."
I'd leave hurling as it is. So keep the Munster hurling championship which I agree is too good to lose. The Munster football championship is not however, despite the cork Kerry rivalry (but it's really just one decent game every 10 years) but they'll still have that in a combined Connacht Munster championship.

As you pointed out Galway already play in Leinster for hurling, and Kerry and Antrim have also. So the rubicon of sorts has already been crossed. The Leinster hurling championship is really a rest of Ireland championship.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1839 - 03/05/2026 21:58:42    2670759

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Sad to see Down out of senior championship.

They have had great teams during my time and my dad and uncles were in awe of their team if early 60s.

Hope they get back soon."
Well said Barney.Down have great tradition and I have a soft spot for them and we never ever beaten Down in the championship.

Down nearly always play an attrative brand of football and have produced really special players.
I expect them to win the T.C.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4134 - 03/05/2026 21:58:56    2670761

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "You might be onto something Onion Breath but what would you do with Leinster then? In reality like the hurling we have the sacred cows .
In Hurling the Munster championship and in football the Ulster championship.

I for one would hate to lose the Ulster football or Munster hurling championships.They are enthralling.

The Leinster hurling championship has improved alot but ots not a Leinster competotion when Galway play in it.Both Antrim and Kerry played in it too.

The whole system is a bit comical.Even in the football besides winning the cup there is no bonus for a winning provoncial team.In fact its very possible the losers in the provincial finals might get an easier draw than the winners.

A proper new format is needed but how do you suit all."
Those two pots for the draw tomorrow look pretty accurate to me. Thr only potential anomaly is westmeath and they have been excellent this championship. Down were beaten by 28 points today. A record according to Sunday game.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 312 - 03/05/2026 22:15:59    2670764

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Replying To REDANDBLACK30:  "Separate provincial championships from the All Ireland they are great competitions but no longer relevant to the All Ireland. Division 3 and 4 teams at the start of the year play Taillteann Cup Division 1 or 2 play Sam Maguire. The two teams promoted from Division 3 play All Ireland football the following year and the two teams relegated from Division 2 drop to Taillteann Cup. Scrap League finals and head to head rule go back to score difference."
I'd go one step further and make it 3 up and 3 down in the leagues.This would mean less dead rubber games.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2659 - 03/05/2026 22:37:19    2670768

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "What sort of tripe is this. Why are Meath even mentioned. And if you think the dubs have an easy leinster you know nothing"
You were lucky you caught Meath on the hop. Dublin will bring you all back to earth shortly

royalproxy (Meath) - Posts: 60 - 03/05/2026 22:42:19    2670771

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Those two pots for the draw tomorrow look pretty accurate to me. Thr only potential anomaly is westmeath and they have been excellent this championship. Down were beaten by 28 points today. A record according to Sunday game."
My point is the provincial winners get nothing extrq for winning besides the prestige.

E.g.Dublin will probably win the Leinster final and they could draw Donegal next.
Westmeath will probably lose the leinster final and could draw Cavan in first round.

Then Westmeath get an easier fixture than their victors.

Even worse

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4134 - 03/05/2026 22:42:23    2670772

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "The Munster and Connacht championship should be merged, with each provincial council taking responsibility for running the completion every second year.

That would mean 12 teams, with the four top teams seeded and into the quarter finals, and 8 unseeded with open draw between them to provide 4 winners who would make up the quarter finals.

At the moment the four seeded teams might be Kerry, Galway, Roscommon and either Mayo or Cork. It would make for a great championship each year and remove the issue you mentioned which can also apply in Connacht where it's often too easy to reach a provincial final for one of the big guns.

It would then mean 6 teams not 8 make Sam Maguire based on reaching a provincial final, leaving 10 places to be decided by league finishing positions."
Too much format talk, from myself included. Anyway...
Ulster and Leinster have a full set of quarter finals. Connacht and Munster do not. Two options:
Option 1: Only Connacht and Munster winners to qualify for All Ireland. This way - in every province, all teams have to win at least 2 games to qualify through their provincial championship.
Option 2: Leinster and Ulster semi finalists also qualifying through the provincial route. This way in all provinces there are some teams who qualify after 1 win.
Up to Leinster and Ulster if they want some balance for having 3 qualifying rounds for finals when Connacht and Munster only have 2 qualifying rounds for finals. Leinster and Ulster have 65% of the 32 county board vote at Congress. Obviously there are other players in the Congress but anyways, that's it.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 03/05/2026 23:11:01    2670775

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Sad to see Down out of senior championship.

They have had great teams during my time and my dad and uncles were in awe of their team if early 60s.

Hope they get back soon."
Agreed. I have sympathy for Down despite their record against us. They had a good All Ireland championship last year but are screwed because of the poor league that preceded it.
On the flip side.. Down qualified for the All Ireland as Tailteann winners. Their rivals got the league results to force them out of Division 2. While Down had their golden ticket, like Kildare this year, Down had to retain Division 2 in 2025. Down's experience in the All Ireland was a big help for this year. The sting is that they learned those lessons after the league last year.
Kildare are on something of a similar path. Kildare will take lessons from the All Ireland championship this year. With Division 3 football next year, Kildare could end up in Down's situation.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9699 - 03/05/2026 23:22:47    2670779

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