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National Football League 2026

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Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Thanks for the replies people. Aye, I think it varies year on year and that's why I was reluctant to make a booking. I'd like to go to the div 1 final regardless of who is in it and it's more likely that will be the Sunday but I wouldn't fully trust they wouldn't switch it to Saturday for one reason or another."
This time of year it shouldn't be too hard to get a room in Dublin.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18685 - 05/03/2026 12:31:52    2660088

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Replying To Viking66:  "This time of year it shouldn't be too hard to get a room in Dublin."
For sure yeah but i was gonna book Sunday night as I had a really good deal available but on condition it was non refundable. Not much good to me if the game i want to attend ends up on Saturday.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 154 - 05/03/2026 12:48:27    2660090

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Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Thanks for the replies people. Aye, I think it varies year on year and that's why I was reluctant to make a booking. I'd like to go to the div 1 final regardless of who is in it and it's more likely that will be the Sunday but I wouldn't fully trust they wouldn't switch it to Saturday for one reason or another."
It usually doesn't vary year by year. Last year being the exception that the D3 and D2 finals swapped.
D4 and D3 finals are usually on Saturday. D2 and D1 finals are usually on Sunday. With a rest weekend after the league finals this year, should be no reason for having to deviate again.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9515 - 05/03/2026 13:45:36    2660111

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It usually doesn't vary year by year. Last year being the exception that the D3 and D2 finals swapped.
D4 and D3 finals are usually on Saturday. D2 and D1 finals are usually on Sunday. With a rest weekend after the league finals this year, should be no reason for having to deviate again."
Ah ok

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18685 - 05/03/2026 17:14:49    2660172

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Fermanagh were 4th in D3 last year and made Tailteann semi finals. Terrible start this year, whatever has gone wrong..
Limerick are in a spot of bother. They would have been looking to kick on after winning D4 and just losing out to Kildare in Tailteann final.
Sligo were 5th and Laois 6th last year. Laois 5th and Sligo 6th currently. Laois have an outside chance of making the final but will need a couple of results to work in their favour.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9515 - 06/03/2026 00:07:05    2660221

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Carlow, Longford, Tipperary and Wicklow can be happy enough with their league campaigns so far. Carlow despite losing to Longford are probably still favourites to make the final, with one of the other three to join them.
Just as top Division 2 counties will make a strong All Ireland push, top Division 4 counties similarly will have a big say in the Tailteann, e.g. Wicklow 3rd in Division 4 - getting to Tailteann semi final and Limerick last year winning Division 4 - getting to Tailteann final."
Agreed. With new rules think its going to take a few years for league divisions to settle out and provide a true reflection of where things are at. For example Down in div. 3 are more than likely a stronger team than Monaghan at the moment. Roscommon while having a good league are probably not ahead of Cork, Meath or Derry. Derry may be Donegals greatest challengers in Ulster. Championship is really where teams will be found out. I see where Mayo are 3rd favourites to win All Ireland with many bookies at 7-1. Okay signs of improvement under AM but certainly don't get these based on forward players they have at their disposal. A Connaught title and maybe a run to a q final or semi may be their limit at a push. Kerry and Donegal definitely the two a bit ahead of the rest.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 939 - 06/03/2026 10:50:32    2660260

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Agreed. With new rules think its going to take a few years for league divisions to settle out and provide a true reflection of where things are at. For example Down in div. 3 are more than likely a stronger team than Monaghan at the moment. Roscommon while having a good league are probably not ahead of Cork, Meath or Derry. Derry may be Donegals greatest challengers in Ulster. Championship is really where teams will be found out. I see where Mayo are 3rd favourites to win All Ireland with many bookies at 7-1. Okay signs of improvement under AM but certainly don't get these based on forward players they have at their disposal. A Connaught title and maybe a run to a q final or semi may be their limit at a push. Kerry and Donegal definitely the two a bit ahead of the rest."
In the All Ireland betting PP has Derry ahead of Roscommon at the moment and Roscommon marginally ahead of Meath and well ahead of Cork. Fair enough I think.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1102 - 06/03/2026 17:24:05    2660343

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Replying To sligo joe:  "In the All Ireland betting PP has Derry ahead of Roscommon at the moment and Roscommon marginally ahead of Meath and well ahead of Cork. Fair enough I think."
Only changed that way the other day with Roscommon rising above Cork,Meath in the odds, strange odds adjusted that way after that Roscommon performance against Dublin where they made Dublin look better than they actually are in all honesty.

As for the All-Ireland Kerry the clear likely winner again. Donegal the main challenger and All-Ireland Finalists again should they avoid Kerry on route. After that perhaps Galway as a challenger but Joyce will need to get the very best out of his panels. As for the rest All-Ireland semi-final or quarter-final at best.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 703 - 06/03/2026 20:42:22    2660366

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Replying To sligo joe:  "In the All Ireland betting PP has Derry ahead of Roscommon at the moment and Roscommon marginally ahead of Meath and well ahead of Cork. Fair enough I think."
Derry are motoring rightly under Ciaran Meenagh, he has them ticking again and things are looking good, hopeful of a good run in Ulster. But its hard to compare performances in Div 2 to the performances in Div 1, although a lot of quality in Div 2 this year.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3037 - 06/03/2026 21:01:42    2660367

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Replying To sligo joe:  "In the All Ireland betting PP has Derry ahead of Roscommon at the moment and Roscommon marginally ahead of Meath and well ahead of Cork. Fair enough I think."
Roscommon's odds have gone have from 66/1 to 22/1 in recent days which is interesting given their heavy defeat to Dublin at the weekend. 22/1 is probably for more accurate at this stage given they're likely to finish mid table in Division 1, but would conclude that outside of the main contenders of Kerry and Donegal, the bookies' prices are pretty meaningless at the moment.

Immer (Mayo) - Posts: 70 - 06/03/2026 21:33:29    2660373

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Westmeath are in a spot of bother as well. Were expected to make the final alongside Down. Clare had seemed destined for the Tailteann but are back in the promotion race. Wexford possibly have turned a corner. Down are marching to the final. If Kildare are relegated, only the Division 3 winner might qualify through the league, depending on provincial final make up. All to play for.
Congress has approved provincial final replays. Possibly the Division 3 winner upwards, i.e. league ranked 15 and higher, should be guaranteed at least a playoff. The year Meath fell into the Tailteann it would have meant league ranked 14 and league ranked 15 playing off against the next two higher league ranked non provincial finalists. Division 3 is a tough division. It needs some certainty towards All Ireland qualification while making sense in line with the fair league ranking 1 to 15 or 16.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9515 - 07/03/2026 06:51:58    2660382

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Replying To sligo joe:  "In the All Ireland betting PP has Derry ahead of Roscommon at the moment and Roscommon marginally ahead of Meath and well ahead of Cork. Fair enough I think."
Your taking a big interest in your neighbours Roscommon?

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 869 - 07/03/2026 09:51:10    2660389

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