National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix:  "LOL!
Saying have a problem is extreme like. Just merely highlighting that the first 4 weekends are missing an edge. I don't agree with 1 Connacht and 2 Munster teams only winning one game to gain All Ireland qualification through the provinces. There should be a fixed number of 8 automatic spots:
4 provincial winners
2 provincial runners up from Leinster and Ulster, as they have a full set of 4 quarter finals.
1 All Ireland defending winner.
1 Tailteann winner.
If the All Ireland winner and/or Tailteann winner qualify via their provincial championship:
Rank the Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists on league placing. The top ranked could take the 1 or 2 freed up automatic places.

PLAYOFF
16 teams should enter a playoff for 8 qualifier spots. This can be the Saturday after the Leinster and Ulster finals:
The Connacht runner up, Munster runner up, 2 Ulster semi finalists and 2 Leinster semi finalists should be guaranteed at least a playoff spot.
All remaining places based on league ranking.

All Ireland Round 1:
8 automatic qualifiers drawn at home to a playoff winner.
The Tailteann winner would actually gain a home game.
An Ulster or Leinster semi finalist could actually gain a home draw as well."
You are complicating a system for the sake of it. What is wrong with the way it is now?
Kerry got caught this year with tough draws. I'd say that's your problem? Kerry have to beat Armagh just to make it to a quarterfinal.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 1021 - 18/06/2026 14:03:02    2680448

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Replying To Seanfan:  "As Leinster is now weakest no way their runner up should get any perk."
4 teams still left in competition from Leinster, as good a representation, as any. The point is about how many games you have to play to get to provincial final, and it's a valid one.

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 172 - 18/06/2026 14:17:09    2680453

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "It's no surprise that it's the Kerry posters that have the problem with the new AI Series as they were the team that had most to gain from the old system.
The League positions have a bearing on some of the16 teams that contest the AI Series.
The provincial finalists get home advantage in their first match in the AI Series.
It's a fair enough system and this along with the new rules have given the GAA Football Championship a new lease of life."
So some of you keep saying.

The truth is there are only two Kerry posters here posting and I have no problem with the new system.
Its posters like you that are giving out about Kerry having it easy in Munster so I suggest that the provincials should have no bearing on the championship proper.That way Kerry or Cork have no advantage.
However id guess its people like you would really dislike if that happened as you really love the Ulster championship.

Kerry wanted to win Munster badly this year because it was a new cup called after the late Paidi O Se but job done now.

The new system is fine but some still complaining that Kerry have it too handy in Munster.This is the same Munster that Cork are in who are a serious.

Most of us in Kerry could nt care less what format the gaa use.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4181 - 18/06/2026 14:36:34    2680455

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "You are complicating a system for the sake of it. What is wrong with the way it is now?
Kerry got caught this year with tough draws. I'd say that's your problem? Kerry have to beat Armagh just to make it to a quarterfinal."
I welcome the tough draws. It is great for Killarney to get 3 big games this year - win, lose or draw. Championship is championship. Results going the other way are taken on the chin.

An All Ireland playoff would be great. The extra hurdles in Ulster and Leinster do need recognition in a fair playoff around that.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9847 - 18/06/2026 14:37:43    2680456

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "It's not what most want."
Im sure its not but Im just trying to give those who are complaining anout the provincials another option.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4181 - 18/06/2026 14:49:46    2680459

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "So some of you keep saying.

The truth is there are only two Kerry posters here posting and I have no problem with the new system.
Its posters like you that are giving out about Kerry having it easy in Munster so I suggest that the provincials should have no bearing on the championship proper.That way Kerry or Cork have no advantage.
However id guess its people like you would really dislike if that happened as you really love the Ulster championship.

Kerry wanted to win Munster badly this year because it was a new cup called after the late Paidi O Se but job done now.

The new system is fine but some still complaining that Kerry have it too handy in Munster.This is the same Munster that Cork are in who are a serious.

Most of us in Kerry could nt care less what format the gaa use."
So, how much effort did it take to win the newly named cup? That is what interests most posters, as all provinces have 2 or more creditable teams. Not being flippant, seriously how tough is annual munster campaign? There is not even 2 quarterfinals, is that annually rotated?

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 172 - 18/06/2026 15:17:11    2680465

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "So some of you keep saying.

The truth is there are only two Kerry posters here posting and I have no problem with the new system.
Its posters like you that are giving out about Kerry having it easy in Munster so I suggest that the provincials should have no bearing on the championship proper.That way Kerry or Cork have no advantage.
However id guess its people like you would really dislike if that happened as you really love the Ulster championship.

Kerry wanted to win Munster badly this year because it was a new cup called after the late Paidi O Se but job done now.

The new system is fine but some still complaining that Kerry have it too handy in Munster.This is the same Munster that Cork are in who are a serious.

Most of us in Kerry could nt care less what format the gaa use."
On the other Kerry forum, quite a few complaints about the games coming thick and fast, so evidently they preferred the previous routes?

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 172 - 18/06/2026 15:34:16    2680468

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "It's not what most want."
What metric are you using there?

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 172 - 18/06/2026 15:36:42    2680469

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Getting back to matters on the field...

In Killarney. Extra time again can't be ruled out. Armagh are a tough opponent.
Out West. There's a case for either. Could go to extra time as well.
In Croke Park. Dublin seem to be struggling in their home league ground since 2011. Oftentimes home league ground advantage has often worked in their favour. Donegal favourites but nothing can be taken for granted.
In Clones. Westmeath could be going to extra time again. All 4 games over the weekend can go either way.

My attempt at wrong QF predictions:
Cork v Monaghan/Westmeath
Galway v Dublin/Donegal
Tyrone v Kerry/Armagh
Louth v Mayo/Meath

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9847 - 18/06/2026 16:11:11    2680474

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Replying To Expertinall:  "On the other Kerry forum, quite a few complaints about the games coming thick and fast, so evidently they preferred the previous routes?"
All managers,players and indeed fans from all counties wary of the games coming thick and fast and over too quick Kerry like the new format but sure you have your own view but thats fine too.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4181 - 18/06/2026 17:02:39    2680491

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Armagh minutes from QF now likely to be finished Saturday. A lot lads flights booked for States Monday

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 102 - 18/06/2026 21:37:25    2680519

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Armagh minutes from QF now likely to be finished Saturday. A lot lads flights booked for States Monday"
I heard some of them booked them for Saturday. They're not even going to bother with the game.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2900 - 19/06/2026 09:31:33    2680543

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Getting back to matters on the field...

In Killarney. Extra time again can't be ruled out. Armagh are a tough opponent.
Out West. There's a case for either. Could go to extra time as well.
In Croke Park. Dublin seem to be struggling in their home league ground since 2011. Oftentimes home league ground advantage has often worked in their favour. Donegal favourites but nothing can be taken for granted.
In Clones. Westmeath could be going to extra time again. All 4 games over the weekend can go either way.

My attempt at wrong QF predictions:
Cork v Monaghan/Westmeath
Galway v Dublin/Donegal
Tyrone v Kerry/Armagh
Louth v Mayo/Meath"
A petition to rename Croke Park to 'Home League Ground Advantage Since 2011'. You refer to it regularly in that way, and I have to stay it's starting to grow on me. Rolls off the tongue.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2900 - 19/06/2026 09:33:32    2680544

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I heard some of them booked them for Saturday. They're not even going to bother with the game."
Pity its not on RTÉ. Could be one of the games of the year. Which is a tribute to the new system I suppose,

1/2 Kerry seems to me poor value. Not his greatest admirer but Geezer will have a plan, you may be certain! Might not be pretty but that matters little at this stage.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4404 - 19/06/2026 11:26:03    2680572

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I am not sure about the results of any of the four games this weekend. There has been no team that has been consistently good in this years championship. At the start of the year I thought it was Kerry as favourites with Donegal, Armagh and Galway in the chasing pack but not so sure now. Could this be a year where some team comes from nowhere and lifts SAM? The new rules and new format has definitely shaken things up - which is a good thing. Its a shame more of the games aren't on free to air TV.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1948 - 19/06/2026 11:47:49    2680577

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Getting back to matters on the field...

In Killarney. Extra time again can't be ruled out. Armagh are a tough opponent.
Out West. There's a case for either. Could go to extra time as well.
In Croke Park. Dublin seem to be struggling in their home league ground since 2011. Oftentimes home league ground advantage has often worked in their favour. Donegal favourites but nothing can be taken for granted.
In Clones. Westmeath could be going to extra time again. All 4 games over the weekend can go either way.

My attempt at wrong QF predictions:
Cork v Monaghan/Westmeath
Galway v Dublin/Donegal
Tyrone v Kerry/Armagh
Louth v Mayo/Meath"
I was wondering why the GAA never finished the draw last week?
inconsistent, I though they cared about folks planning trips?
I dunno

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1282 - 19/06/2026 12:29:28    2680582

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Pity its not on RTÉ. Could be one of the games of the year. Which is a tribute to the new system I suppose,

1/2 Kerry seems to me poor value. Not his greatest admirer but Geezer will have a plan, you may be certain! Might not be pretty but that matters little at this stage."
If Kerry get a grip around the middle they'll win, and could win well in the end. People can talk about stopping Clifford all they want, but it's pretty irrelevant. If Clifford gets enough ball, he'll do damage. He wasn't a significant factor in the league final and championship match against Donegal this year. Not necessarily because he was marked any better, but because Donegal starved Kerry of the ball. Kerry have a number of other talented forwards who will take their scores too, if they get the chance.
Kerry won midfield and the physical battle in their quarter, semi and final last year. That was the winning of those games.
If Armagh can get a hold in midfield, they do have a right chance. They're down a few important players in that area though.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2900 - 19/06/2026 12:35:23    2680584

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