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Looking Towards Football 2027 - 2 Like(s)
A lot of revisionist nonsence going on here.
Football has gone through the biggest overhall of its rules ever. Its a different game now. The restructure also has had an effect - there is no handy draw for the provincial winners any more, and losing a provincial final needs immediate recovery.
The teams that adapted to that best were always going to be more successful.
All of the provinical final losers were done and collapsed withing a few weeks
Those that put a lot of stock in winning their province - had nothing left in the tank afterwards.
THose that dissapointed early, has loads of time to recover and make an impact.
Its all about June and July now - anyone who is peaking before then is going to run out of road.
As for styles of play - its all about 2 pointers - kicking them and stopping them
Donegal were trapped in zone defence and cant defend them, nor get up the field fast enough to score enough.
Armagh are way to fond of fisted points.
Galway were in the same mindset as Donegal.
Dublin are afriad to kick 2 pointers and relied on Con way too much are lost because he was on one leg.
Kerry are all about Clifford - just keep him to 1 pointers and they are done
Mayo have had a strong team for years - but were too conservative for the previous 4 years, playing against their natural instincts. They also started 2026 with a plan to run it back with the older lads - got a kick up the hole from Roscommon and had to bring in younger lads (Andy Moran was talking 3 years plans at that point). Three of those young lads are generational talents , stepped in with no pressure and delivered for 8 weeks. Whether anyone admits it or not, Mayos success was based around the production of a full forward line we havent had for 75 years and players who can tackle all day.
They lost the kick out battle, let Kerry go 7 points ahead but worked harder and kicked their scores.
They were also fortunate that Kerry picked a team on reputation not form.
In an 8 week season, its all about form.
But lets be realistic, there will be no All Ireland breakthrough next year for Meath, Cork, Roscommon, Westmeath, Down, Monaghan etc
It will be one of Dublin/Kerry/Galway/Armagh/Donegal/Tyrone. No county outside Dublin and Kerry have won an All Ireland and returned to the final the following year since 2003, so for Mayo to get back there would be a serious achievement.
tirawleybaron (National) - 13/11/2026 14:49:23
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