National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Kerry back as All Ireland favourites at 5/2. Have put 1200 on them to win it out. Investing all my winning from Arsenal winning Premier League."
What about the money you lost for Arsenal loosing the champions league final?

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 996 - 03/06/2026 13:22:20    2677599

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Replying To Shearer:  "The Meath fear of Inniskeen."
Louth v Armagh is fixed for Sunday in Inniskeen,don't know what the delay is with rest of fixtures

Fkd12 (Louth) - Posts: 214 - 03/06/2026 13:35:47    2677607

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Replying To legendzxix:  "2A teams have at least 2 more games and an opportunity to go direct to the quarters. 2B teams have no safety net and will have 2 hurdles if they are to get to the quarters. Round 3 isn't a gimme for anyone losing in 2A.
In groups of 4 with the top 2 going through - the message would be clearer that the 3 group rounds are all about getting to the quarters. The group stage Round 3, with 3 of 4 going through, in recent years had the edge of playing of playing for the group win or avoiding elimination. Round 2 is effectively the same. It'll be interesting to see if crowds are on board with that goal of going direct to the quarters in 2A and the goal of avoiding elimination in 2B."
I think this system is better. 2A know a win gets them into a quarter final and 2B is last chance saloon.

Crowds may be down a bit only as it looks obvious enough who's going through in most matches.

Feel like only Tyrone v Mayo and Monaghan v Rossies have coin toss feel to them.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 466 - 03/06/2026 13:49:31    2677612

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Replying To Shearer:  "The Meath fear of Inniskeen."
Na it's more the Louth gatekeeping of these tiny venues. Let's host a game in Ardee so no opposition fans can go, who cares if the players have to get changed on the side of the road and walk through the crowd at half time.

Hurry up with that pitch, it's getting boring now we're always having the same discussion about venues.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 160 - 03/06/2026 14:04:06    2677614

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Kerry back as All Ireland favourites at 5/2. Have put 1200 on them to win it out. Investing all my winning from Arsenal winning Premier League."
1200 buttons.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8602 - 03/06/2026 14:28:13    2677622

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Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "Na it's more the Louth gatekeeping of these tiny venues. Let's host a game in Ardee so no opposition fans can go, who cares if the players have to get changed on the side of the road and walk through the crowd at half time.

Hurry up with that pitch, it's getting boring now we're always having the same discussion about venues."
You haven't been at many games in Inniskeen with a comment like that.

Absolutely brilliant facilities and a very well run club.

ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 83 - 03/06/2026 14:51:05    2677633

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Its pathetic really, the whole thing is made up as they go along.

The earlier draw was done way to early to give counties "time to prepare logistically" giving an unfair advantage to teams not in provincial finals.
Yet the second round draw is done on a Tuesday( I have heard the argument why) i don't agree but can stomach it but no dates or times announced over 24 hours later.
The rules state first team out gets home advantage, Louth should be playing in Ardee if that's where they chose to play. Can pick and chose as we make our way through the year.
All games at this stage should be neutral imo anyway"
Most appropriately named poster anyway

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2657 - 03/06/2026 14:53:49    2677635

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "If Roscommon got a home draw you wouldn't be calling for neutral venues?"
Yes, I don't think any team should be getting home advantage at this stage.

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1290 - 03/06/2026 15:32:06    2677654

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8 league qualifiers needed clarity on if they were playing on the first or second weekend of Round 1. No problem with that. It was a partial draw the day after the Connacht and Munster finals that could have given 2 weeks notice. The remaining league qualifiers then drawn against Ulster and Leinster finalists the day after those finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9769 - 03/06/2026 15:55:23    2677674

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Replying To shaggykev:  "I think this system is better. 2A know a win gets them into a quarter final and 2B is last chance saloon.

Crowds may be down a bit only as it looks obvious enough who's going through in most matches.

Feel like only Tyrone v Mayo and Monaghan v Rossies have coin toss feel to them."
What about galway v Westmeath

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 2000 - 03/06/2026 16:11:04    2677681

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "What about galway v Westmeath"
Let the real maroon come out on top. And for me that is Westmeath…spiritual bearers of the maroon jersey.

White suits Galway just fine, and they've won AIs in it!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2568 - 03/06/2026 16:21:27    2677686

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All-Ireland Football Round 2A/2B

Saturday 13th June:

15:00 - Donegal vs Cork 2A (No TV)
16:30 - Monaghan vs Rossies 2B (GAA+)
17:30 - Kildare vs Kerry 2B (No TV)
19:00 - Derry vs Meath 2B (GAA+)

Sunday 14th June:

13:00 - Louth vs Armagh 2A (RTÉ)
14:00 - Galway vs Westmeath 2A (GAA+)
14:00 - Cavan vs Dublin 2B (No TV)
15:30 - Tyrone vs Mayo 2A (RTÉ)


Donegal v Cork, Kildare v Kerry and Cavan v Dublin are the only three games that won't be televised.
Theyve been cute for once with times so any ET doesnt run into next televised game on those stations.

Obviously I'd have loved Donegal v Cork for TV but Highland or Ocean FM it is.
Would be some craic if Cavan knocked the Dubs out and the game wasnt even on TV.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 466 - 03/06/2026 17:00:36    2677704

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Replying To shaggykev:  "All-Ireland Football Round 2A/2B

Saturday 13th June:

15:00 - Donegal vs Cork 2A (No TV)
16:30 - Monaghan vs Rossies 2B (GAA+)
17:30 - Kildare vs Kerry 2B (No TV)
19:00 - Derry vs Meath 2B (GAA+)

Sunday 14th June:

13:00 - Louth vs Armagh 2A (RTÉ)
14:00 - Galway vs Westmeath 2A (GAA+)
14:00 - Cavan vs Dublin 2B (No TV)
15:30 - Tyrone vs Mayo 2A (RTÉ)


Donegal v Cork, Kildare v Kerry and Cavan v Dublin are the only three games that won't be televised.
Theyve been cute for once with times so any ET doesnt run into next televised game on those stations.

Obviously I'd have loved Donegal v Cork for TV but Highland or Ocean FM it is.
Would be some craic if Cavan knocked the Dubs out and the game wasnt even on TV."
We're bad but not that bad ! Lol!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 952 - 03/06/2026 17:25:38    2677714

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Kerry back as All Ireland favourites at 5/2. Have put 1200 on them to win it out. Investing all my winning from Arsenal winning Premier League."
Is that righttt?

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2720 - 03/06/2026 17:45:26    2677723

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Its pathetic really, the whole thing is made up as they go along.

The earlier draw was done way to early to give counties "time to prepare logistically" giving an unfair advantage to teams not in provincial finals.
Yet the second round draw is done on a Tuesday( I have heard the argument why) i don't agree but can stomach it but no dates or times announced over 24 hours later.
The rules state first team out gets home advantage, Louth should be playing in Ardee if that's where they chose to play. Can pick and chose as we make our way through the year.
All games at this stage should be neutral imo anyway"
The way these things work, the very reason that no dates & times were announced for more than 24 hours was to give counties time to prepare logistically. The "delay" didn't hinder them. It actually would have helped them.

After a draw like this one, counties are consulted before fixtures are set, to see what can be done to accommodate any 'quirks' (for want of a better word) of the draw. Biggest example in this particular round is probably Cork having to go away to Derry.

I obviously don't know what exact discussions took place with Cork County Board between the draw on Tuesday morning and the fixtures being announced today, but I'm guessing they were given time to investigate if it would suit them better or be more cost-efficient to travel up on Friday ahead of a Saturday afternoon game, or travel up on Saturday ahead of a Sunday game. For logistical reasons, like hotel accommodation, etc.

Counties don't always get what they want as a result of such negotations but they can be accommodated if their requests are reasonable and if the other county has no strong objection to them.

Basically, Cork would have been helped by the "delay" in announcing fixture details, as the "delay" would have been to give the time to get organised. They wouldn't have been hindered by it - i.e. they wouldn't have been going "would they ever hurry up and announce the fixtures so that we know when to book a bus and hotel for?"

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3731 - 03/06/2026 17:58:40    2677726

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