National Forum

Kerry All Ireland Champions 2026?

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Scenicparish:  "A Kerry team not allowed to play because of the pressure put on them by relentless tackling from a Mayo team 2 to 15."
And all Kerry had to do was kick it into the space of which there was lots of. As I've said, they forgot how to play and they all know it.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2318 - 28/07/2026 22:39:50    2687919

Link

Replying To DUBJOHN:  "Kieran Donaghy won't be the next Kerry manager that role will go to Tomas O' Sè !"
I wouldn't be so sure of that. The star has the credentials. He wasn't travelling up & down to Armagh for nothing.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2318 - 28/07/2026 22:43:20    2687920

Link

Replying To sligo joe:  "I think you forgot a lot more than Seán, Mick. The Dubs of that era had so many stars they are lost in the crowd, just one more, Cian O'Sullivan, a rolls Royce of a defender and as cool as a breeze, Ger Brennan, Bryan Cullen, Philly(every time b4 RyanMc). Kevin Nolan, a star held back by illness. Alan Brogan, work rate and skill.
And I know I said back to back, or failing to defend the title, does not define a team nor should it and a team coming back after defeat is admirable, but still "a la" boxing parlance, defending the title adds substance to the achievement and to defend your title 5 times is awesome. The attitude, ability and discipline to do that demands appreciation and without ever losing a game on the journey."
Its hard to fit them all in Joe.Im just trying to pick what I think would be the best 15 between Dublin and Tyrone.

Im a huge fan of Cian O Sullivan (both parents from Kerry lol) and very versatile.A brilliant back and midfielder and yes he would be in contention but instead of who?Sure you pick a team and its difficult.For me Ger Brennan does nt make it nor Kevin Nolan who was so unlucky with health and did win MOTM in 2011. Tbf If you picked Dubs best team from 2011 to 2023 I dont think Ger or Kevin make it.They certainly not ahead of Mick Fitz,Small,Cian,James Mc,Jack or Johnny Cooper.

Im a huge fan of the two Brogans but moreso Alan and he would make my Dublin team but not sure hecwould make a mixed Dub/Tyrone team.

Sure Con O Callaghan,Cormac McAnallen,Enda NcGinley,Owen Mulligan,MDMA would all have claims but could nt fit them all in.
Its just my opinion

Sure if I picked my best Dubs from 2011 to 23 most Dubs would nt agree either as cant fit them all in but for the craic here goes

1.Cluxton,
2.M.Fitz
3.Cian O Sullivan
4.Johnny Cooper
5.James McCarthy
6.John Small.
7.Jack McCaffrey
8.Brian Fenton
9.MDMA
10.P.Flynn
11.C.Kilkennu
12 Diarmuid Connolly
13.Alan Brogan
14.Con O Callaghan
15.Dean Rock/Ber Brogan
Probably go for Dean as he was an expert dead ball kicker.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4231 - 28/07/2026 23:11:50    2687925

Link

Replying To dubdec99:  "That Mayo team that ran Dublin so close on so many occasions is better than either team that contested Sunday's All-Ireland final."
Definitely not, this Mayo team of 2026 wouldn't have left a couple of All Irelands behind a few years ago. And I'll include 2021 in that.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2913 - 29/07/2026 08:40:36    2687940

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "And all Kerry had to do was kick it into the space of which there was lots of. As I've said, they forgot how to play and they all know it."
Why not give Mayo the praise they deserve instead of calling out what Kerry did wrong. Kerry people have took the beating on the chin saying the best team won so what's your gripe?

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2913 - 29/07/2026 10:01:22    2687949

Link

Replying To Saynothing:  "Definitely not, this Mayo team of 2026 wouldn't have left a couple of All Irelands behind a few years ago. And I'll include 2021 in that."
Ah no chance. Player for player the Mayo team of 2016/17 was a lot better than the current crop. The current crop on Sunday showed unbelievable desire to get over the line but not many people are talking about the Kerry performance and how bad they were.

What other team can kick 4/14 two pointers, lose 10/12 of second half kickouts and still win?! An elite opposition who turn up and perform to even 80% of their potential would have capitalised on those errors by Mayo on Sunday in my opinion and eked out the win. Again Mayo were excellent in a lot of areas but their mistakes and lack of accuracy just were not punished at all.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 364 - 29/07/2026 10:18:16    2687952

Link

Replying To TrueBlue35:  "Ah no chance. Player for player the Mayo team of 2016/17 was a lot better than the current crop. The current crop on Sunday showed unbelievable desire to get over the line but not many people are talking about the Kerry performance and how bad they were.

What other team can kick 4/14 two pointers, lose 10/12 of second half kickouts and still win?! An elite opposition who turn up and perform to even 80% of their potential would have capitalised on those errors by Mayo on Sunday in my opinion and eked out the win. Again Mayo were excellent in a lot of areas but their mistakes and lack of accuracy just were not punished at all."
100%

As good and determined as Mayo were, Kerry will be kicking themselves at how poor they were and how one dimensional they were. They could have been easily 10 points up in that first half. But they were awful in that 2nd half and in truth Mayo should have won by more if Mayo had taken all their chances.

For the Mayo goal, 4 Kerry players were sent to the shops by Ryan. He slalomed by them.

But full credit to Mayo.
It was some victory.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5226 - 29/07/2026 11:08:11    2687959

Link

Replying To Fionn:  "100%

As good and determined as Mayo were, Kerry will be kicking themselves at how poor they were and how one dimensional they were. They could have been easily 10 points up in that first half. But they were awful in that 2nd half and in truth Mayo should have won by more if Mayo had taken all their chances.

For the Mayo goal, 4 Kerry players were sent to the shops by Ryan. He slalomed by them.

But full credit to Mayo.
It was some victory."
All you Dublin posters are putting forward your argument to suit the old Dublin team. The old Dublin team of the teens wasn't as good as you are making out. You wouldn't say Kerry were poor in the final where was it Conn got the ball from the throw in and ran through for a goal with Kerry players standing looking at him. Dublin got 4 All Irelands gave to them in that decade.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2913 - 29/07/2026 11:34:11    2687965

Link

I don't know a single team who has lost the all Ireland final who says the same thing: That they underperformed, usually because of either injury or overtraining. Either that or poor refereeing.

This year, Kerry got to the final, looking very good (at times) v both Dublin and Tyrone, and sensational before that v Armagh in Killarney. The donegal experience seemed to have been long put to bed.

In the actual final, the first 20 minutes, they looked like they were going to beat Mayo by a cricket score, so really, the question is, what happened them in the final to go from a 7 point advantage to at one stage a 5 point disadvantage.

I think this has as much to do with what Mayo actually did as opposed to what Kerry failed to do. Up to the final, Kerry won quite impressively, doing enough and digging deep. The final, Mayo's 2 point strategy coupled with their high press really put it up to Kerry. You can analyse a game to death, and talk about switching up tactics in play. But the reality is that it is much more easily said than done to do this in a game against opponents who are gambling on leaving themselves exposed at the back while using a high press, and going for 2 pointers when they could be working the ball closer to the goals. You have to do the same thing yourself....and you wont get it half way through a game. You have to put this tactic into practice at training and in real match experience too.

Teams will be sitting up and watching what Mayo achieved in the final and the way they did this. But it's still gambling, and the big question is (similar to the blanket defence of 10-15 years ago), if everyone uses the same tactic, does it retain its ability to win games?

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3861 - 29/07/2026 11:35:21    2687966

Link

Replying To Donegalman:  "I don't know a single team who has lost the all Ireland final who says the same thing: That they underperformed, usually because of either injury or overtraining. Either that or poor refereeing.

This year, Kerry got to the final, looking very good (at times) v both Dublin and Tyrone, and sensational before that v Armagh in Killarney. The donegal experience seemed to have been long put to bed.

In the actual final, the first 20 minutes, they looked like they were going to beat Mayo by a cricket score, so really, the question is, what happened them in the final to go from a 7 point advantage to at one stage a 5 point disadvantage.

I think this has as much to do with what Mayo actually did as opposed to what Kerry failed to do. Up to the final, Kerry won quite impressively, doing enough and digging deep. The final, Mayo's 2 point strategy coupled with their high press really put it up to Kerry. You can analyse a game to death, and talk about switching up tactics in play. But the reality is that it is much more easily said than done to do this in a game against opponents who are gambling on leaving themselves exposed at the back while using a high press, and going for 2 pointers when they could be working the ball closer to the goals. You have to do the same thing yourself....and you wont get it half way through a game. You have to put this tactic into practice at training and in real match experience too.

Teams will be sitting up and watching what Mayo achieved in the final and the way they did this. But it's still gambling, and the big question is (similar to the blanket defence of 10-15 years ago), if everyone uses the same tactic, does it retain its ability to win games?"
I was having this very conversation with a Donegal man in work this morning coincidentally. I think there will be a finely tuned version of this and there will be a balance found. Similar to when Jim Gavin had the Dubs pouring forward in 2013 & 2014 he had to find some sort of balance and fine tune the system which ultimately proved so successful after that. I think Andy Moran has certainly found a new angle to getting the job done but they were also fortunate the last day to get away with that much wastefulness. In reality he will develop it further to ensure the gamble as you say is not so high risk.

I think other counties will experiment but I'm not sure we are going to see everyone trying the same thing.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 364 - 29/07/2026 12:13:15    2687977

Link