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Football Championship 2026 - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Square_B: "It's a bit rich coming from him now. Whatever about the Galway team and their All Ireland chances, as least Padraic Joyce & John Divilly have their Celtic Crosses in their back pockets which is more to be said for Lee and the Mayo management team." Every time Galway get criticised, the go‑to defence seems to be, "At least we won an All‑Ireland 25 years ago." If anyone outside Mayo said it, ye wouldn't be half as worked up. And whether people like it or not, there is truth in what Keegan said harsh as it might sound. He's operated at the very top level, so his opinion carries far more weight than someone firing off takes from behind a throwaway username pretending to be from Leitrim on a GAA forum.
Dmoa95 (National) - 02/07/2026 14:17:01
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Galway Hurling thread - 3 Like(s)
It's funny down our way here in south Mayo…there's always been a gra for the Galway hurlers. My local bar would have Galway flags up supporting the Galway hurlers and when ye won in 2017 the whole pub was roaring for Galway….a bit different when it comes to football for obvious reasons but we'd always support the Galway hurlers. As I said previous…best of luck on Saturday evening.
yew_tree (National) - 03/07/2026 00:11:40
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Monaghan GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To 222: "Good podcast by clerkin and spillane on our failings at the weekend. We need to do better in championship business at croke park, mentality and desire to get over the line." Clerkin is v good on monaghan no pulling of punches like some others . He struck a similar note last year after donegal defeat. Too many people just happy with a day out in croke park not critical enough of the lack of performance.
seanie08 (National) - 03/07/2026 11:21:33
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Louth GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Cumann1: "Did Leitrim ever get out of their box?" Not sure what exactly you mean but Leitrim did win Connacht in 1994 beating Roscommon, Galway after a replay and Mayo in the final.
They played Dublin in the semi-final and as a Galway person I was delighted to support them - as I have every Connacht team - and was on the old Canal end terrace as the Leitrim team took the field .
Near me was a Leitrim man about 50 with his teenage son and I'll never forget the emotion with which he greeted the team … he could hardly talk and all he could say to the young fellow was 'look at them… look at them… as tears streamed down his face.
So I can understand the emotion that Louth supporters will feel.
Yes, Leitrim got out of their box after 66 years.
Blackcoatsoffthefield (National) - 02/07/2026 16:52:01
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Mayo GAA Thread - 3 Like(s)
If any Mayo fan was told -
"You'll be playing Louth for a place in the All Ireland final" back in January, ye all would have fallen off your donkey's (or whatever way you get about the place over there) in pure anticipation.
Beelzedub (National) - 02/07/2026 20:08:39
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Donegal GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Commodore: "Stephen Rochfords record before joining Donegal is impressive, but if solely comparing their records in the Donegal backroom team, there isn't much between them.
2017 was really poor year for Donegal, Declan Bonnar came in for 2018 with John McElholm and there was a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, winning Ulster was a huge turnaround. McElholm felt Donegal would have done better in 2019 had he stayed on." Donegal actually had a very good league in 2017 and were only score difference away from reaching the league final. The championship, though, was disappointing, with heavy defeats to Tyrone and Galway, and the style of football wasn't exactly easy on the eye either. There are actually certain similarities to this year in the contrast between the league and championship.
That opening league game in Killarney in 2018 - David Clifford's debut, by the way - felt like a breath of fresh air. The football Donegal were playing was far more positive. Michael Murphy spent a chunk of the league carrying injuries, while Patrick McBrearty was outstanding. Donegal were relegated in the end, but they were unlucky. Kevin McLoughlin is probably still running with the ball after the number of steps he got away with!
The Ulster Championship that year was excellent too, but once McBrearty suffered his cruciate injury in the Ulster final, Donegal's chances were severely damaged. It also didn't help that the powers that be handed arguably the greatest team of all time two home games in the Super 8s, which consequently meant Donegal had to play both of theirs away.
McBrearty's injury was the biggest factor, though. Every team needs its best players, regardless of who the manager is. He was never quite the same player again as he was in 2018. Even this year, Donegal missed having him available to come off the bench, provide leadership, and chip in with a few crucial scores.
To me, that was the best football Donegal played under Bonner. A lot of that was because the team had been freshened up so much and there was a real energy and positivity about the way they played. Had McBrearty stayed fit, it would have been very interesting to see just how far that team could have gone.
Ulsterchamps_32 (National) - 02/07/2026 18:38:17
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Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To TheBishop: "So apparently Dublin were awarded 21 frees to Galway's 6 on Sunday.
That's a very interesting statistic." A huge disparity.
Marooned (National) - 02/07/2026 21:54:57
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Louth GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To francie81: "That is very well put.
I myself have being following Louth 30+ years and by god I can only remember seeing so many dark days I just feel like it's all one big dream, I mean to go from one of the worse teams in the country to one of the best in no time really is incredible and of course it does not happen overnight, wee can safely say that wee are a role model to other low to mid tier counties starved of progress like we were.
As for the new rules well they are working a treat and has got everyone on the edge of the seats again particularly with those 2 pointers.
Come Saturday week when the boys run out onto Croke Park I feel emotions will get the better of me win, lose or draw." Ye have a big chance to make a statement and put Mayo back in their box. I hope the occasion doesn't get to the players. Fermanagh were in this suitation 22 years ago (minus the provincial title) and nearly did it. That was a fantastic year for them. Hopefully ye will go one further & who knows after that.
Square_B (National) - 02/07/2026 14:43:49
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Mayo GAA Thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Cumann1: "Hot air?" That lad is the definition of an internet Troll.
tirawleybaron (National) - 02/07/2026 16:21:08
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Fionn: "https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2026/0701/1581280-galway-flatter-to-deceive-as-soft-underbelly-exposed/
Is Lee being a bit harsh on Galway here.???" Keegan giving his opinion on Galway... pass. He's known for projecting his dislike of us throughout the years. I still remember the time he awarded Diarmuid Murtagh MOTM in the Connacht Final and later tweeted an apology saying it should be Damien Comer.
ColmFlaherty (National) - 02/07/2026 13:33:45
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Westmeath Hurling thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To CleanShoulder: "Well the last time I checked, neither the Gaels or Delvin have any players represented on either the Limerick or Clare panels, (correct me if I'm wrong)… so not sure what the problem is ??" OK let me try and help the football people who dont understand that believe it or not people in Collinstown,Fore and Delvin are hurling fans who would love to see the All Ireland hurling semi final. Even from an economic point of view its a stupid piece of timing.
jobber (National) - 03/07/2026 07:18:51
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David Clifford The Goat - 2 Like(s)
Replying To CiarraiMick: "Of course he wont but medals are irrelevant in judging a players greatness.Ciaran McDonald was a super player with no AI medal.Declan Browne same .Matt Connor has one medal.Maurice Fitzgerald was as good a player ive seen and he has 2 medals.
If a top player is lucky to play on a top team then they can win medals but many Kerry players and Dublin players have more medals than Matt Connor but were not as good as him.
My post about people not coming from the right place.No one in their right mind would say David will win 10 medals at this stage.He might never win another medal but he will play great ball if he stays injury free." I absolutely agree with that. Plenty of great players in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon never won an all Ireland for example. My father always spoke fondly of the Roscommon 80s team….reckons they should have won one. I don't think not winning one takes from the greatness of individual players.
yew_tree (National) - 02/07/2026 18:06:17
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The Math Behind Monaghan Being #1 - 1 Like(s)
Definitely a post from Omahant USA top drawer.
Saynothing (National) - 03/07/2026 10:09:47
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Westmeath Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To CleanShoulder: "Well the last time I checked, neither the Gaels or Delvin have any players represented on either the Limerick or Clare panels, (correct me if I'm wrong)… so not sure what the problem is ??" What an unbelievable response. Is it any wonder hurling is on its knees around the country
Sloweddie (National) - 02/07/2026 22:44:52
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The Math Behind Monaghan Being #1 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To level: "95% of gaelic football results since 2010 can be explained by a mix of population, sport preferences, county financial resources, historical success, proximity to cities with significant career/study opportunities. A model created from these factors predicts win/loss results since 2010 with 95% accuracy when weighting games for relative importance. Worth noting that this year's championship has been only predictable to 70% accuracy mostly down to rule changes and Louth over-performing with ceiling still unknown :)
When ranking counties on how they've over-performed against this model since 2010, Monaghan is the top performing county in the country (i.e., wins more than it should), followed by Mayo, and then Kerry. Meath and Kildare have underperformed the most vs expectations which can be mostly attributed to the model not being perfectly fine-tuned for the negative impact that comes with proximity to Dublin (careers, commutes, study, other sports).
Here's a breakdown of the relative importance.
1. Code Selection & Religious Demographics
Relative Contribution: 45%
Context: This tier represents the primary filter on a county's gross population. The model applies a strict deduction based on competing athletic pathways. In the Republic, this tracks the dual-sport hurling drain (e.g., Cork, Galway, splitting talent down the middle) and urban soccer academies. In Northern Ireland, it applies a community background weight to reflect the available GAA player base. This explains why high-population counties like Kilkenny, Antrim, and Waterford sit near the bottom of the football standings. It shrinks their massive gross population down to their actual, football-playing talent pool.
2. Gravitational Commuter Drag
Relative Contribution: 22%
Context: This factor models the lifestyle fragmentation caused by commuting into major economic engines. This factor targets the "Leinster Commuter Trap." It accounts for the structural bottlenecks highlighted by the GAA National Demographics Committee-namely, that exploding suburban populations face a severe facility and time deficit. By penalizing counties within the immediate corporate orbits of Dublin and Cork, the model dramatically lowers the expected baselines for Meath and Kildare, shrinking their negative residuals. It probably doesn't do enough on this front but an r squared of 95% is pretty good.
3. Financial Preparation Capital
Relative Contribution: 14%
Context: Teams are amateur, but their preparation models are entirely corporate. This factor tracks annual team preparation expenditures relative to the national average. It recognizes that doubling an elite sports budget yields only a limited efficiency boost on the pitch (non-linear gains from investments into training/infrastructure). This prevents high-spending dual counties from breaking the model while properly elevating Dublin's baseline to account for its massive commercial advantage.
4. Student-Athlete Migration & Legacy Coaching Lines
Combined Relative Contribution: 14%
Context: These variables process population quality and institutional knowledge. This uses travel tracker metrics to penalize counties that must manage "exiled" college student training groups in Dublin or Belfast mid-week.
5. Unexplained Variance / Stochastic Error
Relative Contribution: 5.0%
Context: The remaining variance represents factors that cannot be captured by socio-economic data: generational talent anomalies (e.g., David Clifford emerging in a specific county), weather conditions, refereeing decisions, or short-term psychological momentum." "This explains why high-population counties like Kilkenny, Antrim, and Waterford..."
Kilkenny is not a high-population county.
Cockney_Cat (National) - 03/07/2026 00:31:01
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Non-Gaa Forum - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Lockjaw: "How did Belgium do that?!? They looked totally disinterested for 85 minutes of that match!
England were fortunate enough I thought. If Harry Kane gets injured they are doomed! Funnily enough, I think they'll actually play better when they play against better teams who'll have a proper go at them. Their defence is very suspect though. It would be hard to make a case for them to beat the likes of a France or a Spain." Never mind France and Spain. Mexico will put them to bed Sunday night with all things going well!!
Lúla571210 (National) - 03/07/2026 00:41:02
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Seanfan: "Nothing fair about Armagh getting 4 days notice for a 5 or 6 hour trip to Kerry to play a season ending knock out game or Donegal having to be in Dublin (4,5 or 6 hours) for a 1.15 start to a.........
2A and 3 should be neutral venues." Well if you look back I've been saying neutral venues all the way. Split the journeys especially supporters.Fair system except for venues.
Saynothing (National) - 03/07/2026 09:54:12
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Wexford Club Hurling 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To WexMurph: "Didn't see that game only clips but the two lads are the most knowledgeable men on it so I would disagree with that comment." Find the main commentator very good. The co comm not so much. Don't think I'm alone.
countyman2022 (National) - 03/07/2026 10:04:58
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David Clifford The Goat - 1 Like(s)
I think he is a very gifted player. Beautifully balanced, kicks off both feet. He has power, agility and marksmanship in abundance.But more than that he is a wonderful role model and by all accounts a very sound and down to earth bloke.
I personally thought Diarmuid Connolly was very gifted but perhaps he lacked the temperament to cope with the verbal and physical abuse that all top players seem to attract. That's a huge strength in David Cliffords game- lads from every county have tried to shake him up and put him off his game but he nearly always prevails.Maybe it's too early to claim him is the GOAT - to use that awful phrase, but he is well on the way. Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, John Egan and Jack O Shea from that great Kerry team were brilliant footballers too but the game has changed so much that it is hard to make comparisons.
avonali (National) - 02/07/2026 20:56:41
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To ColmFlaherty: "Keegan giving his opinion on Galway... pass. He's known for projecting his dislike of us throughout the years. I still remember the time he awarded Diarmuid Murtagh MOTM in the Connacht Final and later tweeted an apology saying it should be Damien Comer." The boys on the maroon and white podcast were poking fun at Mayo a few weeks ago including a former Galway player. There's no love lost between the counties. That said Keegan would be as well keep quiet while Mayo are still in the championship because it could be us that's being laughed at after next sat or if we go on to lose another final. Lee was a great player but is a poor pundit.
yew_tree (National) - 03/07/2026 10:50:40
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