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Football Championship 2026 - 4 Like(s)
Fed up hearing that the provincial championships are being made little of and overshadowed by All Ireland draw. First of all, any of the teams knocked out of their provincial championships would love to swap places with the current finalists. The finalists also get home advantage in 1st round. Even more important the winner of each provincial championship gets a trophy, can celebrate a big day with supporters and have it saved in their history.
Secondly, the All Ireland Series is a new competition as is the Tailteann Cup. People are saying that the first game has little meaning but this is also untrue. Winning the first match gives a huge advantage in that if you win the next match also, you will have a two week break before a q final. Losing the first match ensures a long hard road to final with only one more chance and only a weeks break before q final if you make it. I'd say lets see and give it a chance.
winatallcost (National) - 06/05/2026 18:22:51
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Heslin in TUS last night with squad very exciting seeing him kick around with team. Very brave by mchugh but with Luke gone correct call.
ear2ground (National) - 06/05/2026 15:01:46
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Temple56: "I heard he rang one player before the Kildare game. The player has been flying for his club even scoring 1-12 in division 1 league game 2 weeks ago. The player declined the invite into the panel" Who is this? I'm not sure how any player wouldn't want to be involved with the final and with Cavan in the all Ireland series. I've been to nearly every game in the last 15 years and this is the best supported and momentum building I've seen Westmeath football!
Westmeath25 (National) - 06/05/2026 13:56:04
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Scenicparish: "Why should they? The new system is designed to level the playing field for all teams in the AI series.
Some teams are getting a handy run in their own province and when it comes to the next stage they are much fresher and have a hugh advantage." Well yous will be very fresh so as yous have only played one game.Yous have q major advanrage over most teams so by your own thoughts.
brayballer (National) - 06/05/2026 18:24:49
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Hogan stand tickets secured for the final . Its going to be a huge occasion
mickcunningham (National) - 06/05/2026 15:28:46
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To martyW: "Heslin back training with them since last week" Any truth to this? Be some boost if it's true
crispsandwich99 (National) - 06/05/2026 15:09:00
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16 Team Hurling Championship - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Pikeman96: "Yes. I don't agree anyway with the notion that more games against higher-ranked sides will by itself bring up the standards of a team.
Antrim had 15 games in the Leinster Championship over 2023/24/25. They lost 11 of them, by a combined total of almost 200 points. Even when they sprang a surprise by beating Wexford two years ago (the "progress" that proponents of the notion would point to), their next two matches were a 23-point mauling at the hands of Dublin, followed by a 14-point defeat to Galway. And their three years of matches against higher-ranked sides are not exactly standing them in good stead at the moment either.
A better and expanded Joe McDonagh Cup is probably the way to go all right - i.e. maintain a realistic target and means for teams to be competitive at their own level, and if they do happen to improve over time through inward effort and investment, they'll eventually survive and become competitive at a higher level all right.
Wexford football would celebrate winning the Tailteann Cup and look forward to at least one year at Sam Maguire level, but wouldn't expect to be left in the Sam Maguire after that "just because". In soccer across the water, Coventry City will celebrate winning the Championship, but realistically, would probably settle right now for 17th in the Premier League next year." Wexford football would celebrate winning the Tailteann Cup and look forward to at least one year at Sam Maguire level, but wouldn't expect to be left in the Sam Maguire after that "just because". In soccer across the water, Coventry City will celebrate winning the Championship, but realistically, would probably settle right now for 17th in the Premier League next year
That's an excellent point and perfectly illustrates the fallacy at the heart of claims that the current system some how punches down on teams. People want to believe in the fairytale that 14 or 15 counties could contend for the All Ireland if they were left into the top level indefinitely, absolutely tanking the quality and entertainment of the liam Mccarthy in the process. We have the potential for gradual improvement atm - and most importantly you get rewarded for your improvement which is what makes the system excellent. Kildare yo-yoed between Christy ring and Joe Mcdonagh for a number if years and now they are in leinster. The next step for them is the hardest and rightly so.
Overdahill (National) - 06/05/2026 18:09:25
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Football Championship 2026 - 2 Like(s)
Splitting Round 1 over two weekends is one part of the problem. If the weekend after the Ulster final was left as a hurling only weekend, all Round 1 games could be on the same weekend. The draw could be the day after the Ulster final, with two weeks for everyone for knowing their opponent.
legendzxix (National) - 06/05/2026 12:48:21
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Lakeman93: "With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad." Heslin back training with them since last week
martyW (National) - 06/05/2026 11:27:27
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad.
Lakeman93 (National) - 06/05/2026 10:59:38
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
We need everyone we can get especially with Luke out. I think it would be a massive boost to have Heslin back. What a great option to come off the bench. No different to calling in some u20s , has been such a great servant to the county.
mul (National) - 06/05/2026 20:56:59
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "Surely a bit of respect for a player who might feel he's jumping on the bandwagon at this stage? Three under 20s brought in recently which is great, not sure about bringing lads in now a week before a Leinster final? Lads training since November surely deserve their opposition first" There's about 24 lads left in squad fit to play, need more than that going into what's basically a new campaign now, even for training. There is no jumping on the bandwagon these are players who have already gave their all for Westmeath and lads performing well at club level currently who want to help out their county team
Lakeman93 (National) - 06/05/2026 19:42:58
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Lakeman93: "There's about 24 lads left in squad fit to play, need more than that going into what's basically a new campaign now, even for training. There is no jumping on the bandwagon these are players who have already gave their all for Westmeath and lads performing well at club level currently who want to help out their county team" Darragh O Keefe, Dillon Matthews. TJ Cox. Liam Daly, Eoghan Hogan all panel members who couldn't tog out last Sunday due to panel limited to 1-26.
Claretandblue (National) - 06/05/2026 20:31:48
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Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To The_analyser: "The powers to be have decided to moved the All-Ireland U20 Semi-final to Wednesday night May 13th in Semple Stadium with a 7.30pm. Not played on the original date Saturday the 9th because Kerry was granted the request to move in back because Tomas Kennedy will be involved with the Seniors on Sunday." It will give Roscommon players more time to recover from the extra time in Tuam I suppose. Not to forget that a Roscommon man is probably the most powerful figure in the gaa when it comes to fixture and competition scheduling.
endgame (National) - 06/05/2026 18:03:37
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Galway Hurling thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Stool Pigeon: "I'm expecting Wexford to give us plenty of it here.
On day 1 the gap on the final scoreboard was far bigger than the gap between the teams on the grass. Wexford have since drawn with Kilkenny (4 down with 2 mins left and goaled twice) and walloped both Kildare and Laois, and while neither of the latter two are up to much at this level, hammering them can only be good for confidence. You'd imagine Wexford will be better prepared for Niland the next day also and we can't rely on their shooting being so rotten either.
Perhaps my expectations are too high but I've been somewhat underwhelmed by what I have seen from the U20's this year so far, Niland was essentially the difference on day 1, Kildare was meh and we were fortunate enough to beat a very understrength KK side (TBF we didn't have Niland and Rabbitte came on after HT and he did make an impact)
But a repeat of the first 25 minutes of the KK game wouldn't be a good look and it would mean we wouldn't be in much danger of winning anything. Let's hope we improve on the grass and on the line. We need to." They probably will give us plenty of it but I'd be very disappointed if we aren't winning this one with a bit to spare. Rabbitte was definitely carrying an injury in that first game and the big difference is having Cullen Killeen now available at midfield. He really drove things on against Kilkenny when some of the others weren't hurling well and he is a class player - man of the match in the county final and the all ireland club semi final this year. I wouldn't mind seeing Rabbitte and Niland both play on the inside line for a portion of the game, just to stop a sweeper focusing solely on Niland.
galway19 (National) - 06/05/2026 09:36:42
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To maroondiesel: "provincial champs should get a bye in first round of Sam. This would make it all normal." Why should they? The new system is designed to level the playing field for all teams in the AI series.
Some teams are getting a handy run in their own province and when it comes to the next stage they are much fresher and have a hugh advantage.
Scenicparish (National) - 06/05/2026 17:22:37
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Donegal GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To farneygael3: "Second best team in Ulster u20 and now to be AT LEAST the second best senior team in Ulster. Some counties can only dream" Sure if you're happy to settle for second best......
Speaking of second best the anniversary of your one and only appearance in the big final is coming up in 2030. Are there any events planned to mark the occasion?
Newman21 (National) - 06/05/2026 14:41:07
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Westmeath25: "Who is this? I'm not sure how any player wouldn't want to be involved with the final and with Cavan in the all Ireland series. I've been to nearly every game in the last 15 years and this is the best supported and momentum building I've seen Westmeath football!" Agree, you are talking a month or month and a half commitment, where we might see a chance like this for another number of years. Should do all we can to bolster the squad.
Lakeman93 (National) - 06/05/2026 14:07:54
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Kerry GAA Thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To CiarraiMick: "The town is choc a block with good standard b and b s also.Hope you all get sorted lads." Cheers! Might be time to put my good friend Claude to work to find me a reasonably priced B&B.
Lockjaw (National) - 06/05/2026 14:07:36
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Commodore: "Scrap the National League, and convert the Provincial Championships into a Provincial league format, with Finals?
The top 4 from each Province progress to the All Ireland series (16 teams).
-- The Provincial winners getting Automatic All Ireland Quarter final places.
-- The 3rd and 4th place go into All Ireland knockout round 1, play other losing 3rd and 4th placed teams.
-- The Provincial runner up plays a winner of round 1 in the 2nd round, with 2nd round winner through to All Ireland Quarter final.
Anyone who doesn't make the All ireland series, is automatically in the Tailteann cup, with the exception of the bottom 2 in each Province, who maybe go into a 3rd tier Championship." This is not good.
One of the key themes is that the Provincials are imbalanced. Why would we want them at the heart of the championship.
Get the National championship format right first. Nationally organised.
See if Provincial champions can be accommodated.
Everything else should be secondary.
Whammo86 (National) - 06/05/2026 14:02:40
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