|
Football Championship 2026 - 7 Like(s)
Replying To Square_B: "Why would I hate the best team to ever grace a football field? 9 All Irelands in 13 seasons, a team who won 15 out of 16 Leinster titles and 7 League Titles from 2011 to 2023. You lads could take a leaf out of their book; a team of class, grace and modesty." You really are blinded by hate.
That Dublin team was a ruthless and cynical as any that every played. You have to be at top level sports. Pulling down all the mayo players on the pitch in a clearly orchestrated and practiced manner at the end of the 2017 final is hardly and act of class or grace. Ruthless and efficient yes - classy? Afraid not.
The narrative that this is a new Dublin team and they are plucky underdogs is the greatest lie ever told.
The team the played against Galway had 48 All Ireland medals between them:
Ciarán Kilkenny: 8 (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Cormac Costello: 8 (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
David Byrne: 8 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023) (Won as a panel member across 8 campaigns)
Con O'Callaghan: 7 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023) (Earned 7 Senior Football medals)
Brian Howard: 5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Niall Scully: 5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Evan Comerford: 4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) (Reserve goalkeeper during these titles)
Paddy Small: 2 (2020, 2023)
Lee Gannon: 1 (2023)
The lads below all played in All Ireland U20 finals (all be it on the losing side).
Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne
Ross McGarry:
Seán MacMahon:
Seán Guiden:
Add in Sean Bugler, Theo Clancy and Colm Basquel on top of all that and there is a team that not many can match.
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist" - Roger "Verbil" Kent - the usual suspects.
Keyser Söze - is back.
tirawleybaron (National) - 30/06/2026 11:56:01
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Monaghanmad123: "How much did Monaghan playing week on week effect the last 10/15 minutes with the game in the melting pot?
Even with the extra man, the players looked leggy and out on their feet. Louth definitely got more of an impact off their bench also. Louth subs scored 0-6 in the last 20 to Monaghan 0-2…" 3 out if the 4 teams that played in the quarter final went through after playing 3 weeks in a row. Dublin had extra time against Donegal las week and finished strongly and won.Monaghan did not look fit, nor did their mindsets look like a winning one. Still can't believe 14 men beat 15 in that heat in Croke park. I would say that's a first in the new rules!
Corklegend (National) - 29/06/2026 21:34:56
|
|
Louth GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Congrasts Louth, a great win for ye & deserved. A mighty performance by 14 men & a great support too.
Onwards & upwards for ye, but beware of Mayo...... they may have a poor record in finals, but they have a great record in semis!
Monaghan Exile (National) - 29/06/2026 21:34:34
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
The Louth game should end all talk of Malone being the next manager.
ORIELMAN85 (National) - 29/06/2026 23:07:51
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To monaghanmad: "No thanks, we definitely don't want to follow the Roscommon way of thinking, we will stick to playing with the big boys in Croker. Keep cuddling the Nestor Cup." I hate to see posts like this, anytime we play the big boys in CP as you say, we come home with our tails between our legs .We would love to win Ulster.
patmouse (National) - 30/06/2026 14:39:30
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
We can give it the usual 'it was great to be in Croke Park' shtick, but we shouldn't. Because it wasn't.
Sunday was an abject failure in management, not just on the day, within the game, but going back a long time before. When the air thins and the margins tighten, you then see the accumulated weaknesses for what they really are. Sunday was that.
At 8:40am on Monday 21st, Peter Dooley and Gavin Devlin started planning for playing Monaghan in CP without Rory Beggan. Kickout strategy, loading midfield, packing the short spaces, McDonnell deep for any long options. It took until Thursday night for Monaghan to accept that reality. One short training game later and a decision was made that may have the effect of damaging the careers of two young goalkeepers, not just one. A decision of such recklessness that it is scarcely believable. Were any of the senior management setup in the Athletic grounds in April?
I said all last week that Dara McDonnell at 6 was key and a solution was needed. Did anyone watch the Louth Dublin and Armagh games and if so WTF were they looking at?? Woods had to drop in but not a bit of it. The red card was a get-out-of-jail moment and that was passed up too. Just go 14-14 and bring Hanratty on even if only to block on kickouts. Gallagher out was an obvious issue (it took 15 minutes to take him of after the injury v Westmeath BTW), but the lack of cover was the real long term problem. A year after the Donegal meltdown we are back to square one. Too many viable midfield options have walked away - you have to ask why. The hairy fella, ill-disciplined and all as he was, was needed in a crisis. No sign. Two more major midfield options not on the panel at all in 2026. A panel like Monaghan just cannot pass up on these lads. Stephen Mooney too was superb when he came in- should have started, probably instead of the un-droppable man. Harsh but the truth.
Even with all that said, Monaghan still led with 4 to go, before all sorts of panic broke out. It showed what could have been but wasn't. The control needed was absent on the pitch and on the line. An unforgivable meltdown.
I've truly admired what this setup has done for Monaghan football, they steadied the ship when we were looking very bleak after Vinnie's departure. I do think however that the time is up now. Two big opportunities missed in Croke Park, we cannot waste any more with this generation of players. The ruthlessness to win when it matters is missing and that's what's needed now. Simple question, would Monaghan have won if Devlin was running the show on Sunday? Go from there
Eddie the Exile (National) - 30/06/2026 11:44:16
|
|
Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Delighted with how Dublin have upped their game in the last couple of matches. Better team beat the better squad on Sunday. Evident that a lot of work has gone into our kick out strategy in the past couple of weeks. Getting a couple of key players back has also been huge.
As a blow-in in the west, it's sad to see what poor management has cost probably the most talented squad in the country for at least 3 years of PJ's reign. They still probably had the best squad behind Kerry this year, but I'm not sure that will remain the case much longer. Incredible that he has never managed to solve the kick out issue that has been dogging them for years. The team occasionally breaks free of his shackles during matches and shows how good they could be with quick ball, but then they revert to the all the lateral stuff again. Sadly, talking to people down here, the rose tinted glasses being worn due to his great playing career seem likely to remain in place.
DubSanIarthar (National) - 30/06/2026 11:09:43
|
|
Donegal GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To gunman: "When Bonner brought in the high profile Rochford I don't think it helped us ." I honestly don't believe that Bonnar brought Rochford in, he was delivered by someone else.
SouthOfTheGap (National) - 30/06/2026 17:10:48
|
|
Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To tirawleybaron: "You really are blinded by hate.
That Dublin team was a ruthless and cynical as any that every played. You have to be at top level sports. Pulling down all the mayo players on the pitch in a clearly orchestrated and practiced manner at the end of the 2017 final is hardly and act of class or grace. Ruthless and efficient yes - classy? Afraid not.
The narrative that this is a new Dublin team and they are plucky underdogs is the greatest lie ever told.
The team the played against Galway had 48 All Ireland medals between them:
Ciarán Kilkenny: 8 (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Cormac Costello: 8 (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
David Byrne: 8 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023) (Won as a panel member across 8 campaigns)
Con O'Callaghan: 7 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023) (Earned 7 Senior Football medals)
Brian Howard: 5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Niall Scully: 5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Evan Comerford: 4 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) (Reserve goalkeeper during these titles)
Paddy Small: 2 (2020, 2023)
Lee Gannon: 1 (2023)
The lads below all played in All Ireland U20 finals (all be it on the losing side).
Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne
Ross McGarry:
Seán MacMahon:
Seán Guiden:
Add in Sean Bugler, Theo Clancy and Colm Basquel on top of all that and there is a team that not many can match.
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist" - Roger "Verbil" Kent - the usual suspects.
Keyser Söze - is back." Have ye found Lee Keegan's GPS tracker yet?
Square_B (National) - 30/06/2026 16:17:50
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To farneygael3: "Should Malone be taking over next year? He's done ok on the club front with blaney the last 2 seasons. You look at Westmeath and McHugh" Like your comment on Louth being in Croke Park by luck, I hope this one is also a joke?
Matchwatcher (National) - 30/06/2026 16:16:24
|
|
Who Would Be A Referee ? - 1 Like(s)
Clare County Board need to man up on that one. Offending club should be banned from championship for 2 years.
Guy who hit the ref should get a 4 year ban.
No fines - just proper bans.
To be honest, this stuff is led from the top.
Kerry and Dublin won fair and square at the weekend and you had two conservative managers blaming the ref for matches they didnt go after fully.
Both managers are known for conservative play and end up blaming the ref becuase they their teams were outscored in a shootout.
Both of those managers should be fined or suspended for that sort of wingeing too.
It starts with intercounty managers not showing respect and finishes with a deranged lunatic beating up a ref in an underage club match.
The GAA dont help themselves - its very rare for a ref to be stood down.
Even reffing U8 go games, there are plenty of complaints to the ref from the sideline.
Last year we had a parent go after a ref at U8's.
Association needs to decide - protect the refs or lose good refs.
tirawleybaron (National) - 30/06/2026 15:07:23
|
|
Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Ros2013: "In fairness bar the Murtagh comment he's not far off. I more or less posted similar a page ago. Bar Murtagh and smith the rest have performed consistently average for years." He is really, Diarmuid and Enda are the only ones around for years. Debut season for Darragh Heneghan, had a wobble at the end but a very good first year for the lad. O Hanlon has been playing inter county for the best part of 10 years, a ridiculous comparison. Daire Cregg has only been an established starter since 2024. Still has to find more consistency but ends the year scoring 2-46. Mooney scored 2-8. First year for Robert Heneghan as well.
FullOfPorter (National) - 30/06/2026 14:55:25
|
|
Leitrim GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To foreveryoung: "'Little hurlers' used as term of endearment, not of scorn. They get enough of that it seems within the borders of the county. I have never seen Leitrim hurlers play but really admire the effort they are making and the success that they have achieved over the past couple of seasons. Onwards and upwards!" Nah it wasn't, you were being demeaning. We see you.
ohwow (National) - 30/06/2026 14:34:33
|
|
Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To ConyersHill04: "Two days later and its still extremely raw. That was a complete and utter horror show from start to finish. Cannot believe Stephen Mooney didn't start that game. Really thought we had turned a corner with injuries, mentality of the squad and team selection from earlier in the league. However, the news throughout the week and at the weekend which displayed the fact so many people knew our squad before the turnstiles even opened on Sunday still bewilders me. Shows the mentality of certain individuals.
I gave him credit last week but I'm sorry this one is 100% on Gabriel Bannigan and his management team." yano i walked away accepting defeat as louth were the better team...but this comment hit hard...it was a bloody horror show!
MalsBalls (National) - 30/06/2026 12:54:25
|
|
Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To ColmFlaherty: "Going from his championship form, I'd say Tierney never got right after the quad injury." even if that were the case, not sure why pj plays him for 70 mins when he didn't score, catch, disposes anyone etc in the game, time for a change.
candlewax (National) - 30/06/2026 12:39:54
|
|
Kerry All Ireland Champions 2026? - 1 Like(s)
Replying To tirawleybaron: "Question is should the semi between Dublin and Kerry just be called the final - and call Louth v Mayo the runners up decider.
No need to play on the 26th then at all" Mayo will be waste of a ticket in final against kerry
TommyBermingham (National) - 29/06/2026 20:17:06
|
|
Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
I'm not expecting too many retirements, Silke most likely given what he does for a living is very demanding. Hard to know with Conroy but really can't see Walsh going anywhere. I think someone mentioned McDaid but he's only 28.
Same old issues which have caused us problems for years, throwing away big leads when well on top and losing the kickout battle. Its no good enough to be having the same issues 5 years down the line.
There's still a lot of top players who are in their prime, the likes of Molloy & O'Laoi both stepped up on Sunday and were excellent. Galway are very well stacked in the backs, especially in the half backs, could do with finding someone who can operate in the full back line, another midfielder but with Sam O'Neill & McGlinchey about that may not be an issue.
In the forward line we'll have Thompson back who was a huge loss this year, Mulhearn will be a year older and I saw enough of Mulryan in the 20's to suggest he's definitely got a good chance at this level.
But matters nothing if they don't find a new keeper and put a few set plays in place for kickouts.
TheBishop (National) - 30/06/2026 10:05:45
|
|
Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Nobody deserves a 9-year tenure as manager of Galway. No one. You'd want to be a Jim Gavin or a Mick O'Dwyer in their management prime to be allowed all that time. Joyce has been a great servant to the county but thank you Padraic, it's time to move on and get a new voice in there. We're stale. We're out of ideas under PJ and our major problems in our play just never get addressed. PJ wants to hold on for dear life as he wants the profile given it helps him on multiple fronts, one major one in particular. He has had the best crop of players in approx 30 years under his leadership and he hasn't delivered with them. Make no mistake - this group we have is generational and were, maybe still are, capable of winning an All Ireland but I know and they know deep down that they won't under PJ. Thank you but please clear the way now.
togoutlads (National) - 30/06/2026 08:53:13
|
|
Louth GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Square_B: "HILARIOUS. Be thankful ye didn't get Dublin or Kerry, ye might have had to have the burns department in the Mater Hospital on standby." Where are Leitrim still trying to field a team for next year I'd say
S1234 (National) - 30/06/2026 05:39:14
|
|
Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Farneyblueandwhite: "Had Galway pencilled in for an all ireland appearance as dark horses looked to be flying this last few weeks but there you go gutted like ourselves good luck in 27" When did they look to be flying? When they beat Leitrim? They had the easiest possible route to the quarter final this year, possibly the easiest route any team has ever had to a quarter final.
Beat Leitrim to secure a home draw in the All Ireland series, beat the worst team in the All Ireland series at home, then beat Westmeath at home. Westmeath are a good side but getting them at home was the best possible draw at that stage.
I could not understand why people were saying Galway were coming good at the the right time, there was no evidence either way.
JimB1991 (National) - 29/06/2026 22:59:04
|