National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "I thought Galway's weakness in 2024 was lacking the 'street smarts' of Armagh, ahem. Was a game they might have won had it not been for the prolonged injury break at a time they were threatening to come to the fore.

No team would have beaten Dublin in 2018."
If Rob Finnerty played full game we may indeed have won, so that could be street smarts.

That 2018 game was unreal if you were at it. Comer the bear in the square, I think Clucko still has nightmares about him

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 23/06/2026 14:06:59    2681483

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I cannot understand for the life of me why teams when they win a turnover in their own half insist on slow lateral movement up to the D giving the opposition time to re- group. I know not every team has a David Clifford but I think Tyrone need to throw caution to the wind on Saturday to have any chance.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 482 - 23/06/2026 14:26:28    2681495

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "Of the teams left - only Dublin and Tyrone have a history of sticking it to Kerry.

Louth, Cork, Mayo, Galway, Monaghan - will all be cannon fodder for Kerry. Dublin aren't what they were and Kerry have a team as good as any they ever had.

So its up to Tyrone to save the championship - they are the only ones who put it up to Kerry regardless of how good Kerry are going.

15 of the 21 players who played against Mayo have won an all Ireland at some level for Tyrone.
They have the midfielders who can match Kerry and can play the Donegal game plan v Kerry.

Their biggest problem is they don't have enough man markers to stop Kerry - so they will have to win midfield and win it well. They can overload their press on the Kerry kick out, particularly with Morgan pushing up to midfield for kick outs.

If Tyrone don't stop Kerry, then no one else will."
Totally, man markers are a concern. Clifford, Seanie back to fitness, and Paudi C will make his presence felt. Big task but like Bob the builder, yes we can.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2787 - 23/06/2026 14:51:08    2681501

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I cannot understand for the life of me why teams when they win a turnover in their own half insist on slow lateral movement up to the D giving the opposition time to re- group. I know not every team has a David Clifford but I think Tyrone need to throw caution to the wind on Saturday to have any chance."
It is one of frustrating aspects of watching Dublin too. Westmeath showed that there being adventurous and direct can win games and it took Monaghan a while to deal with it.

I suppose teams will argue that it is not the % call to send in early ball if you don't have confidence in the inside men to win it. Both Tyrone and Dublin have proven forwards and you'd wonder if they are being underused.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4415 - 23/06/2026 15:14:19    2681513

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "It is one of frustrating aspects of watching Dublin too. Westmeath showed that there being adventurous and direct can win games and it took Monaghan a while to deal with it.

I suppose teams will argue that it is not the % call to send in early ball if you don't have confidence in the inside men to win it. Both Tyrone and Dublin have proven forwards and you'd wonder if they are being underused."
Dublin tried it with Basquel in the first half on Sunday but he was very isolated. I recall the last play just before half time was sent into him but it ended up going for a line ball and time was called.

I also still remember Michael Murphy's fantastic one handed catch and point against Armagh in last year's Ulster Final. I don't think there were too many kicked into him since sadly.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1687 - 23/06/2026 15:49:00    2681525

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