National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Thanks yank! It was an unbelievable win, and once Cork smelled a bit of blood coming down the straight they just drove on. Couldn't believe how cocky some Donegal folk were. Yes, we were underdogs, but obviously people haven't been watching us too closely thus far - this team has great resilience and is well able to rack up big scores.

Re the hurlers - we are not down and will pick ourselves up and go again."
Down have a decent hurling and football team in fairness

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1281 - 15/06/2026 10:40:52    2679778

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Replying To tribesmen:  "Monaghan vs. Westmeath
Dublin vs. Donegal
Mayo vs. Meath
Kerry vs. Armagh

That's some draw. Hard to call any of them fixtures. Football championship the gift that keeps on giving this year."
Have to say i'm really enjoying the championship this year. so open. im not saying that all 12 teams left in it could win it but on their day any team can beat anyone else. one provincial champion out already. no provincial champion in the Quarter final by the direct route. of the 4 favourites only 1 safely in the quarter final and there is going to be at least 1 more massive casualty next weekend. a fabulous couple of weeks for louth. Great result for Cork yesterday. Shocks every weekend. no one sided games (ok a few teams did fade in the last 10 minutes Cavan, Kildare, Roscommon Derry) but overall its been great stuff. Credit where its due - new rules new structures all working. Hope it continues for the remainder of the championship. Tailteann cup fairly competetive too.. Offaly Down final in my book with Down not getting caught a second time.

indaknownow (Offaly) - Posts: 122 - 15/06/2026 10:57:35    2679781

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Kerry enjoyed last summer. Ulster is striking back this summer. That's sport in a good rivalry between a county and a province. Armagh should bring a good crowd and colour to Killarney. Killarney has waited so long for big games and now there is a third this summer.
I was saying last year that Tyrone gave Kerry a tough semi final. Not sure what happened Tyrone in the league but Tyrone have come bouncing back as expected in the championship. Why some people are overlooking Tyrone is baffling.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9823 - 15/06/2026 11:41:07    2679807

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Callinan just had to go for goal or lay it off to Tommy Conroy. The fact he went for a point in that position was scandalous. Also management leaving Coyne of McCurry was criminal."
A perfect draw for Mayo to get them back up and running. Good luck.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2757 - 15/06/2026 11:44:41    2679810

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "And Kerry get Armagh. That'll be some occasion. I think all 4 games are open. People might say Donegal should be strong favourites against Dublin, but we had people on here saying 5 of the 8 games on the weekend were guaranteed, and two of those produced very big shocks.
Both Monaghan and Westmeath will believe they can can win. Who knows how Mayo and Meath will go. It's do or die for Kerry and Armagh. The Dubs could be very awkward for Donegal."
Not alone 'people on here', but RTE and GaaGo picked 5 of the 8 to show, and didn't pick Cork because they knew they had no chance in Donegal.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4808 - 15/06/2026 12:14:21    2679833

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Tyrone are more than happy with being overlooked.

Brummiejoe (UK) - Posts: 16 - 15/06/2026 12:26:44    2679840

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Kerry enjoyed last summer. Ulster is striking back this summer. That's sport in a good rivalry between a county and a province. Armagh should bring a good crowd and colour to Killarney. Killarney has waited so long for big games and now there is a third this summer.
I was saying last year that Tyrone gave Kerry a tough semi final. Not sure what happened Tyrone in the league but Tyrone have come bouncing back as expected in the championship. Why some people are overlooking Tyrone is baffling."
They haven't gone away you know. Compacted season doesn't help with some injuries for all counties. Going back at the first round in Ulster they weren't mentioned and should have beaten Armagh. Couple of earlier frees yesterday Morgan should have been taking.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2757 - 15/06/2026 12:45:42    2679850

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Kerry
Donegal
Monaaghan
Mayo

4 straight games. Mayo and Meath could be slightly close

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 93 - 15/06/2026 12:50:07    2679853

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Will be interested to see how GAA schedule the games for the weekend but truth be told…it's way too packed

Every match is do or die but with hurling and Tailteann, we have eight matches that deserve space, coverage and hype squeezed into 2 days.

So we will probably have Dublin v Donegal clashing with Sundays quarter final hurling and the Tailteann Cup will again compete with probably Mayo v Meath and Monaghan v Westmeath.

Kerry v Armagh must be the centre of all the coverage but will probably get hidden behind the paywall again."
GAA + will be showing 3 of the 4 games, and I believe they+ get the 1st, 2nd and 4th pick so they're going to obviously pick Kerry Armagh. 2nd pick will be a toss up between Dublin Donegal and Meath Mayo, so one of those will be on RTE as the 3rd pick, and Monaghan Westmeath will be GAA +

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 166 - 15/06/2026 13:11:02    2679875

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Replying To maroondiesel:  "Down have a decent hurling and football team in fairness"
ah very good - I see what you did there...

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 583 - 15/06/2026 13:16:49    2679879

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Replying To Brummiejoe:  "Tyrone are more than happy with being overlooked."
As are Cork...

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 583 - 15/06/2026 13:18:28    2679880

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "As are Cork..."
Bloodandbandage how far can cork
go in football and if you were guaranteed Liam or
Sam to take back to d banks, which would
it be?

Brummiejoe (UK) - Posts: 16 - 15/06/2026 13:38:30    2679890

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Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "GAA + will be showing 3 of the 4 games, and I believe they+ get the 1st, 2nd and 4th pick so they're going to obviously pick Kerry Armagh. 2nd pick will be a toss up between Dublin Donegal and Meath Mayo, so one of those will be on RTE as the 3rd pick, and Monaghan Westmeath will be GAA +"
If Dublin force this game to be on in Parnell Park, it should be on RTE.

I do think hiding Kerry v Armagh behind the paywall is a promotion own goal for the sport.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 486 - 15/06/2026 13:45:39    2679896

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Replying To Brummiejoe:  "Bloodandbandage how far can cork
go in football and if you were guaranteed Liam or
Sam to take back to d banks, which would
it be?"
To answer your question on how far can they go - I really don't know. I've been to a few of their games this year and there does seem to be a real cohesion and spirit that was maybe lacking in previous seasons. Also, bringing Sherlock back into the fold has been a huge plus. If we can get more out of Chris Og and Mark Cronin, we could at least get to a semi-final. Who knows after that. However, that second half performance against Kerry still sticks in my mind, and they're always the one team we struggle to get over.

Tough, tough question on Sam or Liam, I'd be absolutely delighted with either tbh. As I'm sure would Galway or Dublin! I'm from a strong City hurling club (although living in Dublin now), and hurling will always be my first love, so if push came to shove I'd take Liam, particularly when you factor in the recent heartache and long drought!!!

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 583 - 15/06/2026 14:12:20    2679914

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "And Kerry get Armagh. That'll be some occasion. I think all 4 games are open. People might say Donegal should be strong favourites against Dublin, but we had people on here saying 5 of the 8 games on the weekend were guaranteed, and two of those produced very big shocks.
Both Monaghan and Westmeath will believe they can can win. Who knows how Mayo and Meath will go. It's do or die for Kerry and Armagh. The Dubs could be very awkward for Donegal."
Certainly, some great games to look forward to:

Dublin v Donegal: I agree that Donegal will be big favorites, but the Dubs seem to be developing the required type of resilience just at the right time, something that they didn't have over the past 4-5 months. And GB back on the line is a factor too. They should take it to the Neller. Draw and the Dubs in extra-time.

Mayo v Meath: Neither team has the killer instinct to go all the way, but home advantage might sway it for Mayo.

Monaghan v Westmeath: Same here, again home advantage might sway it. But WM are some battlers, lost their two mid-fielders yesterday but kept plugging away til the end, and without Luke Loughlin all year. He is their Davy Clifford.

Kerry v Armagh: Kerry big favorites here, at home, against an Armagh side that has been on the road for quite a while now. Surely, Kerry will never allow a second Ulster team beat them again in Killarney in the same year, in the same championship. But…

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2579 - 15/06/2026 15:23:23    2679940

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Replying To shaggykev:  "If Dublin force this game to be on in Parnell Park, it should be on RTE.

I do think hiding Kerry v Armagh behind the paywall is a promotion own goal for the sport."
Dublin won't be forcing the game to Parnell Park... wait until you see... it will be played in Croke Park as a triple header to the Tailteann Cup Semi Finals. It wouldn't make any sense anyhow give the amount of season tickets the GAA would have to cater for.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2077 - 15/06/2026 15:50:29    2679952

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