National Forum

National Football League 2026

(Oldest Posts First)

Division 1
The usual race to retain status.

Division 2
The main race is to avoid relegation. Division 3 winners don't always qualify for the championship through the league. Relegation could be at least 2 years outside of championship.

Division 3
Winning not always enough to qualify for All Ireland championship.

Division 4
Just as Division 2 finalists have made an impression on All Ireland championship, the top Division 4 teams should make an impression in Tailteann Cup.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9362 - 14/01/2026 11:25:43    2651016

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Division 1
The usual race to retain status.

Division 2
The main race is to avoid relegation. Division 3 winners don't always qualify for the championship through the league. Relegation could be at least 2 years outside of championship.

Division 3
Winning not always enough to qualify for All Ireland championship.

Division 4
Just as Division 2 finalists have made an impression on All Ireland championship, the top Division 4 teams should make an impression in Tailteann Cup."
The top division is becoming more and more elite. The past few years have seen Galway and Roscommon relegated in '21 and Promoted in '22; Dublin Relegated in '22 and Promoted in '23 Armagh and Donegal relegated in '23 and promoted in '24; with Roscommon and Monaghan being relegated in '24 and promoted in '25. Since 2020 Only Kildare relegated in '22 and Meath relegated in '20 have failed to bounce straight back.

Its quite evident that there is a top 10 in Football these past few years that has proven tough for teams to crack into. With Tyrone and Derry relegated last year they must be favorites to bounce straight back.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 486 - 15/01/2026 17:41:05    2651220

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National Football League 2026 - D1
Monaghan and Roscommon promoted. Going to be tough coming up against 6 of 7 All Ireland contenders. As mentioned elsewhere, Armagh and Galway should be looking at making the final after falling at the quarter final hurdle.

D2
Tyrone and Derry dropping down. Kildare and Offaly promoted. The other 4 retained their place last year as Monaghan and Roscommon bounced back up - Down and Westmeath went straight back down. Cavan and Meath really would want to be pushing for promotion.

D3
Down and Westmeath will be looking to bounce back. D3 winners should qualify for the All Ireland this year. Clare and Limerick will be looking for promotion coupled with a Cork relegation to earn a higher seeding in Munster for next year.

D4
Antrim and Laois looking to bounce back. Wicklow and Carlow should be in the promotion mix. Tipperary a long way from winning Munster. Not making much of an impact in the Tailteann either.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9362 - 15/01/2026 18:05:46    2651224

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Donegal 2-17 Monaghan 0-11
Statement win by Donegal ahead of the league. They pulled up the handbrake in the league last year. No such distractions a week after the league finals this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9362 - 17/01/2026 21:35:36    2651513

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Replying To brianb:  "The top division is becoming more and more elite. The past few years have seen Galway and Roscommon relegated in '21 and Promoted in '22; Dublin Relegated in '22 and Promoted in '23 Armagh and Donegal relegated in '23 and promoted in '24; with Roscommon and Monaghan being relegated in '24 and promoted in '25. Since 2020 Only Kildare relegated in '22 and Meath relegated in '20 have failed to bounce straight back.

Its quite evident that there is a top 10 in Football these past few years that has proven tough for teams to crack into. With Tyrone and Derry relegated last year they must be favorites to bounce straight back."
Strong case to be made to make Div 1 10 teams, Division 2,3 remain 8 teams and Div 4 6 team

Or option B

Bring back div 1a 1b and Div 1a 1b

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 662 - 17/01/2026 22:02:24    2651518

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Donegal 2-17 Monaghan 0-11
Statement win by Donegal ahead of the league. They pulled up the handbrake in the league last year. No such distractions a week after the league finals this year."
Statement win in pre season competitions ha ok

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 687 - 17/01/2026 22:46:52    2651531

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Replying To brianb:  "The top division is becoming more and more elite. The past few years have seen Galway and Roscommon relegated in '21 and Promoted in '22; Dublin Relegated in '22 and Promoted in '23 Armagh and Donegal relegated in '23 and promoted in '24; with Roscommon and Monaghan being relegated in '24 and promoted in '25. Since 2020 Only Kildare relegated in '22 and Meath relegated in '20 have failed to bounce straight back.

Its quite evident that there is a top 10 in Football these past few years that has proven tough for teams to crack into. With Tyrone and Derry relegated last year they must be favorites to bounce straight back."
Probably the case until new rules came in and even last year, your point proves to be correct but aside from teams wanting to avoid the drop in div. 1, div. 2 is actually the most competitive and important division. Down in div. 3 probably don't feel they far behind a Monaghan or Roscommon.
League is really still the secondary competition in preparation for championship.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 898 - 18/01/2026 09:48:28    2651552

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Replying To Drax_the_destroyer:  "Strong case to be made to make Div 1 10 teams, Division 2,3 remain 8 teams and Div 4 6 team

Or option B

Bring back div 1a 1b and Div 1a 1b"
No!

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 315 - 18/01/2026 11:10:21    2651562

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The club championships since August are a tough act to follow. Any pulling up the handbrake to avoid the Division 1 final will be taking the biscuit. A week off has been added after the finals. Monaghan, Armagh and Galway left Croke Park disappointed last June. Up to them really to bring the challenge.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9362 - 19/01/2026 12:01:12    2651851

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Seen a D2 prediction of Meath 2nd, beaten Munster semi finalists 3rd and Derry 4th. A bold prediction. If plays out like that, will be some battle.
The same prediction article has Offaly 7th and Cavan after their great win in Castlebar 8th. Neither will want to miss out on the All Ireland. Going to be a fight.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9362 - 20/01/2026 08:50:10    2652007

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Replying To Seanfan:  "No!"
Agreed if they brought back division 1A and 1B i would lose all interest in the league.

It would take the whole jeopardy out of it.

Sure why don't we make everyone a divison 1 team and call it 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D.

The fight to stay in Division 1 and 2 is what makes the leagues great.

drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 379 - 20/01/2026 10:04:09    2652018

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Replying To drumalee11:  "Agreed if they brought back division 1A and 1B i would lose all interest in the league.

It would take the whole jeopardy out of it.

Sure why don't we make everyone a divison 1 team and call it 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D.

The fight to stay in Division 1 and 2 is what makes the leagues great."
The battle to get out of div4 is pretty good every year too. I agree 100%, we have a way better system currently.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18056 - 20/01/2026 11:17:59    2652034

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Donegal 2-17 Monaghan 0-11
Statement win by Donegal ahead of the league. They pulled up the handbrake in the league last year. No such distractions a week after the league finals this year."
Both counties were playing young inexperienced players experience in the McKenna Cup, you'd hardly read much into that other than we have a better crop of young players than Monaghan.
I see lots of lads predicting us to beat the Dubs at home in Croke Park next weekend?
I think we will be starting mostly the same young players for the early part of the league anyway so it will be a great experience for them to play the Dubs in Croker,
if we manage to beat them with this young team it will be some achievement even though it's 'only' the league, depends on what team the Dubs have out of course.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3653 - 20/01/2026 11:57:55    2652048

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