National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Galway have the potential to win the All Ireland never mind Connacht, if they get their best team on the pitch and they stay injury free they are a dangerous team.
I just think Roscommon have a kick in them this year, only team that beat us this year as well."
That's hilarious lol .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1052 - 09/04/2026 18:20:21    2665455

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I'll predict the four Provinces.
Ulster- Donegal
Connacht- Roscommon
Leinster- Dublin
Munster- Kerry"
Unbeaten provincial winners should be able to avoid each other until the All Ireland semi finals. It's the part of the new championship structure I dislike. It just takes a simple tweak to fix:
There already can't be a repeat of provincial finals. Unbeaten provincial winners should be kept apart in Round 2A. One small tweak like that would keep unbeaten provincial winners apart until the semi finals.
Like other matters, it might take Donegal v Roscommon and Kerry v Dublin in Round 2A from these predictions for such a change to be made. I know there's some desire for the championship to be a blunt instrument but having unbeaten provincial winners clash before All Ireland semi finals is wrong.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9622 - 09/04/2026 22:15:08    2665491

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I see Brian Fenton is to join the RTE GAA panel, was just thinking how he would thrive under the new rules and how badly Dublin could do with him now if he was still available to play.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3822 - 10/04/2026 09:08:22    2665519

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Unbeaten provincial winners should be able to avoid each other until the All Ireland semi finals. It's the part of the new championship structure I dislike. It just takes a simple tweak to fix:
There already can't be a repeat of provincial finals. Unbeaten provincial winners should be kept apart in Round 2A. One small tweak like that would keep unbeaten provincial winners apart until the semi finals.
Like other matters, it might take Donegal v Roscommon and Kerry v Dublin in Round 2A from these predictions for such a change to be made. I know there's some desire for the championship to be a blunt instrument but having unbeaten provincial winners clash before All Ireland semi finals is wrong."
As usual your opinion is coloured by the simple fact that Kerry would benefit most from your suggestion.

For the all ireland draw to be fair, giving Kerry extra advantages for beating Cork and not much else just cant be allowed.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1735 - 10/04/2026 11:51:59    2665556

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Unbeaten provincial winners should be able to avoid each other until the All Ireland semi finals. It's the part of the new championship structure I dislike. It just takes a simple tweak to fix:
There already can't be a repeat of provincial finals. Unbeaten provincial winners should be kept apart in Round 2A. One small tweak like that would keep unbeaten provincial winners apart until the semi finals.
Like other matters, it might take Donegal v Roscommon and Kerry v Dublin in Round 2A from these predictions for such a change to be made. I know there's some desire for the championship to be a blunt instrument but having unbeaten provincial winners clash before All Ireland semi finals is wrong."
I'd agree with that, though it's a guaranteed advantage to Kerry most would say but I suppose it's not Kerry's fault Munster is weak enough and uncompetitive in football terms in comparison to the likes of Ulster especially.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3822 - 10/04/2026 12:48:35    2665576

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "As usual your opinion is coloured by the simple fact that Kerry would benefit most from your suggestion.

For the all ireland draw to be fair, giving Kerry extra advantages for beating Cork and not much else just cant be allowed."
I would argue not kerry fault where they are located they are improving hurling so why cant tipp etc in football even at lower level over time. Its not their fault and often doesn't help kerry terms of ready for big give so not always an advantage not their fault qualifiers back and even when cork were very strong and beating kerry in past, kerry still won a lot .
Not from kerry but i don't blame them for poor form from likes cork in the past.

Connaught for past few years hasnt been great either , Galway walked it basically but might better this year.

Put kerry in the western province so guarantee win a lot

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1257 - 10/04/2026 13:30:01    2665592

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "I would argue not kerry fault where they are located they are improving hurling so why cant tipp etc in football even at lower level over time. Its not their fault and often doesn't help kerry terms of ready for big give so not always an advantage not their fault qualifiers back and even when cork were very strong and beating kerry in past, kerry still won a lot .
Not from kerry but i don't blame them for poor form from likes cork in the past.

Connaught for past few years hasnt been great either , Galway walked it basically but might better this year.

Put kerry in the western province so guarantee win a lot"
Walked it? We scraped past Mayo last year and the year before. A last minute kick by Gleeson to win by a point in 2024 and defending a 2 point leveller from Mayo in 2025. Galway, Mayo and Roscommon are all Division 1 teams and competitive at that. Either of them can heat each other on a given day.
You're not from Kerry apparently, but almost all your posts are about Kerry oddly enough.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2754 - 10/04/2026 14:00:34    2665597

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Will matches have to be postponed because of the fuel protests?

Sharlene (Down) - Posts: 2 - 10/04/2026 18:08:00    2665662

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "As usual your opinion is coloured by the simple fact that Kerry would benefit most from your suggestion.

For the all ireland draw to be fair, giving Kerry extra advantages for beating Cork and not much else just cant be allowed."
Provincial loser also gets home advantage
So it's a win, win for two counties in munster
every year. They could just alternate the cup, and move on to the all-ireland!

Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 19 - 10/04/2026 21:14:28    2665681

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