National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To Expertinall:  "Monaghan v Mayo looks tasty, and Westmeath can dream on. All Ireland strategy v provincial glory also to be factored in for some!"
And kerry donegal

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1293 - 04/05/2026 15:18:59    2670896

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What difference does a R1 qualifier win make?

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1325 - 04/05/2026 15:23:54    2670898

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Stop thinking, lad."
I'm glad I don't gamble.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2662 - 04/05/2026 15:30:03    2670905

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After these matches are played,what happens next?

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2682 - 04/05/2026 15:44:46    2670910

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "My point is the provincial winners get nothing extrq for winning besides the prestige.

E.g.Dublin will probably win the Leinster final and they could draw Donegal next.
Westmeath will probably lose the leinster final and could draw Cavan in first round.

Then Westmeath get an easier fixture than their victors.

Even worse"
Off track a small bit here, Mick, but I was watching old videos of Maurice Fitzgerald a few days ago. I couldn't help but wonder: What would that man not score if they two pointer was in existence back in his day?

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2517 - 04/05/2026 16:10:29    2670920

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For me the only validation for retaining the provincial championships is to give teams a chance to win a trophy outside an All Ireland. Provincial titles are a step up from winning a league title in the various divisions. For me this year's All Ireland title is between Kerry, Donegal and Armagh. I don't think any other team in Ireland can compete with those three for the title. If you take those three out of the competition, it would be a wide open competition.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2212 - 04/05/2026 16:19:45    2670924

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "What sort of tripe is this. Why are Meath even mentioned. And if you think the dubs have an easy leinster you know nothing"
Hes spot on, we are kicking ourselves. Dublin win that game by 10, meath much better then westmeath just caught bad on the day, similar to Donegal and Down. Westmeath deserved it on the day but meath v dublin or louth would have been the proper leinster final

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 04/05/2026 16:54:02    2670932

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "My point is the provincial winners get nothing extrq for winning besides the prestige.

E.g.Dublin will probably win the Leinster final and they could draw Donegal next.
Westmeath will probably lose the leinster final and could draw Cavan in first round.

Then Westmeath get an easier fixture than their victors.

Even worse"
Thats easy enough to fix though. Just seed the provincial winners 1. The runners up 2, the top 4 from league 3 and next 4 seed 4. Draw seed 1 v Seed 4 and Seed 2 v Seed 3. Fixed pretty easily.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 330 - 04/05/2026 16:57:43    2670935

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Replying To Mayfair:  "Provincial finals are now dead rubbers. Teams will be focused on who they've drawn in round 1. Won't risk injuries in pointless games."
The Rossies for Connacht so. The Tribesmen have thrown in the towel. 5 in a row, who cares??

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 330 - 04/05/2026 16:59:09    2670936

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "What difference does a R1 qualifier win make?"
By throwing the first Round, maybe resting key players, you end up with potentially easier opposition in the next two rounds, softer route to the QF.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3049 - 04/05/2026 17:04:28    2670939

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Off track a small bit here, Mick, but I was watching old videos of Maurice Fitzgerald a few days ago. I couldn't help but wonder: What would that man not score if they two pointer was in existence back in his day?"
Oh he was special Forever.One of a small few that could take fress off the ground with both legs and excellent from the hands also.

Maurice also won the world long kicking competition in 1995.
Maurice was equally comfotable at midfield as he was as a forward.Maurice was a maestro.Hope you keeping well Forever.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4136 - 04/05/2026 17:06:52    2670940

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "For me the only validation for retaining the provincial championships is to give teams a chance to win a trophy outside an All Ireland. Provincial titles are a step up from winning a league title in the various divisions. For me this year's All Ireland title is between Kerry, Donegal and Armagh. I don't think any other team in Ireland can compete with those three for the title. If you take those three out of the competition, it would be a wide open competition."
Im not sure what you are trying to say here?
I dont think Wicklow have ever won Leinster. If they ever do achieve that dream dont you want it to mean the same as it did for Westmeath, Laois and even Louth last year?
Because if these lads get their way it wont. It will be a minor achievement as they dont want you to go into the All Ireland series where as Leinster Champions you would rightly belong if you aren't one of the best 16 teams based on your league performance.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 330 - 04/05/2026 17:07:19    2670942

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Replying To GaryMc82:  "By throwing the first Round, maybe resting key players, you end up with potentially easier opposition in the next two rounds, softer route to the QF."
There will be plenty of tough losing teams in the draw so its better go for the win.Win both round 1 and 2 and you in quarter final.Lose round 1 and route is longer.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4136 - 04/05/2026 17:20:46    2670944

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "After these matches are played,what happens next?"
Bear with me!

In order to reduce the 16 teams down to 8 teams for the quarter finals the following is the procedure:

ROUND 1
(8 matches - All Teams involved)
The 8 provincial finalists have home advantage against the 8 qualifiers as per the draw today.

ROUND 2A
(4 matches - involving the WINNERS of Round 1)
The four winning teams of round R2A will go directly into the All Ireland Quarter Finals having played the least amount of matches (2) in the qualifying rounds. This could potentially be a big advantage in comparison to the other possible routes.
( note: the losers of Round 2A are not out, see Round 3)

ROUND 2B
(4 matches in involving the 8 losers from Round 1)
The winners of these 4 matches go into Round 3.

ROUND 3
(4 matches where the losers of Round 2A play the winners of Round 2B)
This gives you 4 more teams to go into the quarter finals having played one more match.
Round 3 winners will play Round 2A winners in the quarter finals.

You would expect Round 2A winners to be stronger having won both their qualifying matches and have less injuries and maybe be fresher having played less matches in the qualifying rounds. The opposite would be the case for the winners of Round 3.

Hope that makes some sense as it can be confusing.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 894 - 04/05/2026 17:28:22    2670945

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Replying To GaryMc82:  "By throwing the first Round, maybe resting key players, you end up with potentially easier opposition in the next two rounds, softer route to the QF."
Dont you have at least one extra round that way and eventually have to play a winner from round 1 to get to quarter final?

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 330 - 04/05/2026 17:30:55    2670946

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Replying To letsgetgoing:  "Bear with me!

In order to reduce the 16 teams down to 8 teams for the quarter finals the following is the procedure:

ROUND 1
(8 matches - All Teams involved)
The 8 provincial finalists have home advantage against the 8 qualifiers as per the draw today.

ROUND 2A
(4 matches - involving the WINNERS of Round 1)
The four winning teams of round R2A will go directly into the All Ireland Quarter Finals having played the least amount of matches (2) in the qualifying rounds. This could potentially be a big advantage in comparison to the other possible routes.
( note: the losers of Round 2A are not out, see Round 3)

ROUND 2B
(4 matches in involving the 8 losers from Round 1)
The winners of these 4 matches go into Round 3.

ROUND 3
(4 matches where the losers of Round 2A play the winners of Round 2B)
This gives you 4 more teams to go into the quarter finals having played one more match.
Round 3 winners will play Round 2A winners in the quarter finals.

You would expect Round 2A winners to be stronger having won both their qualifying matches and have less injuries and maybe be fresher having played less matches in the qualifying rounds. The opposite would be the case for the winners of Round 3.

Hope that makes some sense as it can be confusing."
Wouldn't the round robin have been easier to follow and better? Just give the provincial champions 2 home games each in recognition of winning their provincial championships.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 330 - 04/05/2026 17:50:22    2670951

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Thanks for that,explanation appreciated.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2682 - 04/05/2026 17:52:41    2670953

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When do they announce the Saturday and Sunday games for Round One?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8547 - 04/05/2026 17:58:06    2670954

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Replying To Mayfair:  "Provincial finals are now dead rubbers. Teams will be focused on who they've drawn in round 1. Won't risk injuries in pointless games."
League finals are played out. Provincial finals have been set as the glory on the day. Must be noted: provincial finals will have replays from next year if level after extra time. Standalone fixtures that will have replays.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9702 - 04/05/2026 18:14:23    2670957

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Poor Down. Seeing Cavan get a decent matchup must be sickening.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 353 - 04/05/2026 19:10:26    2670969

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