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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To Saynothing: "Where is Northern Ireland? A supposed place with neither Anthem nor flag." A title that's used loads of times in the Good Friday Agreement negotiated by Shinners. A Shinner is "First Minister of Northern Ireland" 4 or 5 of them serve on the "Northern Ireland Executive" 30+ are members of the "Northern Ireland Assembly" GAA Clubs have got grants from "Sport NI" Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 643 - 12/06/2026 10:31:00 2679089 Link
2A teams have deservedly earned the opportunity to playoff for the direct route to the quarter finals. As 2A is the higher road, there is an argument that 2A teams entering R3 should have home advantage. Armagh, Donegal and Galway are all expected to go direct to the quarters. Last chance saloon for 2B teams. In a year that hasn't caught fire for some, always a danger of being caught out. That's the reality of it. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9810 - 12/06/2026 10:33:16 2679090 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "A title that's used loads of times in the Good Friday Agreement negotiated by Shinners. A Shinner is "First Minister of Northern Ireland" 4 or 5 of them serve on the "Northern Ireland Executive" 30+ are members of the "Northern Ireland Assembly" GAA Clubs have got grants from "Sport NI"" The term is rarely used by GAA people but you always get the odd one . tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 478 - 12/06/2026 12:21:17 2679117 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "It's an open draw!! Nothing unfair about it. The 40,000 in Croke Park last year decreased to 6,000 in Tullamore in quarter final" I don't think any Westmeath fan is on a position to have input, considering they wouldn't go near Mullingar to look at Westmeath footballers last spring, was there 500 of them in Mullingar last year when Meath basically made it a home game. Bandwagon will fall apart fairly quick in division 3 football next season. I'd say a lot of Westmeath fans won't know which maroon team is there players on Sunday in salthill dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 961 - 12/06/2026 14:06:06 2679140 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "If they went to Dublin or Clones - they would be outnumbered. Just wouldn't go to Navan because they wouldn't want so see Meath benefit from it." How would they play in navan ? When Meath aren't there dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 961 - 12/06/2026 14:07:07 2679142 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Where is Northern Ireland? A supposed place with neither Anthem nor flag." You could do with a map or a history lesson if you don't know where northern Ireland is ! dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 961 - 12/06/2026 14:08:44 2679144 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "Did I hear right Armagh will still heavily outnumber Louth fans in the Monaghan club ground, Inniskeen they are playing at? Would Louth have not been better off nominating a bigger county ground?" Armagh have about 3000 season ticket holders. I assume they would have had first preference on tickets. The venue holds 6500. Louth wouldn't have much season ticket holders, the rest of tickets evenly distributed to county boards would leave Armagh with more there. Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 916 - 12/06/2026 14:35:06 2679154 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "West Cork to Letterkenny is a 12hr round trip. WIth Cork playing another match win or lose - cant seek more than a minibus of Cork supporters travelling" More! Castletownbere to Letterkenny is 7 hours, so a 14 hour round trip. Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 916 - 12/06/2026 14:39:52 2679156 Link
Donegal V Cork Galway V Westmeath Cavan v Dublin Louth v Armagh Kildare V Kerry Five games that should be straight forwards wins Donegal,Galway,Dublin,Armagh and Kerry. A disappointing draw for neturals when you have 5 of your 8 games like that. Tyrone V Mayo Derry v Meath Monaghan V Roscommon Three games that are hard to call. How often have Tyrone won back to back championship games since winning the All-Ireland five years ago? A game Mayo can win so long as they improve defensively Monaghan v Roscommon a game that has high drama written all over it. Home advantage and no Enda Smith is a big advantage for Monaghan to win Derry v Meath big opportunity for both to kick start their championship could take extra time to find a winner I have a slight fancy for Meath. Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3995 - 12/06/2026 14:51:45 2679159 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "A title that's used loads of times in the Good Friday Agreement negotiated by Shinners. A Shinner is "First Minister of Northern Ireland" 4 or 5 of them serve on the "Northern Ireland Executive" 30+ are members of the "Northern Ireland Assembly" GAA Clubs have got grants from "Sport NI"" And England protect Ireland against wars, doesn't mean you're English. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2739 - 12/06/2026 15:45:59 2679167 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "And England protect Ireland against wars, doesn't mean you're English." England dont protect us from wars.They protect Northern Irelland. brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 679 - 12/06/2026 20:05:37 2679172 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "A title that's used loads of times in the Good Friday Agreement negotiated by Shinners. A Shinner is "First Minister of Northern Ireland" 4 or 5 of them serve on the "Northern Ireland Executive" 30+ are members of the "Northern Ireland Assembly" GAA Clubs have got grants from "Sport NI"" Sorry boss. It is the North Of Ireland. ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1102 - 13/06/2026 00:49:40 2679201 Link
Replying To dickie10: "Games are now seemingly going ahead in Northern Ireland, Meath county board contacted Derry saying they were happy to travel. PSNI might yet intervene Derry county board said depending on trouble which could erupt on a Friday night. The time factor is pretty tough though coming out of Derry city at 9 pm on a Saturday night won't bring any families from Meath up. Daft time to put it on for a team that brought over 40,000 to all Ireland semi last year., similar with Armagh who would bring 25,000 to Croke Park if Louth agreed. Two huge counties population wise and support wise and GAA making sure to limit attendance. GAA plus 4:30 match Meath v Derry and 7pm match Roscommon in clones would make a lot more sense. 2 hrs will bring you to south Roscommon from clones . 4hrs to big populations in south Meath from Derry. Coupled with away fixture in cork last timr seems very unfair ." Take a car instead of the horse and cart. ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1102 - 13/06/2026 00:54:01 2679202 Link
4 sell outs are a vote of confidence in the new format. Rounds 2A and 2B are like Round 3 of the previous group stage. 2A is like battling to win the group for direct access to the quarters. 2B is like battling to avoid 4th place elimination. The new format has only taken one round instead of two to get there. Mayo were pipped by Dublin for the group win in 24 and lost to Derry in the following weekend. Potential 2B opponents in R3 will be tricky. Even strong favourites like Armagh, Donegal and Galway will want to avoid the R3 battle. 3 or 4 2B teams might get to the quarters yet. 16 teams enter this weekend. After 3 weekends in a row, only 4 semi finalists will remain. The Augusta Masters in golf has Amen Corner. The 3 consecutive weekends of 2A/2B, R3 and quarters is Amen Corner in the Senior Football Championship!!! Hold on to your hats. A lot is going to happen and it usually does! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9810 - 13/06/2026 08:17:21 2679206 Link
Replying To brayballer: "England dont protect us from wars.They protect Northern Irelland." Nir quite true, they will scramble jets to a incursion into Irish airspace, long standing government agreement, which is used sometimes to argue we are not truly neutral. Similar agreement with some western European countries too, I believe, but not often called upon. Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 151 - 13/06/2026 08:44:44 2679207 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "4 sell outs are a vote of confidence in the new format. Rounds 2A and 2B are like Round 3 of the previous group stage. 2A is like battling to win the group for direct access to the quarters. 2B is like battling to avoid 4th place elimination. The new format has only taken one round instead of two to get there. Mayo were pipped by Dublin for the group win in 24 and lost to Derry in the following weekend. Potential 2B opponents in R3 will be tricky. Even strong favourites like Armagh, Donegal and Galway will want to avoid the R3 battle. 3 or 4 2B teams might get to the quarters yet. 16 teams enter this weekend. After 3 weekends in a row, only 4 semi finalists will remain. The Augusta Masters in golf has Amen Corner. The 3 consecutive weekends of 2A/2B, R3 and quarters is Amen Corner in the Senior Football Championship!!! Hold on to your hats. A lot is going to happen and it usually does!" 1 proper sell out - Pearse Stadium. Newbridge 13k, Ballybofey 16k and Inniskeen 7k (no public sale) are easily sold out. Anyway the carnage starts this afternoon.... Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 643 - 13/06/2026 10:29:40 2679219 Link
Replying To brayballer: "England dont protect us from wars.They protect Northern Irelland." Oh , they protect you. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2739 - 13/06/2026 12:37:12 2679233 Link
A shock in Ballybofey. Didn't see that one coming. Donegal should have though after losing in PuC a few years ago. A result that was a forewarning for Kerry before travelling to PuC in last year's semi final. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9810 - 13/06/2026 16:44:52 2679261 Link
Great win for the Langers up in donegal. brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 679 - 13/06/2026 16:48:49 2679263 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Oh , they protect you." No we dont use sterling. brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 679 - 13/06/2026 16:49:29 2679265 Link