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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To legendzxix: "Mayo and Kerry have recovered from setbacks in recent years. Mayo against Cavan. Kerry in Tullamore. Mayo against Roscommon. Kerry in Round 1. A lot of people forget that Mayo were only knocked out by Donegal last year with the last kick of the game. Just as I was warning about Tyrone being a tough opponent, Mayo will be a tough opponent as well." Yerra. It in the bag. Beating the dubs in home league pitch was final. Mayo haven't hope , had handy side of draw. Kerry like against meath last year gave Donegal the walkover. Resting lads and other in heavy training at time. TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 56 - 22/07/2026 17:50:47 2686643 Link
Ky haven't lost to Connacht opposition in AI final in well over 50 years. hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 250 - 23/07/2026 01:05:54 2686683 Link
Replying To hlynch12: "Ky haven't lost to Connacht opposition in AI final in well over 50 years." 1965? Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 785 - 23/07/2026 11:00:51 2686717 Link
Replying To hlynch12: "Ky haven't lost to Connacht opposition in AI final in well over 50 years." Dublin haven't lost an All-Ireland final to a Connacht team in almost 100 years. Very few teams have lost a final to Connacht opposition unfortunately. Our record in finals in appalling. Throw in the hurling and it's even worse. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2963 - 23/07/2026 12:13:37 2686727 Link
It'll be closer to a 50-50 game than some are expecting. I think there are own few who would begrudge Mayo. A great footballing county. They usually bring great colour when visiting during the league. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 24/07/2026 13:42:16 2686923 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "It'll be closer to a 50-50 game than some are expecting. I think there are own few who would begrudge Mayo. A great footballing county. They usually bring great colour when visiting during the league." Few who would begrudge Mayo however as it stands nobody wants to be that team that finally loses All-Ireland final to Mayo, if it's Kerry under Jack O'Connor in charge with the Clifford's,O'Shea etc involved it will be some story to tell, stranger things has happened in sport. Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 948 - 24/07/2026 17:19:13 2686952 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "Dublin haven't lost an All-Ireland final to a Connacht team in almost 100 years. Very few teams have lost a final to Connacht opposition unfortunately. Our record in finals in appalling. Throw in the hurling and it's even worse." Unfortunately so. Galway hurlers did what they do in All Ireland finals last Sunday and best of luck to Mayo but they too have a shocking record in All Ireland finals. endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2757 - 24/07/2026 18:45:37 2686963 Link
Replying To Drax_the_destroyer: "Few who would begrudge Mayo however as it stands nobody wants to be that team that finally loses All-Ireland final to Mayo, if it's Kerry under Jack O'Connor in charge with the Clifford's,O'Shea etc involved it will be some story to tell, stranger things has happened in sport." It wouldn't be that strange. There seems to be some sort of short term memory loss about this Kerry team. Donegal hammered them twice and both Tyrone and Dublin had them for taking and might have done with even one key decision going their way. They might turn out to be as good as previous Kerry teams but they are not there yet. No idea about sports psychology but dont see any reason Mayo can't win on Sunday. I think they will. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4508 - 24/07/2026 22:42:32 2686988 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "It wouldn't be that strange. There seems to be some sort of short term memory loss about this Kerry team. Donegal hammered them twice and both Tyrone and Dublin had them for taking and might have done with even one key decision going their way. They might turn out to be as good as previous Kerry teams but they are not there yet. No idea about sports psychology but dont see any reason Mayo can't win on Sunday. I think they will." kerry in heavy training when beat Donegal. Where are Donegal now? Sam Maguire is going west to Dingle TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 56 - 24/07/2026 23:20:50 2686992 Link
It wouldn't be strange? It would constitute the greatest shock in an All Ireland in the last 50 years, Mayo gave 3 teenagers starting, 4/5 players who have experienced All Ireland final day against a Kerry side containing the best player of all time managed by one of the greatest managers. Tom O' Sullivan was the Club footballer of the year and can't get on the Kerry team, they have four other All Stars on the bench, Mayo have beaten one Division 1 side to get to the final. Of course they have a chance just as Buster Douglas did versus Mike Tyson in 1991 but to suggest that it wouldn't constitute a massive shock is simply wrong. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2712 - 25/07/2026 03:07:49 2687001 Link
The winning of the final wont be because of tradition. It comes down to the ability of each player to deliver on the day, in a gameplan designed to win against that opposition. The fact that Mayo lost to Kerry in 2006 (or any other year) has nothing to do with it. If Mayo are in the hunt with 10 mins to go, the players on the pitch wont be thinking of 2012 or 2016. What game plan will result in Mayo winning 1. Loss of midfield battle. Mayos inability to break even at midfield has resulted in them defending the arc more often. They bring serious heat outside the arc and turn over possesion their. With thr result of a quick ball forward into a 3 v 3 situation. This is their game plan - not "chaos". Its a kick passing counter attack game. 2. Kerrys defensive style Kerry sit inside the arc, allowing teams half opportunities at 2 pointers - the teams who have beaten them in the past 2 years (Donegal , Meath) kicked those 2 pointers . Dublin and Tyrone didnt have the 2 point shooters to capitalise on this. 3. Kerrys slow build up Kerry have a tendency to slow attacks and use Paudie Clifford or Sean O Shea as playmakers, isolating D Clifford and Dylan Geaney as the primary "shooters". Most teams run out of man markers and play a zonal defense, which allows Kerry get shots out around the arc. Mayo have 4 man markers, which would leave the Kerry midfield, half backs and O Connors free to shoot 2's - not something those guys have been doing. What do Kerry need to do to win - Play a faster game, drop 1 of their midfielders and play and extra shooting forward, which will result in Mayo running out of man markers. What do Mayo need to do - Those man markers McHugh, McGreal, Hession, Callinan, need to keep Cliffords, Geaneys, SOS to 1 pointers - forcing them to step inside the arc to shoot, but keeping them from getting goals. Kerry will get 20 scores - making sure its 20 x 1 point is key. Conceeding 2-4-14 (28 points) will be too high a bar to reach. The help defense of Coyne, Coen, Flynn, Touhy, Towey will be key to that outcome. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2002 - 25/07/2026 03:52:56 2687003 Link
I was warning about Mayo all winter. Some were scoffing at it but here they are - in the final. There has been better commentary in recent days on the threat Mayo will bring. After a tough game in Omagh and turning it around against Meath, Mayo have played into impressive form. Expecting another tough battle. CA! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10005 - 25/07/2026 06:06:01 2687007 Link
Was reading the indo panel of experts verdicts and score lines. I don't think I've ever witnessed a build up to a final to be so one sided. Every single pundit is not only predicting a Kerry win but a complete landslide win at that. We may as well stay at home. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12222 - 25/07/2026 07:40:42 2687010 Link
I think Kerry will be comfortable at half time up by 5/6 and home and dry with 15 min left. Kerry by 12 dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 967 - 25/07/2026 10:07:40 2687021 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "Was reading the indo panel of experts verdicts and score lines. I don't think I've ever witnessed a build up to a final to be so one sided. Every single pundit is not only predicting a Kerry win but a complete landslide win at that. We may as well stay at home." In fairness yewtree i dont see where mayo can make a game of it. Im looking forward to it and hope ye win but i just think kerry will have way way too much for ye all over the pitch frankly. How do you think itll go? Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 203 - 25/07/2026 13:40:24 2687054 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "In fairness yewtree i dont see where mayo can make a game of it. Im looking forward to it and hope ye win but i just think kerry will have way way too much for ye all over the pitch frankly. How do you think itll go?" Although meath and kerry were overwhelming favourites in 01 and 02 respectively and lost so you never know... Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 203 - 25/07/2026 14:30:29 2687057 Link
Replying To dickie10: "I think Kerry will be comfortable at half time up by 5/6 and home and dry with 15 min left. Kerry by 12" As much as I dislike Mayo, I think that inside forward line of theirs are useful and will cause Kerry untold bother. It will be a tighter game than you think. In fairness Kerry had more in the tank v Dublin... a few chances at the end for goal were put over the bar... another day they'd be in the onion sack. You couldn't take anything useful from the Louth game & Mayo won't be reading much into it. Of course, Kerry have a few useful forwards as well........ double marking Clifford might not be the best strategy to take so we'll see how they cope with him. I still expect a 5/6 point victory for Kerry. Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2284 - 25/07/2026 14:41:59 2687061 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "In fairness yewtree i dont see where mayo can make a game of it. Im looking forward to it and hope ye win but i just think kerry will have way way too much for ye all over the pitch frankly. How do you think itll go?" Look we are up against it and if Kerry were playing any other top team I'd be backing Kerry to win it….BUT it's sport and it's a final and anything can happen. We've all seen strange things happen in sport and it can be unpredictable and that's why we love it. Of sport when the way off the favs every time then nobody would watch it. We live in hope. Up Mayo ! yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12222 - 25/07/2026 16:40:48 2687068 Link
Replying To Square_B: "As much as I dislike Mayo, I think that inside forward line of theirs are useful and will cause Kerry untold bother. It will be a tighter game than you think. In fairness Kerry had more in the tank v Dublin... a few chances at the end for goal were put over the bar... another day they'd be in the onion sack. You couldn't take anything useful from the Louth game & Mayo won't be reading much into it. Of course, Kerry have a few useful forwards as well........ double marking Clifford might not be the best strategy to take so we'll see how they cope with him. I still expect a 5/6 point victory for Kerry." The inside line will only do damage if they get the ball. That's where I think Mayo will struggle, they need to be at least 50/50 in midfield to have any chance. If they do break even then they have every chance D.Hyde (Roscommon) - Posts: 359 - 25/07/2026 18:34:19 2687092 Link