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Various random thoughts..... thought I'd keep it here rather than create a new thread.....
Disilluioned football fan for many years, and posted here as such - unwatchable, embarrassing spectacle - basically outdoor basketballl / olympic handball, whatever. Been quite extreme in my views, due to disillusion / apathy as I have ponificated let teams handpass all day long, but they ant handpass forwards - too much denigration in response. But my point / objective was - its contests, fieldings - that cause excitement, not necessarily scores, and hurling has that in abundance - football was a boring - outside of our tribal loyalties. Football was a handpass snoozefest.
1. So happy now, change in rules has made it more watcheable - even though I'm an extremist ( with good intentions), I'd probaly lleave the rules alone for a now while to settle and see how coaching and playing styles eviolve; maybe a s time for very subtle changes, not the 'extreme' changes we havejust had ( even though they have been transformational).. Perhaps I'm not that extremist, after all - was just desperate!!
3. Non-fooball fans I know thought it great - "best match I watched in ages", they only started to watch because they heard Mayo were in it , Before that no interest - but thought far better spectacle than expected - they swicthed-off years ago watching the handpass exhibitions
2. Welled-up at the end, and stlll do. more so because I'm thinking of all great supporters of Mayo who have passed away over such along period and missed the joy of Sunday. When herself said why are you crying ( not a big football fan) - I explained - she burst into tears also!!!
3. Kudos to referree Mark McNally - you cant get every decision right, but noted as a ref who let them play - it was instrumental in us having a great contest. Part of my previous disillusionment was frees for a defender who was barely touched getting frees. Long may 'let them play' continue;, but has to go with 'no mercy' for a dirty egregious foul. Manly, but fair is what is required
4. New rules means tham smaller counties, like my owm, have a better chance - 4-5 strong ball-winners in the middle of the park, who can give you better than 50-50 chance in kick-outs - then release a couple of fast forwards, game on., Prior to this I thought any contenders needed 15 athlettic basketballers
5. Ambitons of winning All-Ireland 2027 ? Dont mean they will, just saying - Mayo, Kerrry, Cork, Dublin,, Tyrone ( my own personal tip), Donegal ( though need a re-think - re-invention)_, Galway, Roscommon ( best team in Connacht - something Mayo cant say!!!), Armagh, Monaghan, Louth, Westmeath, Derry - why not? Its where we want to be. Mayo won - deservedly - but they are not a domiinat team, well, not yet - and I dont see it. But will be forever grateful if football progresses onwards to where Mayo have brought it
Yours, a re-invigorated fan
Solo_Run (Leitrim) - Posts: 228 - 28/07/2026 21:04:19
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Replying To Fionn: "So you have your own county to get relegated and not win Leinster next year.
And Kerry to win 1 in a Row.
Mmmm, interesting.
Hard to call any of the 3 competitive football provinces tbh.
But the Hurling province will be another cake walk for Kerry. Unless of course something of a rarity happens.
Plenty of time to ponder all that though.
Could be a few changes to management personnel between now and then for a few counties.
And look how well that worked for Mayo…" Regarding Meath, I don't want to tempt fate :(
RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 28/07/2026 22:20:39
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Replying To legendzxix: "Congratulations again to Mayo!
Dublin's delight for Mayo is understandable and amusing. Dublin supporters were openly talking about the home league ground dynamic after the 2013 final. Dublin supporters were sheepish after 16-17 knowing their opponent was coming out the wrong side of an unequal contest.
Mayo deserve their day in the sun. Like all proper counties, achieved without needing their home league ground at the business end of the championship." Yeah they should've moved Croke Park to Killarney
waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13671 - 28/07/2026 23:18:30
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Replying To waynoI: "Yeah they should've moved Croke Park to Killarney" Well, after Kerry took advantage of home advantage against Armagh in Round 3 - having the All Ireland final in Killarney would have been most welcome!!
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10031 - 29/07/2026 09:38:16
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Replying To legendzxix: "Congratulations again to Mayo!
Dublin's delight for Mayo is understandable and amusing. Dublin supporters were openly talking about the home league ground dynamic after the 2013 final. Dublin supporters were sheepish after 16-17 knowing their opponent was coming out the wrong side of an unequal contest.
Mayo deserve their day in the sun. Like all proper counties, achieved without needing their home league ground at the business end of the championship." Who are 'proper' counties, and who are not?
Expertinall (UK) - Posts: 179 - 29/07/2026 09:45:09
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Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage.
I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice
Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game.
Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that?
Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 387 - 29/07/2026 11:41:31
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Replying To Cbar: "Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage.
I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice
Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game.
Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that?" Armagh 2002 and Mayo 2026 were similar.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10031 - 29/07/2026 12:05:25
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Having re-watched the entire game again I think Sunday was not only one of the great days in the GAA but one of the great days in Irish sport.
tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 496 - 29/07/2026 13:12:17
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Replying To Cbar: "Well - trying to come back to reality here, some work has to get done at some stage.
I won't comment on the day, the emotion etc - I couldn't do it justice
Only thing I will say is how impressed and how much I admired how the Kerry players and fans conducted themselves after the game.
Can any Kerry people tell me was this different to losing to Armagh and Tyrone in '00's? You had Pat Spillanes famous "puke football" rant after the Tyrone game, and I have Kerry friends who still hate to lose to Tyrone - it seems a far cry from what I witnessed on Sunday. Why is that?" I dont remember any ill will between kerry and armagh in 02.
Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 242 - 29/07/2026 13:38:12
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Replying To Seniorleague: "I dont remember any ill will between kerry and armagh in 02." There was none. Kerry supporters stayed back to congratulate Armagh, just as they did on Sunday for Mayo.
legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 10031 - 29/07/2026 14:28:48
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Replying To legendzxix: "There was none. Kerry supporters stayed back to congratulate Armagh, just as they did on Sunday for Mayo." Nationally Armagh's win in 2002 was very popular, first time winner and all.
GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 141 - 30/07/2026 09:11:53
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Its very clear now a good club campaign can mess up your county campaign- Paul Geaney, Tom o sullivan, brian ó beaglaoich all barely played this year for Kerry. Dylan geaney looked tired near the end. The st bridgits lads barely played for Roscommon Ben o carroll, Brian Stack, Shane Cunnane. Rory beggan had his first ever injury in a monaghan jersey after a good year with scotstown. Conor mc carthy back real late for monaghan.
The year before the two canavans the two of the lads have barely featured for tyrone since then struggling with injurys. Con o callaghan has been suffereing with injurys ever since his good club run in 2024/2025
Farneyarmy2013 (Monaghan) - Posts: 24 - 30/07/2026 11:37:46
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Replying To Farneyarmy2013: "Its very clear now a good club campaign can mess up your county campaign- Paul Geaney, Tom o sullivan, brian ó beaglaoich all barely played this year for Kerry. Dylan geaney looked tired near the end. The st bridgits lads barely played for Roscommon Ben o carroll, Brian Stack, Shane Cunnane. Rory beggan had his first ever injury in a monaghan jersey after a good year with scotstown. Conor mc carthy back real late for monaghan.
The year before the two canavans the two of the lads have barely featured for tyrone since then struggling with injurys. Con o callaghan has been suffereing with injurys ever since his good club run in 2024/2025" 100%
And likewise how a long and inter county season can affect a club season - Ballymun Kickhams had so many Dublin players during our decade or dominance, but BK only won 1 Dublin SFC…
Gutted with that tbh.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5249 - 30/07/2026 11:50:43
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Replying To Farneyarmy2013: "Its very clear now a good club campaign can mess up your county campaign- Paul Geaney, Tom o sullivan, brian ó beaglaoich all barely played this year for Kerry. Dylan geaney looked tired near the end. The st bridgits lads barely played for Roscommon Ben o carroll, Brian Stack, Shane Cunnane. Rory beggan had his first ever injury in a monaghan jersey after a good year with scotstown. Conor mc carthy back real late for monaghan.
The year before the two canavans the two of the lads have barely featured for tyrone since then struggling with injurys. Con o callaghan has been suffereing with injurys ever since his good club run in 2024/2025" "The year before the two canavans the two of the lads have barely featured for tyrone since then struggling with injurys. Con o callaghan has been suffereing with injurys ever since his good club run in 2024/2025"
Didn't seem to effect any of the Crossmolina lads in Mayo, think its moreso down to how players are managed. Andy Moran kept the likes of Diarmuid O`Connor, Paddy Durcan, Tommy Conroy, Matthew Ruane, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal, Darragh Beirne and other injury prone players in reserve without flogging them or rushing them back all season, other managers would have had them back in when they were at 60-70% fitness,.
Dmoa95 (UK) - Posts: 15 - 30/07/2026 12:14:32
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