Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

National Forum

Looking Towards Football 2027

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

Replying To yew_tree:  "Most years then you know well what I mean. Mayo only been out of division 1 for one year in the last 20 odd years. My point it Mayo winning an All Ireland while a shock it happened this year, is not a shock in terms of a minnow coming out of nowhere.

Counties thinking they can now win Sam because Mayo did yet those same counties never challenge or reach the latter stages is a big fat fetched for me just yet. I may be proved wrong but let's just see. If anyone outside of the usual 5-7 contenders win it it would be an even bigger "shock" than this year."
All your life was a daft statement is you meant so.

A minnow won't win the All-Ireland however a team who lost All-Ireland Quarter-final or narrowly missed out on reaching the last 8 can.

It's worth remembering Armagh won it in 2024 and they hadn't played in semi-final before that for 20 years and won from playing in Division 2 that spring.

MayoDan lovely post of ifs buts and maybes but doesn't take away the fact that prior to winning it this year Mayo was not challenging for the All-Ireland in 2022 23,24 and 25. This year was the case that Mayo arguably won the year they least expected to win it.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 1026 - 12/11/2026 15:05:48    2700205

Link

Replying To sligo joe:  "Well I think the point is obvious, you're point in general (correct me if I'm wrong) is that Mayo were always/regularly competitive and if little things went right their trophy CV would be different. The difference between being in the frame and being truly competitive is the ability to make sure those tight wins , like that semi for Mayo v Dublin are not wasted against an average Tyrone team in the final.
I would say Mayo were a bit farther away from winning Sam in those years than you suggest, lack of belief and lack of a strong bench.
Congratulations to them this year they beat an average Kerry outfit who were lucky to be in the final."
I replied to someone who said mayo went from not challenging in 2022-25 to winning Sam in 2026 and that many counties will think they can do similar now.

I pointed out that Mayo were very competitive against the big teams in those years so it wasn't some massive jump this year. We also beat Kerry convincingly in the 2023 championship for example yet people ignore results like that.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 589 - 12/11/2026 15:36:00    2700212

Link

Replying To sligo joe:  "Well I think the point is obvious, you're point in general (correct me if I'm wrong) is that Mayo were always/regularly competitive and if little things went right their trophy CV would be different. The difference between being in the frame and being truly competitive is the ability to make sure those tight wins , like that semi for Mayo v Dublin are not wasted against an average Tyrone team in the final.
I would say Mayo were a bit farther away from winning Sam in those years than you suggest, lack of belief and lack of a strong bench.
Congratulations to them this year they beat an average Kerry outfit who were lucky to be in the final."
Bever easy beat kerry in final. Average or not hard win back back just didn't get going and a few injuries does play a part

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1408 - 12/11/2026 17:10:30    2700220

Link

Replying To MayoDan:  "I replied to someone who said mayo went from not challenging in 2022-25 to winning Sam in 2026 and that many counties will think they can do similar now.

I pointed out that Mayo were very competitive against the big teams in those years so it wasn't some massive jump this year. We also beat Kerry convincingly in the 2023 championship for example yet people ignore results like that."
That 2023 game v Kerry was a group match and non knock out game so that might suggest why it's ignored by some people.

Knock out games for Mayo before this summer in recent years was well beaten by Kerry,Dublin knocked out at home by Derry who would later got rid of their manager and lost to Donegal in a match they didn't need to win and Mayo got themselves into that mess by losing at home to Cavan.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4111 - 12/11/2026 18:39:18    2700225

Link

Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Bever easy beat kerry in final. Average or not hard win back back just didn't get going and a few injuries does play a part"
Kerry arrogance didn't help and was fueled with Kerry hammering Mayo in the league in March. All kerry pundits was showing Mayo zero respect, main focus was getting their captain on the bench to pick up the cup and change David Clifford's number on the back of his jersey. It was pure music to music to Mayos ears

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4111 - 12/11/2026 18:43:54    2700228

Link

Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Bever easy beat kerry in final. Average or not hard win back back just didn't get going and a few injuries does play a part"
2026 was an impressive championship from an entertainment point of view due to the impact of the new rules. However the fancied teams at the start of the championship Kerry, Armagh, Donegal and Galway failed to deliver, leaving a Mayo team that had done their best to be eliminated early on, to pick up the pieces

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1193 - 12/11/2026 19:21:58    2700232

Link

Replying To Drax_the_destroyer:  "All your life was a daft statement is you meant so.

A minnow won't win the All-Ireland however a team who lost All-Ireland Quarter-final or narrowly missed out on reaching the last 8 can.

It's worth remembering Armagh won it in 2024 and they hadn't played in semi-final before that for 20 years and won from playing in Division 2 that spring.

MayoDan lovely post of ifs buts and maybes but doesn't take away the fact that prior to winning it this year Mayo was not challenging for the All-Ireland in 2022 23,24 and 25. This year was the case that Mayo arguably won the year they least expected to win it."
How is it a daft statement, do you know their age do you? Challengers doesn't mean being in the final, it means taking on the best teams and running them close, thats what Mayo did.

otgarom (Mayo) - Posts: 38 - 12/11/2026 20:52:50    2700239

Link

Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Kerry arrogance didn't help and was fueled with Kerry hammering Mayo in the league in March. All kerry pundits was showing Mayo zero respect, main focus was getting their captain on the bench to pick up the cup and change David Clifford's number on the back of his jersey. It was pure music to music to Mayos ears"
I do agree there they were arrogant i wouldnt say it was intentional on players psrt but fell to bit trap also injuries didnt hekp. Its a mix both and Mayp playing well

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1408 - 12/11/2026 23:07:09    2700246

Link

Replying To Gaa_lover:  "That 2023 game v Kerry was a group match and non knock out game so that might suggest why it's ignored by some people.

Knock out games for Mayo before this summer in recent years was well beaten by Kerry,Dublin knocked out at home by Derry who would later got rid of their manager and lost to Donegal in a match they didn't need to win and Mayo got themselves into that mess by losing at home to Cavan."
Any reason why you ignored the knockout game where Mayo beat Galway in 2023.. the same Galway team that were in the 22 and 24 All Ireland finals.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 589 - 13/11/2026 10:12:10    2700262

Link

A lot of revisionist nonsence going on here.

Football has gone through the biggest overhall of its rules ever. Its a different game now. The restructure also has had an effect - there is no handy draw for the provincial winners any more, and losing a provincial final needs immediate recovery.
The teams that adapted to that best were always going to be more successful.
All of the provinical final losers were done and collapsed withing a few weeks
Those that put a lot of stock in winning their province - had nothing left in the tank afterwards.
THose that dissapointed early, has loads of time to recover and make an impact.

Its all about June and July now - anyone who is peaking before then is going to run out of road.

As for styles of play - its all about 2 pointers - kicking them and stopping them

Donegal were trapped in zone defence and cant defend them, nor get up the field fast enough to score enough.
Armagh are way to fond of fisted points.
Galway were in the same mindset as Donegal.
Dublin are afriad to kick 2 pointers and relied on Con way too much are lost because he was on one leg.
Kerry are all about Clifford - just keep him to 1 pointers and they are done

Mayo have had a strong team for years - but were too conservative for the previous 4 years, playing against their natural instincts. They also started 2026 with a plan to run it back with the older lads - got a kick up the hole from Roscommon and had to bring in younger lads (Andy Moran was talking 3 years plans at that point). Three of those young lads are generational talents , stepped in with no pressure and delivered for 8 weeks. Whether anyone admits it or not, Mayos success was based around the production of a full forward line we havent had for 75 years and players who can tackle all day.
They lost the kick out battle, let Kerry go 7 points ahead but worked harder and kicked their scores.
They were also fortunate that Kerry picked a team on reputation not form.

In an 8 week season, its all about form.

But lets be realistic, there will be no All Ireland breakthrough next year for Meath, Cork, Roscommon, Westmeath, Down, Monaghan etc

It will be one of Dublin/Kerry/Galway/Armagh/Donegal/Tyrone. No county outside Dublin and Kerry have won an All Ireland and returned to the final the following year since 2003, so for Mayo to get back there would be a serious achievement.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 2057 - 13/11/2026 14:49:23    2700290

Link