Football Championship 2026 - 8 Like(s)

tirawleybaron (National) - 30/06/2026 11:56:01

Monaghan GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
We can give it the usual 'it was great to be in Croke Park' shtick, but we shouldn't. Because it wasn't.

Sunday was an abject failure in management, not just on the day, within the game, but going back a long time before. When the air thins and the margins tighten, you then see the accumulated weaknesses for what they really are. Sunday was that.

At 8:40am on Monday 21st, Peter Dooley and Gavin Devlin started planning for playing Monaghan in CP without Rory Beggan. Kickout strategy, loading midfield, packing the short spaces, McDonnell deep for any long options. It took until Thursday night for Monaghan to accept that reality. One short training game later and a decision was made that may have the effect of damaging the careers of two young goalkeepers, not just one. A decision of such recklessness that it is scarcely believable. Were any of the senior management setup in the Athletic grounds in April?

I said all last week that Dara McDonnell at 6 was key and a solution was needed. Did anyone watch the Louth Dublin and Armagh games and if so WTF were they looking at?? Woods had to drop in but not a bit of it. The red card was a get-out-of-jail moment and that was passed up too. Just go 14-14 and bring Hanratty on even if only to block on kickouts. Gallagher out was an obvious issue (it took 15 minutes to take him of after the injury v Westmeath BTW), but the lack of cover was the real long term problem. A year after the Donegal meltdown we are back to square one. Too many viable midfield options have walked away - you have to ask why. The hairy fella, ill-disciplined and all as he was, was needed in a crisis. No sign. Two more major midfield options not on the panel at all in 2026. A panel like Monaghan just cannot pass up on these lads. Stephen Mooney too was superb when he came in- should have started, probably instead of the un-droppable man. Harsh but the truth.

Even with all that said, Monaghan still led with 4 to go, before all sorts of panic broke out. It showed what could have been but wasn't. The control needed was absent on the pitch and on the line. An unforgivable meltdown.
I've truly admired what this setup has done for Monaghan football, they steadied the ship when we were looking very bleak after Vinnie's departure. I do think however that the time is up now. Two big opportunities missed in Croke Park, we cannot waste any more with this generation of players. The ruthlessness to win when it matters is missing and that's what's needed now. Simple question, would Monaghan have won if Devlin was running the show on Sunday? Go from there

Eddie the Exile (National) - 30/06/2026 11:44:16

Monaghan GAA thread - 2 Like(s)

patmouse (National) - 30/06/2026 14:39:30

Dublin GAA thread - 2 Like(s)

Seniorleague (National) - 30/06/2026 20:46:19

Who Would Be A Referee ? - 2 Like(s)
Clare County Board need to man up on that one. Offending club should be banned from championship for 2 years.
Guy who hit the ref should get a 4 year ban.

No fines - just proper bans.


To be honest, this stuff is led from the top.

Kerry and Dublin won fair and square at the weekend and you had two conservative managers blaming the ref for matches they didnt go after fully.

Both managers are known for conservative play and end up blaming the ref becuase they their teams were outscored in a shootout.

Both of those managers should be fined or suspended for that sort of wingeing too.
It starts with intercounty managers not showing respect and finishes with a deranged lunatic beating up a ref in an underage club match.

The GAA dont help themselves - its very rare for a ref to be stood down.

Even reffing U8 go games, there are plenty of complaints to the ref from the sideline.
Last year we had a parent go after a ref at U8's.

Association needs to decide - protect the refs or lose good refs.

tirawleybaron (National) - 30/06/2026 15:07:23

Galway Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Wouldn't it be great for Connaught football to see Mayo win the AI. If they did, it would give young Galway players coming through development squads great belief that they could progress and aspire to winning an AI title. It's great to see Kobe breaking lines and using that beautiful slicing technique to score points and goals from distance. Many Galway people have Mayo connections, so I don't see why we shouldn't support our neighbours. Before the advent of social media we always supported our neighbours - Roscommon too. But things have turned very petty and begrudging.

AnCrúiscínLán (National) - 30/06/2026 20:13:54

Donegal GAA thread - 2 Like(s)

Ulsterchamps_32 (National) - 30/06/2026 20:05:58

Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)

ConyersHill04 (National) - 01/07/2026 09:32:07

Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
While PJ seems to be close, I think 2 many issues remain that only he can be held accountable for. No action taken no plan B when going long is clearly handing cheap scores to opposition. Team constantly unable to deliver a comprehensive win even v division 4 rivals. As PJ himself stated in his post match interview following our Leitrim game, "it was a good job McNulty had an off day". The new rules have doomed slow build up cagey teams, (no Ulster team in last 4) . Teams at all levels have adapted to more of a kicking game, but Galway, traditionally a kicking team have elected to play a running slow build up, largely hand passing game. Unprofessional team warm ups and above all, the seeming lack of passion and desire from players which only seems to click in when the team is well behind in the second half of games. I think a change would be more likely to improve things than not.

giveitlong (National) - 30/06/2026 11:23:47

Mayo GAA Thread - 1 Like(s)
I think ye are in a great position. Nobody is really talking about Mayo. Over the next two weeks, Louth will have to deal with all the fanfare and circus that comes with reaching their first All-Ireland semi-final since the 1950s, while most of the media attention will be on the Kerry v Dublin semi-final, with everyone hoping it'll be a classic. That leaves Mayo in the ideal position to go about their business quietly without much fuss.

Dmoa95 (National) - 01/07/2026 09:19:36

Donegal GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
When we have to take one of our best forwards back to man mark theres obviously a problem with our defence.

rorysboys (National) - 30/06/2026 21:28:52

Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)

endgame (National) - 30/06/2026 20:52:12

Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)

Pope_Benedict (National) - 30/06/2026 19:32:37

Donegal GAA thread - 1 Like(s)

rorysboys (National) - 30/06/2026 18:49:53

Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Disappointing the ladies semi final is on the same time as Kerry Dublin at 4 on the 12th of July in Cavan

Insane how the gaa cramp stuff especially minor lgfa and the tealtenn and putting it on the same time as the sam Maguire games

Gavlar (National) - 30/06/2026 17:35:56

Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
The question I'd ask Padraig Joyce what is he going to do differently than he has last 2/3, years to justify him staying on , if Padraig was playing in this present Galway team the way they play no one kicking the ball he would go off his head but he is allowing it happen on his watch which has gone on 7 years it's harder get off the panel that get on it same bunch last 5 years ,,if Clifford or con were playing in forward line for Galway they do well get a score or 2 I've said this numerous times the Galway backs and 2 midfielders prib in every game do not kick the ball into forward at all doubt 10 times a match between the 8 of them and that's the reality I've never seen such a set up in my life watching football and he want 2 more years what will change ? If he stays on most posters on here could pick 12 of team that play next year if not 15 of them

Kickitout (National) - 30/06/2026 17:30:32

Donegal GAA thread - 1 Like(s)

SouthOfTheGap (National) - 30/06/2026 17:10:48

Galway Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Reasons for joyce to go:
1.The keeper situation.This has been a problem for years.I don't blame Gleeson he's being asked to play like Cluxton when he's not able to play that way and his decision making and shot stopping just isnt good enough.
2.No tactical knowledge whatsoever.....he's barely reactive to how other teams play and he's never proactive in his tactics.An example is when they bring on Comer they continue the same slow play on the edge of ark.Comer is the same type of player as Con and is only effective if you feed into him in dangerous areas.You have an absolute weapon of mass destruction off the bench in Comer and then when you bring him on you don't play to his strengths.Playing into him would create space around the ark aswel.
3.The kickouts.....asking a keeper to ping it out wide to individuals when that keeper isn't capable of those type of kicks.This problem has actually gotten worse not better.
4.Afraid to make big decisions.Leaving big names on when injured or playing bad.Cost us an all ireland against Armagh doing this.
5.Same players more or less last few years and gives new blood no real chance to prove themselves.
6.Style of play.This slow basketball style worked well before the new rules but now there is so much space you don't need to play like that.We have unbelievable forwards let them play.
7.Hes fallen out with alot of players and staff.
One thing I will give joyce he's very honest in his interviews and I respect that.But that is little consolation when you see what's happening on the pitch.

Diabeag (National) - 30/06/2026 16:45:53

Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)

Square_B (National) - 30/06/2026 16:17:50

Monaghan GAA thread - 1 Like(s)

Matchwatcher (National) - 30/06/2026 16:16:24