National Forum

National Football League 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To winatallcost:  "Alot of interesting games around the country this weekend and there may be even more riding on these games rather than last round where faith is decided of many. Dublin v Armagh probably biggest in div. 2 and expect a tight affair which could go either way.
Kerry v Mayo seems to have alot of hype. Kerry likely to have a strong team out. Seems to be alot of positivity in Mayo but of they take another hefty beating as they did against Donegal, not sure where they will stand come championship. I expect Kerry to win by 5 or 6.
Div 2 lots of insteresting matches at both ends. Could be a few surprises to make for an interesting last round. Derry have recovered from a poor 1st round but Louth away certainly no gimmie. Meath v Tyrone an interesting clash. Cork should overcome Kildare."
Mayo beat Kerry and Donegal in the league last year and it didn't count for much come championship. People get really worked up about these games but they'll be forgotten about again by June.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 522 - 14/03/2026 00:09:09    2661129

Link

Replying To winatallcost:  "Alot of interesting games around the country this weekend and there may be even more riding on these games rather than last round where faith is decided of many. Dublin v Armagh probably biggest in div. 2 and expect a tight affair which could go either way.
Kerry v Mayo seems to have alot of hype. Kerry likely to have a strong team out. Seems to be alot of positivity in Mayo but of they take another hefty beating as they did against Donegal, not sure where they will stand come championship. I expect Kerry to win by 5 or 6.
Div 2 lots of insteresting matches at both ends. Could be a few surprises to make for an interesting last round. Derry have recovered from a poor 1st round but Louth away certainly no gimmie. Meath v Tyrone an interesting clash. Cork should overcome Kildare."
If we take another hefty defeat v mayo not sure where we will stand come championship? .....noncense comment it's the league it's MARCH. Also kerry are well ahead of the rest of us atm. Wont be a shocker if kerry win well .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 948 - 14/03/2026 08:54:29    2661132

Link

Two rounds of the National Football League would be good.

Sharlene (Down) - Posts: 1 - 14/03/2026 10:57:59    2661137

Link

Replying To MayoDan:  "Mayo beat Kerry and Donegal in the league last year and it didn't count for much come championship. People get really worked up about these games but they'll be forgotten about again by June."
Mayo were always a good league team,
interesting to see if we end up in league final v Kerry, I'd rather we played a weakened team from here on, give the squad a run out.
tough ask to beat Kerry 3 times in the 1 year, rather beat them in July.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3759 - 14/03/2026 11:41:19    2661139

Link

Replying To MayoDan:  "Mayo beat Kerry and Donegal in the league last year and it didn't count for much come championship. People get really worked up about these games but they'll be forgotten about again by June."
As I said before League form has no bearing on the Championship. Most teams use it to blood young players and extend the panel of players they can use.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 876 - 14/03/2026 13:32:57    2661142

Link

Impressive comeback win by Armagh. Will be a tough away game next weekend.
Advantage Meath and Cork in the push for promotion. What happened Carlow.. Didn't see that result coming.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9531 - 14/03/2026 21:22:09    2661183

Link

Replying To legendzxix:  "Impressive comeback win by Armagh. Will be a tough away game next weekend.
Advantage Meath and Cork in the push for promotion. What happened Carlow.. Didn't see that result coming."
Good luck on trying to convince anyone on your "opinion" of 7 or more All-Ireland contenders. Kerrys display in totally dismantling Mayo highlighted it's Kerry's to lose and they might not have any proper challenger once again come the business end of the championship.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3871 - 15/03/2026 01:28:12    2661201

Link

Replying To Scenicparish:  "As I said before League form has no bearing on the Championship. Most teams use it to blood young players and extend the panel of players they can use."
I wouldn't say most teams, for at least half the teams in the country League is more important than Championship in Football.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18748 - 15/03/2026 07:26:06    2661205

Link

Brilliant fight back from Armagh, black card for Jarly Og was a bit strange alright, will be a great game v Kerry next weekend depending on what team Kerry field on the day.
Kerry were very impressive v Mayo and whatever else lies ahead for the very talented Kobe McDonald he will always be able to say he played against the great David Clifford, I think he is the X factor for Kerry and why they more than likely are going to retain Sam Maguire this year if he stays fit.
It looks like we could be meeting Kerry in the league final, another big test for our young lads in Croke Park if it comes to pass.
Big test ahead today for us today, the Rossies are a top team, but I think we will shade it by a few points hopefully, safe journey to all travelling to the match.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3759 - 15/03/2026 08:31:41    2661212

Link

That's some win for the Rossies. Their forwards are up there with the best in the country. Need to push on now and do it in championship when it matters most

tribesmen (Galway) - Posts: 161 - 15/03/2026 16:32:29    2661285

Link

Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Good luck on trying to convince anyone on your "opinion" of 7 or more All-Ireland contenders. Kerrys display in totally dismantling Mayo highlighted it's Kerry's to lose and they might not have any proper challenger once again come the business end of the championship."
I can only look out from Kerry. Looking out nationally:
Donegal
Armagh
Galway
Mayo
Dublin
Roscommon
Meath
Derry
Cork
Tyrone

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9531 - 15/03/2026 17:00:42    2661294

Link

DIVISION 4
Carlow 8
Wicklow 8
London 7
Longford 7
Antrim 6
Tipperary 6
Leitrim 6
Waterford. Out of the running.

Mad league table with a round to go!
Carlow v Leitrim
Longford v Wicklow
Antrim v London
Tipperary v Waterford

Antrim, Tipperary and Leitrim could all get to 8. One of Wicklow or Longford will get to 9. Carlow and Wicklow in the driving seat but anything can happen!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9531 - 15/03/2026 18:33:07    2661335

Link

Good to see we enter the final round of fixtures with it all to play for across the 4 divisions

Dublin head to Galway needing a win and a bit of luck to avoid the drop. You'd expect Donegal will beat Monaghan to book their place in the final. Mayo or Roscommon easily could join them if Kerry can't navigate a tricky trip to the Athletic Grounds.

Division 2 is probably the most fascinating, Meath and Cork know what they need to do, and it's in their hands. Win or draw and they go up. Cork have a very tough trip to Omagh ahead of them, and they'll be getting flashbacks from the Derry game a few weeks ago.

A Tyrone win put Cork in a lot of trouble, their score difference means they lose every 3 way tie, and with Derry and Louth likely to win, they have to get a result in Omagh. More straight forward for Meath, any result against relegated Offaly will see them over the line. They have the head to head on Louth and Derry and are healthy on score difference too. I'd say at this stage Derry and Meath are the ones I'd pick to go up. Louth are there too, but they need a lot to go right for them.

Kildare and Cavan will be battling for their lives, hard to see Kildare turning Louth over based on what they've done so far.

Down again far too good for anyone in Division 3. Straight shootout for promotion between Wexford and Westmeath next weekend, would be good for Wexford football to see them back at a good level again. Leinster football looked dead and buried a few years ago, some turnaround.

London could do the unthinkable and get promoted next weekend too, win and they've got a great shout if luck goes their way.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 122 - 16/03/2026 11:10:13    2661450

Link

Replying To legendzxix:  "I can only look out from Kerry. Looking out nationally:
Donegal
Armagh
Galway
Mayo
Dublin
Roscommon
Meath
Derry
Cork
Tyrone"
Your list and order of team who will lose the All-Ireland final to Kerry?

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3871 - 16/03/2026 12:09:42    2661462

Link

Roscommon and Louth have been impressive. I wasn't expecting Leinster winners Louth to finish above Tyrone to be honest. Louth have won three good games on the trot.
Tyrone upwards are dangerous and throw Down into the mix as well.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9531 - 16/03/2026 14:48:26    2661489

Link

Replying To S1234:  "If we take another hefty defeat v mayo not sure where we will stand come championship? .....noncense comment it's the league it's MARCH. Also kerry are well ahead of the rest of us atm. Wont be a shocker if kerry win well ."
When i wrote that post, I sensed Kerry may put a decent effort in for their last home game against a naive Mayo team but didn't expect it to be so emphatic. Mayo trying to play an extremly open man to man game against a far better stronger outfit away from home was always going to be tough. Andy Moran himself admitted confidence has taken a big hit and I think the rebuild is bigger than he thought. Ironically they could still make a league final if they win against Roscommon but doubts are now set for rest of year. Interesting to hear comments saying Kerry is by far best team etc, etc. Think Mayo need to concentrate on themselves and Connaught and see can they bocome best team there as at moment I think they are probably no. 3 in that province.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 944 - 16/03/2026 20:14:13    2661533

Link