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National Football League 2026

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Replying To The_analyser: "That was a one off freak result in Division 2. Cork were on 6 game winning run in the league including a win against Meath the week before. Derry not so long ago hadn't won a league or championship game for a year and that run is still not out of their system. As I posted before, Looking at the shooting of both teams Derry 30 scores from 42 shots. (Incredible amount of shots to concede, average would be 25 to 30 especially in a expected competitive game) Cork 12 scores from 27 shots (worst shooting from them this year)" On off game and over the 7 games Cork proved their worth and are now finally back in Division One, Derry finished 4th and can have no complaints." Hadn't won in league or championship. That's div1 league and Ulster championship, so perhaps not that hard to 'achieve' it. They weren't playing in div2, or in mickey mouse provincial championships, while on that 'run'. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4637 - 25/03/2026 15:20:58 2663122 Link
Replying To Drax_the_destroyer: "Groups ended last year. This summer has the Sigerson cup style format" Can anyone lay out exactly how this will work in 2026? Are the matchups pulled from 'seeded pots'? Are losing provincial finalists still seeded higher than ulster sides that don't make the Ulster final? Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4637 - 25/03/2026 15:26:03 2663126 Link
Kerry,Cork,Galway,Meath and Derry look to be certs for home draws in the first round of the All Ireland series.Maybe Cavan or Monaghan could ambush Derry. gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1242 - 25/03/2026 16:03:15 2663139 Link
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Hadn't won in league or championship. That's div1 league and Ulster championship, so perhaps not that hard to 'achieve' it. They weren't playing in div2, or in mickey mouse provincial championships, while on that 'run'." When we can win four games in Division 1 with a huge turn over of players and 11 making their debuts then no excuse for Derry to go winless in Division 1 last year. The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4314 - 25/03/2026 16:24:21 2663143 Link
Replying To gunman: "Kerry,Cork,Galway,Meath and Derry look to be certs for home draws in the first round of the All Ireland series.Maybe Cavan or Monaghan could ambush Derry." Cavan beat Mayo, Tyrone beat Donegal and Dublin beat Galway last year. The league qualifiers often are wounded and come out swinging. Dangerous. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9599 - 25/03/2026 16:41:00 2663149 Link
There is a bunch of teams that can beat each other on a given day (at least 8 i think!!). and then you have Kerry who don't seem to be doing much but cruise to a league final all the same! Kerry have to be odds on. They can be beaten but it will be tough to catch them. Donegal will be hard to beat but I think they may already have reached their top level. They seemed to be going very hard at the league. Not writing them off, they are very good but others will improve as the year goes on. We (Galway) got a reasonable kind draw. We have a bit of extra time to get the injuries cleared up, Thompson back from Erasmus etc. Fingers crossed. Connacht will still be a minefield. Exciting few months a head. A lucky run injury wise could be the deciding factor for a lot of teams. We all have certain positions/players that we struggle for depth in. Other very good players could get injured but you may have decent cover. Should be good craic!! Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1937 - 25/03/2026 16:47:20 2663151 Link
Replying To Mayonman: "There is a bunch of teams that can beat each other on a given day (at least 8 i think!!). and then you have Kerry who don't seem to be doing much but cruise to a league final all the same! Kerry have to be odds on. They can be beaten but it will be tough to catch them. Donegal will be hard to beat but I think they may already have reached their top level. They seemed to be going very hard at the league. Not writing them off, they are very good but others will improve as the year goes on. We (Galway) got a reasonable kind draw. We have a bit of extra time to get the injuries cleared up, Thompson back from Erasmus etc. Fingers crossed. Connacht will still be a minefield. Exciting few months a head. A lucky run injury wise could be the deciding factor for a lot of teams. We all have certain positions/players that we struggle for depth in. Other very good players could get injured but you may have decent cover. Should be good craic!!" Will Damien Comer get some gametime in the championship, do you think, Mayonman? GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8493 - 25/03/2026 18:17:43 2663174 Link
Replying To gunman: "Kerry,Cork,Galway,Meath and Derry look to be certs for home draws in the first round of the All Ireland series.Maybe Cavan or Monaghan could ambush Derry." Meath won't have access to Pairc Tailteann this year or next and have nominated Croke Park as home venue but don't know for sure if championship home game will be played there. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 957 - 25/03/2026 20:14:24 2663192 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Meath won't have access to Pairc Tailteann this year or next and have nominated Croke Park as home venue but don't know for sure if championship home game will be played there." Temporary home league ground advantage at the business end of the championship could work in Meath's favour at the end of June and into July. All Ireland winners have sprung out of Division 2 before. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9599 - 26/03/2026 08:40:08 2663263 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Temporary home league ground advantage at the business end of the championship could work in Meath's favour at the end of June and into July. All Ireland winners have sprung out of Division 2 before." Ah come on now, stop trying to big up the competitiveness of the AI Football Championship. Since 2010 there have only been 7 different counties in AI Finals, since 2001 there have only been 8. And since 2010 3 of the 7 counties have only appeared in 2 finals, and 1 of the 7 has only appeared in 1 final. There have only been 5 different winning counties since 2010. Hurling is played seriously in a smaller number of counties, but there have been 7 different finalists since 2010 in hurling also, and 5 different winners also. Football isnt any more competitive at the very top than hurling is. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18953 - 26/03/2026 11:05:16 2663281 Link
Were Armagh expected to make the 2024 All Ireland final? Outside of the top 4, there are dark horses for making a final. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9599 - 26/03/2026 11:13:00 2663286 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Ah come on now, stop trying to big up the competitiveness of the AI Football Championship. Since 2010 there have only been 7 different counties in AI Finals, since 2001 there have only been 8. And since 2010 3 of the 7 counties have only appeared in 2 finals, and 1 of the 7 has only appeared in 1 final. There have only been 5 different winning counties since 2010. Hurling is played seriously in a smaller number of counties, but there have been 7 different finalists since 2010 in hurling also, and 5 different winners also. Football isnt any more competitive at the very top than hurling is." Agreed. I think the Ulster counties plus Dublin have dropped back to the pack alot however Kerry have only improved with new rules. If Kerry are going to be caught it is likely to be Munster championship where Cork look like they are at least competitive again. Meath would be delighted to capture a Leinster title again and that will be their prime objective but it could be any of three teams there. All Ireland will only become clearer at q final stage but Kerry are definately team to beat. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 957 - 26/03/2026 11:21:54 2663288 Link
Last year was great. 3 big wins in Croke Park. Defending winners always have a target on their backs. Going into the quarter finals last year - Armagh looked unbeatable. Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh were the favourites going into the quarter finals. Tyrone, Kerry and Meath pulled off shocks. I can only look around the country at potential threats. Donegal, Armagh and Galway look strong. Meath, Dublin and Derry will be dangerous. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9599 - 26/03/2026 13:04:29 2663318 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Were Armagh expected to make the 2024 All Ireland final? Outside of the top 4, there are dark horses for making a final." For sure there is always the chance of a dark horse, there usually isnt one in a final though in any given year, but to claim they are contenders this far out is stretching it. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18953 - 26/03/2026 14:10:04 2663333 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: "Will Damien Comer get some gametime in the championship, do you think, Mayonman?" I hope so......but it is hope more than anything. He is in with the squad working away but no news seeping out as to what stage his rehab is at. He is a difference maker for us. But he needs to be fit. Half fit he will cause trouble for some teams but at the business end of things u need to be going well. We have a decent draw in Connacht so it gives us a little time to not rush lads back. Our first game is 26th April against Sligo/Leitrim. If we win that the Connacht final is 10th May. AI series is end of May, 2nd & 3rd week of June. Matthew Thompson is also due back from Erasmus as well. So that will give us a nice boost. Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1937 - 26/03/2026 14:45:46 2663345 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Last year was great. 3 big wins in Croke Park. Defending winners always have a target on their backs. Going into the quarter finals last year - Armagh looked unbeatable. Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Armagh were the favourites going into the quarter finals. Tyrone, Kerry and Meath pulled off shocks. I can only look around the country at potential threats. Donegal, Armagh and Galway look strong. Meath, Dublin and Derry will be dangerous." If your looking for threats in Kerry. Kerry are 9 & 0 in the last 40 years playing finals against Mayo, Cork, Galway and Donegal. Kerry are 1 & 7 in the same period playing finals against Dublin, Tyrone and Armagh. Kerry haven't beaten Dublin in a final since 1985, remarkably going 0 & 4 in this fixture relatively recently, with losses in 2011 2015 2019 2023. The Dubs don't looked equipped currently to maintain this run though, if this fixture arises anytime soon again. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4637 - 26/03/2026 19:19:01 2663387 Link
Down v Wexford. Great result for Wexford to win promotion. Down have been focused on All Ireland qualification. I think they'll claim the final provisional league spot. Kerry v Donegal. Sure look, what can be said.. A run out in Croke Park. Hope for the best. Meath v Cork. Surprising to see Cork in the final. Derry fluffed their lines against an impressive Louth. Meath for their ambitions should deliver a statement win. Touched on Carlow v Longford already. May the best team win. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9599 - 27/03/2026 08:01:47 2663411 Link
2 very entertaining games of football yesterday. The Division 4 game was arguably the better game It was great to see Carlow celebrate the win. It showed it really mattered. Down, by contrast, were very muted and almost arrogant in how they behaved considering Wexford had more than enough chances to beat them in normal time. They probably butchered 1-3 or 1-4 in 3rd quarter. Down did butcher the winning shot on the buzzer though. Still i like to see a team celebrate when they win something in Croke Park. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 143 - 29/03/2026 12:43:37 2663710 Link
2 even contests last night to conclude the division 3 and 4 campaigns, good to see teams showing desire to win league trophy. The DJ at Croke Park needs to update his playlist, they have been playing Beautiful Day(U2) and Tonight's gonna Be a good night(Black Eyed Peas) after finals for about 20 years now macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1202 - 29/03/2026 14:01:42 2663720 Link
Very small crowd. Reports of Meath hordes greatly exaggerated.... BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4119 - 29/03/2026 14:23:38 2663723 Link