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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To peiledoir20: "There's bigging up and then there's saying you have better individual players than Kerry. A boy of a difference don't you think?" As I said I'm not actually bigging them up like some people seem to think, was their biggest critic also, but something clicked last year with Meath. Released from psychological shackles holding them back for years. It's why they've improved tenfold, they were never close to being as bad as results suggested for the last 15 years, and what held them back has now lifted. It goes in cycles. A blind man could see the dept of quality in the Meath forwards, and nearly all under 23, with a conveyor belt coming behind them in the youth teams. Meath will struggle to pick 6 forwards when everyone is fit, have about ten that can come in and kick two pointers from anywhere. As laughable as it sounds, Kerry simply don't have that talent in the same dept, they can't always to be fair. Point is Donegal, Kerry etc are playing with seasoned professionals, at their ceiling potential wise with age of players etc. Meath are already operating at the level of the other top teams, but not close to their ceiling in terms of potential, infact wont hit their peak for another few years, which is scary. This is the point everyone is either choosing to ignore or not accept! 32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4210 - 05/04/2026 00:30:24 2664838 Link
Replying To 32_4_1: "Not trolling at all. Cork did routinely beat Limerick last season after their first match, final immaterial to this point. Meath only clicked into gear last season and improved every game, and are still improving, with about ten forwards who kick 2 pointers for fun. They played Donegal wrong last year, but with their youth, gain by far the most from that experience. And I was talking about raw individual talent. Meath probably even ahead of Kerry with the individual ability and potential of their players. Donegal rigid and about the system. To do what they do, their grinding style and intensity, takes it's toll physically and psychologically. Kerry and Meath will be able to win "easier" in terms of exertion come the end of the system. More fluid. And I'm not saying this because I'm from Meath, was our biggest critic for years, they were like beaten dogs, but it goes in cycles. I'd actually be worried for Dublin when they meet Meath! Meath will do what they done last year to Dublin, but after getting over the line, won't let up this time or let Dublin back into the game. I'd expect a very heavy defeat for Dublin in all honesty!" Dublin will walk to another Leinster title. ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 984 - 05/04/2026 01:05:47 2664842 Link
Replying To Galwayman67420: "I think there's a gap in the standards of football in the championship between the "top 4" and the rest of the pack. The 4 real contenders (who I only think 3 have a real chance) are Donegal, Kerry, Galway and Meath who I can't really see getting a Celtic cross but could definitely see them reaching a final if things go their way. Armagh and mayo are there for the taking but the dubs are still a force to be reckoned with." Its a top 2 with Armagh on their day potentially making it a top 3. Meath and Galway are in a chasing group with a lot of other teams. JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 141 - 05/04/2026 11:14:45 2664852 Link
Replying To 32_4_1: "As I said I'm not actually bigging them up like some people seem to think, was their biggest critic also, but something clicked last year with Meath. Released from psychological shackles holding them back for years. It's why they've improved tenfold, they were never close to being as bad as results suggested for the last 15 years, and what held them back has now lifted. It goes in cycles. A blind man could see the dept of quality in the Meath forwards, and nearly all under 23, with a conveyor belt coming behind them in the youth teams. Meath will struggle to pick 6 forwards when everyone is fit, have about ten that can come in and kick two pointers from anywhere. As laughable as it sounds, Kerry simply don't have that talent in the same dept, they can't always to be fair. Point is Donegal, Kerry etc are playing with seasoned professionals, at their ceiling potential wise with age of players etc. Meath are already operating at the level of the other top teams, but not close to their ceiling in terms of potential, infact wont hit their peak for another few years, which is scary. This is the point everyone is either choosing to ignore or not accept!" I know its only the league but I didn't see many prime forwards last weekend. The number 23 won the match for Meath in the last 15 minutes. Your defence was wide open when Corķ ran at you. A Leinster title is the first title Meath need to win and won't be easy. Don't write off the Dubs yet. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 894 - 05/04/2026 12:30:06 2664868 Link
12 counties are strong provincial final contenders and the same 12 are All Ireland quarter final contenders. The Tailteann probably has 15 strong contenders to make the quarter finals based on the provisional list. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9617 - 05/04/2026 13:32:30 2664880 Link
Hopefully come the knock out stages we'll have enjoyable and memorable matches to view. Last year from the quarter final to final we got either poor quality error ridden games or non competitive contests. Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 739 - 05/04/2026 13:36:30 2664881 Link
Replying To 32_4_1: "As I said I'm not actually bigging them up like some people seem to think, was their biggest critic also, but something clicked last year with Meath. Released from psychological shackles holding them back for years. It's why they've improved tenfold, they were never close to being as bad as results suggested for the last 15 years, and what held them back has now lifted. It goes in cycles. A blind man could see the dept of quality in the Meath forwards, and nearly all under 23, with a conveyor belt coming behind them in the youth teams. Meath will struggle to pick 6 forwards when everyone is fit, have about ten that can come in and kick two pointers from anywhere. As laughable as it sounds, Kerry simply don't have that talent in the same dept, they can't always to be fair. Point is Donegal, Kerry etc are playing with seasoned professionals, at their ceiling potential wise with age of players etc. Meath are already operating at the level of the other top teams, but not close to their ceiling in terms of potential, infact wont hit their peak for another few years, which is scary. This is the point everyone is either choosing to ignore or not accept!" I seem to remember a fellow county man of yours on here last year with the same oul chat before the Leinster Final and AI Semi Final. How did they go for yous again?? peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1536 - 05/04/2026 19:25:02 2664909 Link
Replying To peiledoir20: "I seem to remember a fellow county man of yours on here last year with the same oul chat before the Leinster Final and AI Semi Final. How did they go for yous again??" Wasnt that the same fella? Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19078 - 05/04/2026 20:43:50 2664922 Link
Replying To peiledoir20: "I seem to remember a fellow county man of yours on here last year with the same oul chat before the Leinster Final and AI Semi Final. How did they go for yous again??" It was this same poster. Claiming Meath have more natural talent etc etc etc. He disappeared when Donegal beat them by 20 points. HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 444 - 05/04/2026 20:51:38 2664925 Link
Replying To RoyalBadger: "Wexford may fancy their chances against an overconfident Louth like Carlow in 2011." What about Meath v Wexford about 2007 or 2008. Meath emptied their bench in 2nd half to "give lads a run out". Natural talent and superiority didn't get the result that day as Wexford dug out the win with a great comeback. Was such a laugh. Wexford will be a battle v Louth and if they win, fair play to them. ged (Louth) - Posts: 322 - 06/04/2026 11:20:01 2664956 Link
Replying To Drax_the_destroyer: "Hopefully come the knock out stages we'll have enjoyable and memorable matches to view. Last year from the quarter final to final we got either poor quality error ridden games or non competitive contests." The best quarter final was meath v galway .... S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1046 - 06/04/2026 13:02:26 2664965 Link
Offaly v Laois on Saturday. Difficult one to gauge. Offaly have had their injury problems. Laois midtable Division 3. Winner to take on Kildare. Since league qualification for the All Ireland started, Clare beating Cork to knock out Meath is the only big provincial surprise in recent years. Offaly or Westmeath beating Meath to knock out Down, Sligo beating Galway to do likewise or a surprise Ulster finalist hasn't happened in recent years. Would've thought there would be a few more provincial surprises when certain counties have All Ireland qualification on the line. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9617 - 06/04/2026 17:59:32 2664994 Link
Replying To S1234: "The best quarter final was meath v galway ...." And that game was so error prone with a decent finish. In the 2nd year of the new rules is it too much to ask for at least 3 or 4 top quality games during the 4 quarter finals, 2 semi-finals and final? Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3886 - 06/04/2026 19:25:05 2665005 Link
Replying To ged: "What about Meath v Wexford about 2007 or 2008. Meath emptied their bench in 2nd half to "give lads a run out". Natural talent and superiority didn't get the result that day as Wexford dug out the win with a great comeback. Was such a laugh. Wexford will be a battle v Louth and if they win, fair play to them." Not sure about natural talent lacking down here back then, our lads reached 2 Leinster finals in 4 years, 2008-2011, which was more than Kildare or Meath managed in those 4 years. And we took Dublin to ET in 2010. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19078 - 06/04/2026 21:15:57 2665013 Link
Replying To Gaa_lover: "And that game was so error prone with a decent finish. In the 2nd year of the new rules is it too much to ask for at least 3 or 4 top quality games during the 4 quarter finals, 2 semi-finals and final?" If some teams are far better than others at the cutting edge point of the season .....! Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 458 - 06/04/2026 21:54:10 2665022 Link
Replying To Gaa_lover: "And that game was so error prone with a decent finish. In the 2nd year of the new rules is it too much to ask for at least 3 or 4 top quality games during the 4 quarter finals, 2 semi-finals and final?" The result of that match was nice to... S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1046 - 07/04/2026 09:56:02 2665047 Link
Writing Dublin off is absolute madness! They looked pretty good at the end of the league and are prob still favourites to win Leinster Meath10 (Meath) - Posts: 207 - 07/04/2026 11:21:22 2665057 Link
Replying To Gaa_lover: "And that game was so error prone with a decent finish. In the 2nd year of the new rules is it too much to ask for at least 3 or 4 top quality games during the 4 quarter finals, 2 semi-finals and final?" Winning teams and supporters go home happy, nothing else matters. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2616 - 07/04/2026 11:28:41 2665059 Link
Replying To ORIELMAN85: "Dublin will walk to another Leinster title." I wholeheartedly disagree . Meath and Louth have no fear of Dublin and I can see Meath being leinster champions mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1953 - 07/04/2026 11:50:27 2665061 Link
I'll predict the four Provinces. Ulster- Donegal Connacht- Roscommon Leinster- Dublin Munster- Kerry Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3815 - 07/04/2026 12:00:43 2665065 Link