National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "There's loads of games at these early provincial rounds in hurling and football and they can't stream all of them. They can't predict the results wothout hindsight either and choose what to stream."
I get that, I do. But there were no matches at all on any streaming service today. Surely you can agree that's a wasted opportunity. Rte had hurling on today so no football available at all yesterday or today except for the BBC showing two Ulster games which were poor.

ozbound (Galway) - Posts: 80 - 19/04/2026 20:00:52    2667324

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Replying To eoghan6688:  "That's a huge shame that Meath lost as I think they are the only Leinster team that has the conviction (based on tradition) to go from competing with Dublin to actually beating them in Leinster"
Expect Louth to get over the line again. They will take this Dublin team and Westmeath/Kildare won't have experience to get over the line on a big Leinster Final day. Its one that Meath have blown this year but all credit to Westmeath.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 974 - 19/04/2026 20:21:50    2667331

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Replying To eoghan6688:  "That's a huge shame that Meath lost as I think they are the only Leinster team that has the conviction (based on tradition) to go from competing with Dublin to actually beating them in Leinster"
After today results it's clear proof that Leinster is wide open again especially with Dublin's golden era well behind them and seemingly not much coming through there at underage, if you ask me (without being biased) Louth are the team to beat in the province although we always struggled to turn over the Dubs in the championship which I hope that changes in 2 weeks, but anyway isn't it great to see a province so dead for so long with life again and indeed not one of those games covered today by RTE what a shame.

francie81 (Louth) - Posts: 258 - 19/04/2026 20:43:45    2667336

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Replying To ozbound:  "I get that, I do. But there were no matches at all on any streaming service today. Surely you can agree that's a wasted opportunity. Rte had hurling on today so no football available at all yesterday or today except for the BBC showing two Ulster games which were poor."
Strange alright. Not sure what the criteria is for broadcasters and streamers not to have more games today.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8525 - 19/04/2026 20:45:32    2667337

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Replying To eoghan6688:  "That's a huge shame that Meath lost as I think they are the only Leinster team that has the conviction (based on tradition) to go from competing with Dublin to actually beating them in Leinster"
Tradition doesn't win matches form does. Louth well capable of beating a Dublin side that fell over the line against Wicklow

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3920 - 19/04/2026 20:48:22    2667338

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Replying To eoghan6688:  "That's a huge shame that Meath lost as I think they are the only Leinster team that has the conviction (based on tradition) to go from competing with Dublin to actually beating them in Leinster"
An embarrassing post, a rare victory for Westmeath over Meath in a fantastic match in front of a huge crowd.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2602 - 19/04/2026 20:49:23    2667339

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Replying To eoghan6688:  "That's a huge shame that Meath lost as I think they are the only Leinster team that has the conviction (based on tradition) to go from competing with Dublin to actually beating them in Leinster"
I think people need to realise that Meath are a very ordinary team. They got Dublin in an off day in 2025. They haven't got the consistancy to make a difference in the Championship.
They need to go back to the drawing board and unearth a couple of good defenders.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 914 - 19/04/2026 20:52:15    2667341

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "I think people need to realise that Meath are a very ordinary team. They got Dublin in an off day in 2025. They haven't got the consistancy to make a difference in the Championship.
They need to go back to the drawing board and unearth a couple of good defenders."
Roscommon have caught Mayo after league finals before. I wouldn't be dismissing Meath so quickly. They'll be a dangerous opponent in round 1. Not sure many will want to draw them.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9641 - 19/04/2026 21:12:43    2667346

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Replying To brayballer:  "Oh Wicklow are very tough in Aughrim and Im delighted for them.They have great respect for the Dubs and take their beating with no whinging or crying unlike yous up Northwest.
Wait till Armagh beat yous abd the whinging will start again."
Plenty of whinging going about your managers suspension at the moment.

Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 338 - 19/04/2026 21:22:30    2667352

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Roscommon have caught Mayo after league finals before. I wouldn't be dismissing Meath so quickly. They'll be a dangerous opponent in round 1. Not sure many will want to draw them."
That's after Mayo won the league usually . You would only love for the Rossies to beat mayo sure .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1080 - 19/04/2026 21:33:35    2667363

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "I think people need to realise that Meath are a very ordinary team. They got Dublin in an off day in 2025. They haven't got the consistancy to make a difference in the Championship.
They need to go back to the drawing board and unearth a couple of good defenders."
I wouldn't agree with that at all. Meath are a team on the up, I think they have the core players to build serious spine of a team, and while winning Leinster would have been the dream this year, they will regroup and they will be a hard opposition for the All Ireland.

Congratulation to Westmeath though today, I didn't expect that result, but fair play to them.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1761 - 19/04/2026 21:46:56    2667368

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Replying To francie81:  "After today results it's clear proof that Leinster is wide open again especially with Dublin's golden era well behind them and seemingly not much coming through there at underage, if you ask me (without being biased) Louth are the team to beat in the province although we always struggled to turn over the Dubs in the championship which I hope that changes in 2 weeks, but anyway isn't it great to see a province so dead for so long with life again and indeed not one of those games covered today by RTE what a shame."
Pressure probably mounted after tiday on Louth to go and beat dublin and take a scalp. Louth need to beat a Kerry or dublin type traditional team at this strage. 1973 since Louth bet dublin I think they will go and win it, hard to see past Louth v Westmeath final

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 922 - 19/04/2026 23:21:51    2667387

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Replying To legendzxix:  "It is crazy. What is the purpose of GAA+ when these games were not shown today.."
Sure Leinster Championship is a dud compared to Munster hurling

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 922 - 19/04/2026 23:25:18    2667388

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Roscommon have caught Mayo after league finals before. I wouldn't be dismissing Meath so quickly. They'll be a dangerous opponent in round 1. Not sure many will want to draw them."
Roscommon played in Div 1 alongside Mayo when they "caught them" Meath promoted to Division 1 was caught by Westmeath who didn't get promoted to Division 2 that's the difference.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3920 - 20/04/2026 01:29:29    2667397

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Replying To dickie10:  "Pressure probably mounted after tiday on Louth to go and beat dublin and take a scalp. Louth need to beat a Kerry or dublin type traditional team at this strage. 1973 since Louth bet dublin I think they will go and win it, hard to see past Louth v Westmeath final"
Yeah we will not get a better chance of taken out the Dubs but as they say Championship is Championship just hoping for a great Saturday evening game of football, the other semi is hard to call Westmeath will be on a serious high as for Kildare you just never know with them sort of a no in between team.

francie81 (Louth) - Posts: 258 - 20/04/2026 14:23:28    2667511

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "I think people need to realise that Meath are a very ordinary team. They got Dublin in an off day in 2025. They haven't got the consistancy to make a difference in the Championship.
They need to go back to the drawing board and unearth a couple of good defenders."
Lazy lazy take.

While I agree the media put Meath in a conversation they're probably not in yet and hyped up to be more than they are, but you don't catch Dublin, Kerry, Galway all on an off day in the Championship, and then you don't go win 7/8 games in the league and avenge your one loss in the league final.

Meath if anything have proved to be incredible consistent over the last 12/18 months, outside of that 1 loss in the Semi Final, everything else has been pretty consistent. Cork are a good example of a what inconsistency looks like.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 133 - 20/04/2026 14:35:46    2667515

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Based on form so far

Ulster final
Derry v Donegal

Munster Final
Kerry v Cork

Connacht Final
Galway v Mayo

Leinster final
Louth V Westmeath (that will be some day out)


Round 1 of All Ireland (random draw)
Donegal v Dublin
Kerry v Armagh
Galway v Meath
Louth v Roscommon
Derry v Kildare
Cork v Tyrone
Mayo v Monaghan
Westmeath V Cavan

Shaping up nicely

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1749 - 20/04/2026 14:51:04    2667523

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Ah lad, we had a terrible 20 years, had a few decent wins last year and have backed that up with promotion and a title this year, are we not allowed to have a bit of crack and big up our team again ? Sure we'll all just shut up and throw all the accolades at kerry and donegal then and wait for the inevitable in July.... its all about enjoyment at the end of the day"
Hope you enjoyed that humbling yesterday. Can't say yous hadn't got it coming.

Never seen a team that have won as little talking so much.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1561 - 20/04/2026 15:40:39    2667533

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Replying To dickie10:  "Pressure probably mounted after tiday on Louth to go and beat dublin and take a scalp. Louth need to beat a Kerry or dublin type traditional team at this strage. 1973 since Louth bet dublin I think they will go and win it, hard to see past Louth v Westmeath final"
1973 Navan. Dublin beat them same place in quarter final 1974.

You would have to fancy Louth.

Unless Dublin - as implied by Rock - rested lads and didn't rush Gannon et al back. Almost backfired to say the least if true!

Can't see them improving a huge pile.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4216 - 20/04/2026 15:54:33    2667536

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