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National Football League 2026

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Replying To MayoDan:  "I don't think anybody in mayo considers Kevin Mcstays term a success despite winning the league. Last year mayo reached a league final by default because we had to win the previous game to avoid relegation.

Of course once in the final any team would want to win. In hindsight mayo put up a bigger fight there than Kerry's AI final opponents..."
As long as we got the performance right in the 2012 final, that was the sweetest one of all. A day to savour for all time up here in the hills. Surprised you brought the subject of All Ireland finals?

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3672 - 22/01/2026 20:54:09    2652600

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's pretty evasive. That's like saying there are a top 13 contenders for Liam McCarthy."
Hurling has a top 7 All Ireland contenders as well. Evasive would be saying something like 9 in hurling and 11 in football.

If Meath see themselves as creditable strong Leinster contenders, they'd want to be gaining promotion this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9373 - 22/01/2026 21:05:06    2652605

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Dublin be better off having crack at league and getting new team used to winning. Not a chance of All Ireland.

Assuming they won't be busy with political campaigns.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3944 - 22/01/2026 21:15:08    2652610

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I think winning the league was a big thing for Mayo? it's the only national senior mens title they've won in 75 years is it?
I think they would have liked to have won it again last year despite nobody else really caring much about it."
They've released a commemorative jersey to celebrate the 75 year famine as well.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1423 - 22/01/2026 21:30:34    2652613

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "I asked you a question and you answer another poster instead.

There is still a top 7 of All Ireland contenders? Clearly wasn't In 2025 and I highly doubt there will be this year either."
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/06/28/turnstiles-click-for-a-game-transformed-and-the-most-open-championship-in-decades/

rossy15 (Roscommon) - Posts: 665 - 23/01/2026 07:43:21    2652642

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "As long as we got the performance right in the 2012 final, that was the sweetest one of all. A day to savour for all time up here in the hills. Surprised you brought the subject of All Ireland finals?"
Yeah we gave ye a soft all Ireland that year got ye back in 2013 though . I was delighted for Kerry last year.... great day ..

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 716 - 23/01/2026 10:01:41    2652654

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Hurling has a top 7 All Ireland contenders as well. Evasive would be saying something like 9 in hurling and 11 in football.

If Meath see themselves as creditable strong Leinster contenders, they'd want to be gaining promotion this year."
Hurling hasnt 7 AI contenders this year. Any more than Football has. Cork and Limerick are favourites, Tipp have to go back to back, tough in general and for some strange reason statistically really tough for them historically, and Clare might do it if they keep their key players fit.
Noone else is going to win it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18111 - 23/01/2026 10:37:28    2652663

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I'm not going to split hairs over 7 All Ireland contenders or not. There was a clear top 7 in Division 1 last year. Tyrone were most unfortunate to slip to D2. There were strong challengers outside that 7 then who on their day could deliver big performances.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9373 - 23/01/2026 11:00:33    2652667

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I feel like every thread I click into on here it's Mayo fans arguing with fans of some county or other

Kind of resembles what you'd hear over the years in the real world also. Were once everyone's "second team" as most wanted to see them win one but a small section of the fanbase have turned a lot of people against them over time. Il emphasize small section again, as most seem completely grand

PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 347 - 23/01/2026 11:13:23    2652672

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "As long as we got the performance right in the 2012 final, that was the sweetest one of all. A day to savour for all time up here in the hills. Surprised you brought the subject of All Ireland finals?"
I'm surprised you have such an infatuation with Mayo despite winning that final but there you go..

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 504 - 23/01/2026 11:37:20    2652680

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Replying To legendzxix:  "I'm not going to split hairs over 7 All Ireland contenders or not. There was a clear top 7 in Division 1 last year. Tyrone were most unfortunate to slip to D2. There were strong challengers outside that 7 then who on their day could deliver big performances."
You need to deliver multiple big performances against other counties delivering big performances to win an AI. I agree a county outside that top 5 might surprise 1 of the top 5, happened last year in both the Hurling and Football QFs. Neither of those 2 teams won the next day.
League is irrelevant.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18111 - 23/01/2026 12:01:39    2652689

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Replying To PressureKick:  "I feel like every thread I click into on here it's Mayo fans arguing with fans of some county or other

Kind of resembles what you'd hear over the years in the real world also. Were once everyone's "second team" as most wanted to see them win one but a small section of the fanbase have turned a lot of people against them over time. Il emphasize small section again, as most seem completely grand"
Well maybe if ye don't continue to post ridiculous comments about us we wouldn't be simple as...

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 716 - 23/01/2026 12:02:33    2652690

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Replying To legendzxix:  "I'm not going to split hairs over 7 All Ireland contenders or not. There was a clear top 7 in Division 1 last year. Tyrone were most unfortunate to slip to D2. There were strong challengers outside that 7 then who on their day could deliver big performances."
You need to deliver multiple big performances against other counties delivering big performances to win an AI. I agree a county outside that top 5 might surprise 1 of the top 5, happened last year in both the Hurling and Football QFs. Neither of those 2 teams won the next day.
League is irrelevant.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18111 - 23/01/2026 12:09:30    2652691

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Replying To rossy15:  "https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/06/28/turnstiles-click-for-a-game-transformed-and-the-most-open-championship-in-decades/"
Can you name 7 All-Ireland contenders and give a little detail on each team as to why you think they would be contender to win the 2026 All-Ireland as clearly the Kerry poster above won't or Is unable to answer me.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3820 - 23/01/2026 12:20:08    2652698

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Replying To legendzxix:  "I'm not going to split hairs over 7 All Ireland contenders or not. There was a clear top 7 in Division 1 last year. Tyrone were most unfortunate to slip to D2. There were strong challengers outside that 7 then who on their day could deliver big performances."
Cut out the wum nonsense. There wasn't close to 7 All-Ireland contenders last year and won't this year

Don't want the old rules back but if we still had them I'd give Armagh,Galway,Tyrone all a better chance of reaching the All-Ireland final at least this year.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 664 - 23/01/2026 12:24:26    2652700

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Replying To S1234:  "Yeah we gave ye a soft all Ireland that year got ye back in 2013 though . I was delighted for Kerry last year.... great day .."
Why, what did Mayo win the following year Clare? Oh yeah, nothing. Again.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 128 - 23/01/2026 12:46:13    2652703

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Replying To PressureKick:  "I feel like every thread I click into on here it's Mayo fans arguing with fans of some county or other

Kind of resembles what you'd hear over the years in the real world also. Were once everyone's "second team" as most wanted to see them win one but a small section of the fanbase have turned a lot of people against them over time. Il emphasize small section again, as most seem completely grand"
I also feel thread your on you are giving out or saying something ridiculous about Mayo as quite a few of your Galway ones are .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 716 - 23/01/2026 12:50:13    2652706

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Replying To PressureKick:  "I feel like every thread I click into on here it's Mayo fans arguing with fans of some county or other

Kind of resembles what you'd hear over the years in the real world also. Were once everyone's "second team" as most wanted to see them win one but a small section of the fanbase have turned a lot of people against them over time. Il emphasize small section again, as most seem completely grand"
I have had a few problems with Mayo fans over the years but most of em on here seem grand bar one muppet who the Mayo contributors dont even like.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 425 - 23/01/2026 14:05:43    2652728

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Replying To brayballer:  "I have had a few problems with Mayo fans over the years but most of em on here seem grand bar one muppet who the Mayo contributors dont even like."
Lol

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 716 - 23/01/2026 14:47:44    2652735

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Can you name 7 All-Ireland contenders and give a little detail on each team as to why you think they would be contender to win the 2026 All-Ireland as clearly the Kerry poster above won't or Is unable to answer me."
Right now it's hard to come up with any credible challenger to Kerry but things can change.

Before the quarter finals last year they weren't fancied much at all but then absolutely trounced the 3 top Ulster teams.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 504 - 23/01/2026 14:51:02    2652737

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