National Forum

Football Championship 2026

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "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"
I expect Finals to be

Armagh v Monaghan

Kerry v Cork

Galway v Roscommon

Dublin v Kildare.

With Armagh, Kerry, Galway and Dublin being crowned Provincial Champions.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1008 - 21/04/2026 20:51:57    2667787

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "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"
I'd agree with the finals as above with Donegal, Kerry, Roscommon and Westmeath making the final cut (big call yes, but I like the cut of Mark McHugh's gib). Its hasn't been too bad of a championship so far with lots to come. Hard to call between Kerry & Donegal... I think Donegal will being back Sam to the Hills of Donegal but early days yet.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1992 - 21/04/2026 23:05:47    2667805

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Replying To Square_B:  "I'd agree with the finals as above with Donegal, Kerry, Roscommon and Westmeath making the final cut (big call yes, but I like the cut of Mark McHugh's gib). Its hasn't been too bad of a championship so far with lots to come. Hard to call between Kerry & Donegal... I think Donegal will being back Sam to the Hills of Donegal but early days yet."
Fair enough westmeath win leinster or make semi finals of all ireland?

I think kerry or donegal maybe kerry edge it

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1275 - 22/04/2026 08:34:48    2667821

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "I expect Finals to be

Armagh v Monaghan

Kerry v Cork

Galway v Roscommon

Dublin v Kildare.

With Armagh, Kerry, Galway and Dublin being crowned Provincial Champions."
Louty and westmeath wrote off ? If dubs win again itvreinfirces that leinstet competion usnt tyat goid

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1275 - 22/04/2026 08:36:09    2667822

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I have a ominous feeling dublin will beat Louth , Louth haven't taken a scalp in championship yet for all the improvements, and Kildare could well beat Westmeath, Westmeath never do well as favourites in a big match. Imagine the disappointment of dublin v Kildare final and dublin win by 8-10 points!

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 926 - 22/04/2026 14:36:38    2667905

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I think any provincial championship which returns the same as last year will be a disappointment.

Having Westmeath/Kildare, Roscommon/Mayo, Cork, Armagh/Derry/Down as provincial champions would be good for football.

Donegal (5 of last 10), Kerry (13 of 14), Galway (11 finals in a row, 6 titles in a row) and Dublin (19 of 21) all winning would be a disaster from an overall development point of view.

Bring back the days of the 2000's - Div 1A and B in the league and open draw championships, open draw back door
[5 different Leinster winners, 4 different Connacht winners (no more than a 2 in a row), 5 of six Munster counties in the final (limerick in 4, no Kerry in 2 finals), all 9 Ulster counties reached the Ulster final). 12 different counties playing in All Ireland semi finals.

Hopefully, the new rules will allow us get back to those heady days, when Provincial finals and All Ireland quarter final weekends were big stuff.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1762 - 22/04/2026 16:44:38    2667929

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "I think any provincial championship which returns the same as last year will be a disappointment.

Having Westmeath/Kildare, Roscommon/Mayo, Cork, Armagh/Derry/Down as provincial champions would be good for football.

Donegal (5 of last 10), Kerry (13 of 14), Galway (11 finals in a row, 6 titles in a row) and Dublin (19 of 21) all winning would be a disaster from an overall development point of view.

Bring back the days of the 2000's - Div 1A and B in the league and open draw championships, open draw back door
[5 different Leinster winners, 4 different Connacht winners (no more than a 2 in a row), 5 of six Munster counties in the final (limerick in 4, no Kerry in 2 finals), all 9 Ulster counties reached the Ulster final). 12 different counties playing in All Ireland semi finals.

Hopefully, the new rules will allow us get back to those heady days, when Provincial finals and All Ireland quarter final weekends were big stuff."
So if Louth win Leinster it's a disappointment?

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1120 - 22/04/2026 21:05:51    2667971

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "I think any provincial championship which returns the same as last year will be a disappointment.

Having Westmeath/Kildare, Roscommon/Mayo, Cork, Armagh/Derry/Down as provincial champions would be good for football.

Donegal (5 of last 10), Kerry (13 of 14), Galway (11 finals in a row, 6 titles in a row) and Dublin (19 of 21) all winning would be a disaster from an overall development point of view.

Bring back the days of the 2000's - Div 1A and B in the league and open draw championships, open draw back door
[5 different Leinster winners, 4 different Connacht winners (no more than a 2 in a row), 5 of six Munster counties in the final (limerick in 4, no Kerry in 2 finals), all 9 Ulster counties reached the Ulster final). 12 different counties playing in All Ireland semi finals.

Hopefully, the new rules will allow us get back to those heady days, when Provincial finals and All Ireland quarter final weekends were big stuff."
If Carlsberg did championships the 2000s would probably be them. Matches worth looking forward to in all provinces with the back door an added bonus.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2643 - 22/04/2026 21:45:42    2667981

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "I expect Finals to be

Armagh v Monaghan

Kerry v Cork

Galway v Roscommon

Dublin v Kildare.

With Armagh, Kerry, Galway and Dublin being crowned Provincial Champions."
Derry v Donegal final, I thought Armagh were top 3 in country but not anymore. Back down the rankings in my eyes.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2643 - 22/04/2026 22:06:09    2667985

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "I think any provincial championship which returns the same as last year will be a disappointment.

Having Westmeath/Kildare, Roscommon/Mayo, Cork, Armagh/Derry/Down as provincial champions would be good for football.

Donegal (5 of last 10), Kerry (13 of 14), Galway (11 finals in a row, 6 titles in a row) and Dublin (19 of 21) all winning would be a disaster from an overall development point of view.

Bring back the days of the 2000's - Div 1A and B in the league and open draw championships, open draw back door
[5 different Leinster winners, 4 different Connacht winners (no more than a 2 in a row), 5 of six Munster counties in the final (limerick in 4, no Kerry in 2 finals), all 9 Ulster counties reached the Ulster final). 12 different counties playing in All Ireland semi finals.

Hopefully, the new rules will allow us get back to those heady days, when Provincial finals and All Ireland quarter final weekends were big stuff."
The new rules alone will not win Provincial Championships. It's up to teams like Mayo to step it up and beat the likes of Galway in finals. But Mayo have to get past Roscommon first.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 918 - 22/04/2026 22:07:16    2667986

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Replying To dickie10:  "I have a ominous feeling dublin will beat Louth , Louth haven't taken a scalp in championship yet for all the improvements, and Kildare could well beat Westmeath, Westmeath never do well as favourites in a big match. Imagine the disappointment of dublin v Kildare final and dublin win by 8-10 points!"
So Louth winning the leinster last year beating Meath by your own words you are saying that Meath are a poor team, your dislike for Louth and now Westmeath is obvious to see . Looking at your posts over the years you would think Meath are one of the top teams ?

clutch (Louth) - Posts: 29 - 22/04/2026 22:35:56    2667999

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Replying To Saynothing:  "If Carlsberg did championships the 2000s would probably be them. Matches worth looking forward to in all provinces with the back door an added bonus."
Football was more direct I have to say 2002 was one of the best championships ever imo the excitement around replays, and the back door system had that added effect with every county involved.

francie81 (Louth) - Posts: 265 - 23/04/2026 00:19:20    2668007

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Low key build up to southern semi finals. Limerick and Clare should be pushing for 3rd and 4th seeds to be seeded in the quarter final draw.
Fermanagh - Armagh and Donegal - Down aren't much different. Down though of course carry a threat not to be taken lightly.
Leitrim have earned their shot at Galway. Sligo gave Galway a fright a few years back. Will be a tough day out for Leitrim but they've earned their shot at it. Mayo - Roscommon the big one. Roscommon had an impressive league campaign. It'll be interesting to see how they get on in the western province.
The Munster hurling championship has all the fun. 5 superpowers going at it hammer and tongs. The Super 8s kind of had that spark.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9651 - 23/04/2026 12:34:02    2668094

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Kerry have few injuries could clare cause upset or kerry still too strong

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1275 - 23/04/2026 18:49:59    2668204

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Kerry have few injuries could clare cause upset or kerry still too strong"
Kerry will beat Clare without coming out of 2nd gear despite injured players....

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 918 - 24/04/2026 08:06:09    2668269

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "I think any provincial championship which returns the same as last year will be a disappointment.

Having Westmeath/Kildare, Roscommon/Mayo, Cork, Armagh/Derry/Down as provincial champions would be good for football.

Donegal (5 of last 10), Kerry (13 of 14), Galway (11 finals in a row, 6 titles in a row) and Dublin (19 of 21) all winning would be a disaster from an overall development point of view.

Bring back the days of the 2000's - Div 1A and B in the league and open draw championships, open draw back door
[5 different Leinster winners, 4 different Connacht winners (no more than a 2 in a row), 5 of six Munster counties in the final (limerick in 4, no Kerry in 2 finals), all 9 Ulster counties reached the Ulster final). 12 different counties playing in All Ireland semi finals.

Hopefully, the new rules will allow us get back to those heady days, when Provincial finals and All Ireland quarter final weekends were big stuff."
I don't agree at all,

Since 2020, the Ulster Championship has so far produced 4 different Provincial Champions, 5 different Provincial Champions since 2015 and 8 of the 9 Counties have contested the Ulster Championship final since 2017 (Last 9 years). That is a healthy Championship, you will always have a 2 or 3 teams on top, but that tends to change every 4 years, statistically speak, it will be hard for Donegal to win 3 in a row based on the history of Ulster football, so new Champions could be likely.

Leinster became a one horse race for years, when arguably the greatest football team we have ever witnessed, dominated without any remote challenge. But now that era has ended, we are seeing the rise of Louth and Meath, Westmeath are on the up by the looks of it, then you have Kildare, Wexford and if injuries clear up Offaly who are not far off. I would love to see Carlow have a good run next season again, very impressive this year. Its starting to become healthy again, less predictable.

Connacht had 3 big guns, there is a gap then to Leitrim and Sligo etc, but despite having less teams, it is a really competitive Province among the top 3. Seeing Leitrim beat Sligo was nice for Leitrim, a massive boost to their players.

Munster has one constant, which is Kerry, but the other teams do rise every now and again. Cork should be doing better and be more consistent, I think Kerry's dominance sometimes is what keeps them from building momentum to step up to the next level. Clare always produce decent teams, Tipperary had a phenomenal underage team in the last decade, which came through to the Seniors, a few outstanding players who would have made any top team, but because they weren't producingt them very few seasons, it couldn't be sustained.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1783 - 24/04/2026 09:22:34    2668275

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The main gripe I have against provincial championships is that there is no qualification standard. If provinces were limited to the following based on league ranking: Ulster - top 8, Leinster - top 8, Munster - top 4 and Connacht - top 4, it would set something of a qualification standard. The 9 missing out could enter a second tier cup where the winner could be guaranteed a place in their provincial championship in the following year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9651 - 25/04/2026 06:31:59    2668472

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The main gripe I have against provincial championships is that there is no qualification standard. If provinces were limited to the following based on league ranking: Ulster - top 8, Leinster - top 8, Munster - top 4 and Connacht - top 4, it would set something of a qualification standard. The 9 missing out could enter a second tier cup where the winner could be guaranteed a place in their provincial championship in the following year."
Sorry I completely disagree. Every county should automatically have the right to compete in their provincial championship. You talk about qualification standards…..Kerry practically qualifies for the all Ireland business end every year because ye have no competition in Munster.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12048 - 25/04/2026 09:11:32    2668485

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Sorry I completely disagree. Every county should automatically have the right to compete in their provincial championship. You talk about qualification standards…..Kerry practically qualifies for the all Ireland business end every year because ye have no competition in Munster."
The provincial championships in hurling have a qualification standard. If it is completely implausible for a qualification standard for the provincial championships in football - I nearly would agree with flipping the provincials before league.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9651 - 25/04/2026 10:54:03    2668502

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The main gripe I have against provincial championships is that there is no qualification standard. If provinces were limited to the following based on league ranking: Ulster - top 8, Leinster - top 8, Munster - top 4 and Connacht - top 4, it would set something of a qualification standard. The 9 missing out could enter a second tier cup where the winner could be guaranteed a place in their provincial championship in the following year."
The problem with the provincial championship is that Kerry have a free run every year. You also want to get a free run to the All Ireland semi final by keeping the provincial winners apart up to then?

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 918 - 25/04/2026 11:30:28    2668508

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