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Football Championship 2026

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Replying To Seniorleague: "Playing mind games on a sparsely attended anonymous gaa forum that none of the players will look at is a new level of tragic." That AKA has lots of levels of tragic. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8661 - 09/07/2026 08:36:09 2684890 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "I think there is pressure on kerry tbh. Theyre hot favourites against a team who they shouldn't be hot favourites against, and their record against Dublin since 2011 is abysmal,even the 22 semi which they won could have easily gone Dublins way. Kerry dont like the sight of the Dublin jersey. Another defeat to their old rivals will sting and they know it." Ahem. The Dublin - Kerry rivalry was built upon a "neutral" Croke Park. Taking on Dublin in their current day home league ground since 2011 is an entirely different dynamic. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9954 - 09/07/2026 08:56:19 2684894 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "Playing mind games on a sparsely attended anonymous gaa forum that none of the players will look at is a new level of tragic." You just agreed with me in your last post. JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 229 - 09/07/2026 09:09:44 2684895 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "He has a different media approach to his predecessors. All part of the crack. Game won't be won in an interview. Dublin v Kerry always a great day no matter what the result and very much looking forward to it. You will be most welcome to our "home ground" legend. Will Kerry folk know how to get there??" Win or not - there's usually good craic between supporters. Dublin supporters were very sporting in 2009, which turned out to be the last "neutral" Croke Park championship clash. Likewise after the 2011 clash, which was the first championship clash in Dublin's new home league ground. I was in the minority who wanted Armagh away in Round 3. I had a feeling that Kerry would need that challenge ahead of Dublin at the business end of the championship. While there was silly loose talk from some ahead of the Tyrone clash, feet are firmly on terra firma ahead of the trip to Dublin's current day home league ground. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9954 - 09/07/2026 09:28:14 2684902 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Ahem. The Dublin - Kerry rivalry was built upon a "neutral" Croke Park. Taking on Dublin in their current day home league ground since 2011 is an entirely different dynamic." Croke Park has been Dublin's home league venue since the league began in the 1920s. With the exception of a short sojourn in Parnell for about 10/11 years in my reckoning. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4474 - 09/07/2026 09:47:34 2684904 Link
Since 2011 Dublin have held the upper hand. Kerry beaten by the better team, some sore ones but that was an exceptional Dublin team. Kerry have a fully fit 26 with the exception of Shane Ryan. In hindsight Dublin did really well but Donegal looked a beaten docket and Galway are a team thats so poorly coached and how they have a junior B goal keeper is beyond me. This Kerry team have matured and are extremely well coached by Cian ONeill and Donaghty. Dublins old guard has dragged them back from the brink this summer and ive no doubt theyll fight to the end on Sunday. It will come down to 2nd half and who can come in and make an impact. I just don't see that punch from Dublins bench compared to Kerrys Seanie Tom Sullivan Keith Evan Paul Murphy Killian Spillane Tony Brosnan Heinrich All can make a big impact. Then we get to Con or Clifford. Both will cause havoc but Clifford has a point to prove and my gut tells me he will make a serious statement. For me Kerry have too much upfront for Dublin to close down and when legs are tiring bringing in Seanie or Tom Sullivan will be a huge boost to us. Bookies have Kerry at 4/11 which is incredible really. Kerry to win and make a statement. If not itll rank as Dublins greatest win over us and our worst loss. Kerry by 20 hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 179 - 09/07/2026 14:09:05 2684939 Link
Replying To hlynch12: "Since 2011 Dublin have held the upper hand. Kerry beaten by the better team, some sore ones but that was an exceptional Dublin team. Kerry have a fully fit 26 with the exception of Shane Ryan. In hindsight Dublin did really well but Donegal looked a beaten docket and Galway are a team thats so poorly coached and how they have a junior B goal keeper is beyond me. This Kerry team have matured and are extremely well coached by Cian ONeill and Donaghty. Dublins old guard has dragged them back from the brink this summer and ive no doubt theyll fight to the end on Sunday. It will come down to 2nd half and who can come in and make an impact. I just don't see that punch from Dublins bench compared to Kerrys Seanie Tom Sullivan Keith Evan Paul Murphy Killian Spillane Tony Brosnan Heinrich All can make a big impact. Then we get to Con or Clifford. Both will cause havoc but Clifford has a point to prove and my gut tells me he will make a serious statement. For me Kerry have too much upfront for Dublin to close down and when legs are tiring bringing in Seanie or Tom Sullivan will be a huge boost to us. Bookies have Kerry at 4/11 which is incredible really. Kerry to win and make a statement. If not itll rank as Dublins greatest win over us and our worst loss. Kerry by 20" Dublin by 1 then ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 159 - 09/07/2026 15:17:47 2684960 Link
Replying To Seniorleague: "I think there is pressure on kerry tbh. Theyre hot favourites against a team who they shouldn't be hot favourites against, and their record against Dublin since 2011 is abysmal,even the 22 semi which they won could have easily gone Dublins way. Kerry dont like the sight of the Dublin jersey. Another defeat to their old rivals will sting and they know it." I think the general consensus is that there most definitely is more pressure on Kerry, than the Dubs for this game. That being said, I think Jack is more than up to the task ahead and won't be in the slightest distracted by outside opinions….. https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2026/0709/1582208-pressure-is-on-kerry-but-they-have-quality-to-survive/ Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5168 - 09/07/2026 15:33:19 2684967 Link
Dublin coming to Killarney in Round 2B would have been pressure on Kerry. Dublin's return to home league ground form against Donegal and Galway removes any pressure on Kerry. It is clearly a 50-50 game now. No two ways about it. I wouldn't pay any attention to LK. There is more pressure on Dublin for understandable reasons. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9954 - 09/07/2026 18:17:46 2684995 Link
Replying To JimB1991: "You just agreed with me in your last post." I said theres pressure on them but this craic of it being a total embarrassment if they lose and theyll win the final by 12-16 points is just pointless nonsense from you. Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 140 - 09/07/2026 18:58:19 2685002 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Dublin coming to Killarney in Round 2B would have been pressure on Kerry. Dublin's return to home league ground form against Donegal and Galway removes any pressure on Kerry. It is clearly a 50-50 game now. No two ways about it. I wouldn't pay any attention to LK. There is more pressure on Dublin for understandable reasons." 90-10 in kerry favour. Joe Connor, Sean O'Brien, Diarmuid Connors and Mark Shea will dominate the skies. Be interesting if Cawley will be watching kerry players block runners on the kickouts. Getting away with since new rules brought in two years ago. hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 179 - 09/07/2026 22:04:18 2685021 Link
I'm fairly certain Kerry will beat Dublin, but I'm going back and forth between Mayo and Louth. Extremely hard to call. There's a possibility Louth could flop with all the hype, and the occasion could get to them. The same can be said for Mayo's younger players. Hoping for exciting games all the same. Will be rooting for Wicklow, Kerry and Mayo. RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 24 - 09/07/2026 22:53:14 2685029 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Dublin coming to Killarney in Round 2B would have been pressure on Kerry. Dublin's return to home league ground form against Donegal and Galway removes any pressure on Kerry. It is clearly a 50-50 game now. No two ways about it. I wouldn't pay any attention to LK. There is more pressure on Dublin for understandable reasons." It may be a 50:50 game but no one expected Dublin to reach this point of the championship at the start of the year. This is bonus territory for the Dubs but that's not to say they won't go for it, which they will of course. As for Kerry, failure at this point would be unthinkable. The pressure is all Kerry IMO. Either way, I hope for a titanic battle on Sunday. I still expect Kerry to win (by 5 or more). Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2253 - 10/07/2026 08:41:34 2685042 Link
Replying To hlynch12: "90-10 in kerry favour. Joe Connor, Sean O'Brien, Diarmuid Connors and Mark Shea will dominate the skies. Be interesting if Cawley will be watching kerry players block runners on the kickouts. Getting away with since new rules brought in two years ago." You are getting away with it a lot longer than that….! Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5168 - 10/07/2026 09:29:17 2685047 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Dublin coming to Killarney in Round 2B would have been pressure on Kerry. Dublin's return to home league ground form against Donegal and Galway removes any pressure on Kerry. It is clearly a 50-50 game now. No two ways about it. I wouldn't pay any attention to LK. There is more pressure on Dublin for understandable reasons." Plenty other ways about it. Home league ground since 2011 or 1920 has little bearing on the quality of teams and what they've done in championship over the last year. Kerry are strong favourites and you can have no qualms about that. It's the logical position based on all the evidence we've seen. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2942 - 10/07/2026 10:02:20 2685053 Link
Definitely more pressure on kerry. To lose to this Dublin team who nearly got beaten by wicklow 2 months ago would be devastating. They have everyone now and a strong subs bench so no excuses. Can't call the other one. Louth have the better form line and nearly a more rounded team and squad depth on paper. But mayo when they get momentum are hard to stop. Their full forward line could make hay too. Kerry by 5 and mayo by 2 richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 136 - 10/07/2026 12:12:42 2685085 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Croke Park has been Dublin's home league venue since the league began in the 1920s. With the exception of a short sojourn in Parnell for about 10/11 years in my reckoning." I was definitely at a league match in Parnell between Mayo and Dublin in 2005 - the dubs weren't to hot then and all the kids wanted Ciaran McDonalds autograph. They played again there in 2007 so there was a decent spell at Parnell as the Dubs had lost their lustre in those days tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1987 - 10/07/2026 12:52:55 2685092 Link
Replying To Fionn: "You are getting away with it a lot longer than that….!" Dublin brought in a basketball coach several years ago. They became really good at screening opposing defenders to free up their forwards. It was illegal but very effective. Watch Brian Fenton's screen which freed up Eoin Murchan to score his goal at the start of the second half of the 2019 All Ireland final replay. Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6211 - 10/07/2026 13:20:07 2685097 Link
Replying To tirawleybaron: "I was definitely at a league match in Parnell between Mayo and Dublin in 2005 - the dubs weren't to hot then and all the kids wanted Ciaran McDonalds autograph. They played again there in 2007 so there was a decent spell at Parnell as the Dubs had lost their lustre in those days" I said 10/11 years. Your dates would mean from around 1998 - 2008 which would fit. Croke Park was under renovation for the earlier period. Dublin crowds were massive from 2002 at least. Look at Leinster attendances. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4474 - 10/07/2026 14:26:00 2685104 Link
78,000 at 2002 Leinster final! Doesn't sound like lack of interest to me. Parnell was always all tickets and full. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4474 - 10/07/2026 14:29:49 2685106 Link