All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[DaleCooper]

Its hard to be definitive but teams are playing with less safety first mentality [zero data just a feel] because they are forced to.

Two pointers can kill tension in a game I feel.

It would be awkard but a "score 2 arcs get 3 points" would be slightly fairer.

[DaleCooper]

Enough of the what might have beens.
Time to look ahead to the Final.
Could the unthinkable happen?🥶
They're looking good☹️

Yeah. I think Jacko was relieved after Dubs and Tyrone as he knows how crucial White/ O'Shea are.

Mayo have not had a test of that level yet but it boils down to getting a big forward display. Andy will be in his element.

[marty34]

Its hard to be definitive but teams are playing with less safety first mentality [zero data just a feel] because they are forced to.

Two pointers can kill tension in a game I feel.

It would be awkard but a "score 2 arcs get 3 points" would be slightly fairer.

Bit of a killer I think of a team getting a goal then the opposition going straight down the field and hitting two pointer.

Not impressed by that. 

[David McKeown]

2nd year of the All-Ireland semi-finals done and dusted under the new rules none of the 4 games was close to what FRC hoped for let's be honest.

2nd year in a row we got a mis-match at the semi final stage. Credit to Mayo,Donegal going about their business though no neutrals wants to see a non contest semi-final.

Kerry had a routine win against Tyrone last year and yesterday was probably the worst quality Kerry v Dublin match since 2015 and that game had the excuse of poor weather.

2021 to 2024 All-Ireland semi-finals had Armagh beating Kerry,Tyrone beating Kerry and Mayo beating Dublin after extra time all memorable contests.

Also had Galway beating Donegal by 2 points,Kerry beat Dublin by 1 and Kerry beating Derry by 2. 

Biggest margin win of all those All-Ireland semi-finals was Dublin by 7 points against Monaghan and that match was level with 10 minutes to play.

It's probably still too small a sample size for the new rules but I do think the old rules weren't as bad as people made out, especially summer football. As you correctly point out there were some unreal games in the latter stages of 2021 to 2024. 2024 final was terrible though, which helped people support the new rules.

Obvious bias aside I still don't get this narrative about the 2024 final. Both commentators and the RTE pundits were full of praise on the day. Fitzmaurice on several occasions described it as the best final of recent years.

[Sportacus]

2nd year of the All-Ireland semi-finals done and dusted under the new rules none of the 4 games was close to what FRC hoped for let's be honest.

2nd year in a row we got a mis-match at the semi final stage. Credit to Mayo,Donegal going about their business though no neutrals wants to see a non contest semi-final.

Kerry had a routine win against Tyrone last year and yesterday was probably the worst quality Kerry v Dublin match since 2015 and that game had the excuse of poor weather.

2021 to 2024 All-Ireland semi-finals had Armagh beating Kerry,Tyrone beating Kerry and Mayo beating Dublin after extra time all memorable contests.

Also had Galway beating Donegal by 2 points,Kerry beat Dublin by 1 and Kerry beating Derry by 2. 

Biggest margin win of all those All-Ireland semi-finals was Dublin by 7 points against Monaghan and that match was level with 10 minutes to play.

It's probably still too small a sample size for the new rules but I do think the old rules weren't as bad as people made out, especially summer football. As you correctly point out there were some unreal games in the latter stages of 2021 to 2024. 2024 final was terrible though, which helped people support the new rules.

Obvious bias aside I still don't get this narrative about the 2024 final. Both commentators and the RTE pundits were full of praise on the day. Fitzmaurice on several occasions described it as the best final of recent years.

Still think football isn't a patch on what it used to be in terms of entertainment.  It's like a basketball game for large stretches.  Scully and Paudie Clifford playing some sort of quarterback role on the edge of the arc, but it's all very cagey and risk averse. Players turning back to avoid contact. Lots of very talented players out there, but they're all playing percentages, 'probing' around the edge of the arc (or 'raiding' as Ger Canning would say). The Championship format can't account for that mindset.  Take me back to the 90's.

[thewobbler]

Get on board with something folks.

Under the old rules, if one team had no interest in playing football then the other team had no choice. They also had to bide their time.

Under the new rules either team can force the issue at the drop of a hat.

Can it solve the problem whereby neither team has an impetus? No. But same as every sport in that regard.

It's not perfect. But it's not basketball either. To suggest basketball when we've watched a weekend of blocks and challenges is, simply, a lack of understanding or an unwillingness to understand.

[AustinPowers]

2nd year of the All-Ireland semi-finals done and dusted under the new rules none of the 4 games was close to what FRC hoped for let's be honest.

2nd year in a row we got a mis-match at the semi final stage. Credit to Mayo,Donegal going about their business though no neutrals wants to see a non contest semi-final.

Kerry had a routine win against Tyrone last year and yesterday was probably the worst quality Kerry v Dublin match since 2015 and that game had the excuse of poor weather.

2021 to 2024 All-Ireland semi-finals had Armagh beating Kerry,Tyrone beating Kerry and Mayo beating Dublin after extra time all memorable contests.

Also had Galway beating Donegal by 2 points,Kerry beat Dublin by 1 and Kerry beating Derry by 2. 

Biggest margin win of all those All-Ireland semi-finals was Dublin by 7 points against Monaghan and that match was level with 10 minutes to play.

It's probably still too small a sample size for the new rules but I do think the old rules weren't as bad as people made out, especially summer football. As you correctly point out there were some unreal games in the latter stages of 2021 to 2024. 2024 final was terrible though, which helped people support the new rules.

Obvious bias aside I still don't get this narrative about the 2024 final. Both commentators and the RTE pundits were full of praise on the day. Fitzmaurice on several occasions described it as the best final of recent years.

Still think football isn't a patch on what it used to be in terms of entertainment.  It's like a basketball game for large stretches.  Scully and Paudie Clifford playing some sort of quarterback role on the edge of the arc, but it's all very cagey and risk averse. Players turning back to avoid contact. Lots of very talented players out there, but they're all playing percentages, 'probing' around the edge of the arc (or 'raiding' as Ger Canning would say). The Championship format can't account for that mindset.  Take me back to the 90's.

Agree with you, especially the bold bit

But  there is no way back from the possession based game of today. Teams arent suddenly going  to hoof the ball up the field as far as they can  like they did in the 80's  and 90's.  And while that  may look like caveman tactics today , it  was all we knew , but it led to  some great  battles, big hits and  kept  the crowd  on the edge of their seats.   It's like a cricket match  these  days.

[Armagh18]

2nd year of the All-Ireland semi-finals done and dusted under the new rules none of the 4 games was close to what FRC hoped for let's be honest.

2nd year in a row we got a mis-match at the semi final stage. Credit to Mayo,Donegal going about their business though no neutrals wants to see a non contest semi-final.

Kerry had a routine win against Tyrone last year and yesterday was probably the worst quality Kerry v Dublin match since 2015 and that game had the excuse of poor weather.

2021 to 2024 All-Ireland semi-finals had Armagh beating Kerry,Tyrone beating Kerry and Mayo beating Dublin after extra time all memorable contests.

Also had Galway beating Donegal by 2 points,Kerry beat Dublin by 1 and Kerry beating Derry by 2. 

Biggest margin win of all those All-Ireland semi-finals was Dublin by 7 points against Monaghan and that match was level with 10 minutes to play.

It's probably still too small a sample size for the new rules but I do think the old rules weren't as bad as people made out, especially summer football. As you correctly point out there were some unreal games in the latter stages of 2021 to 2024. 2024 final was terrible though, which helped people support the new rules.

Obvious bias aside I still don't get this narrative about the 2024 final. Both commentators and the RTE pundits were full of praise on the day. Fitzmaurice on several occasions described it as the best final of recent years.

Hell of a lot better than the 2025 shit show, in fact probably better than any game from quarter final stage on since then? Bar Kerry and Tyrone this year?

[Maroon Manc]

The power of the media has never been so obvious in the last few days.

How I've laughed at the meltdown from some pundits and ex Dublin players, didn't want to know 2 weeks ago when David Gough rode Galway from start to finish. Paul Flynn should be banished from the Sunday Game for his nonsense.

[Rossfan]

They always have to have someone from Dublin on it of course!
If they have to inflict these pundits on us at least have neutral ones.

I'm not one for looking at the past with rose tinted glasses but my youthful recollection of highlights/pundits featured just Enda Colleran who was excellent.

[Look-Up!]

How would non award of Dublin goal have been changed? As has been said many times, the replays DO NOT show the ball crossing the line.

Do we want referees to look at a replay and go "ah yeah, sure this is probably what happened, I'll change my mind"?

I get that, would need a dedicated goal line camera that I'm sure wouldn't be most challenging thing to overcome. It's not a perfect system but this year has had so many big calls gone wrong that is costing teams a fair shot.

What system does the pansyball have in place? Realistically if it's wild expensive not worth it for the once in a blue moon theres controversy but if it's something that could added to hawk eye easily enough then why not

If there's simple technology that doesn't take over the game and lead to long reviews, why not. But Hawkeye was more needed for hurling more than anything else. For football if I had to choose one I'd much rather have competent umpires over Hawkeye.

Well it shouldn't need to be one or the other lol.

Definitely needs to be looked at having proper referees doing umpire

Actually for most of us mere mortals that don't get to Croker for sellouts, umpires are the only show in town.

But there is a valid question here. Who are the umpires? Are they qualified? I wouldn't go down the VAR route, but that was an appalling decision because the umpire, who appeared to be checking out the ladies in the stand, simply couldn't have made amy decision

That's what I'm saying. Bringing technology into it is not fixing the problem if the problem is umpire selection. Hurling there's a need for Hawkeye due to the sliothar size, speed and puck height. Shouldn't need it in football.

You've never done umpire, have you? Judging shots that are higher than the posts isn't always easy. You've to decide whether the ball would have clipped the post even fractionally. You'd be guessing.

Appropriate username all the same.

I have actually. It's a judgement call. I've yet to see any controversy on calls within reason. It's calls that are clearly a foot or more out that cause issues, or umpires looking the other way.

[Baile Brigín 2]

How would non award of Dublin goal have been changed? As has been said many times, the replays DO NOT show the ball crossing the line.

Do we want referees to look at a replay and go "ah yeah, sure this is probably what happened, I'll change my mind"?

I get that, would need a dedicated goal line camera that I'm sure wouldn't be most challenging thing to overcome. It's not a perfect system but this year has had so many big calls gone wrong that is costing teams a fair shot.

What system does the pansyball have in place? Realistically if it's wild expensive not worth it for the once in a blue moon theres controversy but if it's something that could added to hawk eye easily enough then why not

If there's simple technology that doesn't take over the game and lead to long reviews, why not. But Hawkeye was more needed for hurling more than anything else. For football if I had to choose one I'd much rather have competent umpires over Hawkeye.

Well it shouldn't need to be one or the other lol.

Definitely needs to be looked at having proper referees doing umpire

Actually for most of us mere mortals that don't get to Croker for sellouts, umpires are the only show in town.

But there is a valid question here. Who are the umpires? Are they qualified? I wouldn't go down the VAR route, but that was an appalling decision because the umpire, who appeared to be checking out the ladies in the stand, simply couldn't have made amy decision

That's what I'm saying. Bringing technology into it is not fixing the problem if the problem is umpire selection. Hurling there's a need for Hawkeye due to the sliothar size, speed and puck height. Shouldn't need it in football.

You've never done umpire, have you? Judging shots that are higher than the posts isn't always easy. You've to decide whether the ball would have clipped the post even fractionally. You'd be guessing.

Appropriate username all the same.

But we aren't talking about point shots. We are talking about an umpire not watching the game when he needs to be calling whether a shot is over the line or not.

[blanketattack]

The power of the media has never been so obvious in the last few days.

How I've laughed at the meltdown from some pundits and ex Dublin players, didn't want to know 2 weeks ago when David Gough rode Galway from start to finish. Paul Flynn should be banished from the Sunday Game for his nonsense.

At the start of the match there was an incident similar to the penalty, except much softer, where O Cofaigh-Byrne turned into a Kerry player and fell over resulting in a 2 pointer for Dublin.

Sean O'Shea was taken out of it with a late sliding tackle as he offloaded the ball - no free.

A lineball for Kerry ended up overturned for a phantom free to Dublin.

Scully attacked 2 Kerry players on his way out from the Kerry goalline clearance. At a minimum, 2 yellow cards.

Any of these dodgy Dublin decisions discussed by any of the Sunday Game pundits or any other pundits? Of course not, that'd be balanced punditry.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The power of the media has never been so obvious in the last few days.

How I've laughed at the meltdown from some pundits and ex Dublin players, didn't want to know 2 weeks ago when David Gough rode Galway from start to finish. Paul Flynn should be banished from the Sunday Game for his nonsense.

At the start of the match there was an incident similar to the penalty, except much softer, where O Cofaigh-Byrne turned into a Kerry player and fell over resulting in a 2 pointer for Dublin.

Sean O'Shea was taken out of it with a late sliding tackle as he offloaded the ball - no free.

A lineball for Kerry ended up overturned for a phantom free to Dublin.

Scully attacked 2 Kerry players on his way out from the Kerry goalline clearance. At a minimum, 2 yellow cards.

Any of these dodgy Dublin decisions discussed by any of the Sunday Game pundits or any other pundits? Of course not, that'd be balanced punditry.

Not quite the same thing. Dublin got done by the officials. Just did. Whataboutery isn't relevant.

We take our beating and move on, but we are entitled to our seethe.

[Armagh18]

The power of the media has never been so obvious in the last few days.

How I've laughed at the meltdown from some pundits and ex Dublin players, didn't want to know 2 weeks ago when David Gough rode Galway from start to finish. Paul Flynn should be banished from the Sunday Game for his nonsense.

At the start of the match there was an incident similar to the penalty, except much softer, where O Cofaigh-Byrne turned into a Kerry player and fell over resulting in a 2 pointer for Dublin.

Sean O'Shea was taken out of it with a late sliding tackle as he offloaded the ball - no free.

A lineball for Kerry ended up overturned for a phantom free to Dublin.

Scully attacked 2 Kerry players on his way out from the Kerry goalline clearance. At a minimum, 2 yellow cards.

Any of these dodgy Dublin decisions discussed by any of the Sunday Game pundits or any other pundits? Of course not, that'd be balanced punditry.

That one was a foul on a man going down for the ball, don't think I remember the others tbh.

And Scully "attacked" the Kerry boys, have a word with yourself lol