All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[mrdeeds]

Were any of the Mayo panel playing junior championship at weekend?

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/08/01/as-soon-as-the-hooter-sounded-in-croke-park-the-story-was-no-longer-about-football/

During the week, Gunnigan did an interview with a Canadian radio station and at the homecoming on Monday he took a call on air from a radio station in Melbourne. The story had circled the globe. They wanted to ask about Kobe McDonald, who will soon be landing in their laps, but they had other questions too.
"They said: 'What do your guys get for winning the All-Ireland?' I had a think about it, and I said I'll answer your question in one word.
"Immortality."

[From the Bunker]

A week later and some thoughts...


The end of an era....

God I'm Glad that that is over. It took far far too long. We had some great days along the way. But the ultimate AI Final failure at the end of every good season would crush the most positive of Mayo fan. Have to say - It's great not having to suck it up anymore.  Losers have no voice.

Friends and Family

There are so many who were with me on this journey, some now WhatsApp friends, some now living abroad, some who just drifted out of my life along the way and some sadly no longer with us. Getting over the line brought many back into my thoughts over the week. I'm am now a middle aged man. I seriously thought I'd never see the day. In truth winning it became bigger than it really was and had a suffocating effect.

The Perspective

Let's face it Kerry did virtually no tactical homework on Mayo. Their main concern was getting the wounded and injured onto the pitch. This game was seen as a mere formality and this was shown in naming their injured Captain as one of the subs. One of the Kerry Podcasts said they didn't know which game was the Tailteann Cup final on the Saturday the week before. Despite the public talk - there will have been great embarrassment in Kerry to have been the one who lost to Mayo in a final.

Luck

To win an AI - you need luck. And we go lorry loads this year. The side of the draw. Losing to Tyrone to end up on that side of the draw. Losing to Roscommon - giving us 5 weeks off to sort stuff out. No major injuries. Meath going down to 14. Kerry injury crisis. The white jerseys. Winning the toss for what end to play into in the final.

Andy Moran

Must be the strongest all round Manager GAA has seen. Tactician, Motivator, Psychologist, Innovator, Media savvy, Risk taker, Enthusiast - to name a few.
He has torn up the GAA statican handbook - stats that used to be key mean nothing anymore.

The Media

Isn't Tommy Rooney a solid pundit? He only talks of the positives of Gaelic Football. Loves the game and looks for the small stories. His coverage of Football has been top notch and his enthusiasm was not clouded by Meaths relatively poor championship. It great to see the new generation like him replace the Joe Brollys of the world. Joe who went for and Coffee with Andy Moran in Castlebar (cough - Bullsh1t) the week before the final.

The Future

A tough year ahead for Andy. Getting these young lads back to earth won't be easy. There will be obvious retirements and there will be a culling of the herd. I don't expect us to retain the title. This could be the peak. But with the proper guidance we will be there or there about for the next few years.
On the other hand - I remember cheering on Dublin in 2011 and see what happened there. Be careful what you wish for.....

[Rossfan]

Enjoy it Bunk.

[JoG2]

Congrats Mayo, that was some performance in the final 👏. Delighted for all the Mayo folk on here and those departed. Be a few shaky nerves this week 

[From the Bunker]

Enjoy it Bunk.

Thanx RF

Well done to the Rossies yesterday 👍

[square_ball]

A week later and some thoughts...

The Media

Isn't Tommy Rooney a solid pundit? He only talks of the positives of Gaelic Football. Loves the game and looks for the small stories. His coverage of Football has been top notch and his enthusiasm was not clouded by Meaths relatively poor championship. It great to see the new generation like him replace the Joe Brollys of the world. Joe who went for and Coffee with Andy Moran in Castlebar (cough - Bullsh1t) the week before the final.

He's brilliant and getting better year on year. It'll never happen but if RTE had anything about them they'd give him his own show throughout the week building up to matches. As you say just a man that loves his Gaelic football.

[DaleCooper]

Like you read my mind. I watched a lot of online punditry and it was notably positive.

Very feel good Vs the TV output.

Maybe I was wrong about ex and current players being pundits. It does negate the older gen yapping about a game they never actually played.

"The medium is the message"

Less said about the toxic shite umbrella man the better. Hope players know at this stage to fill him full of crap or avoid any interaction at all.