2026 Predictions

[thewobbler]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

[marty34]

A big year for Donegal.

Be interesting to see how Mc Guinness' plans go this year.

A poor year and that'll be him and his tactics I think. Really looking forward to see will he change anything. They played well last year but flopped at the end so maybe he'll just tweak a few things.

[AustinPowers]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did? 

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer 

[J70]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

What?

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Jimmy be getting blamed for the middle east soon the way this threads going

[J70]

A big year for Donegal.

Be interesting to see how Mc Guinness' plans go this year.

A poor year and that'll be him and his tactics I think. Really looking forward to see will he change anything. They played well last year but flopped at the end so maybe he'll just tweak a few things.

Kerry at their best are a good bit ahead of everyone. It all depends on whether they can put together a series of performances like they did in the AI knockouts. And no one else has anything approaching their ace in the hole in Clifford.

As for Donegal, I think we're on a level with the likes of Galway. Armagh, Tyrone etc. We're one of a number who could win our province and make a semi or AI final. No fault on McGuinness's part. He can only work with the materials he's got available. And regular Ulster titles and AI semi and final appearances are not the norm in Donegal outside of the reigns of McGuinness and McEniff.

[J70]

Jimmy be getting blamed for the middle east soon the way this threads going

I gave up on this place for a while last year such was the barrage of utter nonsense being talked about McGuinness.

[thewobbler]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did?

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer

It's not that they did it different to other teams, so much as how relentless they were in pursuit of maintaining the old way of playing football. And it very nearly worked too. Had it worked, then all the "Jimmy lites" who've been destroying club (and schools) football for the past decade would have felt entitled, vindicated to double down on their efforts. Their archbishop's sermon would have been extolled in coaching courses across the country.

Probably the oddest thing about 2025 though was that even though Armagh and Tyrone had clearly shown that clinging onto the vile bastard son of football tactics wasn't going to work against Kerry, Donegal still thought it would work by just being even more focused on not playing football.

I've never cheered for Kerry in my life til that final. But by God did football need Jimmy to lose, and to lose convincingly.

[Orior]

My predictions for 2026:

Ulster - Armagh
Connacht - Mayo
Leinster - Meath
Munster - Kerry

All-Ireland - Armagh

[In hiding]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did?

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer

It's not that they did it different to other teams, so much as how relentless they were in pursuit of maintaining the old way of playing football. And it very nearly worked too. Had it worked, then all the "Jimmy lites" who've been destroying club (and schools) football for the past decade would have felt entitled, vindicated to double down on their efforts. Their archbishop's sermon would have been extolled in coaching courses across the country.

Probably the oddest thing about 2025 though was that even though Armagh and Tyrone had clearly shown that clinging onto the vile bastard son of football tactics wasn't going to work against Kerry, Donegal still thought it would work by just being even more focused on not playing football.

I've never cheered for Kerry in my life til that final. But by God did football need Jimmy to lose, and to lose convincingly.

I love a good debate.
I don't get how you think Donegal tried to stick to the old way and other teams didn't.
I think it's impossible now to try to play the old horrible way as 11 defenders can't close all the space
required to be closed.
I think all teams try to play the same way now

[Captain Obvious]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did?

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer

It's not that they did it different to other teams, so much as how relentless they were in pursuit of maintaining the old way of playing football. And it very nearly worked too. Had it worked, then all the "Jimmy lites" who've been destroying club (and schools) football for the past decade would have felt entitled, vindicated to double down on their efforts. Their archbishop's sermon would have been extolled in coaching courses across the country.

Probably the oddest thing about 2025 though was that even though Armagh and Tyrone had clearly shown that clinging onto the vile bastard son of football tactics wasn't going to work against Kerry, Donegal still thought it would work by just being even more focused on not playing football.

I've never cheered for Kerry in my life til that final. But by God did football need Jimmy to lose, and to lose convincingly.

I love a good debate.
I don't get how you think Donegal tried to stick to the old way and other teams didn't.
I think it's impossible now to try to play the old horrible way as 11 defenders can't close all the space
required to be closed.
I think all teams try to play the same way now

Thewobbler appears to be another living off the fantasy that Kerry are a lovely kick passing team?

The FRC dream was to make the sport more of a kick-pass game, bringing back a bit of nostalgia.  Year one of the new rules the team that kicked most during last summers championship was Meath who got almighty hammering in the semi final off Donegal

Through the hands football that was prominent under the old rules remained king last summer with the two best Kerry and Donegal the primary exponents.

[Armagh18]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did?

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer

It's not that they did it different to other teams, so much as how relentless they were in pursuit of maintaining the old way of playing football. And it very nearly worked too. Had it worked, then all the "Jimmy lites" who've been destroying club (and schools) football for the past decade would have felt entitled, vindicated to double down on their efforts. Their archbishop's sermon would have been extolled in coaching courses across the country.

Probably the oddest thing about 2025 though was that even though Armagh and Tyrone had clearly shown that clinging onto the vile bastard son of football tactics wasn't going to work against Kerry, Donegal still thought it would work by just being even more focused on not playing football.

I've never cheered for Kerry in my life til that final. But by God did football need Jimmy to lose, and to lose convincingly.

I love a good debate.
I don't get how you think Donegal tried to stick to the old way and other teams didn't.
I think it's impossible now to try to play the old horrible way as 11 defenders can't close all the space
required to be closed.
I think all teams try to play the same way now

Thewobbler appears to be another living off the fantasy that Kerry are a lovely kick passing team?

The FRC dream was to make the sport more of a kick-pass game, bringing back a bit of nostalgia.  Year one of the new rules the team that kicked most during last summers championship was Meath who got almighty hammering in the semi final off Donegal

Through the hands football that was prominent under the old rules remained king last summer with the two best Kerry and Donegal the primary exponents.

Kerry aren't a good team to watch- tactic is keep the ball around the arc until theres a gap for Clifford to kick from distance.

[Rossfan]

If the FRC wanted a kicking game they'd have recommended some handpass restrictions.
They wanted a better game to watch and they succeeded.

A bit daft making predictions at this stage but here goes....

Connacht - Ros
Leinster- Meath
Munster- Cork
Ulster- Tyrone.
All Ireland- Kerry.

[AustinPowers]

It's almost 20 years since Kerry retained an AI. Does this count for anything going into 2026? Probably not a lot, except to say that they're likely not a whole lot different to all Kerry sides since the golden years i.e. a talented team, but if any of their top 2-3 players get knocks / lose a little form, they should be ranked somewhere between a challenger and a contender, rather than a favourite.

The biggest thing this year though is whether any of the other managers with loaded squads - Armagh, Tyrone, Dublin, Donegal, Galway - might actually try to embrace the new rules, instead of trying not to lose. Attacking the opposition's kickout would seem to be the key to new football. Hopefully they all go after it.

I sincerely hope that Donegal either have a revelation year or a blow out year. Jimmy came too close to ruining football again last season, and too close to setting us all back years again.

Did Jimmy Mcguinness do anything  different last year that  the other teams did?

Yes, they were tactically poor in the AI final , but what else did he do  to "ruining football again"?

Im far from a McG/Donegal fan , especially after  last year , so just curious  for your answer

It's not that they did it different to other teams, so much as how relentless they were in pursuit of maintaining the old way of playing football. And it very nearly worked too. Had it worked, then all the "Jimmy lites" who've been destroying club (and schools) football for the past decade would have felt entitled, vindicated to double down on their efforts. Their archbishop's sermon would have been extolled in coaching courses across the country.

Probably the oddest thing about 2025 though was that even though Armagh and Tyrone had clearly shown that clinging onto the vile bastard son of football tactics wasn't going to work against Kerry, Donegal still thought it would work by just being even more focused on not playing football.

I've never cheered for Kerry in my life til that final. But by God did football need Jimmy to lose, and to lose convincingly.

I love a good debate.
I don't get how you think Donegal tried to stick to the old way and other teams didn't.
I think it's impossible now to try to play the old horrible way as 11 defenders can't close all the space
required to be closed.
I think all teams try to play the same way now

Thewobbler appears to be another living off the fantasy that Kerry are a lovely kick passing team?

The FRC dream was to make the sport more of a kick-pass game, bringing back a bit of nostalgia.  Year one of the new rules the team that kicked most during last summers championship was Meath who got almighty hammering in the semi final off Donegal

Through the hands football that was prominent under the old rules remained king last summer with the two best Kerry and Donegal the primary exponents.

Kerry aren't a good team to watch- tactic is keep the ball around the arc until theres a gap for Clifford to kick from distance.

That's about the height  of it. Some of Clifford's points in the final were great kicks , but  the build up  was  absolute puke to watch.

People complained about the  Armagh Galway final, and the slow  build up. This was  exactly the same, if not worse, at times.

[Captain Obvious]

If tge FRC wanted a kicking game they'd have recommended some handpass restrictions.
They wanted a better game to watch and they succeeded.

Before HQ hand picked FRC was put in place restrictions on handpassing was trialled a few years ago and was quickly scrapped.

Along with a more kick passing game FRC also wanted a truly memorable championship with edge of the seat viewing and any new rules are generally judged with the overall quality of the knock out championship matches. How many of those 11 knock out games can you say was that last summer?