All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[mup]

Repeat of the 2025 All-Ireland final the stand out tie.


Dublin v Louth
Cork v Meath
Monaghan v Mayo
Westmeath v Cavan
Kerry v Donegal
Galway v Kildare
Armagh v  Derry
Roscommon v Tyrone

I'm going to go for a clean sweep of home wins here.

Dublin v Louth - Can't see Louth being as poor again. I still expect Dublin to win again. This time by maybe 4 or 5 point.

Cork v Meath - I expect Cork to rattle Kerry this weekend. I expect them to beat an overhyped Meath side. The top of the ground will find Keoghan and Menton out. Cork by 2.

Monaghan v Mayo - When you expect Monaghan to kick out they seem to disappoint. Won't be much in this game but Monaghan to win it by a point or two. Mayo are impossible to predict.

Westmeath v Cavan - Westmeath should just about win this but Cavan to have a right cut. Westmeath find themselves in a Leinster final having beat Meath (self confessed Leinster Champions 2026) and a woeful Kildare side. The most likely away victory will be here.

Kerry v Donegal - I still think there is a kick in Donegal and while they mightn't win here they have still have a big say in where Sam ends up. Kerry to win after a few shaky moments.

Galway v Kildare - Only one winner here. Galway by at least 10. Kildare are poor. That is all.

Armagh v Derry - Armagh purring away nicely. Derry blowing hot and cold. Armagh will have too much.

Roscommon v Tyrone - Roscommon are playing some great football this year while Tyrone haven't got going at all. Rossies to win a ding dong high scoring game. Tyrone to come on from that game.

Now go put money on the opposite of what I said 

[The Boy Wonder]

Now go put money on the opposite of what I said 

No, no, no.......put your money on the opposite of what Moonster predicts 

[Rossfan]

Will Dublin be using their home ground or "neutral Croke Park"?

[Armagh18]

Now go put money on the opposite of what I said 

No, no, no.......put your money on the opposite of what Moonster predicts 

He better back Monaghan and Derry or I'm going to be worried!

[Shamrock Shore]

Don't think Cavan have played Westmeath in the Championship before.

The craic will be mighty on The Bridge in Finea.

Myles the Slasher would be in his element.

[shark]

Played in the qualifiers in 2014. Cavan won by a point.
Interesting one with Cavan manager Dermot McCabe being up against his nephew Eoghan, who came on as a sub (twice) against Kildare.

[Shamrock Shore]

I stand corrected Shark. Thanks.

[APM]

I think the first thing that needs addressed is the ability of provinces to seed teams which directly impacts on the All Ireland series. For example had Cork drawn Kerry in an open draw in the Munster Semi final Cavan would now be in the Tailtean cup. That to me seems extremely unfair.

As does this idea of half avoiding repeat fixtures. Again impacted by seeding control by a province. It creates an unlevel playing field.

Disagree, don't think it helps the integrity of a competition if a Division 4 team by virtue of a lopsided  provincial draw ends up in the AI series, giving stronger teams an easy draw.

Take London the year they made it to the Connacht final (2012?). In this format that only benefits the teams that are drawn out against them. At least this year Down were excluded at the expense of Westmeath. Imagine they were excluded at the expense of London by virtue of wins over Sligo & Leitrim.

Ps - had Leitrim made the Connacht final this year, they would have been there on merit! 

[Armagh18]

I think the first thing that needs addressed is the ability of provinces to seed teams which directly impacts on the All Ireland series. For example had Cork drawn Kerry in an open draw in the Munster Semi final Cavan would now be in the Tailtean cup. That to me seems extremely unfair.

As does this idea of half avoiding repeat fixtures. Again impacted by seeding control by a province. It creates an unlevel playing field.

Disagree, don't think it helps the integrity of a competition if a Division 4 team by virtue of a lopsided  provincial draw ends up in the AI series, giving stronger teams an easy draw.

Take London the year they made it to the Connacht final (2012?). In this format that only benefits the teams that are drawn out against them. At least this year Down were excluded at the expense of Westmeath. Imagine they were excluded at the expense of London by virtue of wins over Sligo & Leitrim.

Ps - had Leitrim made the Connacht final this year, they would have been there on merit! 

Yeah thats a good point.

Probably no perfect solution

[weareros]

Had Leitrim made the Connacht final, I believe they would have had done what no county had to do in Ulster, Leinster, or Munster - beat a Div 1 team to make their provincial final. Am I wrong in thinking only we had to do that?

[p3427977]

Had Leitrim made the Connacht final, I believe they would have had done what no county had to do in Ulster, Leinster, or Munster - beat a Div 1 team to make their provincial final. Am I wrong in thinking only we had to do that?

Are we counting promoted teams as well? Didn't Westmeath beat Meath?

[Armagh18]

Had Leitrim made the Connacht final, I believe they would have had done what no county had to do in Ulster, Leinster, or Munster - beat a Div 1 team to make their provincial final. Am I wrong in thinking only we had to do that?

Am I reading that wrong? Tyrone would have had to beat a division 1 team (Armagh) Down would have had to beat 2 (Armagh/Donegal) Derry would have had to beat Monaghan (D1 this year). Westmeath had to beat Meath (D1 next year), Louth would have had to beat the Dubs (D1 this year)

[mup]

Now go put money on the opposite of what I said 

No, no, no.......put your money on the opposite of what Moonster predicts 

  I should have held tough till he made his choices.

[Blowitupref]

TV/streaming coverage deal for the All-Ireland Football Series:

Round 1 (8 Games):

6 - GAA+
2 - RTÉ

Round 2 (8 Games):

3 - GAA+
2 - RTÉ

Round 3 (4 Games):

3 - GAA+
1 - RTÉ

QFs (4 Games):

2 - GAA+
2 - RTÉ

SFs (2 Games):

2 - RTÉ/BBC

Final (1 Game):

1 - RTÉ/BBC

[moonster]

50 on

Kerry
Mayo
Galway
Armagh
Louth
Westmeath
Tyrone
Meath

Printing money