All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[JoG2]

Thanks

We're preparing for a trip to Killarney 😬

[Armagh18]

Thanks

We're preparing for a trip to Killarney 😬

Will blow the horn on our way past heading to Donegal....

[JoG2]

Thanks

We're preparing for a trip to Killarney 😬

Will blow the horn on our way past heading to Donegal....

Going to be some ding dong clashes

[illdecide]

Armagh most likely get Galway or Donegal...Think we've played Galway 3 outta 4 years but certainly feels like that anyway. Can Donegal be drawn away to Iran and wire Trump off...

[maddog]

Armagh most likely get Galway or Donegal...Think we've played Galway 3 outta 4 years but certainly feels like that anyway. Can Donegal be drawn away to Iran and wire Trump off...

Have a notion its gonna be Cork

[tintin25]

Has the draw happened yet?  Thought it was early this morning

[Tubberman]

Has the draw happened yet?  Thought it was early this morning

Tomorrow morning, presume it wasn't done today because it's a bank holiday

[Armagh18]

Has the draw happened yet?  Thought it was early this morning

Tomorrow morning, presume it wasn't done today because it's a bank holiday

No one to warm the Kerry and Cavan Kildare balls and the Armagh and Donegal/Galway balls until tomorrow .

[Aaron Boone]

This series does feel very distinct from the Provincials. Very little correlation.
Will Armagh regret those extra games, whilst a rested Mayo or Tyrone see the major benefits of having 5 weeks off.

[Armagh18]

This series does feel very distinct from the Provincials. Very little correlation.
Will Armagh regret those extra games, whilst a rested Mayo or Tyrone see the major benefits of having 5 weeks off.

Hopefully the first round was the banana skin for provincial finalists as the other teams had a month to laser focus on their next opponent. Only concern for Armagh would be likes of Murnins injury if its a pull rather than a cramp his year could be over but I suppose that could have happened him in training either.

[Rossfan]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

[onefineday]

Has the draw happened yet?  Thought it was early this morning

Tomorrow morning, presume it wasn't done today because it's a bank holiday

You'd really struggle to understand the gaa thinking on draws. First they draw round one before the provincials to give teams more time to know their opposition and then they delay the round 2 draw by a day (when the time before the next game is actually tight and counties and players have real logistics to get get in place).

Straight after the mayo game was the obvious time to have it, would have allowed for chat on the Sunday game when the agenda was light and give teams that extra couple of days.  Baffling...

[Armagh18]

Has the draw happened yet?  Thought it was early this morning

Tomorrow morning, presume it wasn't done today because it's a bank holiday

You'd really struggle to understand the gaa thinking on draws. First they draw round one before the provincials to give teams more time to know their opposition and then they delay the round 2 draw by a day (when the time before the next game is actually tight and counties and players have real logistics to get get in place).

Straight after the mayo game was the obvious time to have it, would have allowed for chat on the Sunday game when the agenda was light and give teams that extra couple of days.  Baffling...

Yeah either that or on the Sunday Game itself last night. No point expecting the GAA to use common sense though!

[onefineday]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

If the provincials are to have meaning, there has to be more incentive, tweaks will be needed.

Maybe provincial champions are guaranteed home draws until the semi-finals?
I'm not sure I'd give provincial losers anything beyond a home draw in round one - that'd see a real prize for the winner!

I'd also maybe have the team with the higher league placing as the home team in all games (excepting provincial winners).

And quarter finals need not be played at Croker, but at a nominated venue for the 'home team' (home if minimum capacity allows).

[Armagh18]

When this system was devised and then voted on the Provincials seemed to be dying, apart from Ulster.
Dublin won something like 21 of the previous 22 while Kerry had won around 15 out of 16.
Few wanted rewards for Provincial Champions as it would give Kerry and Dublin a soft path.
Of course then Dublin went back to the pack, Cork improved and now Connacht had 3 good teams.
Big crowds at Finals last year and this.
Time for tweaks or yet another new system?

If the provincials are to have meaning, there has to be more incentive, tweaks will be needed.

Maybe provincial champions are guaranteed home draws until the semi-finals?
I'm not sure I'd give provincial losers anything beyond a home draw in round one - that'd see a real prize for the winner!

I'd also maybe have the team with the higher league placing as the home team in all games (excepting provincial winners).

And quarter finals need not be played at Croker, but at a nominated venue for the 'home team' (home if minimum capacity allows).

Like the sound of that except for Kerry getting a home quarter final every year!