All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[Croí na hÉireann]

Very tough draw for Westmeath, only Donegal away would have been tougher. What is in our favour is that I expect to see a much improved performance the next day. We passed up numerous goal chances against Cavan and looked flat at times compared to our performances in Leinster. What is reassuring is that we upped it in the second half of extra time when we were 6 down and ended up suffocating Cavan. When we start to get some joy on kickouts or in general play the surge spreads like wildfire through the team. If we are within touching difference with 15 minutes to go in Salthill anything can happen. A result down there against one of the favourites for the All Ireland would easily be in the top 10 victories in our history. More importantly it would get us back to the quarter finals for the first time since 2006, which was secured with a 1 point win in Salthill (exceptional performances from Healy and Keane on Joyce and Meehan that evening). The 2 weeks break to the quarter finals is also badly needed as you'd fear for us with Round 3 squeezed in a week later what with all the extra times and all the knocks and injuries.

[Kick it in high]

Really enjoying this new format. It has been some championship so far, great to see the football being the talk of the country again. I am expecting Mayo and Tyrone to be a cracker. Louth will take some beating at home too, although I feel Armagh are sitting very nicely for the championship

[thejuice]

Derry in croke park. I would have been fairly confident. Derry away is a whole different story.
Hope rather than optimism.

Robbie needs to find a new trick up his sleeve. I think our lads got a bit too comfortable playing a particular way in the league and thought they could just roll it into the championship. Not happening. Defensively we need to up the intensity massively. Rafferty needs to show some of the qualities that got him an All Star last season.

It'll be in an interesting battle in the middle. Hopefully we have Flynn and Jones fully fit for that. The 3 week gap hopefully enough for Kinsella to get to 100%, same for Costello.

I know we wont change keepers at this stage but kick outs need a serious look at. We looked like it was panic stations every time.

Conlon should start again and not subbed off needlessly like last week.

[mouview]

Galway were in everyone's Tier 1, but losing their star defender to the Big Brother reality show will impact their coverage in that area. 

If things go bad v Westmeath, the Galway sporting fraternity will vote him off Love Island so that's he free to return.

[Blowitupref]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

[Armagh18]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

[Blowitupref]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

To correct myself I was wrong. Was expecting Donegal v Cork over Galway v Westmeath.

[armaghniac]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

To correct myself I was wrong. Was expecting Donegal v Cork over Galway v Westmeath.

I think where travel is almost infeasible for one set of supporters that they should put it on GAA+. Why not? Cork are not the best supported, but thousands would still watch it. There are probably many Cork subscribers for GAA+ owing to the hurling.
Neither the venues nor the coverage of this round show the GAA in a good light.

[Dunneroyal]

Derry in croke park. I would have been fairly confident. Derry away is a whole different story.
Hope rather than optimism.

We've won one championship game in 10 years in Celtic park and that was v Antrim this year. I wouldn't be so pessimistic if I was a Meath fan.

More to do with the idea that this Meath team is made for croke park. Using it as home venue etc. don't think they thought they'd be in the road as much. And so I believe it's a huge handicap to them. Ie they don't seem to play as well away from Croke park.
But as I say. I live in hope

[Dunneroyal]

Derry in croke park. I would have been fairly confident. Derry away is a whole different story.
Hope rather than optimism.

Robbie needs to find a new trick up his sleeve. I think our lads got a bit too comfortable playing a particular way in the league and thought they could just roll it into the championship. Not happening. Defensively we need to up the intensity massively. Rafferty needs to show some of the qualities that got him an All Star last season.

It'll be in an interesting battle in the middle. Hopefully we have Flynn and Jones fully fit for that. The 3 week gap hopefully enough for Kinsella to get to 100%, same for Costello.

I know we wont change keepers at this stage but kick outs need a serious look at. We looked like it was panic stations every time.

Conlon should start again and not subbed off needlessly like last week.

I agree wholeheartedly. I am actually beginning to wonder what kernan is bringing to the table.

[pbat]

Do the four 2A winners go to one side of the quarter final draw and then play the four come through the other side, or is it a open draw for all 8 teams?

[Armagh18]

Do the four 2A winners go to one side of the quarter final draw and then play the four come through the other side, or is it a open draw for all 8 teams?

2a winners on one side as far as I know. Avoid repeat pairs so no Kerry Donegal if both through etc

[armaghniac]

Do the four 2A winners go to one side of the quarter final draw and then play the four come through the other side, or is it a open draw for all 8 teams?

2a winners on one side as far as I know. Avoid repeat pairs so no Kerry Donegal if both through etc

Which increases the chances of Kerry playing the other three, which will hopefully include Armagh.

[onefineday]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

I agree with whoever said it's a poor enough draw, to my mind there's no real blockbuster clash and contrary to your read on it, I think Donegal, Galway and Kerry will win pulling up, Dublin could easily do likewise and similarly Armagh, but the venues do give a wee bit of a chance to the home teams, particularly Louth.
That leaves 3 games which are hard to call  and they truly are hard to call, but none of the six involved are top tier contenders, so hopefully good games, but not blockbusters. Of those three games, I'd say the rossies are probably the safest call, but it could go either way too.
Re the TV coverage, I'm glad that common sense has prevailed and the three least appetising clashes have been the three casualties.

Been some great games to date, let's hope this year's championship doesn't peter out like last year's, where the games from quarter finals stage on were largely non-events.

[Armagh18]

Saturday June 13

Round 2A

Donegal v Cork, MacCumhaill Park, 3pm

Round 2B

Monaghan v Roscommon, St Tiernach's Park, 4.30pm, GAA+

Kildare v Kerry, Cedral St Conleth's Park, 5.30pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 7pm, GAA+

Sunday June 14

Round 2A

Louth v Armagh,Inniskeen, 1pm, RTE

Galway v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm, GAA+

Tyrone v Mayo,Healy Park, 3.30pm, RTE

Round 2B

Cavan v Dublin, Breffni Park, 2pm


Games I was expecting to get live coverage are chosen.

Donegal, Kerry and Dublin games not shown at all? Trying to encourage Cork/Kerry/Dublin fans to travel maybe? Cork Donegal definitely one that should be covered given the journey you're asking fans to make!

Should be a cracking atmosphere in Inniskeen for sure! 8 games that are all either. 3 games where it's tough to call a winner (Derry Meath, Tyrone Mayo and Monaghan Rossies) 4 where ok theres a clear favourite but the underdogs definitely have a great chance of an upset especially the ones at home (Louth Armagh, Cavan Dublin, Galway Westmeath and Donegal Cork) all set up lovely for an ambush

Kerry Kildare probably the only game that'll be a non event especially if Kerry get bodies back.

I agree with whoever said it's a poor enough draw, to my mind there's no real blockbuster clash and contrary to your read on it, I think Donegal, Galway and Kerry will win pulling up, Dublin could easily do likewise and similarly Armagh, but the venues do give a wee bit of a chance to the home teams, particularly Louth.
That leaves 3 games which are hard to call  and they truly are hard to call, but none of the six involved are top tier contenders, so hopefully good games, but not blockbusters. Of those three games, I'd say the rossies are probably the safest call, but it could go either way too.
Re the TV coverage, I'm glad that common sense has prevailed and the three least appetising clashes have been the three casualties.

Been some great games to date, let's hope this year's championship doesn't peter out like last year's, where the games from quarter finals stage on were largely non-events.

Realistically we're at the last 16 stage and there'll always be mismatches, hopefully from the last 12 on games should be more exciting, naturally not every team can be a contender but like the Cavan/Westmeath can still be good games. Again I think Westmeath will give Galway their fill of it but probably fall short in the end. All teams bar Kildare have at least a punchers chance I would say.

With the Cork and Dublin games it depends which version turn up, if Cork are at it they'll cause Donegal hassle and make a game of it, if not it'll be a 10 plus point hammering, if Dublin are on it they'll beat Cavan easily but if they aren't Cavan again will give them hassle. Potential for Kerry to meet Galway/Armagh in a quarter final which would be properly blockbuster.