All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[Blowitupref]

At least we are guaranteed an Ulster Team in the semi finals.

Not guaranteed at all.

[tbrick18]

Galway v Dublin - ask me last week and I'd have said Galway. Now I'm not so sure. Dublin have their issues, but they showed up against Donegal and were by far the better side - only for some shocking shooting they would have won by 8+ in normal time. Galway building nicely, key players all fit(ish) for once, capable of winning the whole thing imo. This should be a brilliant game.

Cork v Mayo - probably the draw they both would have wanted. I think Cork will shade it, I don't think either are realistic AI contenders. I saw Mayo first hand against Tyrone - didn't think either of the two were great. Mayo's bench isn't great and their defence are shaky at best. Good keeper though. Cork have been improving - but only time I've seen them live this year was in the league against Derry and they were awful. Only the league, and they did get promotion - close game.

Tyrone v Kerry - can't see past Kerry here. The Tyrone defence will be stretched too thin to cope in the wide open Croke park space (I assume all quarters are in croker?). They also don't have the same calibre of forward that Kerry does, though who does. Sean O'Shea coming back to fitness too is huge. This could be a tanking as I don't buy into the Tyrone coming good thinking. The Tyrone v Mayo game was not a great game, the introduction of Darren McCurry who scored 6 points on the tight Omagh pitch was the difference in the 2 teams and even at that, a fortuitous last minute free gifted Tyrone the win. Kerry brushed Armagh aside quite easily - armagh are bigger and more of a running team than Tyrone are so I'm struggling to see anything but a similar result. However, Tyrone v Kerry can take on a life of its own, so who knows.

Louth v Monaghan - brilliant draw for both of them. Monaghan just have that never say die attitude that you can't coach into a team. I had actually expected Westmeath to beat them, but Monaghan fully deserved their win. Louth have been excellent this year and Mulroy is one of the best footballers in the country. They're well coached and playing in croker will likely suit them. Really struggle to call this one, but I'll go for Louth as they've had an extra week to prepare and rest.

[Armagh4sam2024]

At least we are guaranteed an Ulster Team in the semi finals.

Ehhh...how'd you work that one out then?

[Armagh18]

At least we are guaranteed an Ulster Team in the semi finals.

Ehhh...how'd you work that one out then?

Louth honorary Ulstermen?

[gallsman]

As ImTommyGunn said, the GPA do get a bad press but they do some good work. I think inter-county players need a 'union'.

But that's what the GPA is?

[DaleCooper]

It might be nothing but I saw two guys in Hazmat suits getting into a helicopter this morning outside Garvaghy. Then again I could have been dreaming

[mackers]

If Geezer stays in Armagh he needs to take the shackles off the team. At full flow their biggest strength is pace yet he wants it slowed down. Hasnt adapted well enough to the new game.

Lazy post. Armagh have played attacking football all year. Very little sideways nonsense and Geezer has them playing a direct running game. Yes, it can be tinkered with and improved.  There are a number of reasons (excuses!) for Saturday's performance but no one is interested in that now.  One of the main reasons in fairness was Kerry's excellent defence, some of it down to a predictability in the way we have attacked

[ElJeffe]

Galway v Dublin - ask me last week and I'd have said Galway. Now I'm not so sure. Dublin have their issues, but they showed up against Donegal and were by far the better side - only for some shocking shooting they would have won by 8+ in normal time. Galway building nicely, key players all fit(ish) for once, capable of winning the whole thing imo. This should be a brilliant game.

Cork v Mayo - probably the draw they both would have wanted. I think Cork will shade it, I don't think either are realistic AI contenders. I saw Mayo first hand against Tyrone - didn't think either of the two were great. Mayo's bench isn't great and their defence are shaky at best. Good keeper though. Cork have been improving - but only time I've seen them live this year was in the league against Derry and they were awful. Only the league, and they did get promotion - close game.

Tyrone v Kerry - can't see past Kerry here. The Tyrone defence will be stretched too thin to cope in the wide open Croke park space (I assume all quarters are in croker?). They also don't have the same calibre of forward that Kerry does, though who does. Sean O'Shea coming back to fitness too is huge. This could be a tanking as I don't buy into the Tyrone coming good thinking. The Tyrone v Mayo game was not a great game, the introduction of Darren McCurry who scored 6 points on the tight Omagh pitch was the difference in the 2 teams and even at that, a fortuitous last minute free gifted Tyrone the win. Kerry brushed Armagh aside quite easily - armagh are bigger and more of a running team than Tyrone are so I'm struggling to see anything but a similar result. However, Tyrone v Kerry can take on a life of its own, so who knows.

Louth v Monaghan - brilliant draw for both of them. Monaghan just have that never say die attitude that you can't coach into a team. I had actually expected Westmeath to beat them, but Monaghan fully deserved their win. Louth have been excellent this year and Mulroy is one of the best footballers in the country. They're well coached and playing in croker will likely suit them. Really struggle to call this one, but I'll go for Louth as they've had an extra week to prepare and rest.

An extra week to prepare for a draw that was made this morning?

[Fogarty]

At least we are guaranteed an Ulster Team in the semi finals.

Ehhh...how'd you work that one out then?

Louth honorary Ulstermen?

Part of the Ulster diesel smuggling cartel?

[LC]

It might be nothing but I saw two guys in Hazmat suits getting into a helicopter this morning outside Garvaghy. Then again I could have been dreaming

It got them the right result the last time......

[Cunny Funt]

Dublin v Galway. Galway with the time to rest and recover and up against Dublin playing their 3rd game in 14 days plus extra time and probably without Con O'Callaghan should win by a few points to spare but knowing them it won't be straightforward so wouldn't rule out extra time before they prevail.

Cork v Mayo. What shape Mayo are in after games against Meath,Tyrone in consecutive weeks that went to the wire is the big question. Mayo I'd still give the slight edge if extra time Cork should win.

Kerry v Tyrone.  Probably the game neither wanted.  3 games in 14 days isn't going to bother Kerry too much as they had strolls against Armagh and Kildare.  Tyrone will surely defend a lot better than Armagh did? Would expect similar to the semi-finals last year with Kerry to win by 4 to 6 points.

Louth v Monaghan. Great to see one of these teams just two wins away from reaching the All-Ireland final. Has the potential to be the best of the 4 games. I think Monaghan should edge it, last two games not going to the wire a big bonus and have the recent experience of reaching the semi final.

[ClubScene13]

Dublin v Galway. Galway with the time to rest and recover and up against Dublin playing their 3rd game in 14 days plus extra time and probably without Con O'Callaghan should win by a few points to spare but knowing them it won't be straightforward so wouldn't rule out extra time before they prevail.

Cork v Mayo. What shape Mayo are in after games against Meath,Tyrone in consecutive weeks that went to the wire is the big question. Mayo I'd still give the slight edge if extra time Cork should win.

Kerry v Tyrone.  Probably the game neither wanted.  3 games in 14 days isn't going to bother Kerry too much as they had strolls against Armagh and Kildare.  Tyrone will surely defend a lot better than Armagh did? Would expect similar to the semi-finals last year with Kerry to win by 4 to 6 points.

Louth v Monaghan. Great to see one of these teams just two wins away from reaching the All-Ireland final. Has the potential to be the best of the 4 games. I think Monaghan should edge it, last two games not going to the wire a big bonus and have the recent experience of reaching the semi final.

I'd say Kerry happy enough. Another chance to put manners in Ulster opposition, and there is no one they enjoy beating more. Tyrone have beaten Kerry as underdogs all 4 times they won an All Ireland so here's hoping, wouldn't have a great deal of confidence though - Kerry to keep them at arms length

[blanketattack]

Bar the odd blip every 20 years, Kerry always beat Tyrone.

No doubt Jacqui Hurley will introduce this game like she did last year with a narrative like "Tyrone have the hex over Kerry", disregarding the fact that Kerry have won 5 of the last 6 Championship meetings.

A different narrative - when Kerry meet Armagh in Championship, the winner has won the All-Ireland 6 out of 7 times. The exception was 1982.

[marty34]

You have to hand it to Kerry.

Nothing won yet obviously but they produce more quality footballers than any other county.

[ClubScene13]

You have to hand it to Kerry.

Nothing won yet obviously but they produce more quality footballers than any other county.

100% - they are never capable of dipping as low as everyone else when the cycles of good teams gets near the end. Will always be there. The lack of interest in hurling, rugby, soccer compared to the rest of Munster is incredible as well, football mad