All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[bennydorano]

Teams that peaked to early this year
Donegal winning the League
Meath winning Division 2
Armagh winning Ulster
Roscommon winning Connacht

Peaking too early had f**k all to do with Armagh's demise. A series of self inflicted mistakes cost us extremely dearly, fatigue at a stretch contributed but I'm not convinced by that argument.
Donegal definitely looked like a Summer fit team throughout the league, Roscommon maybe as well. No idea why you've added Meath in there.

[Main Street]

Nobody will get within 6 points of Kerry from  here.

If Kerry don't win  Sam this year , I'll buy a hat and eat it.

Not in the one sitting

[galwayman]

A dire Dublin team in the last 8 says a lot about the overall quality of Sam this year.

If they can get past Galway they will win it, and that's on your county.

Every chance ye beat us at the weekend.
Zero chance that Dublin team beats Kerry though imo

[highorlow]

Everyone is writing Mayo off this year.

Likely our "loser" mentality from past AI failures.

Given Andy's and his backroom teams relatively recent experience and knowledge of Croker, our fairly well drilled forwards, a better goalkeeper than past visits and moreover our added aggression and never say die attitude in must win games this year I fancy our chances to go the whole way and beat Tyrone in the final.

[statto]

Can't see past Kerry. Galway are a decent side, (not their fault) but they have not had a serious challenge in the Championship this year.

Roscommon in the Connacht championship?

Would like to see Galway go all the well, very gracious supporters around me in 2024 and they have some quality players in Walsh, Conroy, Finnerty, Comer.  Being able to get all their best players out should give them a chance.  I would expect a Galway Kerry final if they avoid eachother. 

Is there talk of Matthew Thompson being available for the latter stages?

[2ndstringsub]

Everyone is writing Mayo off this year.

Likely our "loser" mentality from past AI failures.

Given Andy's and his backroom teams relatively recent experience and knowledge of Croker, our fairly well drilled forwards, a better goalkeeper than past visits and moreover our added aggression and never say die attitude in must win games this year I fancy our chances to go the whole way and beat Tyrone in the final.

I agree that you are being written off but for slightly different reasons than most are talking about for me at least.

A few points from the game in Omagh stand out to me in particular.

Midfield, was dominated by Tyrone. The year we beat you in AI Final you had Ruane who was in serious form but still wasn't enough, I don't think you have the midfielders to compete especially in Croke Park.

Goalkeeper, Morgan is adding to us out the field where Livingstone seems an excellent find but is a more traditional keeper.

Talismans, we have our couple and to be honest they are somewhat known quantities some days they are on fire others they are average. Mercurial is the term I believe.. Yours is likely Kobe and I think it says a lot where both management and fans thoughts are when they are relying on an 18 year old lad to take the game by the scruff and win it.

Lastly Management
When Tyrone needed change they brought on McCurry and ultimately it probably led to the victory as it wasn't Jordans day. Mayo brought on a soon to be 36 year old Aidan O'Shea which may well have worked if you were 5-6 points up with 10 to go in order to manage a lead or see a game out. Not when Tyrone were clearly in the ascendency.

Overall I do think Tyrone have it in them to get to an All Ireland Final even with what's in front of them this weekend. Mayo I don't think are there at the moment and I think it says a lot that I'd love to meet them there...

[AustinPowers]

Nobody will get within 6 points of Kerry from  here.

If Kerry don't win  Sam this year , I'll buy a hat and eat it.

Not in the one sitting

That looks very  sickly. I think I could manage a  straw one  easier

[square_ball]

Everyone is writing Mayo off this year.

Likely our "loser" mentality from past AI failures.

Given Andy's and his backroom teams relatively recent experience and knowledge of Croker, our fairly well drilled forwards, a better goalkeeper than past visits and moreover our added aggression and never say die attitude in must win games this year I fancy our chances to go the whole way and beat Tyrone in the final.

I agree that you are being written off but for slightly different reasons than most are talking about for me at least.

A few points from the game in Omagh stand out to me in particular.

Midfield, was dominated by Tyrone. The year we beat you in AI Final you had Ruane who was in serious form but still wasn't enough, I don't think you have the midfielders to compete especially in Croke Park.

Goalkeeper, Morgan is adding to us out the field where Livingstone seems an excellent find but is a more traditional keeper.

Talismans, we have our couple and to be honest they are somewhat known quantities some days they are on fire others they are average. Mercurial is the term I believe.. Yours is likely Kobe and I think it says a lot where both management and fans thoughts are when they are relying on an 18 year old lad to take the game by the scruff and win it.

Lastly Management
When Tyrone needed change they brought on McCurry and ultimately it probably led to the victory as it wasn't Jordans day. Mayo brought on a soon to be 36 year old Aidan O'Shea which may well have worked if you were 5-6 points up with 10 to go in order to manage a lead or see a game out. Not when Tyrone were clearly in the ascendency.

Overall I do think Tyrone have it in them to get to an All Ireland Final even with what's in front of them this weekend. Mayo I don't think are there at the moment and I think it says a lot that I'd love to meet them there...

And after all that it still took a 2 pointer in the last few minutes to us to win it. . .

You could probably count on one hand the amount of times Morgan has been out the field in the championship but his kickouts have been getting better as the season progresses.

I think Tyrone and Mayo are probably much of a muchness really. Losing Kobe next season is a huge blow to them though.

[DaleCooper]

Mayo are always a banana skin for Tyrone. We only just beat roscommon so belief they could do it was inbuilt. Only a bad call by Andy taking Aidy on coupled with v poor goal taking cost them.

Note he didnt make same mistake against Meath & they were helped by Red card.

It really all comes down to Kerry and if the 3 games in a row helps Tyrone or not.

[Armagh18]

Mayo are always a banana skin for Tyrone. We only just beat roscommon so belief they could do it was inbuilt. Only a bad call by Andy taking Aidy on coupled with v poor goal taking cost them.

Note he didnt make same mistake against Meath & they were helped by Red card.

It really all comes down to Kerry and if the 3 games in a row helps Tyrone or not.

Kerry might be safe enough from the fatigue of 3 weeks in a row as both were over as contests fairly early, it might even help them as they got minutes into lads coming back from injury.

[DaleCooper]

Well yeah...kerry are managing it with aplomb. They have self confidence in their ability to let key men rest, shane ryan has not played one minute of ball in 2026 so be interesting to see how Murphy handles big pressure game in Croker

[Captain Obvious]

Complacency could be an issue for Kerry and best hope for Tyrone, they won't lose any sleep if they watch back on Tyrone's three championship performances against Armagh,Roscommon and Mayo a repeat of any of those performances will get Tyrone beaten by at least 6 points.

All the former Kerry players and journalists was writing obituaries on them prior to the All-Ireland Quarter-Final last year the same bucks are now basically saying who will Kerry face in the All-Ireland final.

[tiempo]

Mayo are always a banana skin for Tyrone. We only just beat roscommon so belief they could do it was inbuilt. Only a bad call by Andy taking Aidy on coupled with v poor goal taking cost them.

Note he didnt make same mistake against Meath & they were helped by Red card.

It really all comes down to Kerry and if the 3 games in a row helps Tyrone or not.

Kerry might be safe enough from the fatigue of 3 weeks in a row as both were over as contests fairly early, it might even help them as they got minutes into lads coming back from injury.

Training sessions they were

If Tyrone have one good dig in them it needs to come Saturday

Are the semi finals pre-determined or is that another draw?

[Armamike]

Second year in a row Tyrone will have the benefit of learning from Armagh's mistakes against Kerry!  They need to take on and nail a few 2 pointers and force Kerry out of their comfort zone.  Armagh were faffing around the arc without taking the shot on and Kerry just sat in and waited to pounce.  Could also benefit from getting Ricey in for a training session.

[Blowitupref]

Are the semi finals pre-determined or is that another draw?

As per Irish Examiner.

All-Ireland semi-final draw if required will take place on RTÉ after Galway-Dublin on Sunday. If Mayo, Tyrone and Monaghan win, a draw is not required. Mayo would face the winners of Dublin and Galway and Tyrone would meet Monaghan