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.