All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[maldini]

It was a very soft red especially considering what Faloon let go in general play and how hard it was to win a free kick.

Some good saves at both ends. Meath play great football at times but were too open at the back.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Armagh serve up yet another bokefest under Geezer and dumbfuk add-zero value mckeever. Both of you please step down and allow Armagh football to move forward...

Be careful what you wish for my prediction is if McGeeney leaves Armagh they will be borderline Tailteann cup within 3-5 years and might even win one.

On what metric should McGeeney be doing better than what he is?... it definitely isn't underage success like Tyrone or Derry and it most definitely isn't club football standards.

On what metric?? 12 years of putrid football ffs! Armagh had 70% possession in 1st half but were yet the worst team!

Would you stop. 12 years of putrid football that yielded an All Ireland and an Ulster Title. Nearly every county would bite your hand off for that.

And let's rewind back to the earlier years of the McGeeney reign it was anything but putrid football.  Was in fact the exact opposite and how far did that get Armagh? 2021 game v Monaghan springs to mind.

[JoG2]

Meath team reduced to 10 men

An absolute spoofer

10 v 11 ( and 3 v 3), that's the kicker with a man off

[thewobbler]

It was a very soft red especially considering what Faloon let go in general play and how hard it was to win a free kick.

Some good saves at both ends. Meath play great football at times but were too open at the back.

I agree. I don't think he got this one right.

At the same time though. Paul is perhaps the most logical and consistent referee I've ever seen in differentiating between handbags, histrionics and striking.

That he lets things go shouldn't really come into it.

[thejuice]

I'm not even surprised or annoyed. I could see that coming even towards the end of the first half you could see our legs starting to tire.

When teams let us play we're the Harlem Globetrotters but as soon as they start pressing on us like Westmeath, Cork second half and today second half again we gradually fall apart. We held on for slightly longer than the Cork game and managed a couple of score and created a few chances that gave me some hope but we just started making poor decisions in possession that gave Mayo too many chances to counter attack.

Don't know if it's fitness or what is lacking. Subbing McBride and Flynn at the same time for Jones who is only back from a long term injury and O'Connor who is only a few appearances under his belt, was a bizarre decision. Surely stagger those changes and see how it goes with one.

Sean Brennan needs to work on his composure for pressure kicks. He's rushed a few when games have in the balance and did it again today.

We actually looked alright in defence today for the most part. Midfield more at fault and our forwards lacking composure when the pressure was on.

Ciaran Caulfield worked hard as ever but really needs to work on taking scores and goals. He's in good positions so often but either looks to hand it off or spurns goal chances.

Ultimately when Mayo put the pressure on Costello, Morris, Conlon, Frayne, O'Connor and Coffey were all found wanting in the physical stakes and composure.

As for the red card, I'd have to see it again but it looked completely innocuous if you ask me. But you just have to deal with these things and we still had enough chances to reel it back in and we failed to do that.

Not sure how you remedy these deficiencies in the team for next year but we need a bit more steel and physical strength at the core of the team.

[DaleCooper]

Said Meath should have had game out of sight in first half, one of the palmed points should have been caught and buried. Shame we wont see them til next year

[Lazer]

Mayo beat an average Meath team reduced to 10 men and suddenly Andy is the best since sliced bread and Mayo have the best forwards in the country.

The fickleness of GAA is insane.

10 men - i must have missed 4 red cards!

[joemamas]

I'm not even surprised or annoyed. I could see that coming even towards the end of the first half you could see our legs starting to tire.

When teams let us play we're the Harlem Globetrotters but as soon as they start pressing on us like Westmeath, Cork second half and today second half again we gradually fall apart. We held on for slightly longer than the Cork game and managed a couple of score and created a few chances that gave me some hope but we just started making poor decisions in possession that gave Mayo too many chances to counter attack.

Don't know if it's fitness or what is lacking. Subbing McBride and Flynn at the same time for Jones who is only back from a long term injury and O'Connor who is only a few appearances under his belt, was a bizarre decision. Surely stagger those changes and see how it goes with one.

Sean Brennan needs to work on his composure for pressure kicks. He's rushed a few when games have in the balance and did it again today.

We actually looked alright in defence today for the most part. Midfield more at fault and our forwards lacking composure when the pressure was on.

Ciaran Caulfield worked hard as ever but really needs to work on taking scores and goals. He's in good positions so often but either looks to hand it off or spurns goal chances.

Ultimately when Mayo put the pressure on Costello, Morris, Conlon, Frayne, O'Connor and Coffey were all found wanting in the physical stakes and composure.

As for the red card, I'd have to see it again but it looked completely innocuous if you ask me. But you just have to deal with these things and we still had enough chances to reel it back in and we failed to do that.

Not sure how you remedy these deficiencies in the team for next year but we need a bit more steel and physical strength at the core of the team.

candid remarks from a meathman.
Kudos for that.
Meath could have had it wrapped up at HT.
We were lucky to still be in it, tbh, as you could have drove an 18 wheeler trough our midfield and half back line.
Meath's backs played very well in the first half, constantly turning the mayo attackers around making them retreat backwards.
Although, Mayo had momentum, sending off was the game changer, as a minute before you took off both midfielders.
It was just stupid, not malacious, looked like Meath player (sub)was trying to make a statement, not the smartest, especially in an away game with a partisan crowd putting pressure on officials.
Mayo goalkeeper kept us in it.
A win is a win, thats about it.
Delighted for Kobe McDonald to get to play in Croke Park.
Mayo are miles away from winning an all ireland but a QF will(sorry hopefully) be a stepping stone for next year and beyond.
Personally delighted as I had booked months ago to back for next weekend.
After the Roscommon debacle, I like a lot of others had given up on the year.
Good luck next year Juice, it is good to see Meath competitive again. Too big of a county not to be.
you have been a long time contributor on here, you are a genuine supporter, unlike a lot of the recent WUM.

[JoG2]

It was a very soft red especially considering what Faloon let go in general play and how hard it was to win a free kick.

Some good saves at both ends. Meath play great football at times but were too open at the back.

I agree. I don't think he got this one right.

At the same time though. Paul is perhaps the most logical and consistent referee I've ever seen in differentiating between handbags, histrionics and striking.

That he lets things go shouldn't really come into it.

It was Conor Lane's call.

[cavanmaniac]

McGeeney-managed teams are always a curious conundrum to me. I find him a very compelling individual, right back to his playing days. First of all, he enjoys longevity in jobs that's not commensurate with trophies won, nor compatible with the trend of more impatient county boards who operate on 2/3 year cycles now. At or beyond the point where you think he should move or be moved on, he remains, and suddenly moves the needle forward for a season or two. It's possibly a mark of the esteem he's held in by the players under his charge, and the incremental, gradual, slow-building nature of his projects, that means, although trophies might not be flowing, there's generally enough of an upward curve over time to encourage perseverance. Armagh were in a very dark place when he took over, if memory serves.

Another thing I feel hallmarks his sides is an ability to turn games against any shade of opposition into mini epics. Not today, obviously, but there are plentiful examples of close, tense battles against teams deemed both better and worse than his at various stages in their respective cycles - the former which garnish his reputation as a manager, and the latter to make you wonder if there isn't a degree of overthinking or over forensic strategising going on, when perhaps letting talented players play a bit more off the cuff would be better advised. It leaves me, anyway, with this weird sense that McGeeney manages to simultaneously over and under achieve in some ways.

[DaleCooper]

Penny has not dropped with some the new rules mean you have to play football. That Kerry team is one of their great teams no doubt about it.

Dylan Geaney finally delivering on his promise, a thoroughbred. The goal he created for big Joe was outstanding stuff.

Classic Kerry keeping the powder dry, they have turned it into an art at this stage and its giving them huge confidence.

[Manning18]

Meath's run of never winning on Mayo soil continues and had a ten point head start to change that record.

Two challenge game wins for Meath over Mayo in December and May in the end meant diddly squat when it came to knock out championship football.

And a record on mayo soil, and also random knockout championship matches mean diddly squat when compared to All Ireland totals. Of which Meath have over twice as many as Mayo

Plenty of gloating going on here and on social media. Didn't realize the blood was still bad between these counties 30 years on? They've barely met since

[Manning18]

Is Andy Moran the best coach in the country that was some turnaround?

Mental. I presume a wind up, but I'll bite anyhow.

Mayo have been at the exact same level throughout this decade. A good team that will beat any team that's not good, but will never beat a team that's great.

The black mark against Andy being that the last two management teams have undertaken the rebuild job of moving out a team of ageing warriors, and replacing them with new blood.

Which they did, and handed over the reins.



Mayo's age and experience profile is perfect for winning an AI.

In my lifetime they've never had a full forward line as dangerous, not even remotely close. Not even a third cousin remotely as close.

Yet you still couldn't trust them to win a game against Carlow.

That's harsh 2016/2017 we bet a lot of good teams but just didn't  have the mental toughness to grab the slight chances the Dubs gave us in those finals!!

You're dead right.

Theres a valid argument to be made that that Mayo team of that era was the 2nd best team of all time.

No one came close to that Dublin side but them, which was to Mayos credit.

The team that came closest to beating Dublin in that period was Kerry in 2019. They were ahead in injury time, a place Mayo never were. They were also level in injury time with them in 2016. They also won an all Ireland in that period

That Mayo team was a fine team obviously but saying they were the second best team of all time is absolutely insane stuff. They got beaten 3 times in a row in Connacht in those years. Fell over the line in qualifiers against D4 teams. Dublin and to an extent Kerry were beating teams by 25 points repeatedly in their province and all Ireland series games

[highorlow]

Is Andy Moran the best coach in the country that was some turnaround?

Mental. I presume a wind up, but I'll bite anyhow.

Mayo have been at the exact same level throughout this decade. A good team that will beat any team that's not good, but will never beat a team that's great.

The black mark against Andy being that the last two management teams have undertaken the rebuild job of moving out a team of ageing warriors, and replacing them with new blood.

Which they did, and handed over the reins.



Mayo's age and experience profile is perfect for winning an AI.

In my lifetime they've never had a full forward line as dangerous, not even remotely close. Not even a third cousin remotely as close.

Yet you still couldn't trust them to win a game against Carlow.

That's a bit unfair on Carlow

[Tubberman]

Is Andy Moran the best coach in the country that was some turnaround?

Mental. I presume a wind up, but I'll bite anyhow.

Mayo have been at the exact same level throughout this decade. A good team that will beat any team that's not good, but will never beat a team that's great.

The black mark against Andy being that the last two management teams have undertaken the rebuild job of moving out a team of ageing warriors, and replacing them with new blood.

Which they did, and handed over the reins.



Mayo's age and experience profile is perfect for winning an AI.

In my lifetime they've never had a full forward line as dangerous, not even remotely close. Not even a third cousin remotely as close.

Yet you still couldn't trust them to win a game against Carlow.

That's harsh 2016/2017 we bet a lot of good teams but just didn't  have the mental toughness to grab the slight chances the Dubs gave us in those finals!!

You're dead right.

Theres a valid argument to be made that that Mayo team of that era was the 2nd best team of all time.

No one came close to that Dublin side but them, which was to Mayos credit.

The team that came closest to beating Dublin in that period was Kerry in 2019. They were ahead in injury time, a place Mayo never were. They were also level in injury time with them in 2016. They also won an all Ireland in that period

That Mayo team was a fine team obviously but saying they were the second best team of all time is absolutely insane stuff. They got beaten 3 times in a row in Connacht in those years. Fell over the line in qualifiers against D4 teams. Dublin and to an extent Kerry were beating teams by 25 points repeatedly in their province and all Ireland series games

You still sucking on lemons I see lol
Up Mayo!

xx