All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[Blowitupref]

Best value bet?

Odds
Cork 5/4 Mayo 4/5
Kerry 3/10 Tyrone 3/1
Louth 11/10 Monaghan evens
Galway 4/6 Dublin 6/4

[cornerback]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

[David McKeown]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

I thought the talk last week was that Inniskeen was wider?

[cornerback]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

I thought the talk last week was that Inniskeen was wider?

Max: 145 x 90m
Croke Park: 145 x 88m

[SouthOfThe Bann]

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

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

Louth honorary Ulstermen?

Louth was originally  in the province of Ulster

Aye Louth the 10th Ulster county

[DaleCooper]

There is rain forecast for Saturday. Kerry support may be minimal. Cork fans will stay to cheer the red and white.

Tyrone need 3 goals or set a 2ptr record for their year so far.

Hope we can stay fit and give it a right go.

Armagh were at a low ebb on multiple fronts[missing men, tired and having to travel] so tough to know how much to read into it.

[Look-Up!]

Croke Park is the maximum allowable playing surface size wise. While there might be others the same size, a lot of them for want of a better phrase, are built in a bog. Croke Park surface plays very fast so in that sense, Croke Park is as big and as fast as they come.

You could argue best time to meet Kerry with a fast turnaround 3 weeks on the hop and Tyrone with a 2 week rest. Or you could argue Kingdom only warming up for Croker. I'd be leaning to the latter.

A quick google will tell you that's not right!

I thought the talk last week was that Inniskeen was wider?

Max: 145 x 90m
Croke Park: 145 x 88m

Stand corrected. Think the maximum playing area is full size but they move the lines in a yard for whatever reason. Seriously doubt Healy Park is bigger though. Was there not a storm in a tea cup few years ago with visit of Dublin that they made it tighter again to curb Cluxton kickouts.

Anyway, a yard of sideline won't make much difference but the speed at which the surface plays at is a huge factor.

[Look-Up!]

Best value bet?

Odds
Cork 5/4 Mayo 4/5
Kerry 3/10 Tyrone 3/1
Louth 11/10 Monaghan evens
Galway 4/6 Dublin 6/4

I think Louth then Dublin for value (but O'Callaghan needs to be fit).

All hard to call bar Kerry. TBH for that match I'd be looking at the handicap.

Of course Tyrone will fancy it and look to history but they will need a giant slice of luck. The year they won the AI they were full value for semi final win but Kerry were all over them 1st half but missed a load of scores and gave Tyrone a sniff of blood. Tyrone took their goals well while Kerry panicked with a lot of blind running with the ball.
 Think this Kerry is a more mature outfit and this Tyrone maybe not as good.

I think short turnarounds will be a factor for teams where niggles are concerned.

[AustinPowers]

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

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

Louth honorary Ulstermen?

Louth was originally  in the province of Ulster

Aye Louth the 10th Ulster county

"The failure of the Anglo-Normans to complete their conquest, especially of the north and west of Ireland, including most of Oirghialla, left Louth small and precarious, exposed to the depredations of the Gaelic Irish, while it also acted as a garrison and as a stepping-off point for English incursions further into Ulster (of which Louth was then a part). The Anglo-Normans established eleven 'Boroughs' across the county, several of them later becoming major, walled towns and thriving to this day."

They must have broke away  prior to the foundation of the GAA , as  Louth have no Ulster titles to their name.

[Maroon Manc]

Who knows what Galway will turn up, definitely signs in the Westmeath match that they were improving.

14 of that 15 picks itself although seems crazy that McGrath who's for the last 2 years had become one of the best corner backs in the game has found himself out of favour.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Molloy come in and mark Kilkenny although I'd rather see Shane McGrath start.

[ClubScene13]

"The GAA can confirm the following refereeing appointments for next weekend's All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals at Croke Park.

All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals

Saturday June 27

Cork v Mayo, Croke Park, 4pm, GAA+

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Kerry v Tyrone, Croke Park, 6.15pm, GAA+

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Sunday June 28

Louth v Monaghan, Croke Park, 1.45pm, RTE

Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)

Dublin v Galway, Croke Park, 4pm, RTE

Referee: David Gough (Meath)"

[Schkite]

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.

Galway v Dublin - Galway may benefit from Dublin fatigue with a weeks less recovery and extra time on top. Injuries and niggles will also have an impact - Dublin may be hampered in this regard whereas Galway seem to be more injury free than they have been for a long time.

Cork v Mayo - again the weeks extra recovery may tell - but Mayo possibly have better forwards and might prevail if they can restirct Cork's 2 point shooters.

Tyrone - v Kerry - hard to see anything but a Kerry win unless MOR starts living up to his reputation a bit more.
However, the wide open spaces of Croke Park are a myth - Tyrone's home pitch is the same size as Croke Park as are a lot of pitches throughout the country - and about half a dozen are actually larger. If anything, I wonder if Croke Park feels tighter with the high stands - especially when it's a full house.
Armagh's running game wasn't as focused last weekend and I wonder if it can actually leave teams exposed in the turnovers - Kerry scored a few goals on the break with a defence largely missing and exposed.

Louth v Monaghan - probably the hardest to call - but agree the weeks extra recovery - and Monaghan relying on quite a few older players - may be enough of an advantage for some strong Louth men.

I swear this thing about Monaghan being an aging team and overly reliant on aul lads, has been a thing being brought up for like 15 years now...

I actually think the current age profile of the Monaghan squad is as healthy and balanced as it's been for a long long time. We don't have any lads in the panel in their late 30s who are hanging on and playing key roles, which was often the case over the years. Right now it's a nice mix in the squad of young lads bursting through, those in the mid to late 20s who have been around a while and now becoming leaders, and a handful of lads in the early 30s who have tons of experience but still plenty more to give too in most cases. In different games over the past few weeks, we've had big performances from players in all 3 of those categories which has got us to this point.

[bennydorano]

Tyrone have pretty much got a free dig at Kerry, if they're brave they've a chance. Kerry rightly getting credit for hammering us but I really knew it was over at HT. Sick saying that you'll win nothing without a bit of a luck.

Galway have been my pick for Sam from the start of the year, but definitely capable of shitting the nest. Dublin looked very good v Donegal, they'll not lack confidence, but it's  Galway's year.

Really dunno about Louth v Monaghan, its got draw & ET written all over it, could be pens.

Fancy Cork, Mayo always look inexperienced eventho they're probably no greener than rest.

[lenny]

Jarlath burns saying it was his last draw. Does that mean there's no draw for the semifinals? Is the draw already set for that?

[thewobbler]

Tyrone have pretty much got a free dig at Kerry, if they're brave they've a chance. Kerry rightly getting credit for hammering us but I really knew it was over at HT. Sick saying that you'll win nothing without a bit of a luck.

Galway have been my pick for Sam from the start of the year, but definitely capable of shitting the nest. Dublin looked very good v Donegal, they'll not lack confidence, but it's  Galway's year.

Really dunno about Louth v Monaghan, its got draw & ET written all over it, could be pens.

Fancy Cork, Mayo always look inexperienced eventho they're probably no greener than rest.

Tyrone have a chance if Kilpatrick, Kennedy, Morgan and McKernan keep their bangers, lead the team and allow younger players to find their feet. It's easy though to get a sense that at least one of them will lose the plot.

Mayo are far from inexperienced. About 10 of their match day squad next week will have played in an AI final, and another 10 or so will have 5 seasons of playing mostly D1 football. Indeed they could pretty much line out with the starting team from their National League final win in 2023.  That surely puts them a street or two ahead of Cork when it comes to big match experience.