Football Championship 2026 (Mod Note in OP)

Looks like only one provincial champion in the last 8 too

Donegal v Dublin looks the most straightforward game. Dublin just aren't on that level and I don't see Donegal having bad games back to back.

The other games are all toss ups. You could make a good case for any of the teams.

I think meath could beat Mayo. Strong midfield and natural shooters. Two areas Mayo are weak.

Westmeath v Monaghan is very tough to call. I'm struggling to even make a prediction.

Kerry Armagh should be a dinger and who ever comes out will have a hard game in the legs and potentially a couple of more injuries. It depends who Kerry can put on the pitch.

I very much doubt if an airline wifi allows streaming, but it should be good for a radio commentary.

There's chat in the Donegal thread that some of cork's two pointers were from inside the arc. My question is, how is it defined? Is it from where the ball is kicked regardless of whether the standing foot is ahead or not? Is it from any point of the body being on or over the line? Is there leeway if the action of kicking began outside and momentum carried the kicker inside?

Cork offally hurling at 3 30 so Dublin donegal at 1 30 possibly. Croke park surely. Parnell way too small for the crowd who'll want to go

The 2 point rule being defined by the position of the foot has me wondering what happens if a player were to scissor kick the ball over the bar from very close to the arc.

They'd have no planted foot to judge by, but it'd be such an astonishing piece of skill I'd give them the 2 points if I were the ref..

I find it strange that the Connacht final winner and loser were in action on the same weekend but the winner was at risk of knockout and duly gets knocked out and the loser gets a second chance even if they had lost.

I have an assumption about hawkeye that I hope someone could clarify for me. Croke Park and Semple Stadium were the only two grounds with the system installed but the one in Semple Stadium might as well be running on Windows XP so doesn't get used very often.

I'm surprised that it wasn't brought into Páirc Uí Chaoimh when they were redeveloping the stadium not too long ago. I mean, the women's FA would have needed a goal line system for their recent game wouldn't they?

Funny I was thinking the same. Sherlock's foot was definitely inside the arc for one of them.

But based on the other posts it seems that's OK as long as one foot is outside.

Speaking of new rules it was interesting that the referee brought the ball forward for dissent late on, so Cork could kick a 2-late pointer (in a game they won by 1 point). It's easy to do it early in the game to set a marker.

First time I recall in a big championship game and dead right too. Players' minds will be focused and nobody will want to cost their county their place in the championship.

I mentioned it anyway but if I was a Donegal man I'd be more fuming (albeit obviously much less than about their massive underperformance) about Tommy Walsh taking approximately a bazillion steps twice before firing over his two pointer.

The provincials are really a preseason (or mid season) competition.

It might take a few years for some people/teams to realise this.

If they dont introduce some sort of benefit for winning it then the bigger teams wont be bothered about it.

From my own perspective (Mayo) Id be in favour of going hard in the league and trying a few new players in the Connacht championship.

Pick the best performing players from both competitions then for the real championship.

Maybe the referee thought he was being pulled back so let him off with the steps.

(two wrongs make a right?! or somehow cancel each other out)

It's a bit of a pet hate of mine but the steps rule is not governed at all anymore. Attacking players can always take 6-8 steps before being blown up.

It's only ever blown when a player is entirely surrounded and there's really nowhere to go - forcing the ref to enforce the steps rule to keep play going.

From what I am reading the hooter and scoreboard were you basically toys.