Inside Track: John McIntyre's review of inter-county season

Mayo footballers: It's arguable that there has never been a more emotional Irish sporting occasion than when Andy Moran's charges finally liberated the county by defying their outsider status and a terrible start to dethrone All-Ireland champions Kerry in July. After their second-half collapse against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final, nobody could have imagined that Mayo would end up with Sam.

With Ryan O’Donoghue performing like a man possessed and team-mates such as Sam Callinan, Enda Hession, David McBrien, Jack Carney, Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne also covering themselves in glory, Mayo hunted Kerry down with a zeal and commitment that the title holders had few answers to.

The post-match scenes in Croker were spine-tingling, especially when the Green and Red of Mayo rang out over the stadium. The emotion was palpable and bucket loads of tears were shed. Jack Coyne's powerful victory speech, highlighted by his “proud to be from Mayo” message, only added to an extraordinary occasion.

Limerick hurlers: If confirmation was needed that this Limerick team is probably the sport's greatest ever, it was provided by their demolition of Galway in the All-Ireland Final. Claiming a sixth championship in nine years, John Kiely's charges again stand apart after a summer where Gearóid Hegarty emptied himself repeatedly in the key matches.

Team captain Cian Lynch's return to full fitness was central to reclaiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup, while Cathal O'Neill delivered a Man of the Match display in the All-Ireland Final. These green giants are going nowhere and it's not to difficult to imagine the likes of Kyle Hayes, Diarmaid Byrnes, Will O'Donoghue and Aaron Gillane being 'locked and loaded’ for 2027 as well.

Monaghan footballers: They will have huge regrets over failing to take advantage of Louth being reduced to 14-men early on in the All-Ireland quarter-final, but Monaghan again punched above their weight. After a disastrous league campaign, they typically regrouped to reach the Ulster final, only to lose out after extra-time to Armagh.

They overcame Tyrone, Westmeath and Roscommon in the All-Ireland series, while Jack McCarron surely supplied the GAA moment of the year by somehow landing an outrageous two-point equaliser from the sideline – and in barely enough room to swing a cat – against Derry in the provincial semi-final. Furthermore, Monaghan's fleet-footed Stephen O'Hanlon deserves an All-Star.

Galway hurlers: After their limp exit to Tipperary in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final following several trimmings in the league, Micheál Donoghue, Franny Forde and Noel Larkin must have been wondering about the wisdom of re-pitching their managerial tent back home after a two-year stint with Dublin, but Galway were the break-out story of the year in the championship.

Narrowly denied a final place in the league final, the Tribesmen took some time to fire all on cylinders this summer, losing to Dublin in a round-robin fixture at Pearse Stadium, and unexpectedly finding themselves in serious early distress against both Kildare and Wexford. By the time of the Leinster Final, however, Galway were ready to motor. They thrashed Dublin before going on to stun Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, with Tom Monaghan firing over points for sport and young Jason Rabbitte also terrorising the Rebels' backs. As it transpired, the pick of Ireland wouldn't have beaten Limerick in the final, but Galway have laid a positive foundation to drive on in 2027.

We must also give an honourable mention to the footballers of Louth, Westmeath – winning only their second-ever Leinster title – and Roscommon who dethroned Galway at Hyde Park before their passionate supporters. Once again, however, the Rossies proved a disappointment in the All-Ireland series.

THE LOWS

Galway footballers: Almost unbeknownst to us, the Tribesmen are inheriting Mayo's long time reputation (but no more!) for bottling the big matches. Every season under Padraic Joyce's seven-year management, Galway appear capable of going the whole way, but have yet to get there. Two consecutive All-Ireland quarter-final defeats in matches that were at their mercy have only added to the local gloom.

With still no white smoke about whether Joyce is staying or going, the resulting vacuum is leading to a lot of misinformation flying about and creating more opportunity for pot-shots at the outgoing management. Yet, we are still not prepared to dismiss this team's chances of ever winning an All-Ireland title. Galway have too many quality players, even if the age profile is rising. The bottom line, however, is that a major tactical shift is required.

Tipperary hurlers: Their defence of the All-Ireland title was so bad this year, you were left wondering how Tipperary managed to triumph in 2025 in the first place, Of course, Cork's second-half meltdown in that final, allied to several Tipp players producing career-high performances, contributed to Liam Cahill's team causing a major upset.

But Tipperary never managed to take off in 2026. They suffered some heavy losses in Munster and there was an utter lack of conviction in their ranks. Tipp were so poor, there was even speculation about Cahill's future, but when things calmed down he was understandably handed an extension to his tenure. Tipperary haven't made a successful defence of the Liam MacCarthy Cup since 1965 and that desperate record shows no sign of ending.

Finally, a special mention to Clare hurlers who were carried out on their shield after a titanic battle with Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final. They came desperately close to victory and the result turned on Nickie Quaid managing to stay on the field after hauling down Peter Duggan. Small margins.