Shaun Casey looks ahead to what could happen on the pitch over the next 12 months

McKenna Cup winners: Down

IT’S really difficult to know who is going to take the McKenna Cup seriously or who even wants to win it, but I think a bit of silverware would do Conor Laverty and Down absolutely no harm. They have a tough group with games against Armagh and Tyrone coming up, and winning those fixtures would probably mean more to the Mourne men than it would to the opposition. I think Down are in for a big year in 2026 and they’ll want to get it off to a great start.

Ulster champions: Derry

CIARÁN Meenagh is the man hoping to lead Derry back into that top contender bracket and given all the information we have, he’s well fit to do that. He was involved with them when they last won the Ulster title in 2023, has been key to the rise of Down in the last two years, and helped guide his club Loughmacrory to a first-ever county title in Tyrone this year. They have the talent to go all the way in Ulster and given their side of the draw, I think they will.

All-Ireland champions: Kerry

A LOT can happen between now and next July but defending champions Kerry are the team to beat on the national stage. The new rules absolutely suit them down to the ground and if they have all their big players, namely Seán O’Shea and the Cliffords, Paudie and David, playing well, then it’s going to take something special to steal Sam Maguire away from their grasp.

Dark horses: Mayo

WILL Mayo win the All-Ireland in 2026? No, I don’t think so, but they could stop one of the big teams doing it. Things have certainly taken a more positive look out west since Andy Moran’s appointment as manager and with the likes of Cillian O’Connor back in the fold, Mayo will be keen to wrestle the Connacht title off old rivals Galway and if they can do that, they could have a big say on the All-Ireland stage as well.

Player of the Year: David Clifford

THIS is probably the most straightforward prediction. David Clifford is the best player in the country and given the fact that he has already collected this gong in three of the previous four years, then it’s safe to say he has a great chance of doing it again. If Kerry are to retain their All-Ireland title, a lot of their hopes hang on Clifford and should he lead them to Sam once again, then he’s in poll position to be named Player of the Year once again.

Ulster Player of the Year: Oisin Conaty

CONATY has only been part of the Armagh panel for three years and already he’s won more accolades than most players will in a lifetime. An All-Ireland medal, two All-Stars, player of the match in an All-Ireland final, Young Player of the Year, the Tir na nÓg clubman certainly is a special talent. He proved in 2025 that last year wasn’t just a one-hit wonder and the sky is the limit for the pacy attacker.

Top Scorer: David Clifford

AGAIN, an easy prediction to make. Clifford didn’t see that much of the ball in the All-Ireland final this year against Donegal and he still finished the game as the top scorer with 0-9. All in all, he was the top scorer for 2025 with a grand total of 8-62 across nine championship outings and the six-time All-Star winner could well do the same again next season.

One to watch: Kobe McDonald

THERE’S been a lot of talk and hype surrounding the young Mayo man, son of the legendary Ciaran McDonald, and it looks like we could see him in the red and green of Mayo next year. He has signed with AFL club St Kilda and is scheduled to link up with them in 2027, once he completes his Leaving Cert, meaning he could feature for Andy Moran’s side in the new year and if the hype is real, then Mayo have a star on their hands.

Bold call: Dublin won’t win Leinster

DUBLIN will surely be hell-bent on getting back on top in Leinster after their surprising semi-final defeat to Meath this year, but that could be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Meath, Louth and possibly Kildare will all feel they have strong chances of winning the title and Westmeath are another side with potential. Dublin will win more Leinster crowns than anyone else in the next decade, but perhaps their dominance has finally come to an end.