![\"Dublin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023b8f4-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\nAll-Ireland champions Kerry remain a “good bit ahead” of the chasing pack as the 2026 season looms into view, according to former Donegal footballer Brendan Devenney.<\/p>\n
Jack O’Connor led the Kingdom to a clean sweep in 2025 \u2013 League, Munster and All-Ireland honours \u2013 as they head into the new season as the team to beat.<\/p>\n
Having adapted quicker than most to the new football rules, O’Connor implemented a defensive system that was difficult to break down.<\/p>\n
Coupled with that was a playmaking masterclass from Paudie Clifford, with younger brother David terrorising defences on his way to a third Footballer of the Year crown.<\/p>\n
In the end, there could be no arguments over the best in class, with Ulster champions Donegal very much second best in the showpiece.<\/p>\n
Speaking on RT\u00c9 Radio 1\u2019s Sunday Sport, Devenney says the Kerry blueprint will be very difficult to stop this year.<\/p>\n
“A lot of teams were playing with half-forwards, particularly Donegal in the All-Ireland final as they play a certain style,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The way Kerry showed how to do it, you want your back six being defenders, you want a strong, robust midfield and then playmakers who can get on the ball like Paudie Clifford, who led Donegal a bit of a merry dance for most of the game, which a lot of people couldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
“Kerry looked like they had all the ammunition in the world and teams (facing them) will have to be prepared to defend outside the arc.<\/p>\n
“I think it will be a fascinating season. Kerry at Croke Park are a good bit ahead of the chasing teams, though there are about six teams (chasing pack) where I don\u2019t think there is more than a two-pointer between them.”<\/p>\n
Among the cluster of teams hoping to chase down Kerry will be their traditional rivals Dublin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ger Brennan – pictured above – takes over from Dessie Farrell and the glory days of six-in-a-row feel a long way removed.<\/p>\n
Last year’s defeat to Meath was a first reversal in Leinster in 15 years, while it was a rather limp championship exit when Tyrone ended their interest at the quarter-final stage.<\/p>\n
Former Mayo footballer Cora Staunton outlined what she feels would be a successful 2026 for the men from the capital.<\/p>\n
“To get back their Leinster title would be number one, and then progressing through to the last four, that would be progress,” she said.<\/p>\n
“There is real competition in Leinster now and that\u2019s exciting.<\/p>\n
“Ger Brennan will probably have further sights than that, but getting to the last four in the championship will be the aim.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"All-Ireland champions Kerry remain a “good bit ahead” of the chasing pack as the 2026 season looms into…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":240091,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[61,60,112],"class_list":{"0":"post-240090","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-ie","9":"tag-ireland","10":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240090\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}