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Limerick Senior Hurling 2026

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It would be a brave move to disrupt the Limerick half back line- Hayes, WOD and Byrnes were outstanding all year long. Teams can try to play around Hayes but with a line like that it's not likely to succeed.
I also think Hayes is not as efficient a scorer as some of the other options.
Coughlan will have to bide his time and with Byrnes at 32 his might be the spot to target
Byrnes was huge this year but a year ago his future was being questioned.
Hannon retired at 32 albeit with injuries and started out young

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 288 - 21/08/2026 12:28:37    2690750

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Replying To Yadse:  "It would be a brave move to disrupt the Limerick half back line- Hayes, WOD and Byrnes were outstanding all year long. Teams can try to play around Hayes but with a line like that it's not likely to succeed.
I also think Hayes is not as efficient a scorer as some of the other options.
Coughlan will have to bide his time and with Byrnes at 32 his might be the spot to target
Byrnes was huge this year but a year ago his future was being questioned.
Hannon retired at 32 albeit with injuries and started out young"
I've seen Ballybrown a couple of times in this years Club Championship and the opposition deliberately play the ball away from Coughlan. He is finding it hard to get on the ball. I believe they should move him to midfield or half forward where he could impose himself more and have more freedom to put pressure on opposition forwards an force teams to go long over him with puck outs. Colin's brother James is also starting to come to the fore and it could be over the next few years that James is the one to grab his opportunity with Limerick rather then Colin.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 297 - 26/08/2026 12:30:29    2691384

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The players and backroom team all deserve a great holiday. Alot of giving out online re the cost. Hopefully that will be a cost most years I say.
For next season I would really like to see 1 or 2 more players pushing hard for championship minutes, we really relied on the 15 plus 4 to 5 of the subs this year.

Southsham (Limerick) - Posts: 762 - 27/08/2026 09:11:42    2691470

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Replying To Yadse:  "It would be a brave move to disrupt the Limerick half back line- Hayes, WOD and Byrnes were outstanding all year long. Teams can try to play around Hayes but with a line like that it's not likely to succeed.
I also think Hayes is not as efficient a scorer as some of the other options.
Coughlan will have to bide his time and with Byrnes at 32 his might be the spot to target
Byrnes was huge this year but a year ago his future was being questioned.
Hannon retired at 32 albeit with injuries and started out young"
Byrnes and Hayes will go down as the greatest half backs of all time in my view, they have changed expectations on what is now required from a half back, many great legendary dominant half backs from a defensive point of view have come before them, but I can't recall any who would score regularly, raid up and down the field, or delivers such fantastic balls to the forwards as these two. Also, over the years Byrnes has been the catalyst in the last 15 mins of a match for driving us on to victory when we most need someone to stand up. I don't see them being changed unless there is a drop in form or injury. With the forwards we have available we don't need to put Hayes up there, maybe if Hego wanted to prolong his career and move permanently into the FF Line where he wouldn't have to cover as much ground. Coughlan is unfortunate that he is trying to break into the strongest line on the field who have also been lucky enough to avoid injuries of the years.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 506 - 01/09/2026 10:24:23    2692259

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "Byrnes and Hayes will go down as the greatest half backs of all time in my view, they have changed expectations on what is now required from a half back, many great legendary dominant half backs from a defensive point of view have come before them, but I can't recall any who would score regularly, raid up and down the field, or delivers such fantastic balls to the forwards as these two. Also, over the years Byrnes has been the catalyst in the last 15 mins of a match for driving us on to victory when we most need someone to stand up. I don't see them being changed unless there is a drop in form or injury. With the forwards we have available we don't need to put Hayes up there, maybe if Hego wanted to prolong his career and move permanently into the FF Line where he wouldn't have to cover as much ground. Coughlan is unfortunate that he is trying to break into the strongest line on the field who have also been lucky enough to avoid injuries of the years."
Tommy Walsh?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20619 - 01/09/2026 15:02:03    2692313

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Replying To Viking66:  "Tommy Walsh?"
One of my favourite players of all time and as a defender he is definitely at least equal but could he raid up and down the field like Kyle Hayes playing at half back? Could he knock over points regularly from the same range as Byrnes playing asa half back? They are all great defenders. As a half back how often did he cross half way. Who do you think gave the better ball and much more assists to their forward line. It's just my opinion, I'm not trying to convince anyone else but I think the Byrnes and Hayes took the half back position to a different level. I'd gladly hear the arguments for why Tommy is better than them as a half back. It could be argued he was a better player as he excelled in so many positions but as a half back I'd rate the two higher.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 506 - 02/09/2026 01:16:18    2692349

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "One of my favourite players of all time and as a defender he is definitely at least equal but could he raid up and down the field like Kyle Hayes playing at half back? Could he knock over points regularly from the same range as Byrnes playing asa half back? They are all great defenders. As a half back how often did he cross half way. Who do you think gave the better ball and much more assists to their forward line. It's just my opinion, I'm not trying to convince anyone else but I think the Byrnes and Hayes took the half back position to a different level. I'd gladly hear the arguments for why Tommy is better than them as a half back. It could be argued he was a better player as he excelled in so many positions but as a half back I'd rate the two higher."
Nobody would defend like Tommy did, the same as JJ. Also it with Cody the ball did the work, kiely has the running game, two different approaches.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2684 - 02/09/2026 09:58:05    2692362

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "One of my favourite players of all time and as a defender he is definitely at least equal but could he raid up and down the field like Kyle Hayes playing at half back? Could he knock over points regularly from the same range as Byrnes playing asa half back? They are all great defenders. As a half back how often did he cross half way. Who do you think gave the better ball and much more assists to their forward line. It's just my opinion, I'm not trying to convince anyone else but I think the Byrnes and Hayes took the half back position to a different level. I'd gladly hear the arguments for why Tommy is better than them as a half back. It could be argued he was a better player as he excelled in so many positions but as a half back I'd rate the two higher."
It's a different game now. If Tommy Walsh played in today's system, he'd be doing different things to what he did in his playing days. He was more than good enough as hurler to do what ever would be needed.
It's like people comparing backs today and the amount they score versus defenders in the past, whose sole job was to prevent scores and rarely stray forward. It's a pointless comparison. They are products of the game of their own eras. Whoever excelled as the best of their era is exactly that.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 3034 - 02/09/2026 11:19:23    2692378

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Think Tommy Walsh is the best ever hurler tbh. Almost alwayss gave 8/9 out of 10 performances.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 320 - 02/09/2026 12:37:51    2692392

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