National Forum

National Hurling League 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


I dont buy this not showing his hand stuff. Finals are for winning and players go out to win. The second you go out to do anything other than win you are finished in hurling both as a player and a coach. Hurling matches take on a life of their own once the ball is thrown in and the players have to go with it. Coaches try to influence it yes but sometimes they cant.
Cork didnt set out to give Gillane that much space. It worked out that way because they were losing the battle further out the field which meant they had to engage. Limerick won the physical battle and that made the contest easier. Cork and BOC definitely would not want that. All the tactics in the world dont change that.
Every match is different and you have to be up for it every time you go out. This wont matter much in 3 weeks time but it doesnt do any harm at all to have won and BOC and his players know that. Finals are for winning. Otherwise noone would bother competing.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 201 - 07/04/2026 17:13:16    2665126

Link

Fine final with top class hurling. It might have been off championship pace, however, every ball was vigorously contested. Cork can be dangerous if they get a run on a team. The thing is to stop that run from building up. They really seem to be a confidence team: when they're on song they can be mighty, when not they can be like a burst balloon.

Certain commentators were asking prior to the concluding rounds of the league why Kiely would want to play Cork again in a league final, as each time Cork would learn more. Perhaps, it is Kiely who is the one learning! Did you notice how in the past two games between them, how Limerick really curtailed Cork's chances on goal? Cork were a goal-blasting phenomenon for a lot of last year and early in this league as well. Limerick seem to have learned how to diffuse that threat now.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2494 - 08/04/2026 00:34:43    2665180

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "Fine final with top class hurling. It might have been off championship pace, however, every ball was vigorously contested. Cork can be dangerous if they get a run on a team. The thing is to stop that run from building up. They really seem to be a confidence team: when they're on song they can be mighty, when not they can be like a burst balloon.

Certain commentators were asking prior to the concluding rounds of the league why Kiely would want to play Cork again in a league final, as each time Cork would learn more. Perhaps, it is Kiely who is the one learning! Did you notice how in the past two games between them, how Limerick really curtailed Cork's chances on goal? Cork were a goal-blasting phenomenon for a lot of last year and early in this league as well. Limerick seem to have learned how to diffuse that threat now."
Cork arent set up just as well for goals under BOC

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19243 - 08/04/2026 09:27:41    2665195

Link

I agree with you Tadhg2020, showing your hand is the greatest load of codology ever.
Every team knows what every opponent has. Davy did this time and again with Wexford pretended to be more clever than anyone. It backfired more than it worked.
Go out to win the game and put your best foot forward. No point holdiing player back he could tear a hamstring on Tuesday night.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1616 - 08/04/2026 09:36:06    2665197

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I agree with you Tadhg2020, showing your hand is the greatest load of codology ever.
Every team knows what every opponent has. Davy did this time and again with Wexford pretended to be more clever than anyone. It backfired more than it worked.
Go out to win the game and put your best foot forward. No point holdiing player back he could tear a hamstring on Tuesday night."
Agreed. Its like the whole dummy teams thing. Nonsense.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19243 - 08/04/2026 10:14:03    2665205

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I agree with you Tadhg2020, showing your hand is the greatest load of codology ever.
Every team knows what every opponent has. Davy did this time and again with Wexford pretended to be more clever than anyone. It backfired more than it worked.
Go out to win the game and put your best foot forward. No point holdiing player back he could tear a hamstring on Tuesday night."
I suppose its a bit like the horse racing form phrase "Exposed."

Both games were pretty much bet to nothing to test what in all cases are close to championship starters and tactics.

A worry for Cork possibly and definitely for Dublin as more limited in who is likely to come in AND be an addition.

Burke will be a positive and should have been called ashore straight away against Carlow. Might prove to be costly if he is not fully fit and recovered. No reliable free taker without him and Currie and no idea what is happening there. The exposure of the lack of pace in backs might point to Rushie coming in as a sweeper type role. Which is not the best way o be going.

Limerick best placed at this stage but Tipp won't be panicking. We'll know soon.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4196 - 08/04/2026 10:19:13    2665206

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "I agree with you Tadhg2020, showing your hand is the greatest load of codology ever.
Every team knows what every opponent has. Davy did this time and again with Wexford pretended to be more clever than anyone. It backfired more than it worked.
Go out to win the game and put your best foot forward. No point holdiing player back he could tear a hamstring on Tuesday night."
I also agree, but sometimes the mindset in these finals is a little bit off. Look at Tipp in the league final last year. Cork were walking through them for goals without a glove being laid on them.

I think Limerick really wanted it on Sunday, and Cork were maybe of the mindset that it wasn't the be all and end all.

Time will tell.

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 497 - 08/04/2026 11:10:51    2665217

Link

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "I suppose its a bit like the horse racing form phrase "Exposed."

Both games were pretty much bet to nothing to test what in all cases are close to championship starters and tactics.

A worry for Cork possibly and definitely for Dublin as more limited in who is likely to come in AND be an addition.

Burke will be a positive and should have been called ashore straight away against Carlow. Might prove to be costly if he is not fully fit and recovered. No reliable free taker without him and Currie and no idea what is happening there. The exposure of the lack of pace in backs might point to Rushie coming in as a sweeper type role. Which is not the best way o be going.

Limerick best placed at this stage but Tipp won't be panicking. We'll know soon."
Currie is recovering from a fractured arm or wrist I think

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19243 - 08/04/2026 11:15:46    2665219

Link

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "I also agree, but sometimes the mindset in these finals is a little bit off. Look at Tipp in the league final last year. Cork were walking through them for goals without a glove being laid on them.

I think Limerick really wanted it on Sunday, and Cork were maybe of the mindset that it wasn't the be all and end all.

Time will tell."
I agree,

Cork were a bit off I thought. The Cork forwards didn't engage the Limerick backs at all. Diarmuid Byrnes was let have so much time and space he looked like the player he was 5 years ago.

I expect when we go down to the Pairc these issue will be rectified by Cork. I also agree that Darragh Fitzgibbon is best as a midfielder as he can cover so much ground quickly he can be an additional half back when the opposition have the ball and become a seventh forward when Cork have the ball.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 230 - 08/04/2026 17:01:54    2665303

Link

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "I also agree, but sometimes the mindset in these finals is a little bit off. Look at Tipp in the league final last year. Cork were walking through them for goals without a glove being laid on them.

I think Limerick really wanted it on Sunday, and Cork were maybe of the mindset that it wasn't the be all and end all.

Time will tell."
I would agree with this but it does look like changes are needed. Dara Fitz surely goes back to midfield for the championship. Also have two speedsters playing side by side (Fitz and Barrett) is not as effective as having them on different lines i think. Most half forwards are work horses first and hurlers second, BOC must surely be reconsidering. Is he doing this so he can get Tommy O'Connell into the picture, who is a fine player but is he as effective as Dara Fitz?

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 475 - 10/04/2026 10:19:20    2665530

Link

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "I also agree, but sometimes the mindset in these finals is a little bit off. Look at Tipp in the league final last year. Cork were walking through them for goals without a glove being laid on them.

I think Limerick really wanted it on Sunday, and Cork were maybe of the mindset that it wasn't the be all and end all.

Time will tell."
Not sure. Cork had the wind and Sun in the Second Half and benefited from one soft goal and Limerick being unlucky to have one disallowed, in the first Half. Limerick were there for the taking and going for their Sixteenth Final in a row unbeaten on the Field of play. This was Corks chance to really bury them and their records once and for all in front of their own Fans. I know what Cork teams of Twenty Years ago and more would have done.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4542 - 17/04/2026 22:20:38    2666988

Link