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Limerick Senior Hurling 2026

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Replying To Mads:  "When a team scores 5:27 against someone like Tipperary and you still say the shooting was off then it would tell you how mad things are. On the Tipp side, yes they had a hectic winter which is a privilege to have however it has to be one of the worst efforts of a defense of the title in the last 20 years. Really poor from them when the talent is there. In saying that right now if someone said I'll give you Liam McCarthy but you're not going to make it out of munster next year. I'd happily take it.

Gillane still has a bit to go but he has to start next time. If anything that's the game which no doubt will give him the minutes to get back to league final form..brilliant confidence and turn for the 2 goals but
he still was a bit off it apart from those moments. For me there's only one position kiely needs to decide on.
I have said it before, for me all 3 of English, Donovan and lynch need to start with Aidan o conor up top with Gillane. O brien was great when he came on the last day but does he have the same consistency as Peter casey. Yet o brien for physique alone can do damage on cahalane so I think I would give him the nod.
Mike is unlucky but Dan is the man even for height alone on the likes of hayes or connolly.

Tom has been brilliant giving Quaid another outball when hego gets tired as well as putting a couple of points over the bar. I think I would love to see fintan Fitzgerald come on again as a sub too."
I'd say the backs pick themselves with Mike Casey the unlucky one to lose out.
And agreed I think he has to start DOD, English and Lynch with maybe English playing slightly more forward
That would mean somebody has to lose out in the forwards - unlikely to be Gillane, AOC or Hegarty so that leaves Peter Casey or O Brien under threat.
Which one dovetails better with Gillane? Are he and O Brien too similar?
Either way its a great position to be in as both are playing well. We know what Casey can do but one of these days O Brien is going is going to cut loose

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 266 - 28/05/2026 13:49:23    2676277

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Replying To Yadse:  "I'd say the backs pick themselves with Mike Casey the unlucky one to lose out.
And agreed I think he has to start DOD, English and Lynch with maybe English playing slightly more forward
That would mean somebody has to lose out in the forwards - unlikely to be Gillane, AOC or Hegarty so that leaves Peter Casey or O Brien under threat.
Which one dovetails better with Gillane? Are he and O Brien too similar?
Either way its a great position to be in as both are playing well. We know what Casey can do but one of these days O Brien is going is going to cut loose"
That's a good point in relation to Gillane and SOB playing together and not really partnering well to date. SOB's best game was against Clare when he was the point man for deliveries and he was excellent at it. He was also very good coming off the bench the last day.
DOD will start as he has been consistently excellent, English and Lynch will also start. CON and Hego are nailed on and probably our two best players to date. Gillane and AOC are both guaranteed starters. Looks like Peter Casey is likely to get a start partnering Gillane. The potential unknows are where will Adam English, AOC and Lynch start the game.
I guess it will all come down to how people are going in training and what kind of game plan they want to impose.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 487 - 28/05/2026 15:19:27    2676298

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "That's a good point in relation to Gillane and SOB playing together and not really partnering well to date. SOB's best game was against Clare when he was the point man for deliveries and he was excellent at it. He was also very good coming off the bench the last day.
DOD will start as he has been consistently excellent, English and Lynch will also start. CON and Hego are nailed on and probably our two best players to date. Gillane and AOC are both guaranteed starters. Looks like Peter Casey is likely to get a start partnering Gillane. The potential unknows are where will Adam English, AOC and Lynch start the game.
I guess it will all come down to how people are going in training and what kind of game plan they want to impose."
I will be very surprised if the team is not:

Nickie Quaid
Sean Finn
Dan Morrissey
Barry Nash
Diarmuid Byrnes
William O'Donoghue
Kyle Hayes
Adam English
Darragh O'Donovan
Gearoid Hegarty
Cian Lynch
Cathal O'Neill
Aaron Gillane
Aidan O'Connor
Peter Casey

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 262 - 03/06/2026 12:06:03    2677556

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "I will be very surprised if the team is not:

Nickie Quaid
Sean Finn
Dan Morrissey
Barry Nash
Diarmuid Byrnes
William O'Donoghue
Kyle Hayes
Adam English
Darragh O'Donovan
Gearoid Hegarty
Cian Lynch
Cathal O'Neill
Aaron Gillane
Aidan O'Connor
Peter Casey"
that could well be the team all right.
Although Shane O Brien could easily start with maybe Casey as sub
Either way they both will play at some point as well as Tom Morrissey and Mike Casey, and probably Reidy

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 266 - 03/06/2026 13:25:55    2677602

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Replying To Yadse:  "that could well be the team all right.
Although Shane O Brien could easily start with maybe Casey as sub
Either way they both will play at some point as well as Tom Morrissey and Mike Casey, and probably Reidy"
The bull not starting? I doubt that

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 575 - 03/06/2026 14:50:16    2677632

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "The bull not starting? I doubt that"
It's either the Bull or Peter Casey one of them won't start.

Casey has tormented the Cork backs in the past. Kiely dropped the bull against Tipperary to make way for Lynch so I see same again. While the Bull came on and did well against Tipperary, I don't see any changes to the team that started against Tipperary other than Nash in for Casey at the back from the start.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 262 - 04/06/2026 11:56:53    2677826

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Ya I'd agree that looks most likely starting team..it's tough on whoever misses out but the bench will be huge on Sunday..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2693 - 04/06/2026 12:36:55    2677843

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Looking forward to game. Great to be going in as underdogs. All the pressure is on Cork. The real final will be in 6 weeks time which I expect us to be peaking for.

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 79 - 04/06/2026 13:42:48    2677875

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Ya I'd agree that looks most likely starting team..it's tough on whoever misses out but the bench will be huge on Sunday.."
Hurling is a 20 man, 75 plus minute, game these days.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19961 - 04/06/2026 13:44:38    2677877

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "It's either the Bull or Peter Casey one of them won't start.

Casey has tormented the Cork backs in the past. Kiely dropped the bull against Tipperary to make way for Lynch so I see same again. While the Bull came on and did well against Tipperary, I don't see any changes to the team that started against Tipperary other than Nash in for Casey at the back from the start."
I would have though that Casey is the better impact sub? You lost that the last day when he started in Gillane's absence

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 575 - 04/06/2026 14:08:42    2677889

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Our discipline will be key. I think that the last 2 times we have lost down there we finished with 14 players. We cant have that happen again.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 564 - 04/06/2026 14:15:56    2677892

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Teams named and as people said the bull doesn't start..both sides look very strong and nearly impossible to seperate..
Hoping maybe our half forward line can dominate and just maybe this will swing it limericks way..
Cork forwards are very lively and I expect them to try and run our defence.can't wait to see the battle between Dan/hayes,2 strong men but also 2 very good hurlers.
Looking forward to a cracker with limerick hopefully on the right side of result..discipline going to be vital.
Best of luck to all involved with limerick..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2693 - 05/06/2026 10:56:34    2678060

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Teams named and as people said the bull doesn't start..both sides look very strong and nearly impossible to seperate..
Hoping maybe our half forward line can dominate and just maybe this will swing it limericks way..
Cork forwards are very lively and I expect them to try and run our defence.can't wait to see the battle between Dan/hayes,2 strong men but also 2 very good hurlers.
Looking forward to a cracker with limerick hopefully on the right side of result..discipline going to be vital.
Best of luck to all involved with limerick.."
I agree there will be little or nothing between these teams.

From a Limerick perspective I am hoping that since we have a full deck to pick from, combined with the fact that Cork are missing Darragh Fitzgibbon (who I rate as Corks most important player) and Cormac Joyce that it might be enough to tilt this match our way.

I am however conscious of the fact that we are going into the Lions den. All the Cork players interviewed after the Clare match made the point of talking about how they have made the Pairc a fortress and with Cork likely having 65% to 70% of the Crowd in their favour on Sunday this can be a great equalizer even if they are missing some players.

Safe Travels to everyone making the trip down

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 262 - 05/06/2026 12:03:42    2678100

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Teams named and as people said the bull doesn't start..both sides look very strong and nearly impossible to seperate..
Hoping maybe our half forward line can dominate and just maybe this will swing it limericks way..
Cork forwards are very lively and I expect them to try and run our defence.can't wait to see the battle between Dan/hayes,2 strong men but also 2 very good hurlers.
Looking forward to a cracker with limerick hopefully on the right side of result..discipline going to be vital.
Best of luck to all involved with limerick.."
the Cork forwards havent been tearing up trees this year but they have been working harder.
And their backs have tightened up
Thats making Cork more consistent even if not exactly blowing teams away with lots of goals - this year in Munster their goal count was 4-3, last year it was 9-7
They are more likely right now to beat you with 30 points than with 5 goals
Last year Limericks goals were 5-6 and this year they were 10-5 (albeit 5 in their last game)
So Limerick have discovered their goal touch just as Cork have put less attention on it
Although, Cork with all that pace and skill in the forwards could cut loose anytime
But if Limerick can put 2 or 3 goals on them - and that Cork FB can be got at - they will find it hard to win

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 266 - 05/06/2026 12:14:44    2678105

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Replying To Yadse:  "the Cork forwards havent been tearing up trees this year but they have been working harder.
And their backs have tightened up
Thats making Cork more consistent even if not exactly blowing teams away with lots of goals - this year in Munster their goal count was 4-3, last year it was 9-7
They are more likely right now to beat you with 30 points than with 5 goals
Last year Limericks goals were 5-6 and this year they were 10-5 (albeit 5 in their last game)
So Limerick have discovered their goal touch just as Cork have put less attention on it
Although, Cork with all that pace and skill in the forwards could cut loose anytime
But if Limerick can put 2 or 3 goals on them - and that Cork FB can be got at - they will find it hard to win"
I think that both teams have similar scoring power both in terms of points, goals and combined score. Both can comfortably get to 35 points. Therefore it will come down to discipline and defence. We simply cannot get a red/black card and we must win the tackle count and physical battle. We have proven that we can win those battles but they do have the home advantage and the energy and advantage ( ref decision wise) that home crowds can generate. It has been a factor on our last two visits and we must manage this better this time. If we do we will win and if we dont they will take us again. I think it really is down to that.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 564 - 05/06/2026 12:56:06    2678120

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We won 7 munster titles in 40 yrs.
1973 to 2013..
now, to win 7 in 8 yrs is just astonishing.. amazing team.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1122 - 07/06/2026 19:39:15    2678573

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A breather after yesterday. The mental fortitude the boys showed was incredible. Once more we let a lot of chances go, need to improve this for croke Park and I think we will. A lot didn't go right but they kept in the fight, chasing for nearly all the game but got the noses in front when required. Ben o connor is not doing cork favours at all. 5 mins extra and we had hit 76 mins when the free was awarded. Did he think it would be like last year, 4 mins extra to the 1 put on the board. We we haven't taken a leaf out of football's book with the stopclock beggars belief.
The cork team don't do collapses anymore and they may win it out for all I know but yesterday deservedly was limericks day. To mention a few, hego incredible, Byrnes forever young and Quaid unbelievable.

Mads (Limerick) - Posts: 389 - 08/06/2026 08:33:31    2678606

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Delighted with yesterday's win. Not always pretty but the lads got it done.

They got it done through heart, skill, 'calm in the chaos' as our manager described.

They got it done with & against the wind and despite the ball being out pf play so much. Some people need to realise that conditions affect both teams not just one. Some people also need to realise that hurling exists outside of their own county.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6628 - 08/06/2026 12:17:16    2678640

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Can I just say thanks for yesterday..it gave me almost as much joy as 2018 all Ireland win.horrible day for hurling yesterday but ye found a way of getting it done..
The defending was top notch and for cork to only score 1-6 from play shows how good it was..a few players are back to almost their best.
Full back line very steady and nothing against Mike Casey but Dan is just unbelieveable..half back line excellent again with Kyle flying..midfield was very good,special mention for Donovan who has really worked hard to get starting place again..hego,Casey and the bull caused serious trouble for cork..gillane was well marshalled and Aidan didn't have his most productive day but he has been brill so far..pity cahal pulled up cos I thought he was just coming into the game..
2 points again from Tom,reidy worked very hard..what can I say about Nicky,2 fab saves and puck outs in the money again,for me he's the best I've seen and is seriously in hurler of year territory.it was great to see what it meant to all management and players and great to see celebrations..great to be looking forward to another semi final and hopefully 2 more steps from another fantastic year..thanks again to everyone.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2693 - 08/06/2026 14:40:01    2678689

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Can I just say thanks for yesterday..it gave me almost as much joy as 2018 all Ireland win.horrible day for hurling yesterday but ye found a way of getting it done..
The defending was top notch and for cork to only score 1-6 from play shows how good it was..a few players are back to almost their best.
Full back line very steady and nothing against Mike Casey but Dan is just unbelieveable..half back line excellent again with Kyle flying..midfield was very good,special mention for Donovan who has really worked hard to get starting place again..hego,Casey and the bull caused serious trouble for cork..gillane was well marshalled and Aidan didn't have his most productive day but he has been brill so far..pity cahal pulled up cos I thought he was just coming into the game..
2 points again from Tom,reidy worked very hard..what can I say about Nicky,2 fab saves and puck outs in the money again,for me he's the best I've seen and is seriously in hurler of year territory.it was great to see what it meant to all management and players and great to see celebrations..great to be looking forward to another semi final and hopefully 2 more steps from another fantastic year..thanks again to everyone."
I'd echo that, the feeling in the stadium was one of pure joy yesterday. I love PUC as a venue. The players just dogged it out yesterday and finished far stronger than Cork. Cork were fantastic too and fought til the end and there was only a one point difference in at the end. I thought they also got the rub of the green more from the ref more than we did as there was some pivotal calls yesterday that went against us but when you lose by a point or two you will always be able to look back and pick out two or three moments. Hegos early booking was particlarly harsh. Lots of fouling went on after that and no booking but he always seems to be the one that is picked out. I think Sean 'Donoghue fouled 4 times in a row and still managed to escape a booking in the first half. He finally did pick one up.

Plenty to work on for Limerick too but the conditions were terrible yesterday with wind and rain. Shame BOC made such a big deal out of that free at the end. Sends the wrong message to his team, like they were hard done by, creates a losers mentality. For a guy who was such a winner on the field and old school it was strange. The mistake was their own, the should have just fired it in as hard as they could over the bar and try and get a double on it if it dropped short. If they wanted to know what was left they should ask the ref, not expect him to announce it. Isn't that how it ususally goes, I'm sure that is what WOD did. The booing and jeering from the Cork fans is also crazy. AOC was booed on every free and Limerick were booed on the final whistle. The Cork free takers did not get it paid back at any stage during the match. Bad form but to be honest its hopefully only the young kids who follow Cork in huge numbers that do it.

Nicky was amazing, Hego in HOTY form and moving him in to FF was the winning of the game as his impact was immediate. Byrnes not far behind. Nickie, Byrnes and Hego are absolute warriors. My outfield MOTM yesterday was DOD, thought he was the best outfield player on the day watching it live. Need to watch it back on the TV tonight for the full view. Casey showing the bottle with those clutch scores was also unreal. The bench all contributed too when they came on.

Hope CON is ok and hopefully the 4 week break will give Gillane a chance to find his fitness after the injury.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 487 - 08/06/2026 16:23:11    2678711

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