National Forum

Hurling Championship 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Good man Viking. I knew that inserting the word 'comfortable' would draw you out! Injuries, players not committing, etc. etc. ; )"
I thought about replying myself but we lost and had a poor year which is a good job too. What happened Offaly yesterday is no good to anyone.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4579 - 22/06/2026 16:17:17    2681297

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "I dont think that's true at all. Both teams are stacked with hurling talent from 1 to 20+"
It is true, and I said above that Cork and Limerick are stacked with good hurlers, so we agree on that.

My point is that that the quality gap between Clare/Galway and Limerick/Cork doesn't lie so much in hurling artistry or technique. It lies more in the areas of pace, mobility, non stop running past people, in relation to Cork, and in the areas of size, physical power, athleticism, mental strength and supreme fitness levels, in relation to Limerick.

For further example, the Tipp team that 'generally' won 3 allirelands 2010-2019 absolutely couldn't hack it post 2018, against this 2018-20?? Limerick side. Why? You're not going to tell 'hurling man' anywhere, that those Tipp sides hadn't hurling skill on a par with what Limerick had. They had, but were still being comprehensively thrashed because of Limerick's level of physique, power, athleticism, supreme fitness levels, game planning, mentality, team preparation etc, budget perhaps? Limerick 2018-20?? took it to new levels on a number of fronts, and here we are in 2026 with two contenders for McCarthy Cup.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 22/06/2026 18:39:55    2681328

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Was it 20+ years ago you said it, i wonder. That's a silly point. Offaly are 'uncompetitive' for at least 20+ seasons, and Wexford's decline is notable for a somewhat similar duration. Certainly the decline of Offaly and Wexford was notable long before Galway entered Leinster in 2009. I trace the decline more to Cody's arrival in KK in 1999. His insatiable appetite for winning and more winning; and thrashing teams where possible, seemed to drive Wexford and certainly seemed to drive Offaly into hurling decline."
Saying Wexford declined is wrong

Because outside of the 1950s and 1960s (And maybe the 1970s to some extent), this is where Wexford have traditionally been (Albeit at the low end of the range now)

And regarding Offaly, they didn't decline either, they had 20 glorious years from around 1980 to 2000 and they've pretty much had nothing outside of that, this is near enough their best team outside of that time period

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1400 - 22/06/2026 20:13:14    2681340

Link

Replying To ElGranSenor:  "Saying Wexford declined is wrong

Because outside of the 1950s and 1960s (And maybe the 1970s to some extent), this is where Wexford have traditionally been (Albeit at the low end of the range now)

And regarding Offaly, they didn't decline either, they had 20 glorious years from around 1980 to 2000 and they've pretty much had nothing outside of that, this is near enough their best team outside of that time period"
Fair enough. My knowledge of hurling 1884-1971 would be sketchy enough.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 23/06/2026 08:24:25    2681378

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "Of course it is. Its not dangerous though. The hurl around the collarbone/neck area is."
So a forward throwing his spare arm back and grabbing the defenders arm, pulling him to the ground, is a free in?

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2110 - 23/06/2026 10:07:35    2681394

Link

Replying To M Lyster:  "Hurling is in deep trouble. Leinster was only interesting this year because KK declined massively which dropped the whole standard.

Dublin/Wexford seem to treading water, Offaly were humiliated yesterday, McDonagh teams can't make the breakthrough and go straight back down.

The sacred Munster championship was poor this year as well, Tipp/Waterford well off the pace. Would it continue to be as much of a crowd-puller with Cork/Limerick dishing out regular hammerings?

If Clare/Galway lose by 10+ points we have a championship with only 2 real contenders. The structure seems wrong, the best games come at the start and the end with a huge lull in the middle where nothing much exciting happens.

I don't know what the solution is or if inter-county hurling can even be fixed at this point."
If we have two good semi finalists the traditionalists will say "all is great, nothing to see here" and ignore the rest of the year which has been desperate. Leinster has been exciting but in the same way an Intermediate club hurling championship can be exciting. Its 2nd gravy and everyone knows it.
I listened to The Hurling Pod and they said (correct if wrong) that Cork beat Waterford by 17 points, and Limerick beat Tipp by 15 points. I also remember Cork beating Clare by 15-16 points and Limerick beating Clare by a similar amount do I not?
I might have the numbers wrong, but it highlights that the gulf in class is not just between Leinster and Munster. It highlights that two teams are way better than the rest. So its not just a Leinster v Munster debate, its a "how the hell are 4th and 5th in Munster so far off the pace" debate too.
A 4pm throw in starts at 1am here and in previous years I might stay up but this year I stayed up for hardly a game here.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2110 - 23/06/2026 10:14:32    2681395

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "It is true, and I said above that Cork and Limerick are stacked with good hurlers, so we agree on that.

My point is that that the quality gap between Clare/Galway and Limerick/Cork doesn't lie so much in hurling artistry or technique. It lies more in the areas of pace, mobility, non stop running past people, in relation to Cork, and in the areas of size, physical power, athleticism, mental strength and supreme fitness levels, in relation to Limerick.

For further example, the Tipp team that 'generally' won 3 allirelands 2010-2019 absolutely couldn't hack it post 2018, against this 2018-20?? Limerick side. Why? You're not going to tell 'hurling man' anywhere, that those Tipp sides hadn't hurling skill on a par with what Limerick had. They had, but were still being comprehensively thrashed because of Limerick's level of physique, power, athleticism, supreme fitness levels, game planning, mentality, team preparation etc, budget perhaps? Limerick 2018-20?? took it to new levels on a number of fronts, and here we are in 2026 with two contenders for McCarthy Cup."
As a Limerick Man, I can assure you that Limerick will drop back to join the pack in a few years, when most of the Current Team retires.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4554 - 23/06/2026 11:15:10    2681422

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "If we have two good semi finalists the traditionalists will say "all is great, nothing to see here" and ignore the rest of the year which has been desperate. Leinster has been exciting but in the same way an Intermediate club hurling championship can be exciting. Its 2nd gravy and everyone knows it.
I listened to The Hurling Pod and they said (correct if wrong) that Cork beat Waterford by 17 points, and Limerick beat Tipp by 15 points. I also remember Cork beating Clare by 15-16 points and Limerick beating Clare by a similar amount do I not?
I might have the numbers wrong, but it highlights that the gulf in class is not just between Leinster and Munster. It highlights that two teams are way better than the rest. So its not just a Leinster v Munster debate, its a "how the hell are 4th and 5th in Munster so far off the pace" debate too.
A 4pm throw in starts at 1am here and in previous years I might stay up but this year I stayed up for hardly a game here."
While not disagreeing with the issues that are being highlighted and the opening gulf in class between Munster and Leinster, Cork only beat Waterford by 4 points, and only hit the lead in the last few minutes. Yes Limerick beat Tipp by that amount, but Tipp were already out at that stage.

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 597 - 23/06/2026 11:38:02    2681428

Link

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "While not disagreeing with the issues that are being highlighted and the opening gulf in class between Munster and Leinster, Cork only beat Waterford by 4 points, and only hit the lead in the last few minutes. Yes Limerick beat Tipp by that amount, but Tipp were already out at that stage."
Billy Nolan was near man of the match, and you hit some good goal chances wide also, which you didnt do against Offaly.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20037 - 23/06/2026 12:05:47    2681441

Link

Hurling championship is a dead duck - only semi interesting question is if Cork will actually do it or implode again.
Clare and Galway are there to make up the numbers at this stage.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1915 - 23/06/2026 12:29:28    2681450

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "So a forward throwing his spare arm back and grabbing the defenders arm, pulling him to the ground, is a free in?"
Im not sure what you mean by in but it should be a free against the forward. Do you really need me to tell you this?
Its not always given that way, we all know this too but that's not the question you asked me.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 23/06/2026 12:32:11    2681453

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "As a Limerick Man, I can assure you that Limerick will drop back to join the pack in a few years, when most of the Current Team retires."
Once in a lifetime team

Newyorkkat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 191 - 23/06/2026 12:36:06    2681454

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "If we have two good semi finalists the traditionalists will say "all is great, nothing to see here" and ignore the rest of the year which has been desperate. Leinster has been exciting but in the same way an Intermediate club hurling championship can be exciting. Its 2nd gravy and everyone knows it.
I listened to The Hurling Pod and they said (correct if wrong) that Cork beat Waterford by 17 points, and Limerick beat Tipp by 15 points. I also remember Cork beating Clare by 15-16 points and Limerick beating Clare by a similar amount do I not?
I might have the numbers wrong, but it highlights that the gulf in class is not just between Leinster and Munster. It highlights that two teams are way better than the rest. So its not just a Leinster v Munster debate, its a "how the hell are 4th and 5th in Munster so far off the pace" debate too.
A 4pm throw in starts at 1am here and in previous years I might stay up but this year I stayed up for hardly a game here."
I dont think we need to get all melodramatic on this.
Leinster has been poor for a while. Thats just more in the spotlight this season because KK didnt get out of the group. The two teams that did got what was expected. If everyone is honest they say both results coming.
Galway have the scoring power to stay with Cork if the turn up and play for 80 minutes or more if necessary. They cant leak goals like they have been though and I fear that they will. If im right they will be beaten by 10+ points.
Munster, there is nothing to worry about there. Tipp and Clare are the previous 2 years AI champions. Clare are in transition and Tipp never defend their title well. They will both be stronger in next year's round robin and Clare aren't finished yet this season. Not by a long way. Its a derby and there wont be much in it either way.
Waterford need to get over their attitude problem. All you seem to read from there is whinging. They get 2 home games the same as the rest of us and they have to make them count. The Waterford public have to embrace that and turn Walsh Park into a fortress. Its not atm.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 23/06/2026 12:42:20    2681456

Link

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "While not disagreeing with the issues that are being highlighted and the opening gulf in class between Munster and Leinster, Cork only beat Waterford by 4 points, and only hit the lead in the last few minutes. Yes Limerick beat Tipp by that amount, but Tipp were already out at that stage."
Galway beat Waterford comprehensively in the spring, to retain div1 status.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 23/06/2026 13:08:25    2681464

Link