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National Hurling League 2026

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National Hurling League 2026 - D1A Waterford and Offaly were promoted. Going to be a tough league for Offaly. Will be tough to dislodge the top 5. D1B 3 into 2 won't go. Dublin, Clare and Wexford will all be pushing for promotion. Down and Kildare were promoted. Big year for Kildare after their success last year. D2 Laois and Westmeath will be looking to make a swift return back to D1B. London and Mayo were promoted. Terrible year for Kerry last year tbh. Will be looking to arrest the slide. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9378 - 15/01/2026 17:57:21 2651222 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "National Hurling League 2026 - D1A Waterford and Offaly were promoted. Going to be a tough league for Offaly. Will be tough to dislodge the top 5. D1B 3 into 2 won't go. Dublin, Clare and Wexford will all be pushing for promotion. Down and Kildare were promoted. Big year for Kildare after their success last year. D2 Laois and Westmeath will be looking to make a swift return back to D1B. London and Mayo were promoted. Terrible year for Kerry last year tbh. Will be looking to arrest the slide." Would divisional sides in your hurling championship help promote the game outside North Kerry? Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18114 - 16/01/2026 10:27:25 2651284 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Would divisional sides in your hurling championship help promote the game outside North Kerry?" One county where it should take off if possible alright. One for Willie Maher to push for. Good luck with that! legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9378 - 16/01/2026 12:31:01 2651308 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "One county where it should take off if possible alright. One for Willie Maher to push for. Good luck with that!" You have an AI in hurling. Why not try for another? Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18114 - 16/01/2026 13:58:06 2651322 Link
Limerick defeated Waterford by 0-23 to 0-15. Limerick will be dangerous this year. A wounded animal. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9378 - 18/01/2026 07:23:50 2651545 Link
Strange game in Parnell. Dublin looked like they'd been on treadmill in second half. Lads hardly able to raise a gallop. I know the thinking behind it and it worked in 2013 but not wholly convinced that it is ideal preparation for a difficult trip to Clare which could go very wrong if they tire as badly! Galway threw in a lot of big lads most of them unknown to me anyway in second half who put themselves about. I'd say they will be competitive in league. It's a difficult one. Limerick had to quickly abandon the idea of experimental teams a few years ago after a few hammerings. Teams have to be close enough to championship pitch in league. Also noticeable I thought that the newer Dublin lads were still playing at same pace as earlier games and that is not going to work against the better teams. Yesterday will hopefully sharpen them up. BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3948 - 18/01/2026 12:58:40 2651581 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Limerick defeated Waterford by 0-23 to 0-15. Limerick will be dangerous this year. A wounded animal." I think we'll see a big push out of Limerick to win the league this year. They obviously have to find 3 or 4 new lads in the league but already a few new lads have put their hands up in the Munster league. The older lads also look a bit trimmer than they have previously at this time of the year. updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 940 - 18/01/2026 13:47:19 2651596 Link
Replying To updwell: "I think we'll see a big push out of Limerick to win the league this year. They obviously have to find 3 or 4 new lads in the league but already a few new lads have put their hands up in the Munster league. The older lads also look a bit trimmer than they have previously at this time of the year." I also think Limerick will push for a league win this year. The first thing i noticed this year was there was a bit more bite to them in the league matches and they were moving the ball more quickly through the lines than they did previously it was like the old successful style, but the line ups the other teams wre putting out might be a big factor on this. Young guys will try and put their hand up, like Mathew Fitzgerald and Darragh Langan but it will be the form of the established players who could make or break the season. Adam English was brilliant last year, but there is another gear in him i think, Cathal O'Neill looked not fully right to me last year, but looks good now and looks like will be competing for a start in the ha;f back line. Shane O'brien looks unreal at times but drifts in an out of games. If he could become a 70mins player for us who keeps showing and demanding the ball it would make a massive difference. Darragh O'Donovan looked fit and very strong and featured heavily in all the games, hopefully he will play a far bigger role in things again this year. Also, i think Peter Casey will be like a new player again this year as last year was used to get back from that horrific injury. its probably do or die for some of the older Limerick players this year. A strong league performance and maintaining the trust in some of the younger players while rotating the more established ones is what we need and is the direction JK seems to be going. I think this year Limerick will pull together for one more crack at glory and after that will be the start of a massive rebuild as you get the feeling that a lot (Management and players) could leave together. Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 465 - 19/01/2026 11:36:08 2651834 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "Limerick defeated Waterford by 0-23 to 0-15. Limerick will be dangerous this year. A wounded animal." People underestimate the importance of Caroline currid. I'm saying it now. Limerick are going to win everything in 26. Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4168 - 19/01/2026 11:51:37 2651845 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Strange game in Parnell. Dublin looked like they'd been on treadmill in second half. Lads hardly able to raise a gallop. I know the thinking behind it and it worked in 2013 but not wholly convinced that it is ideal preparation for a difficult trip to Clare which could go very wrong if they tire as badly! Galway threw in a lot of big lads most of them unknown to me anyway in second half who put themselves about. I'd say they will be competitive in league. It's a difficult one. Limerick had to quickly abandon the idea of experimental teams a few years ago after a few hammerings. Teams have to be close enough to championship pitch in league. Also noticeable I thought that the newer Dublin lads were still playing at same pace as earlier games and that is not going to work against the better teams. Yesterday will hopefully sharpen them up." Ye seem to be really motoring. Our meeting in Croke Park is the game I'm most interested in for this league. We have a lot of new faces who could either come of age or be badly exposed. Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4168 - 19/01/2026 11:54:13 2651848 Link
Replying To Doylerwex: "People underestimate the importance of Caroline currid. I'm saying it now. Limerick are going to win everything in 26." If we arent then Id sooner see them win it all than most other counties. I agree 100% that Currids return will be massive. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18114 - 19/01/2026 15:44:49 2651922 Link
I know this is a league thread, but Limerick would be my favourites for the All-Ireland regardless of Currid being back. They're still the most established team at the moment and have a panel full of top quality players, who can play the game whichever way you want. Provided they haven't gotten old overnight as it appeared against Dublin, I'd have them ahead of any team on a given day. I think Cork are the team who could give them the most trouble, depending on which Cork turns up of course. Tipp of course are champions and will always have a serious scoring threat. I think Waterford will be more competitive in Munster, and it could be last chance saloon for a few of Clare's star players. Kilkenny will be competitive, but they're down a few key players from last year. Dubs and Wexford looking to build. Hard to know what to expect from either, and as for Galway...... we'll leave it there. ;) WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2714 - 19/01/2026 16:16:47 2651932 Link
Replying To Fitzy01: "I also think Limerick will push for a league win this year. The first thing i noticed this year was there was a bit more bite to them in the league matches and they were moving the ball more quickly through the lines than they did previously it was like the old successful style, but the line ups the other teams wre putting out might be a big factor on this. Young guys will try and put their hand up, like Mathew Fitzgerald and Darragh Langan but it will be the form of the established players who could make or break the season. Adam English was brilliant last year, but there is another gear in him i think, Cathal O'Neill looked not fully right to me last year, but looks good now and looks like will be competing for a start in the ha;f back line. Shane O'brien looks unreal at times but drifts in an out of games. If he could become a 70mins player for us who keeps showing and demanding the ball it would make a massive difference. Darragh O'Donovan looked fit and very strong and featured heavily in all the games, hopefully he will play a far bigger role in things again this year. Also, i think Peter Casey will be like a new player again this year as last year was used to get back from that horrific injury. its probably do or die for some of the older Limerick players this year. A strong league performance and maintaining the trust in some of the younger players while rotating the more established ones is what we need and is the direction JK seems to be going. I think this year Limerick will pull together for one more crack at glory and after that will be the start of a massive rebuild as you get the feeling that a lot (Management and players) could leave together." Its far to early to say what teams are in form or not. Nobody knows how heavy the workloads have been and all counties and where everyone is at. Having seen Limerick in three out of the four matches played to date i feel like some of the more established players look leaner than other years (especially for the time of year) which I think is a positive. The work rate when they don't have the ball seems to be better than this time last year. Its a good year for us to have crack of the league as we don't play in the first weekend of the Munster championship so getting to a league final could be good preparation. Also there is places up for grabs this year which I think will drive the whole team on LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 219 - 19/01/2026 17:11:38 2651944 Link
Replying To LimerickandProud: "Its far to early to say what teams are in form or not. Nobody knows how heavy the workloads have been and all counties and where everyone is at. Having seen Limerick in three out of the four matches played to date i feel like some of the more established players look leaner than other years (especially for the time of year) which I think is a positive. The work rate when they don't have the ball seems to be better than this time last year. Its a good year for us to have crack of the league as we don't play in the first weekend of the Munster championship so getting to a league final could be good preparation. Also there is places up for grabs this year which I think will drive the whole team on" I think the intensity and trying to turn players over will be even greater. Swarming and rucking increasing. I wonder do something need to be done about that to keep open play. It's fine to say stamp down on throwing the ball but it would suicidal in the modern game to bring your hand back like it supposed to be. Anyway they are holding the elbow to stop the stricking action. For those who say allow the throw. God no this would make the game look terrible. I believe the third man in the tackle should be penalized given the chance to back out first because several players will arrive at the ball together. One 1000 two 1000. I hear it trying to ref it but it is a job for two anyway as is. Let's not even talk about these throw ins among 10 players. Did you see the one in the club final ? He threw it in behind the players to the total advantage of one player and one team. This so simple it's hard to believe. Select the two players and the team who don't back off give a free again them. Doesn't matter if you are right. They will learn quick. The throw in now is to break up a ruck and start another one. Just my opinion. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3236 - 19/01/2026 23:51:32 2651999 Link
League is league, one step above challenge matches. I have to say, I don't go to league games any more because I don't think they provide value for money for €20 or as it would be for me now €35. But charging kids €5 for a league match is a joke. In counties where you want to do everything to get children away from Premier League soccer and playstations and phones and want them to dream of hurling for a county some day charging them €5 in just puts another promotional own goal. An empty seat earns nothing, better off having a child sitting in it free of charge and hope they go out for a few minutes on the pitch at half time than having them not there. At least give a free child ticket with each adult ticket. ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1531 - 23/01/2026 12:16:10 2652696 Link
Very interesting to see counties putting out what look like very strong teams for first games.. It's great to have some competitive games back again.. CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2640 - 24/01/2026 14:55:06 2652904 Link
A 26 point win away to Derry in D2 to start 2026! A welcome start after a tough 2025. Laois and Westmeath expected to bounce back to 1B. All about preparation for the CRC. legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9378 - 24/01/2026 16:46:58 2652915 Link
Replying To ExiledInWex: "League is league, one step above challenge matches. I have to say, I don't go to league games any more because I don't think they provide value for money for €20 or as it would be for me now €35. But charging kids €5 for a league match is a joke. In counties where you want to do everything to get children away from Premier League soccer and playstations and phones and want them to dream of hurling for a county some day charging them €5 in just puts another promotional own goal. An empty seat earns nothing, better off having a child sitting in it free of charge and hope they go out for a few minutes on the pitch at half time than having them not there. At least give a free child ticket with each adult ticket." Your local cinema must live to see you coming with your kids!!! Arguing that they should get in for free Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2548 - 24/01/2026 18:02:45 2652941 Link