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National Hurling League 2026

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How the ref didn't give a red to cork player is a mystery. Staring straight at that first incident and gave a yellow

bigpoppapump (Galway) - Posts: 65 - 31/01/2026 21:00:40    2654205

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Replying To bigpoppapump:  "How the ref didn't give a red to cork player is a mystery. Staring straight at that first incident and gave a yellow"
Unbelievable.Cork were filthy.Should have had at least two red cards and possibly three.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 447 - 31/01/2026 21:42:32    2654210

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Good win for Waterford over Limerick. Westmeath clawed back a draw against Kerry.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9403 - 01/02/2026 19:12:36    2654400

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That win for Waterford throws that 1a up in the air..it was fully deserved but there had to be a kick after last week..
Penalty against limerick was very harsh..it wasn't a pull down and defenders were back..
Tipp flying and huge match next week v cork which will definitely have bite..cats coming to limerick is a huge match for limerick now..
Waterford have the hurlers and with ballygunner boys added they will be difficult for a lot of teams,specially at home..cork have2 wins and biggest problem might be picking the starting team..Galway have shown great fight in 2 matches so far and a win might get them going..
Clare and Wexford tipping away in 1b and the big game there will be Wexford/Dublin..it's great to see teams seem to be taking league more serious again.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2644 - 01/02/2026 20:41:20    2654438

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Great crowds too. Over 11000 in Galway? Big crowd Walsh Park, 5/6,000 Parnell.

Lots of counties see this as big year, whatever their realistic expectations.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3975 - 01/02/2026 21:07:29    2654453

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Replying To brayballer:  "Unbelievable.Cork were filthy.Should have had at least two red cards and possibly three."
i honestly don't think so. When Limerick were in their pomp there was all this nonsense year in year out that they are dirty and the same with Kilkenny. To say Cork are "filty" is completely ott in my opinion. Choir boys don't win all irealands, To know where the line is, you occasionally have to cross over it. Lets not try and sanitise our great game and over dramitise small incidents where no one is hurt and the players on both sides don't bat an eyelid.
Enforce the rules where they are needed e.g. dangerous full body shoulders that are not shoulder to shoulder, or shouldering somone in a vulnerable position like when they are reaching to catch or going low for the jab lift or shouldering front on, that is where the most serious injuries can occur and these need to be wiped from the game but analysing every loose hurley and calling for a red is a step too far imo.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 466 - 03/02/2026 11:08:36    2654733

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "i honestly don't think so. When Limerick were in their pomp there was all this nonsense year in year out that they are dirty and the same with Kilkenny. To say Cork are "filty" is completely ott in my opinion. Choir boys don't win all irealands, To know where the line is, you occasionally have to cross over it. Lets not try and sanitise our great game and over dramitise small incidents where no one is hurt and the players on both sides don't bat an eyelid.
Enforce the rules where they are needed e.g. dangerous full body shoulders that are not shoulder to shoulder, or shouldering somone in a vulnerable position like when they are reaching to catch or going low for the jab lift or shouldering front on, that is where the most serious injuries can occur and these need to be wiped from the game but analysing every loose hurley and calling for a red is a step too far imo."
TSG is terrible for that. Got one of our fellas a post match sanction not that long past.

The incident was potentially dangerous and would often get a red, but it didn't. Dealt with and move on.

Separate from that it is interesting that O'Connor seems to feel that Cork were too soft maybe before! Personally I reckon thats a dangerous road to go down if its perceived as reason they have lost big games. Don't think it was. I suppose its more a psychological tool than anything so we'll see if it works in the Summer.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3975 - 03/02/2026 12:36:31    2654765

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "i honestly don't think so. When Limerick were in their pomp there was all this nonsense year in year out that they are dirty and the same with Kilkenny. To say Cork are "filty" is completely ott in my opinion. Choir boys don't win all irealands, To know where the line is, you occasionally have to cross over it. Lets not try and sanitise our great game and over dramitise small incidents where no one is hurt and the players on both sides don't bat an eyelid.
Enforce the rules where they are needed e.g. dangerous full body shoulders that are not shoulder to shoulder, or shouldering somone in a vulnerable position like when they are reaching to catch or going low for the jab lift or shouldering front on, that is where the most serious injuries can occur and these need to be wiped from the game but analysing every loose hurley and calling for a red is a step too far imo."
You have to play on the edge, full stop. No team should ever apologise for it.
The most pathetic thing I've seen is the amount of players going down holding their heads. Unless helmet standards have disimproved since my day where my old Cooper was beaten time and again as players pulled on the ball over their head and I only felt it if it was below the ear then I can't understand why players are going down holding their head.
And as for diving to win frees and penalties, or tripping yourself up but making it look as if you were tripped, well TSG need to start highlighting these cheats.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1542 - 03/02/2026 13:53:24    2654788

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "i honestly don't think so. When Limerick were in their pomp there was all this nonsense year in year out that they are dirty and the same with Kilkenny. To say Cork are "filty" is completely ott in my opinion. Choir boys don't win all irealands, To know where the line is, you occasionally have to cross over it. Lets not try and sanitise our great game and over dramitise small incidents where no one is hurt and the players on both sides don't bat an eyelid.
Enforce the rules where they are needed e.g. dangerous full body shoulders that are not shoulder to shoulder, or shouldering somone in a vulnerable position like when they are reaching to catch or going low for the jab lift or shouldering front on, that is where the most serious injuries can occur and these need to be wiped from the game but analysing every loose hurley and calling for a red is a step too far imo."
All the top teams play in the edge (which occasionally means they can over do it and sometimes they will get penalised and sometimes they won't) that's the game.

Hurling is so quick sometimes a player can be lining up a shoulder and in a split second the opposition player turns his chest or back towards the player and it looks worse than it is. This should be a free but not a card. I agree with you about dangerous shoulders etc. or taking out a lad in vulnerable position needing to be eradicated.

I have no time however for "loose hurleys" in particular the ones where a player swings or flicks backwards on opposing players when turning to try and create space or get free from their man.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 220 - 03/02/2026 16:07:17    2654821

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