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National Hurling League 2026

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Replying To Viking66:  "Of course its been good for the Leinster Championship to have Galway in it, the largest ever (I think) crowd for a Leinster final featured Galway, and theyve made it more competitive and exciting also. Its a shame Galway isnt actually in Leinster. And it's also meant we have won less Leinster titles, which do actually still mean something to people down here!"
I'd take just getting to a final to be honest:)

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4377 - 01/04/2026 18:30:52    2664317

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Correct of course. We drew with Limerick in the league."
League is pretty irrelevant though Doyler. Between League and Championship in 2022 we beat the current AI Champions, the AI losing finalist, the current Leinster Champions, the current Munster Champions, both the current joint League Champions, both the 2022 AI finalists, both the 2022 losing AI semifinalists, the other 2022 losing quarterfinalist, both the 2022 Leinster finalists, and both the 2022 Munster finalists.
And according to narrative we were only a Joe Mac team in the Egan years.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19016 - 02/04/2026 14:20:26    2664416

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Replying To Viking66:  "League is pretty irrelevant though Doyler. Between League and Championship in 2022 we beat the current AI Champions, the AI losing finalist, the current Leinster Champions, the current Munster Champions, both the current joint League Champions, both the 2022 AI finalists, both the 2022 losing AI semifinalists, the other 2022 losing quarterfinalist, both the 2022 Leinster finalists, and both the 2022 Munster finalists.
And according to narrative we were only a Joe Mac team in the Egan years."
I know, and I said the same thing a few pages ago. But where we were coming from in 2013 we had to take the positives wherever we could find them which is why I was delighted to get a draw with Limerick at the time baring in mind Dublin beat is in the park in that league by 23 points I think.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4377 - 02/04/2026 15:14:57    2664436

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I'm just starting to wonder if anybody has any thoughts on this year's National Hurling League, to post in this thread! Think there's a final coming up, or something :)

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3464 - 02/04/2026 16:00:55    2664448

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Replying To Viking66:  "Of course its been good for the Leinster Championship to have Galway in it, the largest ever (I think) crowd for a Leinster final featured Galway, and theyve made it more competitive and exciting also. Its a shame Galway isnt actually in Leinster. And it's also meant we have won less Leinster titles, which do actually still mean something to people down here!"
How many more Leinster titles would Wexford have won, and in what years, if Galway hadn't been admitted to Leinster?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2867 - 02/04/2026 16:52:01    2664460

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I'm just starting to wonder if anybody has any thoughts on this year's National Hurling League, to post in this thread! Think there's a final coming up, or something :)"
Looking forward to both games. First one most of all obviously and hope we give a good account of ourselves in what is ideal prep for the championship.

Will stay for second game - unless beaten out the gate! - and that might be another classic. Fancy Limerick for that one and be interesting to see what approach both take to it.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4137 - 02/04/2026 18:09:47    2664469

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "How many more Leinster titles would Wexford have won, and in what years, if Galway hadn't been admitted to Leinster?"
How long is a piece of string?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4377 - 02/04/2026 19:18:18    2664483

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I'm just starting to wonder if anybody has any thoughts on this year's National Hurling League, to post in this thread! Think there's a final coming up, or something :)"
Everyone has already moved on :)

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4377 - 02/04/2026 19:18:52    2664484

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "How many more Leinster titles would Wexford have won, and in what years, if Galway hadn't been admitted to Leinster?"
2017 definitely. 2018 probably.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19016 - 02/04/2026 21:06:34    2664500

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "I'm just starting to wonder if anybody has any thoughts on this year's National Hurling League, to post in this thread! Think there's a final coming up, or something :)"
Hard to say how hard the 2 teams will go at it in the 1a final, but I think after last year Cork are going out hard to win every game, so I expect Cork to win it.
The 1b final will be closer, I think Dublin might just shade it, as Clares cornerbacks and halfback line havent been that confidence inspiring so far. Think it will be fairly high scoring.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19016 - 02/04/2026 21:09:40    2664501

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Replying To Viking66:  "Hard to say how hard the 2 teams will go at it in the 1a final, but I think after last year Cork are going out hard to win every game, so I expect Cork to win it.
The 1b final will be closer, I think Dublin might just shade it, as Clares cornerbacks and halfback line havent been that confidence inspiring so far. Think it will be fairly high scoring."
I'd imagine both games might be like high octane challenges. The argument that none of the four will want to show their hand is only partly I think. Teams not in the two finals will be trying to recreate that very same level in challenge games and training so would be foolish not to take advantage.

And, as with all games, once the ball is thrown in no one on pitch will be taking it easy! Applies more so to the Cork/Limerick game given the intensity of the rivalry.

Good chance for Dublin to test themselves against fast inside line which we have found it difficult to deal with. Scoring lots of goals, but shedding them too.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4137 - 03/04/2026 08:18:40    2664537

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "I'd imagine both games might be like high octane challenges. The argument that none of the four will want to show their hand is only partly I think. Teams not in the two finals will be trying to recreate that very same level in challenge games and training so would be foolish not to take advantage.

And, as with all games, once the ball is thrown in no one on pitch will be taking it easy! Applies more so to the Cork/Limerick game given the intensity of the rivalry.

Good chance for Dublin to test themselves against fast inside line which we have found it difficult to deal with. Scoring lots of goals, but shedding them too."
Alot will depend on who Clare select where up front as to how fast their inside forwards will be. They will attack from deep, they run the ball well, and they can take points from out the field too. They've an embarrassment of riches up top.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19016 - 03/04/2026 10:13:22    2664550

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