National Forum

Hurling Championship 2026

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "The tackle with the hurl around the neck/collarbone area is a bigger problem and needs to be eradicated from the game. The spare arm tackle is being reffed fine. Its a free if you grab on. Simple."
What about the forward grabbing the defenders arm, making it look like the defender was pulling him back, being awarded a free. Shane O'Donnell has this to an art. Is that a free?

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2110 - 22/06/2026 09:53:25    2681130

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Replying To munsterchamps:  "cork will hammer galway."
Wouldn't go that far. Cork will obviously be favourites however I'd reckon we stick with them for the majority of the game.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 111 - 22/06/2026 09:54:42    2681131

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Alarm bells ringing indeed. To think that Offaly team drew with Dublin and Kilkenny, and then beat Wexford comfortably does not bode well for Leinster hurling at all. I didn't travel to the game yesterday as I had a feeling it would be over after 20 minutes or so, and that's exactly how it transpired.

If you add in the underage results, it paints an even bleaker picture. I understand everything is cyclical but this slump is deeply concerning, and not good for the competitiveness of the game."
And the gas thing is, it's not Cork's hurling ability that teams can't handle. It's their speed and mobility and insatiable appetite for running past people that teams can't handle. Watching Clare or Galway, you can see that their stickwork isn't far off par with Cork or Limerick. It's the lack of legs, mobility, athleticism that is driving the chasm in favour of Cork and Limerick. It's not hurling skill imo. This is ironic, i know.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 22/06/2026 11:03:03    2681163

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I said it here years ago that expanding Leinster would damage the competition and this is the fruit being bourne."
You can argue that 6 teams in Leinster has damaged Leinster. But it's a marginal impact; I think there are more fundamental issues
Offaly, not withstanding yesterday's drubbing are a bright spot in the province. A five team championship and maybe Offaly wouldn't be where they are.
I would say though that Leinster doesn't need further expansion or a different format unless it's to expose teams to Munster teams earlier in the championship.

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 272 - 22/06/2026 12:00:17    2681181

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Replying To Yadse:  "You can argue that 6 teams in Leinster has damaged Leinster. But it's a marginal impact; I think there are more fundamental issues
Offaly, not withstanding yesterday's drubbing are a bright spot in the province. A five team championship and maybe Offaly wouldn't be where they are.
I would say though that Leinster doesn't need further expansion or a different format unless it's to expose teams to Munster teams earlier in the championship."
I don't know how you'd make a logical argument that the number of teams in Leinster has damaged anything. Offaly are kinda 'gone' for the last 25 years or so, and are returning slowly now from that recession. Wexford are a bit similar, and were also driven into a hurling recession of sorts, due to being whaled too regularly by Cody's all conquering KK side 1999-2015. KK have dropped off significantly in 2026, but were actually 'allireland competitive' in 2025 , when you look at the semis and final of 2025. Dublin and Galway are in much the same place as they usually are. There isn't a whole lot changed in Leinster. KK fell off a cliff in 2026. Will they return in 2027?

The bigger factor is that teams can't hack it against Limerick and Cork. And that's not just Leinster teams. I'm afraid that includes Clare Waterford and all ireland champs Tipp in season 2026 as well. The hyped Munster Championship wasn't competitive either this year. the 2 finalists cruising to the Munster Final. The funny thing is, as I pointed out above, it's not so much the hurling ability that teams can't hack with Cork and Limerick. In Cork's case, teams can't handle the aggregate of pace athleticism mobility. In Limerick's case, teams struggle with their power and physical fitness. Both Cork and Limerick are stacked with great hurlers too obviously, but it's those other attributes imo that teams like Waterford Galway Clare Dublin etc just can't match currently.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 22/06/2026 12:43:26    2681195

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I said it here years ago that expanding Leinster would damage the competition and this is the fruit being bourne."
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.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4823 - 22/06/2026 12:53:26    2681207

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "And the gas thing is, it's not Cork's hurling ability that teams can't handle. It's their speed and mobility and insatiable appetite for running past people that teams can't handle. Watching Clare or Galway, you can see that their stickwork isn't far off par with Cork or Limerick. It's the lack of legs, mobility, athleticism that is driving the chasm in favour of Cork and Limerick. It's not hurling skill imo. This is ironic, i know."
I will quort a Remark made by Ger Canning. She said 'this young Limerick are all very comfortable on the Ball'. As subsequent event proved He was, shall we say, on the ball. When before in the game did we Full Backs driving over points or setting scores in front of the opposition Goal. Athletic yes, but great Hurling Skill also.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4554 - 22/06/2026 12:54:15    2681208

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "And the gas thing is, it's not Cork's hurling ability that teams can't handle. It's their speed and mobility and insatiable appetite for running past people that teams can't handle. Watching Clare or Galway, you can see that their stickwork isn't far off par with Cork or Limerick. It's the lack of legs, mobility, athleticism that is driving the chasm in favour of Cork and Limerick. It's not hurling skill imo. This is ironic, i know."
I will quort a Remark made by Ger CANNING, during the 2018 Alll Ireland Semi Final . He said 'this young Limerick are all very comfortable on the Ball'. As subsequent events proved He was, shall we say, on the ball. When before in the game did we see Full Backs driving over points or setting scores in front of the opposition Goal. Athletic yes, but great Hurling Skill also.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4554 - 22/06/2026 12:55:44    2681209

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "What about the forward grabbing the defenders arm, making it look like the defender was pulling him back, being awarded a free. Shane O'Donnell has this to an art. Is that a free?"
Of course it is. Its not dangerous though. The hurl around the collarbone/neck area is.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 22/06/2026 13:00:17    2681213

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Replying To Yadse:  "You can argue that 6 teams in Leinster has damaged Leinster. But it's a marginal impact; I think there are more fundamental issues
Offaly, not withstanding yesterday's drubbing are a bright spot in the province. A five team championship and maybe Offaly wouldn't be where they are.
I would say though that Leinster doesn't need further expansion or a different format unless it's to expose teams to Munster teams earlier in the championship."
Most everyone is overestimating the bright spot Offaly.. They will be very lucky to qualify again anytime next few years if only 3 get out..they have what they have and not much else. Not competitive at all schools , 14s to 16s , 17s or 20s. 100% unstainable. At least Wexford and Dublin are able to compete with Kilkenny and Galway half the time.

Paull (Wexford) - Posts: 293 - 22/06/2026 13:05:27    2681216

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Replying To Yadse:  "You can argue that 6 teams in Leinster has damaged Leinster. But it's a marginal impact; I think there are more fundamental issues
Offaly, not withstanding yesterday's drubbing are a bright spot in the province. A five team championship and maybe Offaly wouldn't be where they are.
I would say though that Leinster doesn't need further expansion or a different format unless it's to expose teams to Munster teams earlier in the championship."
Leinster has been in trouble for a long time. Kilkenny were an outlier in that they remained successful and competitive throughout the decline. Offaly are a ray of hope in that the have made their way back to an AIQF from the Christy Ring and won an u20 AI. Dublin have been threading water for 20 years and Wexford are where they are and have been for a long time. They rise to leinster win occasionally but have been poor in general for 20 years or more. Galway produce good teams every few years but are inconsistent. Im not sure they have improved by being in leinster either but its a needs must situation. The Joe McDonagh is a great competition in its own right but its a world apart from the Mccarthy and that's their reality.
My point is that this is not new. Its been like this throughout the modern era. Hurling has the odd upset but generally the teams at the lower end of Mccarthy cannot compete with the top end. Dublin and Offaly are at the lower end.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 22/06/2026 13:15:38    2681223

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "And the gas thing is, it's not Cork's hurling ability that teams can't handle. It's their speed and mobility and insatiable appetite for running past people that teams can't handle. Watching Clare or Galway, you can see that their stickwork isn't far off par with Cork or Limerick. It's the lack of legs, mobility, athleticism that is driving the chasm in favour of Cork and Limerick. It's not hurling skill imo. This is ironic, i know."
Couldn't agree more with above - and Limerick have brought athleticism to a level that only Cork can match nowadays
(Clare, Tipperary and Waterford not too far behind - we'll see where Galway stand soon).

When Offaly won their All-Irelands in the 1980s and 1990s the possession game was unheard of. Ground hurling was still a major part of the game. Offaly have fine young hurlers but are not yet ready to face the big guns.

Kilkenny have slipped back in the last decade. On the one hand they have not had the underage talent coming through as before but on the other hand Kilkenny's success down the years was based on stickwork and classic hurling artistry - unfortunately the hurling athletes have a big advantage over the hurling artists in today's game.

I've made a submission to the recent GAA survey - a heavier sliotar and handpassing only allowed off the hurley were two of my suggestions.

saorkick (Dublin) - Posts: 35 - 22/06/2026 14:13:24    2681240

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Alarm bells ringing indeed. To think that Offaly team drew with Dublin and Kilkenny, and then beat Wexford comfortably does not bode well for Leinster hurling at all. I didn't travel to the game yesterday as I had a feeling it would be over after 20 minutes or so, and that's exactly how it transpired.

If you add in the underage results, it paints an even bleaker picture. I understand everything is cyclical but this slump is deeply concerning, and not good for the competitiveness of the game."
Agree with this BnB, except Offaly didnt beat us comfortably really, they only took the lead around the 3/4 mark when we had half our starting back 6 off with injury, and thats not including the backs who didnt start because they got injured earlier in the championship.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20037 - 22/06/2026 15:02:28    2681254

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Replying To Viking66:  "Agree with this BnB, except Offaly didnt beat us comfortably really, they only took the lead around the 3/4 mark when we had half our starting back 6 off with injury, and thats not including the backs who didnt start because they got injured earlier in the championship."
Good man Viking. I knew that inserting the word 'comfortable' would draw you out! Injuries, players not committing, etc. etc. ; )

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 597 - 22/06/2026 15:23:22    2681266

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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.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 500 - 22/06/2026 15:39:23    2681276

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Good man Viking. I knew that inserting the word 'comfortable' would draw you out! Injuries, players not committing, etc. etc. ; )"
:)

I'd have taken issue with the word "comfortably" myself.

Offaly were behind for most of the match, and only went ahead after three of our starting backs went off injured, and one of their replacements was sent off after first picking up a yellow card and then a black. Even at that, it was only in the last ten minutes or so that Offaly got on top.

Still a cause for concern for us, though. If we tell ourselves we're broadly the same standard as Offaly, then there's a hugely worrying gap in standard up to where Cork and other leading contenders sit.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3776 - 22/06/2026 15:45:35    2681280

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Replying To saorkick:  "Couldn't agree more with above - and Limerick have brought athleticism to a level that only Cork can match nowadays
(Clare, Tipperary and Waterford not too far behind - we'll see where Galway stand soon).

When Offaly won their All-Irelands in the 1980s and 1990s the possession game was unheard of. Ground hurling was still a major part of the game. Offaly have fine young hurlers but are not yet ready to face the big guns.

Kilkenny have slipped back in the last decade. On the one hand they have not had the underage talent coming through as before but on the other hand Kilkenny's success down the years was based on stickwork and classic hurling artistry - unfortunately the hurling athletes have a big advantage over the hurling artists in today's game.

I've made a submission to the recent GAA survey - a heavier sliotar and handpassing only allowed off the hurley were two of my suggestions."
How does a heavier sliotar help? If anything it will go further then. Thats the general consensus anyway. How will handpassing off the hurl only help? Its improvements we need not hindrance. How does either of that address the alleged athletic deficiencies of the chasing pack? It doesnt. It shows a mentality which doesnt embrace improvement or appreciate excellence but seeks to hinder growth and bring teams back rather than pushing forward. Its precisely why you are falling behind.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 22/06/2026 15:51:56    2681284

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "And the gas thing is, it's not Cork's hurling ability that teams can't handle. It's their speed and mobility and insatiable appetite for running past people that teams can't handle. Watching Clare or Galway, you can see that their stickwork isn't far off par with Cork or Limerick. It's the lack of legs, mobility, athleticism that is driving the chasm in favour of Cork and Limerick. It's not hurling skill imo. This is ironic, i know."
I dont think that's true at all. Both teams are stacked with hurling talent from 1 to 20+

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 596 - 22/06/2026 15:54:50    2681285

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Good man Viking. I knew that inserting the word 'comfortable' would draw you out! Injuries, players not committing, etc. etc. ; )"
Comfortably is how you beat them BnB! Foot on the throat in the first 10 minutes, and not taken off it until the subs got run on in the 2nd half. Although some of the subs didnt seize their chance it has to be said.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20037 - 22/06/2026 15:59:32    2681287

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "I dont think that's true at all. Both teams are stacked with hurling talent from 1 to 20+"
They are. And both are well organised and have good management teams. And in terms of 505s and sprinting over 20 or 40 yards I wouldn't say all the Cork or Limerick players are particularly fast, or at least any faster on average than the Offaly, Clare, Dublin and Galway lads.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20037 - 22/06/2026 16:04:52    2681289

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