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Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "Carlow winners play the Dublin winners and if they win that it's winner of Laois/Kilkenny.
Seems we always seem to get kilkenny or Dublin teams for some reason." Every chance. Hurling is seriously competitive. Laois and Westmeath beat or almost beat Kilkenny champs over past two years. Our champs beat Wexford a few years ago. Naas are probably favourites this year.
Unlike the football where it's only Dublin, followed by Kildare despite being a long way back, the rest very poor, any 8 champs can win the hurling.
Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 175 - 20/09/2026 14:38:48
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Replying To Collio: "Last two years beaten by Kildare and Offaly champions." And recently we beat Wexford. Both teams have Improved immeasurably since this, while playing inter county at a much higher level. Both of those Kildare and Offaly club champs are generational teams, level in Leinster club is throw the roof, best in county outside of the gunners
Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 175 - 20/09/2026 14:43:13
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Replying To Carlowtothecore1: "Every chance. Hurling is seriously competitive. Laois and Westmeath beat or almost beat Kilkenny champs over past two years. Our champs beat Wexford a few years ago. Naas are probably favourites this year.
Unlike the football where it's only Dublin, followed by Kildare despite being a long way back, the rest very poor, any 8 champs can win the hurling." lol
Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 157 - 20/09/2026 20:05:26
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Replying To Pikeman96: "If you want a "hard fact", large part of the reason why your hurling final has twice been selected for broadcast is because it's played at a time of year when there aren't many other finals (hurling or football) in any other county. If it was played in mid to late October, going up against many other finals in the leading counties in both codes, chances of it being selected would be slim to none.
And that in turn is a large part of why your football final doesn't get selected. Your football final last year was played on the same day as football finals in Mayo, Down, Derry and Kildare, and hurling finals in Cork, Limerick, and Offaly. The Saturday evening of that weekend had the Dublin Senior Football Final. If you were calling the shots in TG4 or somewhere like that, which would you have chosen?
By the way, your attitude to the Shield finalists is very dismissive. You may consider them as amongst the worst clubs in Carlow, but can you not see how giving them the opportunity on play on Senior Hurling Final day (i.e. the biggest day in Carlow club hurling) would help promote the game so far as those clubs are concerned?" Think you are being a little too hard there! St Mullins and MLR would be competitive Senior clubs in any county championship in Ireland. Very unlikely to get relegated over the last few years anyway.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 21/09/2026 15:05:25
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Replying To Collio: "Neither are anywhere close to the best teams in Leinster." They wouldn't be that far off. Although neither has reached the final since 2019, which was a good year for your clubs as Eire og reached the Football final that year too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 21/09/2026 15:09:10
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Replying To Carlowtothecore1: "Every chance. Hurling is seriously competitive. Laois and Westmeath beat or almost beat Kilkenny champs over past two years. Our champs beat Wexford a few years ago. Naas are probably favourites this year.
Unlike the football where it's only Dublin, followed by Kildare despite being a long way back, the rest very poor, any 8 champs can win the hurling." I wouldn't have Naas as favourites, but they have a chance for sure. As would your champions.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 21/09/2026 15:10:25
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Replying To Viking66: "Think you are being a little too hard there! St Mullins and MLR would be competitive Senior clubs in any county championship in Ireland. Very unlikely to get relegated over the last few years anyway." I think you may have misinterpreted me. Those two clubs would indeed be competitive in any county's club championship, and I said nothing to suggest otherwise about their standard.
My point was simply that a large part of why the Carlow Hurling Final gets selected for TV is due to timing, as it doesn't go up against many other county finals. If it was instead at a time of year when more finals are on in more counties, chances of it being selected would obviously reduce.
For instance, on the day our own Wexford Hurling Final is to be played this year (Sunday October 25), there's also to be Senior Hurling Finals in Limerick and Kilkenny, and the Senior Football Final in Kerry. I wouldn't even expect TG4 to come looking for ours ahead of any of those other three. And if the Carlow Final was on then, I wouldn't expect them to go looking for that either.
Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 4072 - 21/09/2026 15:34:05
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Replying To Pikeman96: "I think you may have misinterpreted me. Those two clubs would indeed be competitive in any county's club championship, and I said nothing to suggest otherwise about their standard.
My point was simply that a large part of why the Carlow Hurling Final gets selected for TV is due to timing, as it doesn't go up against many other county finals. If it was instead at a time of year when more finals are on in more counties, chances of it being selected would obviously reduce.
For instance, on the day our own Wexford Hurling Final is to be played this year (Sunday October 25), there's also to be Senior Hurling Finals in Limerick and Kilkenny, and the Senior Football Final in Kerry. I wouldn't even expect TG4 to come looking for ours ahead of any of those other three. And if the Carlow Final was on then, I wouldn't expect them to go looking for that either." True too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 21/09/2026 15:48:18
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Replying To Viking66: "True too." Considering you have the current Leinster champs I'd assume Wexford should be priority
Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 175 - 22/09/2026 15:48:24
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Replying To Carlowtothecore1: "Considering you have the current Leinster champs I'd assume Wexford should be priority" Thats true too
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 22/09/2026 17:06:51
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Asca county star set for trial with Australian rules club, he would be a loss if he makes over there.
MickyMouse (Carlow) - Posts: 4 - 23/09/2026 00:10:41
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Replying To MickyMouse: "Asca county star set for trial with Australian rules club, he would be a loss if he makes over there." That's John Phiri. A great lad and the very best of luck to him over there.
Yes he would be a huge loss for club and county in the years ahead and much as I hate the way the AFL can just cherry pick the best young Irish talent that GAA clubs and counties work hard to produce, at a personal level no one could begrudge him it's a great opportunity and best of luck to him and the young fellas going. John is going over to Richmond apparently along with Evan Boyle of Kerry.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1903 - 23/09/2026 13:22:08
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Replying To Onion Breath: "That's John Phiri. A great lad and the very best of luck to him over there.
Yes he would be a huge loss for club and county in the years ahead and much as I hate the way the AFL can just cherry pick the best young Irish talent that GAA clubs and counties work hard to produce, at a personal level no one could begrudge him it's a great opportunity and best of luck to him and the young fellas going. John is going over to Richmond apparently along with Evan Boyle of Kerry." "best young Irish talent that GAA clubs and counties work hard to produce"
I hate the implication in this that the Coaches who coached that young lad all the way up only did it because of him, and not all the other lads who played on his team too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20736 - 23/09/2026 13:59:20
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Replying To Onion Breath: "That's John Phiri. A great lad and the very best of luck to him over there.
Yes he would be a huge loss for club and county in the years ahead and much as I hate the way the AFL can just cherry pick the best young Irish talent that GAA clubs and counties work hard to produce, at a personal level no one could begrudge him it's a great opportunity and best of luck to him and the young fellas going. John is going over to Richmond apparently along with Evan Boyle of Kerry." Brisbane I have read in a different article so not if one is wrong or he is on trial with both? Couldn't agree more with you, as much of a loss as he would be you would have to wish him well on a personal level. Would be great to see a carlow man perform well on such a stage.
Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 157 - 23/09/2026 15:07:58
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Replying To Onion Breath: "That's John Phiri. A great lad and the very best of luck to him over there.
Yes he would be a huge loss for club and county in the years ahead and much as I hate the way the AFL can just cherry pick the best young Irish talent that GAA clubs and counties work hard to produce, at a personal level no one could begrudge him it's a great opportunity and best of luck to him and the young fellas going. John is going over to Richmond apparently along with Evan Boyle of Kerry." Willy Long will have to play midfield for Asca now
Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 227 - 23/09/2026 23:09:34
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So what are people calling tomorrow? MLR win or have St. Mullins put the ropey league phase behind them?
CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 226 - 25/09/2026 22:23:26
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Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "So what are people calling tomorrow? MLR win or have St. Mullins put the ropey league phase behind them?" I can't see beyond Rangers. I think SM are on the wane and not the force of two years ago.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1903 - 26/09/2026 15:07:57
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Such an intriguing final in store. While they know each other inside out, there's still so many questions.
Last year St Mullins steamrolled their way through the group stage and had an easy semi final win. MLR similar this year but got a test off Bagenalstown in the semi final (unlike St. Mullins this year). In last years final, MLR totally shut down the St Mullins attack, only conceding 16 points.
Saints have had two good wins since the MLR mauling and have rejigged their team with Paudie Kehoe full back, Michael Walsh centre back, Paul Doyle on the wing, Jack Kavanagh midfield and Marty obviously coming back. Will they need to rejig again to tie down Chris Nolan or will Paudie Kehoe pick him up? Will Eddie Byrne start and where will he play? If both him and Chris are in the full back line then surely Paul Doyle has to drop back in there? Will they go man for man across the back line? In the group game this was part of downfall as MLR pulled them everywhere. Will Paudie O'Shea be available and if so who drops out?
Generally MLR hold their positions. MLR don't have an out and out full back which isn't a new development. If Evan Kealy is given the role can he keep tabs on Paddy Boland? Kevin McDonald has been playing wing back for most of the year but I still think they're better with him at centre back, could Diarmuid Byrne be an option at full back?
The final being 5 weeks later is also a factor, slightly slower ground might suit St Mullins compared to MLR who are more of a top of the ground team especially with some of their forwards and midfielders.
One advantage MLR have is they seem to have a better bench on paper, could that be the determining factor?
Good to see Sean McCormack getting the final, a former player and generally tries to let the game flow. He also seems to make himself available as much as possible especially doing linesman at plenty of hurling and football games. Wish him all the best.
As I said so many questions but we will get all the answers this evening. Let's hope for a cracker like the last time the two teams were shown on TV.
hurlingguru (Carlow) - Posts: 1866 - 26/09/2026 15:20:37
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