Full steam ahead now for Championship - Fixtures out for Round 1 and Round 2
Good win for Rathnure in ACHL Div 1 final yesterday but possibly at a cost with Luke Codd going off with a hand injury and Rory Higgins limping off after going over on his ankle. Also started without their 3 county men who are all carrying injuries. Annes missing a few too but D O'Keeffe was superb in first half but when Aidan Rochford went off injured the Annes started to struggle a little. Liam Og was well marshalled .. Michael Redmond scored 7 superb points from play and kept Rathnure in the game when they struggled in the first half. Jack Redmond was sluggish but someone mentioned he had only arrived home from holidays that morning. Eoin Ryan has departed to foreign shores so he is a big loss to Annes.
Senior Hurling Round 1 Group A St Martins V St Annes This is a very tough opener for the reigning county and leinster club champions and a game that I think will come too early for them without Rory and Barry O'Connor. Anne's have Tom Mullalley to the fore this year and I expect a kick to come with that. Eoin Ryan is gone travelling and Aidan Rochford limped off early in ACHL final last week. Based on Annes form and Martins without some key players I am going to give it to Annes by a few points.
Gorey V Fethard Plenty has been said about Gorey's contingent stepping away from inter county this year. In reality they will make a big push and will be there or there about come the business end of championship. That said they died a death in the recent ACHL semi final against Rathnure after been well on top for 35 minutes. Fethard have nothing to loose here and I think survival will be their main aim for 2026 in a really touch group. Gorey by 5-6 points
Shels V Harriers A tasty enough local derby - Both teams have blew very hot and cold over last few seasons and consistency is seriously lacking. I really think the Harriers are going to struggle this year in a very tough group. On paper Harriers are a very decent team - but they seem to rely on Chin too much and if he is managed then no one stands up to go win the game for them. Shels have been doing okay but still are not near the championship contenders they were a few years ago. That said I will give it to them by 2 points
Group B Rapps V Oulart I sense a tough year for Rapps - two contrasting league campaigns with Oulart winning all their games only to loose out on a league final appearance after a great battle with St Annes. Rapps won no game and shipped some heavy beatings. Again it's hard to know how fit Liam Ryan will be and there is only so much Kevin Foley can do. Oulart are getting their house in order and have a good young team. I think if they can put in a decent year then they will be back strong in next 2/3 years and challenging for senior. They have had a couple of very good Minor / U21 teams over the past few seasons. Giving it to Oulart by 4/5
Rathnure V Glynn Glynn had a poor 2025 and just seem to be lacking any drive or consistency to push on. They have started off 2026 well and have had a decent league campaign loosing to Shels in Div 2 final. Both Carleys will be key to how their year goes. In contrast Rathnure had a superb 2025 taking everyone by surprise. 2026 has started off well with an unblemished league campaign and taking Annes in the League final. However if reports are to be believed it has come at a cost with 5/6 injuries - Luke Codd / Ciaran O Connor and Eamon Wickham all potentially out for Round 1 and Stephen Martin and Rory Higgins carrying knocks. That said their second team won ACHL Div 4 so they have reserves with a good bunch of U21 stars fighting for places. Glynn have been a bogey team but I don't see as big a beating as last years QF, Rathnure to win by 3/4
Oylegate V Ferns Even though this is Round 1 I think this is a big game for both teams- based on the group I do think they will be scrapping for a final Q/F spot. A win for both teams is essential and maybe more so for Oylegate as they face Rathnure in Round 2. Ferns have stuck with Pat Bennett so based on his Carlow exploits I'm not sure how their training will have been progressing. Sean Rowley, Seamus Casey and a fit set of Recks make Oylegate a very decent outfit but again they seem to be struggling to reach the heights of county final appearance a few years ago. In contrast Ferns are blooding in new players but it is early days. Oylegate by 3
Replying To countyman2022: "Could not see Crossabeg near it in Inter. Nor Gusserane or Taghmon."
So what's your Prediction then?? Senior: I think Rathnure will be closer to St Martins. Will it be enough? I give a hesitant vote to Rathnure Int. : Cloughbawn Int A : Monageer/ Duffry Rovers/ Gusserane/ Cushinstown- Go with Gusserane
Replying To Spuds&GAA: "So what's your Prediction then?? Senior: I think Rathnure will be closer to St Martins. Will it be enough? I give a hesitant vote to Rathnure Int. : Cloughbawn Int A : Monageer/ Duffry Rovers/ Gusserane/ Cushinstown- Go with Gusserane"
Is there any word on if the O'Connors will be back? I'd be thinking Martins/Gorey (depending on the above), Cloughbawn, Duffry.
Replying To StoreysTash: "Viking how did Wexford teams do at Feile this weekend? I couldn't find any results."
Oulart got to the premier semifinal, they beat a good John Lockes team, the Kilkenny champions, well along the way, but came up short against Michael Cusacks, the Galway champions who were very good, but are the underage club associated with 2 Galway adult clubs, 2 of the oldest clubs in Ireland founded in 1870 . Craanford lost by just a point to Barrow Rangers from Kilkenny in the 2nd tier. Cushinstown wosn their Shield final against Ballyheigue from Kerry by 7 points. Overall our clubs didnt do too badly.
Replying To StoreysTash: "Viking how did Wexford teams do at Feile this weekend? I couldn't find any results."
And Marshalstown got to a Cup Semifinal, losing to Bray by 3 points. Craanford did beat Barrow Rangers in the group stage, by 6 points, though lost the cup semifinal to the same opponents by a point.
Replying To StoreysTash: "Viking how did Wexford teams do at Feile this weekend? I couldn't find any results."
Oulart reached Div 1 semi final and lost to a very strong Michael Cusacks team from Galway. They lost to Na Piarsaigh in the group after been 6 points up at one stage and then beat John Lockes of Kilkenny in their final group game. Finished 2nd on score difference so went into Cup semi final. The standard was very high from the games I saw - Michael Cusacks were an exceptionally good team with some real stand out players. Ballincollig from Cork won it out.
Rathnure played in Div 1 camogie and lost out in the shield final - Again the standard was very high. Erins Own from Castlecomer went on to win that out.
Division 1 is tough competition so good to see Oulart compete and compete well at it.
Replying To countyman2022: "Is there any word on if the O'Connors will be back? I'd be thinking Martins/Gorey (depending on the above), Cloughbawn, Duffry."
Replying To MyOhMi: "Oulart reached Div 1 semi final and lost to a very strong Michael Cusacks team from Galway. They lost to Na Piarsaigh in the group after been 6 points up at one stage and then beat John Lockes of Kilkenny in their final group game. Finished 2nd on score difference so went into Cup semi final. The standard was very high from the games I saw - Michael Cusacks were an exceptionally good team with some real stand out players. Ballincollig from Cork won it out.
Rathnure played in Div 1 camogie and lost out in the shield final - Again the standard was very high. Erins Own from Castlecomer went on to win that out.
Division 1 is tough competition so good to see Oulart compete and compete well at it."