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National Hurling League 2026

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Replying To twbm:  "You cant be serious"
Why wouldn't I be?

It was a huge commercial success in attracting a major sponsor.

We got promoted from 1b after many failed attempts.

Beat Kilkenny consistently in all competitions which is a pretty big deal in Wexford.

First Leinster final in 8 years.

First Leinster win in 15 years.

First all Ireland semi final in 12 years.

Two failings were obviously the 19 semi final which still haunts me, and secondly there was a group of players just totally overlooked in terms of development which we're now suffering for.

But overall I would say his first stint was a success.

I haven't missed a competitive game in over 30 years and the Davy era was the first time since the 90s that I felt we had a chance in every game we played. I'd love to have that again.

Say what you will about him, he is a winner.

I can't quite get my head around how Clare people seem to view him. Between player and manager he's been a key part of almost everything Clare have ever done.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4292 - 09/02/2026 22:45:42    2655741

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Why wouldn't I be?

It was a huge commercial success in attracting a major sponsor.

We got promoted from 1b after many failed attempts.

Beat Kilkenny consistently in all competitions which is a pretty big deal in Wexford.

First Leinster final in 8 years.

First Leinster win in 15 years.

First all Ireland semi final in 12 years.

Two failings were obviously the 19 semi final which still haunts me, and secondly there was a group of players just totally overlooked in terms of development which we're now suffering for.

But overall I would say his first stint was a success.

I haven't missed a competitive game in over 30 years and the Davy era was the first time since the 90s that I felt we had a chance in every game we played. I'd love to have that again.

Say what you will about him, he is a winner.

I can't quite get my head around how Clare people seem to view him. Between player and manager he's been a key part of almost everything Clare have ever done."
That was then man. This is now, and we are paying the price for those few years still.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18610 - 10/02/2026 07:48:25    2655749

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Those achievements were average at best. 1 Leinster with that team who won 3-U21s, cost Wexford an arm and a leg and post-2019 left a broken team. Yes he raised the profile of the game but it doesn't seem to have helped with underage success.
Short term gain, long term pain.
I don't think anybody else will take a punt on Davy from here. If he was announced as Dublin manager after Niallo I'd be wincing.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1568 - 10/02/2026 12:30:03    2655787

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Replying To Viking66:  "That was then man. This is now, and we are paying the price for those few years still."
Absolutely correct

twbm (Clare) - Posts: 58 - 10/02/2026 18:12:35    2655822

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Replying To twbm:  "Absolutely correct"
I disagree unless i am missing something. I can understand why Davy has a short shelf life with teams but if he brings more attention to a club, generates bigger crowds and media attention, makes a team more competitive and have a chance of winning something and he does this in the short to immediate term, for a team that is going no where anyway, this can only be a positive.
How can he then be blamed for the subsequent years if things are not going well. His methods are probably dated now alright but I would have thought he had a good positive impact in Wexford. His role was to improve the fortunes of the Wexford team not to be the Developmment officer for hurling in Wexford and secure its future. What am i missing?

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 470 - 11/02/2026 10:51:30    2655901

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "I disagree unless i am missing something. I can understand why Davy has a short shelf life with teams but if he brings more attention to a club, generates bigger crowds and media attention, makes a team more competitive and have a chance of winning something and he does this in the short to immediate term, for a team that is going no where anyway, this can only be a positive.
How can he then be blamed for the subsequent years if things are not going well. His methods are probably dated now alright but I would have thought he had a good positive impact in Wexford. His role was to improve the fortunes of the Wexford team not to be the Developmment officer for hurling in Wexford and secure its future. What am i missing?"
He wouldve been more successful in years 4 and 5 with Wexford if hed of built a bigger panel in years 2 and 3, especially with the style of play he had us playing. I suspect he didnt think hed be here for that long.
Even in year 3 if hed of had a few subs to bring on that had of had some decent gametime, so that he trusted them, he mightve won another Senior AI. Hed likely have won another Leinster in 2021 also. He was bringing lads back on in ET of the LSHSF that could barely walk they were do tired.
Im not saying he didnt have a positive impact, and I was hoping at the time he'd be given 2022 as well, as in year 5, 2021, he had made more of an effort to bring new lads in, but maybe it was too late.
Apart from the above you arent missing anything.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18610 - 11/02/2026 13:28:04    2655927

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "I disagree unless i am missing something. I can understand why Davy has a short shelf life with teams but if he brings more attention to a club, generates bigger crowds and media attention, makes a team more competitive and have a chance of winning something and he does this in the short to immediate term, for a team that is going no where anyway, this can only be a positive.
How can he then be blamed for the subsequent years if things are not going well. His methods are probably dated now alright but I would have thought he had a good positive impact in Wexford. His role was to improve the fortunes of the Wexford team not to be the Developmment officer for hurling in Wexford and secure its future. What am i missing?"
I understand both which is why I praised his first stint only. I believe he should have done more to integrate successful minor and 21 teams which we're suffering for now as Waterford did the first time as well.

I adore Liam Dunne and am grateful for all the work he did but ultimately Davy took us to the next level back then.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4292 - 11/02/2026 13:43:32    2655931

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I believe Liam Dunne would have won a Leinster championship with that team too. Just my opinion. The trajectory was up. He had just beaten Cork with most of the players who won Leinster 3 years after.
And what he definitely would have done is had a stronger bench. Davy had 17-18 players and it was short-termism at its worst.
He totally cast players like Andrew Kenny, Eoin Conroy, Eoin Moore, James Breen, Willie Devereux aside. And they are just the ones I can think of now. I will think of more who never got a chance for reasons unknown.
One thing nobody can dispute is the profile he brought to the game in Wexford, he brought hype and excitement and gave the game a profile which is now lost in Wexford.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1968 - 11/02/2026 15:07:39    2655943

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "I believe Liam Dunne would have won a Leinster championship with that team too. Just my opinion. The trajectory was up. He had just beaten Cork with most of the players who won Leinster 3 years after.
And what he definitely would have done is had a stronger bench. Davy had 17-18 players and it was short-termism at its worst.
He totally cast players like Andrew Kenny, Eoin Conroy, Eoin Moore, James Breen, Willie Devereux aside. And they are just the ones I can think of now. I will think of more who never got a chance for reasons unknown.
One thing nobody can dispute is the profile he brought to the game in Wexford, he brought hype and excitement and gave the game a profile which is now lost in Wexford."
Andrew Kenny suffered a few injuries, was very unlucky, and James Breen couldn't give the time as he was running a few farms at the time.
But your point is 100% right, there were numerous others who could've made it had they been given the chance to develop properly.
Gary Moore was an exceptionally talented lad, Tom French, Shane O'Gorman, Jim White , James Cash, and Peter Sutton all started for 2 or 3 years on good Wexford u21 teams. There were many off the good 2018 u21 team that never got a look in 2019 either, Davy only started calling them in in 2021, and a couple of years development was lost.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18610 - 11/02/2026 17:42:13    2655962

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Very strong UL team performance last night, Croker really suited their game. Mary I tried to stick with them but UL cut off the supply to Shane OBrien after 20 minutes and that was basically the game. From a Limerick perspective we had 10 starters over the 2 teams and they showed we have a lot of talent on the verge of the senior team., time to give them their chance now.

updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 954 - 14/02/2026 10:30:35    2656301

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Replying To updwell:  "Very strong UL team performance last night, Croker really suited their game. Mary I tried to stick with them but UL cut off the supply to Shane OBrien after 20 minutes and that was basically the game. From a Limerick perspective we had 10 starters over the 2 teams and they showed we have a lot of talent on the verge of the senior team., time to give them their chance now."
Great to see Shane O'Brien showing leadership and looking for the ball. even when the game was gone he was still working hard and showing and working for the ball which was a good sign. If he can bring this attitude where he takes ownership of the position and keeps working and showing for the 70 mins i think he can have a great impact this year.
Full forward line of Gillane, SOB and a fit Peter Casey should be a match for any team if the play to their potential.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 470 - 16/02/2026 10:59:26    2656741

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "Great to see Shane O'Brien showing leadership and looking for the ball. even when the game was gone he was still working hard and showing and working for the ball which was a good sign. If he can bring this attitude where he takes ownership of the position and keeps working and showing for the 70 mins i think he can have a great impact this year.
Full forward line of Gillane, SOB and a fit Peter Casey should be a match for any team if the play to their potential."
Yep Limerick forwards definitely moving well

Gillane, Casey, Lynch, O Connor, Hegarty and O Brien look nailed on
O Neill could be pushing to start in defense or midfield

The one thing that Limerick don't have however (English excepted) is real pace
Even in our backline. - which is why I think Matthew Fitzgerald is getting plenty of opportunities to nail down a CB spot.
we have plenty of skillful hurlers and plenty of string hurlers but compared to some of the Cork guys we are missing that real pace
Which is why I think we don't score that many goals.

Cork have a lot of questions to answer about where their heads are at but with the strong fast forwards they have they will always be contenders

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 217 - 24/02/2026 15:49:12    2658393

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Replying To Yadse:  "Yep Limerick forwards definitely moving well

Gillane, Casey, Lynch, O Connor, Hegarty and O Brien look nailed on
O Neill could be pushing to start in defense or midfield

The one thing that Limerick don't have however (English excepted) is real pace
Even in our backline. - which is why I think Matthew Fitzgerald is getting plenty of opportunities to nail down a CB spot.
we have plenty of skillful hurlers and plenty of string hurlers but compared to some of the Cork guys we are missing that real pace
Which is why I think we don't score that many goals.

Cork have a lot of questions to answer about where their heads are at but with the strong fast forwards they have they will always be contenders"
I agree with most of what you say:

For me Casey, O'Brien, O'Connor, English and O'Neill are absolutely flying at the moment and really seem to have benefited from UL/Mary I run to the Fitzgibbon finals in terms or their match sharpness etc. I think they are nailed on starters come Championship time if all stay fit and well.

For me Gillane is a little ring rusty still and likely needs to play all matches before championship to be at his lethal best.

I think Gearoid Hegarty is under a small bit of pressure. I feel like he is not at his best in the heavy ground conditions. management are giving him every opportunity to discover his best form. Unless Cathal O'Neill will be switched to the half back line, I feel like himself and O'Connor have done enough form wise to get the Jerseys. That leaves one spot for himself and Tom Morrissey to fight over.

Mathew Fitzgerald has been a massive find. He is quick, tidy and keeps it simple. He certainly looks like a classy defender who can cover corner back or wing back on both sides of the field.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 221 - 25/02/2026 15:10:48    2658579

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Replying To Yadse:  "Yep Limerick forwards definitely moving well

Gillane, Casey, Lynch, O Connor, Hegarty and O Brien look nailed on
O Neill could be pushing to start in defense or midfield

The one thing that Limerick don't have however (English excepted) is real pace
Even in our backline. - which is why I think Matthew Fitzgerald is getting plenty of opportunities to nail down a CB spot.
we have plenty of skillful hurlers and plenty of string hurlers but compared to some of the Cork guys we are missing that real pace
Which is why I think we don't score that many goals.

Cork have a lot of questions to answer about where their heads are at but with the strong fast forwards they have they will always be contenders"
Yadse I think you are overrating pace on the hurling field. Tipp destroyed Cork last year and they have less pace in their team than Limerick have. If a team is structured correctly and set up right space can be closed off and pace isn't an advantage then. I think Limericks perceived lack of pace was Hannon and Byrnes getting exposed there in recent year's but Hannon is gone now and Byrnes could struggle to get a starting spot- I haven't seen any other Limerick players getting caught out regularly for lack of speed and as I said Cork have the speediest team around for a long time but can't win an AI and even they lack pace at the back themselves.

updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 954 - 27/02/2026 08:04:06    2658836

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Replying To updwell:  "Yadse I think you are overrating pace on the hurling field. Tipp destroyed Cork last year and they have less pace in their team than Limerick have. If a team is structured correctly and set up right space can be closed off and pace isn't an advantage then. I think Limericks perceived lack of pace was Hannon and Byrnes getting exposed there in recent year's but Hannon is gone now and Byrnes could struggle to get a starting spot- I haven't seen any other Limerick players getting caught out regularly for lack of speed and as I said Cork have the speediest team around for a long time but can't win an AI and even they lack pace at the back themselves."
They have genuine pace with Kyle Hayes and Adam English and Matthew Fitzgerald if he plays. Lynch was a quick but I think lost half a yard after the injury.
We have lots of power runners though. With CON playing in the half forward line it gave us that ferocious work rate at half forward that we haven't seen in a while which is critical to the way we play. I think he might stay there come championship.
The balance of the team against Tipp was really nice with the two up top and Casey dropping out playing the role he is so familiar with. I'd hope they keep the two of them up there again this weekend. AOC looks more comfortable at center forward than he does at half forward. He is a great shooter and as a center forward isn't as tightly marked and he can just roam and shoot from distance.
DOD also playing very well in the middle, we just look more like the Limerick of old when he plays well as no one else can link the defence and attack like he does. Hannon possibly could but WOD offers something much different. The big question now is where does Cian Lynch fit in :)

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 470 - 27/02/2026 17:26:23    2658933

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