Hurling 2026

[Deerstalker]

Joyce ruptured ACL, obviously out for the year & Downey ankle injury, out to approx 6 weeks.

Two massive blows for Cork

Is this confirmed? Must be fast news since they were only being scanned today.

Yes on Irish Examiner

[NAG1]

Joyce ruptured ACL, obviously out for the year & Downey ankle injury, out to approx 6 weeks.

Two massive blows for Cork

Is this confirmed? Must be fast news since they were only being scanned today.

Yes on Irish Examiner

Brutal for Joyce

[Deerstalker]

Joyce ruptured ACL, obviously out for the year & Downey ankle injury, out to approx 6 weeks.

Two massive blows for Cork

Is this confirmed? Must be fast news since they were only being scanned today.

Yes on Irish Examiner

Brutal for Joyce

Yep, think that could be terminal for Cork

[johnnycool]

Joyce ruptured ACL, obviously out for the year & Downey ankle injury, out to approx 6 weeks.

Two massive blows for Cork

Is this confirmed? Must be fast news since they were only being scanned today.

Yes on Irish Examiner

Brutal for Joyce

Yep, think that could be terminal for Cork

Big blows for Cork as they aren't overly well stacked for defenders...

God awful injury for anyone that ACL.

[ClubScene13]

Eoin Downey back to 3 and a bit of rejigging in the half back line I'd say, they got away with it yesterday but I don't think you can have Cahalane on the edge of the square the rest of the year, asking for trouble. Luckily they have 4 points on the board already, they'll be keen to win in Waterford to get Munster qualification closed out sooner rather than later

[johnnycool]

Eoin Downey back to 3 and a bit of rejigging in the half back line I'd say, they got away with it yesterday but I don't think you can have Cahalane on the edge of the square the rest of the year, asking for trouble. Luckily they have 4 points on the board already, they'll be keen to win in Waterford to get Munster qualification closed out sooner rather than later

Dáire O'Leary will benefit from this injury crisis and will probably get the start next time out at No3 v Waterford.

I thought he was good in the league and he himself is just back training last week from an injury and the weeks break may stand to him to be ready for the Waterford game.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/04/27/limericks-lack-of-depth-was-badly-exposed-against-cork-as-their-bench-boost-has-disappeared/

In 2025, Limerick played 12 league and championship games and won just four of them. It seemed as if their mission from the beginning of this year was to re-establish a winning habit with a cohort of players that they knew were capable of producing those outcomes.

The worrying part for Limerick is that, at age-grade level, their results have fallen off a cliff. Since they reached the 2022 under-20 All-Ireland final, they have played 15 games in that grade and won just three of them. This year, they have lost their first three games in the Munster round robin and look destined to finish bottom of the group.

Cork's Eoin Downey with Kyle Hayes of Limerick. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Cork's Eoin Downey with Kyle Hayes of Limerick. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
At minor level, they haven't contested a Munster final since 2020. Of their last 18 games in that grade, they have won just six.

Before that, Limerick had enjoyed the most bountiful period of underage success in their history. Between 2011 and 2020, Limerick won four Munster minor titles and contested two other finals while their under-21s/20s won three Munster titles, two of which were converted into All-Irelands. Limerick's success at senior level was built squarely on that foundation.

Down the line there will be consequences for that drop off in talent development. Right now, Limerick can still field an intimidating starting 15 that, regardless of the weekend's results, remain the likeliest All-Ireland winners.


But the bench boost that helped set them apart in their peak years no longer exists.

[Capt Pat]

Last year it was Clare who had all the injuries to key players. This year it is Cork and Limerick who are suffering the bad breaks. Tipp aren't at their best either. It could be Clares year to claim a Munster title after 28 years waiting.

[Rossfan]

Antrim revolting?

[johnnycool]

Antrim revolting?

You love the old hurling really, don't you Rossfan?

[BigGreenField]

Antrim revolting?

Not playing well certainly.

[marty34]

Big win for Cork at the week-end but it comes at a price. Joyce gone for the season and Downey gone for at least 6 weeks. No ideal for O'Connor. He'll have to re-jig the defence once again. Limerick were in control early doors, then Cork got the goal to lift the crowd. All a game like that needs is a spark to lift the big sea of red and the team then gets energy from that.

I'd say O'Connor was worried when DB got that goal from a free at the end. So too the players! The old frialties in their heads would be circling but they closed the game out.

To me, that could be their defining 20 mins of the season. Up and them a man up - they needed to win it from that position. They had to in my opinion...and they did, after a Limerick fightback. O'Connor and players will be happy with the steel shown. That's the only question that's hanging over them. You could see what it meant to them at the end. You'd have thought they won the AI. Maybe they went overboard with the celebrations. But it was a big result for Cork.


I'm sure Kiely would have been saying "Record them celebrations - every minute of it" and he'll be using it if they meet again. As I say, Limerick started very strong but the goal changed the dynamic of the game. They battled an could have won it at the death. So Clare and Limerick this Sunday in Ennis, will be a belter. 

[johnnycool]

Just the one Tier 1 hurling game this weekend and it's the friendly neighbours of Clare v Limerick.

With Lynch missing due to his straight red (and deserved) it will be up to some of the new pretenders to step up in Adam English, Aidan O'Connor and Cathal O'Neill, who have shown their value to some extent the last while.
What Lynch brings can't be coached, he is a link player, more often than not finds the right pass when in possession and that will be a loss to Limerick if they try running the ball down the middle.
As for Clare, I hate to be a broken record, but no6 is key to them, and O'Farrell is a green horn at this level. He's OK when he gets on the ball, but needs to offer the fullback line more cover and be able to drive out with the ball.
Clare have conceded quite a few goals, if Limerick get some as well as the high percentage of points they normally go for then I don't see Clare winning this.

Losing a home game is never good, Clare have 2 points in the bag, but need to visit both Cork and Tipp in their last 2 games so if they do pick something up from this they would be confident of coming out of Munster.

Not having a Munster title is still a big thing for this Clare team and this will be the last horrah for a lot of them and they will probably go all in for these games to get to a final.

[marty34]

Ulster Hurling

Maybe a bit late for this but in regarding a review of Ulster hurling as a whole in the 2026 league, it was a disappointing campaign for a lot of counties.

Down go down a division and Antrim just about survived but it was a poor enough league campaign for the two of them. If you come up from any division, like Down, it's so hard to stay there. You need a win early doors to get a bit of drive. In a lot of league divisions, there seems to be two divisions within one league - just a huge difference between top and bottom. RS and Down will be delighted with their start to the Joe Mc Donagh. Two wins from two after being promoted. Can't be bad to that at all. A really positive start. Delighted for Ronan. He's put in a huge shift this past few years and now things are progressing for them. In a way also, they were very unlucky to be relegated - they finished on the same points as Antrim an Carlow. Small margins. Could have easy have been Antrim and think of that in Davy/Antrim's current situation.

Derry had  poor league campaign also. A poor result at home to London cost them. I think London is a good game for Antrim's next game but they should not take London for granted or they could be nipped. Their attitude must be good. Be interested to see the attitude and especially the body language of Antrim's players.

I suppose you could say that Donegal are the only Ulster team that has had a really decent league. They've got promoted and that would have been their aim in Jan '26. A lot of good work going on in Donegal and in Liam Mc Kinney, they have one of the best young hurlers in Ulster. Be interesting to see how they get on next year in Div. 2. Bit early obviously but I'm sure they'll target the Wicklow and London games. If they get two home games there, they'd fancy their chances in staying in the division. The Christy Ring will give them a good foundation and they've made a promising start in it.

In Division 3, it was a year to forget for Armagh and Fermanagh. A solitary draw for Armagh and no points at all for Fermanagh tells its own story. Two counties who are really struggling and the only thing in their Div. 4 league next year is that they can't drop any further. Tyrone had an average enough league campaign also but have really pushed on in the Nicky Rackard with three wins out of three. They'll be fancing their chances of getting to CP. But all this comes on a decent, league campaign. They've clearly built on that in their championship.

Cavan and Monaghan, in Division 4 had, along with a lot of other Ulster teams, a very average league campaign. Cavan were unlucky last year in the Lory Meagher final after the 'New Yorkgate' affair. They have a few 'outside' or maybe 'grandparent' players who have boosted them. They're still in with a chance in the LM but their neighbours, Longford and Leitrim are currently in pole position.


So all in all, it wasn't a great league campaign for Ulster counties. Only Donegal got promoted while others - Down, Derry, Armagh and Fermanagh got relegated. If we can say that 2025 was a decent year with teams going up, then this year has been the complete opposite. I think Ulster hurling is somewhere in between.

[moonster]

Last year it was Clare who had all the injuries to key players. This year it is Cork and Limerick who are suffering the bad breaks. Tipp aren't at their best either. It could be Clares year to claim a Munster title after 28 years waiting.

Can't see Clare getting out of Munster. Cork and Limerick. Tipp for third spot.