Hurling 2026

[AustinPowers]

In Tullamore, Wexford mostly had it their way for 50 minutes. Offaly's end product was frequently poor - forwards spilling ball and butchering chances.
At the other end, Wexford got plenty of joy with runners and support play. Their first goal was text book of this - the corner back starting the attack from deep and not getting tracked before he arrived to finish the move, 60 metres upfield.

But, Offaly looked the better unit. Wexford played to their max, whereas Offaly had problems - which, if fixed in time, you knew would get the upper hand.

The penalty and black card was a big swing. But it wasn't a moment in isolation. Wexford accumulating yellow cards was down to Offaly's quality and pressure. And eventually it toppled them. While Stack enraged us with some calls, he didn't shy away from brandishing cards at those who crossed the line.

Admittedly Offaly's play against 14 men was more frantic rather than surgical, it was the sheer force of will that made sure Wexford never smelt a comeback.

Notable too that several Wexford players pulled up with injuries and were gassed well before the end.

Good to see Offaly  on the rise again.  Can they still make  the final?

Never seen yer Offaly  man behind the goals as animated as  today.

[EoinW]

Was it just me or was the intensity in the Munster game on a much higher level than Galway v Dublin?

Another question: if Kilkenny and Galway win their final games, meaning KK and Dublin finish on 7 pts, does Kilkenny go to the final because of the head to head win or is the tie broken by overall point difference?

[Deerstalker]

Was it just me or was the intensity in the Munster game on a much higher level than Galway v Dublin?

Another question: if Kilkenny and Galway win their final games, meaning KK and Dublin finish on 7 pts, does Kilkenny go to the final because of the head to head win or is the tie broken by overall point difference?

Head to head when it's two teams

Fitzgibbon out for a month with appendicitis, another blow for Cork

[seafoid]

Was it just me or was the intensity in the Munster game on a much higher level than Galway v Dublin?

Another question: if Kilkenny and Galway win their final games, meaning KK and Dublin finish on 7 pts, does Kilkenny go to the final because of the head to head win or is the tie broken by overall point difference?

It always  is.Munster has 5 teams on similar level and 3 spaces
Teams have to peak twice.

[marty34]

Big win for Clare last night in Thurles. They brought the fire and Tipperary couldn't cope. They had no answer. A very disappointing day for Liam Cahill and management.


Clare were excellent. The 3 changes they made worked really well. I referenced Diarmuid Stritch on here a few weeks ago and he produced the goods. He was consistent in both halves. Just brings something different to the party.


I'm not sure if Conlon helped to seal up the defence or that Tipp were just toothless up front. Probably a mixture of both. I can only remember Quilligan making one excellent save in he first half. Clare were really aggressive and energetic from the first to last minute.


A very controlled performance by Clare. Lohan always seems to target certain games to win and the players invariably produce the goods. Thy needed a win but I think, they also needed a performance and they got both.


Tipp, in a way, remind me of Kilkenny, in that I think the team needs more freshness. But I think, with their recent U20 success they have more on the conveyor belt then Kilkenny. Will we see the John Mc Graths, Noel Mc Grath and Jason Forde again? Great servants to the Premier County.


I think what should not be underestimated in Clare's win yesterday was the Clare's U20 Munster Final win during the week. Them young lads showed great heart and effort to win on penalties and I'm sure it would have been referenced in the senior squad's briefings on Thursday and Friday.   

[marty34]

Great wins for Dublin, Kilkenny and Offaly in Leinster.


Dublin, under Ó Ceallacháin, are getting a bit of consistency and to be fair, to go to Salthill and get the win, is good going. The have a solid core of players and  seem to be building good performances.


What I like about Dublin now is, under NÓC, they are grinding out wins/draws at the death. The Offaly game, through Burke's late score, is a prime example of this. Yesterday too, against Galway, they pushed late on and got over the line. A sign of a good team I think. It's be interesting to see how they approach the Kilkenny game in PP next week.  They are due a victory over Kilkenny in PP.



Offaly have regrouped well and have shown great energy in their group games. They started off with a draw V Dublin and in all fairness, it could have been 2 pts on the board instead of 1pt. Bourke shooting the lights out in tandem with Screeny. Hoare is a keeper who can chip in with a few long range points - always a good option.


As I said previously, a year to forget by Wexford. Definately in the rebuild or the classic 'transition' mode. I feel sorry, in a way, for Kildare. They are definately progressing but would just need another years experience in Leinster. The typical 'yo-yo' scenario unfortunately. Brian Dowling has done a great job with them and I think they'll be stronger next year. Just need to win the JMCD again in 2027.


It took KK well into the second half to get to grips with Kildare. TJ running the show again and good to see Cody and Mossy getting a few scores. Big thing for me is Adrian Mullan's 15 mins cameo role. Good to see him back and it's a great boost for Kilkenny heading into the next few weeks of action.

Looking forward to the final group game matches. Plenty still to play for.   

[marty34]

A good win for Antrim. The noise around Davy/county board/players seems to have died down and the players have got two wins out of two since. They're now doing their talking on the pitch. Maybe this should have been their mantra from the start of the JMCD?


Down finding this level tricky but their early win over Antrim has set them up well for consolidation in the JMCD.

 

A solid win for Derry V Kerry at home yesterday. Needed the win and got it. Hard to know about Kerry as they were in the final already so both teams will play each other again - this time in Croke Park. Derry should have beat London last year - a chance lost but they'll get the chance again. Kerry seem a level above everybody else in the CR but anything can happen in  a one-off game.


A huge win for Tyrone over Armagh. The two teams are heading in opposite directions. Stephen has Tyrone progressing well and will get a day out at HQ. But Mayo will be a tough ask in Croke Park. A win for Tyrone and they'll be in the CR next year so they'll want a shot at that.   

[EoinW]

Looking at the final round:

Dublin v Kilkenny is the game.  KK could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th.  I believe we can assume Galway will regain its focus and win.  Also Offaly will get to 6 pts.  I believe that if KK draw then Offaly must win by 30 pts!  That's not going to happen.

Conclusion: KK win(KK-Galway final) KK draw(Galway-Dublin final) KK lose(Offaly 3rd, KK out!).  Going back to the format change in the 1990s, has Kilkenny ever NOT qualified for the AI competition?

Regarding Munster: There's the possibility of all 3 finishing 3-1.  If that happens then Clare must win by 4pts to knock Cork out of the Munster final.  It's interesting that a year ago Cork were rampaging thru Munster, scoring tons of goals against everyone except Limerick.  This year they've won 3 games but their point difference is only +10.  It appears 2026 defences have come to grips with Cork goal scoring blitzkriegs.

Fitzgibbons is a huge loss.  Cork's best player.

To be fair to Tipp yesterday, even with Clare's early 2nd half goal, the game was still there for the home side.  Had they gotten a goal, denied by a great Quilligan save, it could have been quite different.  Then they lost a man and basically gave up.