Hurling 2026

[seafoid]

Cody won 11 all Irelands between 2000 and 2015

The Kilkenny 4 in a row team won 8 all Irelands
Dublin footballers won 9 I think.

Limerick are in that class but not at Cody level.
So they might win 2 or 3 more

[Rossfan]

Ban it.
Then watch it take off!

It's been a minority or micro sport in all but 6 Counties for the 140 or so years of the GAA's existence.

No sign of that changing any time soon.

6?
More than that I'd say.
I would say it's the main sport in about 11 counties.
I would always have considered the below counties as "hurling" counties.

Cork
Limerick
Waterford
Clare
Tipp
Kilkenny
Offaly
Wexford
Laois
Galway
Antrim

Still not huge granted but definitely more than 6.

Westmeath, Carlow are at the very least 50/50 and Kildare are also making some strides in the sport.

Minority in Offaly and Laois.
50/50 Wexford and Galway.
Don't know about Antrim.
Westmeath and Carlow are NOT 50/50.

[Captain Obvious]

Cody won 11 all Irelands between 2000 and 2015

The Kilkenny 4 in a row team won 8 all Irelands
Dublin footballers won 9 I think.

Limerick are in that class but not at Cody level.
So they might win 2 or 3 more

5 wins in 26 All-Ireland final appearances for Galway a poor return and win percentage of 19%

Limerick in comparison 6 All-Ireland titles won from 6 All-Ireland final appearances since 2018.  Even before this spell 7 wins from 16 finals better than Galway.

[Genocide Organ]

Cody won 11 all Irelands between 2000 and 2015

The Kilkenny 4 in a row team won 8 all Irelands
Dublin footballers won 9 I think.

Limerick are in that class but not at Cody level.
So they might win 2 or 3 more

5 wins in 26 All-Ireland final appearances for Galway a poor return and win percentage of 19%

Limerick in comparison 6 All-Ireland titles won from 6 All-Ireland final appearances since 2018.  Even before this spell 7 wins from 16 finals better than Galway.

In fairness, for a lot of them finals Galway only had to win one match to be in it.

[laoislad]

Hurling a minority sport in Laois and Offaly 😂😂😂 Who is this fella?
Wexford is a hurling county also.

[Armagh18]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

[seafoid]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Minors need 6 or 7 years. The outstanding players from zSunday are generational and were there in 2018. Who is Kiely going to.play- a 22 year old or Cian Lynch. Limerick have the same problem as Kilkenny and Dublin and Fergie's Man Utd. No succession plan

[Armagh18]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Minors need 6 or 7 years. The outstanding players from zSunday are generational and were there in 2018. Who is Kiely going to.play- a 22 year old or Cian Lynch. Limerick have the same problem as Kilkenny and Dublin and Fergie's Man Utd. No succession plan

we'll see

[NAG1]

Poor enough final which is probably a disservice to Limerick who were pretty awesome.

Been said earlier that Galway weren't allowed to play. Their game plan is so hard to implement with only one serious threat inside to win the ball, left it easy enough for Limerick to shut them down.

Pity as there is a lot to like about Galway they are just a bit short in terms of their development physically and tactically.

[marty34]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Minors need 6 or 7 years. The outstanding players from zSunday are generational and were there in 2018. Who is Kiely going to.play- a 22 year old or Cian Lynch. Limerick have the same problem as Kilkenny and Dublin and Fergie's Man Utd. No succession plan

we'll see

Well if you break it down, this years minors will take at least 6 years to come through, if they come through.



Who knows, teams sometimes get more players through to senior from an 'unsuccessful' minor team. It is not linear. So regardless, they will have players coming through.



To me, a bigger indication of where Limerick will be, is not their minors, but lads who are older than that. I'm talking Fitzgibbon level. The place where this is focussed recently is where? Limerick.



Last year's final, in Croke Park, was between UL and Mary I. Both Limerick colleges.  And since Covid, the last five winners have been Limerick based. UL four times and Mary I once. Now I understand people will say it's a uni etc. and they're are players from all over Ireland, but predominately Munster attending these colleges. That is true but they both located in Limerick based and this is to their advantage obviously. Limerick currently is where the Fitzgibbon power base is.  This no doubt, will continue also into the future.



When you, for example, break this down further and I'm, as mentioned above,  using the 2026 Fitzgibbon Cup Final as an example here. It was between UL and Mary I.  Between the teams there were 15 Limerick players involved.


UL had 7 players:
 
Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) 
Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister)
Adam English (Doon)
Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown)
Darragh Langan (Monaleen)
Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen)
Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls)


Mary I had 8 players:

Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock)
Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock)
Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca)
Oisin O'Farrell (ABK Desmonds)
Patrick Finn (Bruff)
William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca)
Sean Whelan (Cappamore)
Michael Gavin (Ballybrown)


So out of that probably 4/5 starters on the current Limerick team. Bull O'Brien the only one from Mary I. 



So I had a look at Sunday's programme there to see who else from this 15 who are currently on the Limerick panel and the following are:

Oisín O 'Farrell

Fintan Fitzgerald (came on V Clare)

Darragh Langan

Joe Fitzgerald



So they have four who are currently slotting into an 'apprenticeship' for two or three years under K & K. And that leaves another 6 or 7 who will probably come on board over the next couple of years.



This,  to me,  illustrates that Limerick will be competing at a high level over the next ten years. They mightn't be as dominant but they will be there or there abouts. The main thing is if K & K stay on and that culture is still there and if not too many of the current team retire at the one time. That's crucial. 



Somebody on here compared Limerick with Kilkenny when this great team start to break up but there's no comparsion. Kilkenny have a lad or two here and there playing Fitzgibbon with DCU or Carlow IT etc. but nowhere near the same as Limerick.



Now all of the above means nothing unless these lads want to play for Limerick and put the effort and hard work in. It's not for everyone so time will tell. But to me, Limerick are in a good place.

   

[Armagh18]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Minors need 6 or 7 years. The outstanding players from zSunday are generational and were there in 2018. Who is Kiely going to.play- a 22 year old or Cian Lynch. Limerick have the same problem as Kilkenny and Dublin and Fergie's Man Utd. No succession plan

we'll see

Well if you break it down, this years minors will take at least 6 years to come through, if they come through.



Who knows, teams sometimes get more players through to senior from an 'unsuccessful' minor team. It is not linear. So regardless, they will have players coming through.



To me, a bigger indication of where Limerick will be, is not their minors, but lads who are older than that. I'm talking Fitzgibbon level. The place where this is focussed recently is where? Limerick.



Last year's final, in Croke Park, was between UL and Mary I. Both Limerick colleges.  And since Covid, the last five winners have been Limerick based. UL four times and Mary I once. Now I understand people will say it's a uni etc. and they're are players from all over Ireland, but predominately Munster attending these colleges. That is true but they both located in Limerick based and this is to their advantage obviously. Limerick currently is where the Fitzgibbon power base is.  This no doubt, will continue also into the future.



When you, for example, break this down further and I'm, as mentioned above,  using the 2026 Fitzgibbon Cup Final as an example here. It was between UL and Mary I.  Between the teams there were 15 Limerick players involved.


UL had 7 players:
 
Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) 
Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister)
Adam English (Doon)
Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown)
Darragh Langan (Monaleen)
Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen)
Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls)


Mary I had 8 players:

Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock)
Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock)
Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca)
Oisin O'Farrell (ABK Desmonds)
Patrick Finn (Bruff)
William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca)
Sean Whelan (Cappamore)
Michael Gavin (Ballybrown)


So out of that probably 4/5 starters on the current Limerick team. Bull O'Brien the only one from Mary I. 



So I had a look at Sunday's programme there to see who else from this 15 who are currently on the Limerick panel and the following are:

Oisín O 'Farrell

Fintan Fitzgerald (came on V Clare)

Darragh Langan

Joe Fitzgerald



So they have four who are currently slotting into an 'apprenticeship' for two or three years under K & K. And that leaves another 6 or 7 who will probably come on board over the next couple of years.



This,  to me,  illustrates that Limerick will be competing at a high level over the next ten years. They mightn't be as dominant but they will be there or there abouts. The main thing is if K & K stay on and that culture is still there and if not too many of the current team retire at the one time. That's crucial. 



Somebody on here compared Limerick with Kilkenny when this great team start to break up but there's no comparsion. Kilkenny have a lad or two here and there playing Fitzgibbon with DCU or Carlow IT etc. but nowhere near the same as Limerick.



Now all of the above means nothing unless these lads want to play for Limerick and put the effort and hard work in. It's not for everyone so time will tell. But to me, Limerick are in a good place.

   

Look at the age profile of their team at the minute, plenty left even in the likes of Hayes and Hegarty, the Bull and English are huge players and only cubs really. Looking at Galway and Tipp last year who had some you g lads playing huge roles theres no reason to think that if there were any stand outs from this years Limerick minor team that they won't be fit to make an impact with 2 or 3 years at senior level.

I think (as a total hurling dunce)  they'll win more All Irelands than any other single county over the next decade. Someone come back to this post in 2036 .

[mouview]

Cody won 11 all Irelands between 2000 and 2015

The Kilkenny 4 in a row team won 8 all Irelands
Dublin footballers won 9 I think.

Limerick are in that class but not at Cody level.
So they might win 2 or 3 more

5 wins in 26 All-Ireland final appearances for Galway a poor return and win percentage of 19%

Limerick in comparison 6 All-Ireland titles won from 6 All-Ireland final appearances since 2018.  Even before this spell 7 wins from 16 finals better than Galway.

Losing finals shouldn't in itself be seen as a badge of failure. It shows at least a consistency of something being done right in the background processes. Limerick themselves lost 2 in '94 and '96 they really should have won  - Kiely is still "scarred" by it. For the counties that reach finals infrequently, Dublin, Wexford (in particular), Waterford, Clare (to an extent), I'm sure they'd love to be in more finals for the mini-boost and excitement it would give locally.

[seafoid]

Cody won 11 all Irelands between 2000 and 2015

The Kilkenny 4 in a row team won 8 all Irelands
Dublin footballers won 9 I think.

Limerick are in that class but not at Cody level.
So they might win 2 or 3 more

5 wins in 26 All-Ireland final appearances for Galway a poor return and win percentage of 19%

Limerick in comparison 6 All-Ireland titles won from 6 All-Ireland final appearances since 2018.  Even before this spell 7 wins from 16 finals better than Galway.

Losing finals shouldn't in itself be seen as a badge of failure. It shows at least a consistency of something being done right in the background processes. Limerick themselves lost 2 in '94 and '96 they really should have won  - Kiely is still "scarred" by it. For the counties that reach finals infrequently, Dublin, Wexford (in particular), Waterford, Clare (to an extent), I'm sure they'd love to be in more finals for the mini-boost and excitement it would give locally.

Limerick also lost 2007.

Most of Galway's losses happpened before Galway went into Leinster and was on its own with no competition.
Since it went into Leinster Galway has been in 4 finals and won 1. 2 of those losses were against Kilkenny and one against Limerick..

[Blowitupref]

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Galway weren't allowed to show up yesterday.

They got no space to work the ball through, coupled by the intensity of the Limerick tackling they spilled a fierce amount of ball, I'd like to see the turnover count, it'll be hugely in Limericks favour.

Galway will learn a lot from this experience and will probably get back to an AI semi-final in 2027 to see if they have kicked on.
Galway probably exceeded their expectations for the year by getting to the final, the next step is a big one though.

Galway don't usually win first time before winning. 1979, 1985, 1986, 2015
The question is how long the wait.The young players are good. Kilkenny tacked on a few all Irelands after the 4 in a row.
Limerick probably have a few more in the tank. But nothing after that like Kilkenny.

Wouldn't be so sure. Few years left in Limericks old guard yet and 4 or 5 starters only really cubs yet. Not to mention the minors are after winning an All Ireland.

Minors need 6 or 7 years. The outstanding players from zSunday are generational and were there in 2018. Who is Kiely going to.play- a 22 year old or Cian Lynch. Limerick have the same problem as Kilkenny and Dublin and Fergie's Man Utd. No succession plan

we'll see

Well if you break it down, this years minors will take at least 6 years to come through, if they come through.



Who knows, teams sometimes get more players through to senior from an 'unsuccessful' minor team. It is not linear. So regardless, they will have players coming through.



To me, a bigger indication of where Limerick will be, is not their minors, but lads who are older than that. I'm talking Fitzgibbon level. The place where this is focussed recently is where? Limerick.



Last year's final, in Croke Park, was between UL and Mary I. Both Limerick colleges.  And since Covid, the last five winners have been Limerick based. UL four times and Mary I once. Now I understand people will say it's a uni etc. and they're are players from all over Ireland, but predominately Munster attending these colleges. That is true but they both located in Limerick based and this is to their advantage obviously. Limerick currently is where the Fitzgibbon power base is.  This no doubt, will continue also into the future.



When you, for example, break this down further and I'm, as mentioned above,  using the 2026 Fitzgibbon Cup Final as an example here. It was between UL and Mary I.  Between the teams there were 15 Limerick players involved.


UL had 7 players:
 
Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) 
Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister)
Adam English (Doon)
Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown)
Darragh Langan (Monaleen)
Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen)
Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St Pauls)


Mary I had 8 players:

Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock)
Jimmy Quilty (Blackrock)
Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca)
Oisin O'Farrell (ABK Desmonds)
Patrick Finn (Bruff)
William Dore (Dromin-Athlacca)
Sean Whelan (Cappamore)
Michael Gavin (Ballybrown)


So out of that probably 4/5 starters on the current Limerick team. Bull O'Brien the only one from Mary I. 



So I had a look at Sunday's programme there to see who else from this 15 who are currently on the Limerick panel and the following are:

Oisín O 'Farrell

Fintan Fitzgerald (came on V Clare)

Darragh Langan

Joe Fitzgerald



So they have four who are currently slotting into an 'apprenticeship' for two or three years under K & K. And that leaves another 6 or 7 who will probably come on board over the next couple of years.



This,  to me,  illustrates that Limerick will be competing at a high level over the next ten years. They mightn't be as dominant but they will be there or there abouts. The main thing is if K & K stay on and that culture is still there and if not too many of the current team retire at the one time. That's crucial. 



Somebody on here compared Limerick with Kilkenny when this great team start to break up but there's no comparsion. Kilkenny have a lad or two here and there playing Fitzgibbon with DCU or Carlow IT etc. but nowhere near the same as Limerick.



Now all of the above means nothing unless these lads want to play for Limerick and put the effort and hard work in. It's not for everyone so time will tell. But to me, Limerick are in a good place.

   

Look at the age profile of their team at the minute, plenty left even in the likes of Hayes and Hegarty, the Bull and English are huge players and only cubs really. Looking at Galway and Tipp last year who had some you g lads playing huge roles theres no reason to think that if there were any stand outs from this years Limerick minor team that they won't be fit to make an impact with 2 or 3 years at senior level.

I think (as a total hurling dunce)  they'll win more All Irelands than any other single county over the next decade. Someone come back to this post in 2036 .

Ages according to the Irish Times of Limerick starting 15 on Sunday

Nickie Quaid; 37 Sean Finn 30 Mike Casey 30 Barry Nash 29  Diarmaid Byrnes 32 Will O'Donoghue 31 Kyle Hayes 28  Adam English 23 Cian Lynch 30 Gearoid Hegarty 31, Aidan O'Connor 24 Cathal O'Neill 24 Aaron Gillane 29 Shane O'Brien 21 Peter Casey 28

Average age 28.4 of that 15


Galway had a mixture of youth and experience with two 19 year odds and three aged 31 to 33. Average age 25.4 of their starting 15.

[Armagh18]

Take out Quaid there and that's a healthy age profile for Limerick 4 massive players will still be 25 or under next year and would expect 2 more top seasons at the very least from near enough all the others. Hegarty and Hayes seem to be getting better, monsters of men, Hayes probably another 5 or 6 seasons in him all being well.

Going nowhere any time soon Limerick and with the backing they have I'd say being a Limerick hurler is a very attractive prospect for young lads coming up