Hurling 2026

[johnnycool]

I suppose the whole lopsided aspect of the provincial championships and how that feeds into the AI series is the real crux of the issue.

You've Waterford and Tipp not getting out of Munster who would definitely see off an Offaly at their leisure and possibly would be fairly strong favourites to beat a Dublin in the AI series so what you are getting is a fairly uncompetitive set of AI quarterfinals and it's been the case for quite a while.

The solution is there for all to see, but the sacrosanctity of the Munster championship may need to be diluted a bit and that would hit the coffers in a big way.

For me, we run off a straight knockout Munster and Leinster championship after the league is over, like the way it used to be not so long ago.

Then we go into 2 pools of 6 teams in the AI series with positions in the respective provincial championships used as a seeding element. That's each team getting a minimum of 5 games on top of the 1 or 2 games in their provincial championships.
That way we do get the best overall teams getting to the quarter finals where 2 plays 3 for a crack at the top 1 who go straight into a semi-final berth.

If you don't make the top 3 in a 6 team round robin you can have no complaints.

bottom 2 play off a relegation game to be replaced with the Joe McDonagh winners.

Should I give John Myler a call?

[DuffGael]

I suppose the whole lopsided aspect of the provincial championships and how that feeds into the AI series is the real crux of the issue.

You've Waterford and Tipp not getting out of Munster who would definitely see off an Offaly at their leisure and possibly would be fairly strong favourites to beat a Dublin in the AI series so what you are getting is a fairly uncompetitive set of AI quarterfinals and it's been the case for quite a while.

The solution is there for all to see, but the sacrosanctity of the Munster championship may need to be diluted a bit and that would hit the coffers in a big way.

For me, we run off a straight knockout Munster and Leinster championship after the league is over, like the way it used to be not so long ago.

Then we go into 2 pools of 6 teams in the AI series with positions in the respective provincial championships used as a seeding element. That's each team getting a minimum of 5 games on top of the 1 or 2 games in their provincial championships.
That way we do get the best overall teams getting to the quarter finals where 2 plays 3 for a crack at the top 1 who go straight into a semi-final berth.

If you don't make the top 3 in a 6 team round robin you can have no complaints.

bottom 2 play off a relegation game to be replaced with the Joe McDonagh winners.

Should I give John Myler a call?

I agree with this except I would move Galway in Munster and play the leinster championship with the Joe McD teams in it as well, Play a Leinster b champioship, an Ulster A and B and a connacht with Kerry either in Munster or connacht

[didlyi]

R

[Captain Obvious]

R

[ClubScene13]

I suppose the whole lopsided aspect of the provincial championships and how that feeds into the AI series is the real crux of the issue.

You've Waterford and Tipp not getting out of Munster who would definitely see off an Offaly at their leisure and possibly would be fairly strong favourites to beat a Dublin in the AI series so what you are getting is a fairly uncompetitive set of AI quarterfinals and it's been the case for quite a while.

The solution is there for all to see, but the sacrosanctity of the Munster championship may need to be diluted a bit and that would hit the coffers in a big way.

For me, we run off a straight knockout Munster and Leinster championship after the league is over, like the way it used to be not so long ago.

Then we go into 2 pools of 6 teams in the AI series with positions in the respective provincial championships used as a seeding element. That's each team getting a minimum of 5 games on top of the 1 or 2 games in their provincial championships.
That way we do get the best overall teams getting to the quarter finals where 2 plays 3 for a crack at the top 1 who go straight into a semi-final berth.

If you don't make the top 3 in a 6 team round robin you can have no complaints.

bottom 2 play off a relegation game to be replaced with the Joe McDonagh winners.

Should I give John Myler a call?

Like it. Might need a bit of rejigging calendar wise could be difficult to squeeze all in but if you tightened the national league up could be doable.

Munster will probably lose a little bit of shine but you can't have it all - I like the look and sound of that proposal

Group 1 - Limerick, Dublin, Clare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Kildare
Group 2 - Galway, Cork, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford, Laois

Something like that based on 2026

[Armagh18]

I suppose the whole lopsided aspect of the provincial championships and how that feeds into the AI series is the real crux of the issue.

You've Waterford and Tipp not getting out of Munster who would definitely see off an Offaly at their leisure and possibly would be fairly strong favourites to beat a Dublin in the AI series so what you are getting is a fairly uncompetitive set of AI quarterfinals and it's been the case for quite a while.

The solution is there for all to see, but the sacrosanctity of the Munster championship may need to be diluted a bit and that would hit the coffers in a big way.

For me, we run off a straight knockout Munster and Leinster championship after the league is over, like the way it used to be not so long ago.

Then we go into 2 pools of 6 teams in the AI series with positions in the respective provincial championships used as a seeding element. That's each team getting a minimum of 5 games on top of the 1 or 2 games in their provincial championships.
That way we do get the best overall teams getting to the quarter finals where 2 plays 3 for a crack at the top 1 who go straight into a semi-final berth.

If you don't make the top 3 in a 6 team round robin you can have no complaints.

bottom 2 play off a relegation game to be replaced with the Joe McDonagh winners.

Should I give John Myler a call?

I agree with this except I would move Galway in Munster and play the leinster championship with the Joe McD teams in it as well, Play a Leinster b champioship, an Ulster A and B and a connacht with Kerry either in Munster or connacht

Munsters strong enough, leave Galway where they are or if/when Kilkenny get the finger out they'll piss Leinster.

I do like the idea, but would it devalue Munster/Leinster any?

[marty34]

RTÉ reporting Stephen Molumphy the new Waterford manager. I remember he spent a few years in Kerry.


https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2026/0729/1585718-molumphy-appointed-waterford-hurling-manager/

[marty34]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2026/0801/1586123-mullane-gaa-bosses-need-to-address-hurling-format/


Although I like Mullane, he always always seems to be moaning about something in regards to hurling.


If it's not showing more games on free-to-air tv, then it's the structure. 

[marty34]

Two Championship Finals over already and we're just into August.


Cootehill Celtic are the Cavan champions. Beat East Cavan Gaels. 5 in the last 6 for Cootehill.


Abbeydorney have won the Kerry championship. They beat St. Brendan's. 3 in a row for Abbeydorney.


They must be two of the earliest championship finals in hurling.

[Rossfan]

How many hurling teams in Cavan?
Or Leitrim , Longford, Fermanagh?....2 in each?

[didlyi]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2026/0801/1586123-mullane-gaa-bosses-need-to-address-hurling-format/


Although I like Mullane, he always always seems to be moaning about something in regards to hurling.


If it's not showing more games on free-to-air tv, then it's the structure. 

Hes from Waterford where some external force is always to blame for their problems

[marty34]

Congratulations to Colin Ryan - All-Ireland medal and Poc Fada champion. Not a bad few weeks work. I'm sure he'll be a capable custodian if/when Quaid steps down. Ryan must have some puck out on him - if he comes in as No. 1, Hegarty may go into the full forward line. 


From Hogan Stand...who may have taken it from another site? Well done to the rest of the winners also.



Colin Ryan added a third M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title to the All-Ireland SHC medal he won with Limerick last month in the Cooley Mountains on Bank Holiday Monday.



The Pallasgreen clubman and Limerick sub-goalkeeper finished ahead of Mayo's Bobby Douglas and Clare's Eamon Foudy after getting around the Annaverna Mountain in 51 pucks. His previous successes came in 2021 and '25.


Former Cork goalkeeper Molly Lynch completed a six-in-a-row of camogie titles ahead of second-placed Chloe Morey from Clare and Caoimhe Higgins of Galway. Lynch's win leaves her just one behind Waterford's Patricia Jackman on the roll of honour.


Meanwhile, Conor Raleigh from Westmeath won back-to-back U16 hurling titles with Eloise McConn of Kildare taking the U16 camogie crown.