Hurling 2026

[johnnycool]

I think it is pretty simple, if Limerick play to their potential there isn't a team to touch them. If they have the hunger back which it appears they do, then I can't see anyone getting close.

Clare will be glad to be out of that division, the level difference in the two games was huge. Hoping that Tipp can bounce back and get the form back from late last season.

yes,
  they are a formidable outfit and Cork weren't great yet go to within 2 points of Limerick with 10 minutes to go.

Limerick saw them off well in the end, but their dominance wasn't reflected in the scoreboard in the second half.

They'll need to put teams away much more clinically come championship or they could get caught with a sucker punch.

The first game was very cagey and TBH Dublin do my head in with the way they approach these games.

In the Leinster RR v Kilkenny and again on Sunday they seemed to have this thing about playing defensively and "keeping in the game" for as long as possible and only put on a bit of a spurt late on only to come up short.

They tried something similar v Cork in the AI semi and were blown away.

How about going at it full bore from the get go rather than trying to chase down 8 and 9 point leads with 10 minutes to go?

They also have a great target man in Hetherington, yet against Cork and again on Sunday starved him of the ball down on top of him he thrives on. He's no Guillane to be running out to the wings for a low ball into space, it's not his game, so why feckin do it?

For me the Dubs should be coming out of Leinster well, but you can't be sure of them at all.

Clare will be disappointed with their performance in general no matter what Lohan says, some big players are still a bit off their best, David Fitzgerald and Duggan in particular. Both will be needing better games in the coming weeks to take the pressure of Kelly and O'Donnell. Meehan does seem to have stepped up though and that's a bonus.

[EoinW]

I agree, Limerick are back.  I'm not sure they are untouchable because Cork have as much, if not more talent.  Unfortunately Cork continues to add to the mental baggage they are carrying.  I'd be truly shocked if any other county can threaten Limerick this year.  Yes, I know one should never discount KK, with their winner's pedigree.  I'm also hopeful Galway could be a big surprise, the way Limerick surprised back in 2018.  That, however, is wishful thinking.

I do have to disagree with the idea Limerick must put away teams.  They're very different from the KK dynasty two decades ago, which won games with an opening blitzkrieg.  Even the KK teams of a decade ago could be kept in check for a half but would always up things a gear to begin the second half and leave their opponents behind.

Limerick win through attrition.  They've a mental toughness which defies being sucker punched.  Case in point being the two AI finals against KK when they got suckered punched more than once, yet the green wave kept on coming relentlessly.  At the end of the day, it was Seabiscuit running away from War Admiral.  They break their opponents confidence the final 20 minutes.

When Limerick have lost the past two seasons it's been when they don't show up at all.  Lack of hunger, which can be forgiven after winning 5 AIs.  The exception is Cork, which has had the talent to go toe to toe with Limerick.  Most of us would still bet on Limerick.

[NAG1]

I agree, Limerick are back.  I'm not sure they are untouchable because Cork have as much, if not more talent.  Unfortunately Cork continues to add to the mental baggage they are carrying.  I'd be truly shocked if any other county can threaten Limerick this year.  Yes, I know one should never discount KK, with their winner's pedigree.  I'm also hopeful Galway could be a big surprise, the way Limerick surprised back in 2018.  That, however, is wishful thinking.

I do have to disagree with the idea Limerick must put away teams.  They're very different from the KK dynasty two decades ago, which won games with an opening blitzkrieg.  Even the KK teams of a decade ago could be kept in check for a half but would always up things a gear to begin the second half and leave their opponents behind.

Limerick win through attrition.  They've a mental toughness which defies being sucker punched.  Case in point being the two AI finals against KK when they got suckered punched more than once, yet the green wave kept on coming relentlessly.  At the end of the day, it was Seabiscuit running away from War Admiral.  They break their opponents confidence the final 20 minutes.

When Limerick have lost the past two seasons it's been when they don't show up at all.  Lack of hunger, which can be forgiven after winning 5 AIs.  The exception is Cork, which has had the talent to go toe to toe with Limerick.  Most of us would still bet on Limerick.

I think the KK pedigree is in the past, I think they are closer to Dublin Wexford & Waterford now than they are to Limerick Cork Tipp and Clare even (on their day).

Agreed Cork's issue is more of a mental one at this point, physically they are behind Limerick but they do have the hurlers to make up for this part, they just can't seem to hold it together when they need too.

[imtommygunn]

They were very close to beating Tipp last year though. Unless Tipp push on, which I have my doubts about, I don't think they're far from them.