SHC 2026

redsetanta · July 06, 2026, 05:37:26 PM

SHC 2026 talk here

Border Rail 26 · July 07, 2026, 02:11:33 PM

Could be a really open senior championship.

Ballacolla still have another year or 2 in them so deserve to be in the conversation but camross and the Harps are the 2 form teams from the league.

Id be surprised if camross don't make the final from there side of the draw. They have grat forwards and a manager who will have them really hungry and determined. Rosneallis will definitely get to a quarter at least. Not sure about who else.

On the other side, I really think the Harps will top the group and beat any of ballacolla, rathdowney or borris-kilcotton in a semi-final. There age-profile is so good and they have a winner over them in ken hogan who will keep feet on the ground and minds focused on hurling. I heard they have huge numbers at training and they are all in the gym every week as well. They lost a league final but were missing 3 or 4 top players. Not sure about rathdowney or ballacolla, didn't look strong during the league. Harps beat them both easily enough. Borris-kilcotton might make a quarter.

I think there might be a replay of the league final but in o moore park this October

Ballyfin might have a very hard year.

Casletown should win the Senior B. Them, Harps and camross will be the 3 teams to watch out for in the next few years. Others just don't have enough quality coming through.

Laois man · July 07, 2026, 03:27:52 PM

What 3 or 4 were Harps missing in league final? Camross hurled for 20 minutes and won by 6 no point being in the Gym this time of year all about ball work now and getting sharp.

Border Rail 26 · July 07, 2026, 03:35:14 PM

Podge dunne, hugh whelan, cathal murphy and dan comerford all missing. Eoghan murphy and tony mahony only came on as subs. All big losses for a team looking to break through.
Gym is part of the culture now for winning teams and they know that.

Genocide Organ · July 07, 2026, 07:45:12 PM

Quote from: Border Rail 26 on July 07, 2026, 02:11:33 PMBallyfin might have a very hard year.

Casletown should win the Senior B. Them, Harps and camross will be the 3 teams to watch out for in the next few years. Others just don't have enough quality coming through.

Ballyfin are in dire straits. Should've tried to kick on after winning Premier last year, but instead seem to have given up. Common enough reaction to moving up a level.

Harps will dominate when they win one, but I feel it might not be this year.

Mad Mentor · July 08, 2026, 06:52:50 AM

Clough Ballacolla will be hard to beat again this year. They had so many lads in with the county that the league is irrelevant really. Their age profile is pretty good too and I fear they could dominate for a few years yet.

Laois man · July 08, 2026, 10:16:24 AM

Cbolla have a few lads injured i believe but will have enough to qualify and then have them all back. Have a few nice minors coming up aswell. How they are with mrath in the minor is a joke. Mrath had plenty of there owe for a team. Plus only 4 teams in the U20 A Cship this year that's poor.

KyleExile · July 08, 2026, 12:26:26 PM

Quote from: Border Rail 26 on July 07, 2026, 02:11:33 PMCould be a really open senior championship.

Ballacolla still have another year or 2 in them so deserve to be in the conversation but camross and the Harps are the 2 form teams from the league.

Id be surprised if camross don't make the final from there side of the draw. They have grat forwards and a manager who will have them really hungry and determined. Rosneallis will definitely get to a quarter at least. Not sure about who else.

On the other side, I really think the Harps will top the group and beat any of ballacolla, rathdowney or borris-kilcotton in a semi-final. There age-profile is so good and they have a winner over them in ken hogan who will keep feet on the ground and minds focused on hurling. I heard they have huge numbers at training and they are all in the gym every week as well. They lost a league final but were missing 3 or 4 top players. Not sure about rathdowney or ballacolla, didn't look strong during the league. Harps beat them both easily enough. Borris-kilcotton might make a quarter.

I think there might be a replay of the league final but in o moore park this October

Ballyfin might have a very hard year.

Casletown should win the Senior B. Them, Harps and camross will be the 3 teams to watch out for in the next few years. Others just don't have enough quality coming through.

Absoluely no way I'd have the Harps beating CB in a semi final when it comes to the business end of the season. In fact I don't see anyone stopping CB winning it again. If Picky continues his county form into the club championship they won't be beat.

Laoisred · July 08, 2026, 01:35:56 PM

It is a long championship and very different from the past. Gone are the days of getting your two wins early and ensuring you got out of your group. You have to be consistent over 7/8 games to win it, and obviously clinical in the last 2. You could be hurling well in the summer but when it slows in September and October, you need power, ball winners and scorers. R/E topped the group stage last year but didn't land a blow on Camross in the semi. Camross were very poor in the final and it is hard to see them being as poor again if they get back there.
The two teams of the championship last year were probably Rosenallis and Ballinakill, who really and truly should have made the final. Clough Ballacolla improved as the year went on and they know how to get the job done when it matters. Picky being avilable from the outset is a huge boost.
My prediction is that there will be plenty of upsets and that 8 points will top the group, 6 will get you through. Really looking forward to it.

Genocide Organ · July 08, 2026, 02:42:48 PM

Quote from: Laois man on July 08, 2026, 10:16:24 AMPlus only 4 teams in the U20 A Cship this year that's poor.

I know. And they have a 'C' grade in that, and all.

Laois Abu · July 08, 2026, 05:45:49 PM

Quote from: Border Rail 26 on July 07, 2026, 02:11:33 PMCould be a really open senior championship.

Ballacolla still have another year or 2 in them so deserve to be in the conversation but camross and the Harps are the 2 form teams from the league.

Id be surprised if camross don't make the final from there side of the draw. They have grat forwards and a manager who will have them really hungry and determined. Rosneallis will definitely get to a quarter at least. Not sure about who else.

On the other side, I really think the Harps will top the group and beat any of ballacolla, rathdowney or borris-kilcotton in a semi-final. There age-profile is so good and they have a winner over them in ken hogan who will keep feet on the ground and minds focused on hurling. I heard they have huge numbers at training and they are all in the gym every week as well. They lost a league final but were missing 3 or 4 top players. Not sure about rathdowney or ballacolla, didn't look strong during the league. Harps beat them both easily enough. Borris-kilcotton might make a quarter.

I think there might be a replay of the league final but in o moore park this October

Ballyfin might have a very hard year.

Casletown should win the Senior B. Them, Harps and camross will be the 3 teams to watch out for in the next few years. Others just don't have enough quality coming through.

The Harps have it all to prove so they do . You can't be in the gym until the cows come home but you can't beat getting over the line and that's what Balacolla have being doing and take all the beating this year, Camross are the only ones who could lay a glove on them

Laois345 · July 08, 2026, 06:40:09 PM

The obsession with the Harps continues. They have done nothing in years and years. They have as much to prove as any other team in it.

Border Rail 26 · July 08, 2026, 07:41:23 PM

The Harps hammered ballacolla less than a month ago. How is that not laying a glove? And dont give me some nonsense about it being the league, ballacolla were close to full strength like Harps were.
They won 4 Under 20s in a row and will be big favourites to win number 5 this year.

I know people dont want to hear it and I know there is a lot to prove in championship but their the best bet in the championship at 10 to 1.

Laois345 · July 08, 2026, 09:17:56 PM

Quote from: Border Rail 26 on July 08, 2026, 07:41:23 PMThe Harps hammered ballacolla less than a month ago. How is that not laying a glove? And dont give me some nonsense about it being the league, ballacolla were close to full strength like Harps were.
They won 4 Under 20s in a row and will be big favourites to win number 5 this year.

I know people dont want to hear it and I know there is a lot to prove in championship but their the best bet in the championship at 10 to 1.

Didn't Abbeyliex win the league last year? Or get to the final? The league means next to nothing.

Until there is some actual progress made at senior they have absolutely everything to prove. Regardless of U20, minor, etc. Other clubs have done better than the harps for plenty of years and not half as much talked about them.

Bar John Brophy, I'd say there's not many, if any, players in that team who have ever played in a county semi final? I'd have to check but it would be very, very few.

Laois Abu · July 09, 2026, 07:39:40 AM

Quote from: Border Rail 26 on July 08, 2026, 07:41:23 PMThe Harps hammered ballacolla less than a month ago. How is that not laying a glove? And dont give me some nonsense about it being the league, ballacolla were close to full strength like Harps were.
They won 4 Under 20s in a row and will be big favourites to win number 5 this year.

I know people dont want to hear it and I know there is a lot to prove in championship but their the best bet in the championship at 10 to 1.

Your getting caught up on the bandwagon,it doesn't matter how many u20s they won it doesnt always translate to senior titles. And people are right about the league different ball game than the championship