Hurling 2026

[EoinW]

Fair selection?

Sunday Game team of the year...Pfft!  They must base their selections on two weekends of games.

[EoinW]

League champs, Munster champs, now AI champs.  A near perfect season for Limerick.  That February loss to Waterford feels like it happened last century.

Disappointing final but the positive to one sided finals is that there's no question the best team wins.  We did get two great Semi Final games(unless one is a Cork fan).

[Milltown Row2]

Poor final, in many ways a poor year, the Munster competition was fairly good, the rest was dross..

That can't be Limericks fault, they went about reestablishing their dominance again and all their big players turned up this year and answered all the questions.

Galway have reached a final (bar winning Leinster) they will look at the positives of that, but the brutal way they were dismantled yesterday will be hard to gauge how that will effect them next year, none of their best players bothered to show up or probably couldn't has Limerick were intense at breakdown..

Galway did a Cork, refusing to shoot and when they did their accuracy from last day out was missing

Anyways, was a nice day in the club, few beers, enjoyed the sun on the balcony before being taxied home to fall asleep before half time of the soccer

[Tony Baloney]

Poor spectacle. The wait goes on to find out who can stop Limerick.

Were they not stopped in 2024 and 2025?

The dynasty. Looks like those 2 years could be a blip but sure to be some significant retirements in the next few years.

[mouview]

Fair selection?

As poor though they were yesterday, both Glennon and Monaghan (in particular) have had excellent seasons and shouldn't be overlooked as easily just for one match; you could argue both have been more consistent than Cathal Mannion. Darach Fahy enhanced his reputation as well this year.

[Maroon Manc]

You could see early on Galway were in trouble, Limericks getting their scores easily.

At this stage you get used to losing finals whether its football or hurling, not a great trait.

[imtommygunn]

The only thing bothering them a bit in the first half was getting to grips with Rabbite. They did a lot of fouling to do that too mind you.

Great team but I do find them hard to warm to. Maybe happens when you get sick of seeing the same team winning though.

[Captain Scarlet]

Two bad finals in a row and not enough good games up to then to paper over the cracks.

This is a mostly-football forum, but even with my bias I'd say the big ball has had some makeover in the new rules. BUT hurling will never get looked at in the same hyper-critical way to force any major changes.

I am not sure what you can do.

[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.

[marty34]

I see Casey is in on the edge of square on young Rabbitte. Casey made a solid inmpact when he came on against Clare.  Actually both him and Lynch are in so Kiely going on performances and his usual 'next man up' philosophy. Casey will be edgy on Rabbitte but the young Athenry lad can take it any way. He'll enjoy Casey's physical battles.


O'Donovan misses out. Strange that but hard to square the circle. You want and need a strong bench nowadays. O'Donovan's deliveries are excellent a lovely ball in front of Gillane or Casey etc. He knows what type of ball the forwards want and no doubt we'll see him in the second half.


Galway will need more than what they brought V Cork. Will they have it? Everyone will need to be on their game. I'd still be doubtful on Burke and his knee. Surely he can't be right? I think Limerick will expolit that situation big time.


I think Limerick will win and be crowned the great team every but they'll need Gillane to play well. He'll be disappointed in his own performances this year in the championship. He should come alive tomorrow.


Hopefully I'm wrong here but I'm sticking my neck out and I'm going for Limerick by 8 + points tomorrow. 

Wasn't faraway with my tip above. 


Galway never showed upand really played thir final in the semi-final.


Limerick are just a machine in that middle third. Eat you up and force turn overs constantly. But in there, they are hungry and work so hard at closing down in packs. It's a well honed tactic but more importantly, they're just brilliant hurlers. Great skill level and decision makers.


I mentioned it on here before earlier in the season that bringing CC back was the biggest 'signing' of the year for Limerick. You could see that yesterday and how much she mean to them.


Well played Limerick.   

[Armagh18]

Two bad finals in a row and not enough good games up to then to paper over the cracks.

This is a mostly-football forum, but even with my bias I'd say the big ball has had some makeover in the new rules. BUT hurling will never get looked at in the same hyper-critical way to force any major changes.

I am not sure what you can do.

Shame, it was great seeing Galway upset Cork but Limerick Cork probably would have made for a better final (bar Cork having a meltdown which is always on the cards). Limerick could win another 2 or 3 in a row, plenty left in the older lads and young fellas only getting better, Clare losing a few, Galway a step below, Kilkenny in the doldrums and Cork are Cork.

2 very disappointing finals yesterday, hopefully Mayo can bring something to at least give the neutrals value for money next week. 

[johnnycool]

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.

[Square Ball]

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.

From memory 40 turnovers and they scored 1-17 from them I think, some stats if correct

[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.

[ArmaghTastic]

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.