Hurling 2026

[Ash Smoker]

Hynes is such an annoying ref.

[Sonny Joe]

A very poor ref

[imtommygunn]

Cork, again, when it comes down to it just not good enough. This will be a big blow for them.

[Wildweasel74]

Cork cant take a beating, behaviour hasnt changed past 2/3yrs.

[Blowitupref]

Result Limerick 1-27 Cork 1-21

[imtommygunn]

Cork cant take a beating, behaviour hasnt changed past 2/3yrs.

I think it has changed. They're a lot worse under O'Connor.

What a player Gillane is.

[Jeepers Creepers]

I'm not one for allowing the game to flow by not blowing the obvious but def a lot of frees today I thought were the other way. Aaron Gillane though. He was a joy to watch today. Everything fell into his hand and wasnt by chance.

[Capt Pat]

Todays Cork v Limerick game was a bit of a sham. Only 2 weeks before Corks munster championship starts against Tipp and 3 weeks until they see Limerick again. Cork will have been saving their best for championship and so will Limerick.

Todays game was lost in the opening stages when Limerick got off to a six point to nil start. While Cork got a fortunate goal they never really got into the game and Limerick stayed ahead all the way.

[marty34]

Two enjoyable league finals today although never quite hitting the heights but enthralling all the same.


Div. 1A Final
Limerick were impressive today. Really started the game strongly - this has been an issue for them recently and they built up a good lead. Only for that freak pass by Byrnes, Limerick could have been out of sight but it gave a bit of hope to Cork. Limerick led from the start and were never caught. Always seemed to have that extra gear, when required. This was emphasised by Gillane and Hegarty in the final quarter. For all the chat of the young guns of O'Connor and O'Brien, I thought the older hands lead by example. I didn't realise that Tom Morrisery was injured and not on the 26. Kiely will also be happy that everyone has come through the final unscathed.

I think one of the advantages that Limerick have above every other team is that they now have two excellent free takers in Aidan O'Connor and Gillane. When O'Connor missed two in a row today, then scored the third, Gillane was straight on to him giving him the thumbs up. From what I know, no issues from Gillane in terms of O'Connor moving onto the frees this year. Seems to have matured into a real team player. All about the team. Connolly seems to be on Cork's frees if Decky Dalton not playing but I still think there's a question mark over his free taking. We'll know more as the championship progresses.   

Cork, for all of Ben O'Connor's huff and puff speeches through the league, were inconsistent today. Didn't fully believe in themselves. They flitted in and out of the game.

I think they should just put Eoin Downey back in at No. 3. Joyce isn't a full back and has never featured their with his regional club Imokilly. Needs to sort that before championship. That experiment hasn't worked. I like Downey at half-back but they need a full back. Other positions not far away in my opinion. Maybe Healy in instead of Harnedy.

Div. 1B Final
I think Clare were dominant in first half then they took O'Donnell and Fitzgerald off. That changed the game and if O'Sullivan's shot had beat Quilligan in last minutes, then who knows what would have happend. Unreal save by the Clare keeper. To me, like Limerick, Clare were always in control. Diarmuid Ryan was good when Clare needed him. They'll hope Rogers' injury isn't too serious.

Dublin will take great belief from this game and I think they'll do well in Leinster. They have current All Star Cian O'Sullivan still in great form. Donal Burke and Currie still to come in. Possibly AJ Murphy also so Dublin are in a good place.

Both teams shooting percentages seemed good today. They were accurate enough. I like Malone back in half back for Clare. Him on one wing and Diarmuid Ryan on the other. Ryan Taylor is an unsung hero - links play up between the defence and forwards. The key question is will Conlon play No. 6 come championship time instead of
O'Farrell? They have TK, Adam Hogan and David  Mc Inerney still to come in so they're in a good place
also.

All in all a decent league once again. Teams will nowknuckle down and get prepared for the championship.

Looking forward to it.     

[johnnycool]

Joyce isn't a full back and if he remains there will be targeted.
O'Donoghue had yet another tough day on Guillane but Mellerick didn't fair any better and possibly worse only for a decent save from the keeper.

Limerick don't let Cork work out short puck outs and then cleaned them out under the long ball.
For all that Cork got it back to 2 points but Limerick were the ones that kicked on.

Limerick have installed themselves as the front runners again but got caught out in a knock out game.  It'll need to be the same this year for them not to go the whole way.

Tipp now wait for Cork in Thurles in 2 weeks time. 

Whoever loses that is in a bit of bother already.

[EoinW]

That's two games Cork didn't show up from the start.  They got away with it in Galway but taking 25 minutes to get going wasn't a good sign.  Sunday for the first 15 minutes Cork had 1 point, 2 wides and a gift goal.

I can understand Limerick losing focus the past two seasons(when you've won 5 AI you're allowed).  This year they are dialed in and appear to be on their way to atone for last year's Quarter Final no show.  I'd say Munster and another AI are theirs to lose.

Nevertheless we shouldn't kick Cork when they're down.  They've Tipp in 2 weeks and that is more important than the league final, especially when Cork won the league last season.  It wasn't a top priority this time.

Yet it appears the damage of last year's championship game is far reaching.  Had Cork won handily - as they were expected to do - they would have been a nearly unstoppable force for years to come.  Instead they gave away a championship, thus the question remains as to whether they can win one at all.

All the fanatical support, the high expectations, the near perfect 2025 campaign(yet disasterously imperfect at the end) and a 2 decade drought.  That's alot of extra baggage for the Cork players to carry.

Psychologically Cork look fragile.  The exact opposite of Limerick, which looks solid again.  How much better will Tipp be, having the confidence of being AI champions?  I know it was Div 2 but Clare should be hitting Munster with a positive attitude.  They have to make up for last year's championship hang over.  Meanwhile Waterford have everything to prove, and usually get themselves into the mix.

Another great Munster championship to come.

[imtommygunn]

I still think Tipp are a good bit off as good a team as Cork are and in a game like this Cork will be less fragile than they would be in the latter stages.

I expect Cork to win by a few. (No skin in the game so not bothered either way but honestly think the stars aligned for Tipp last year and they're not at the level of Cork (on their good day), Limerick or Clare).

[johnnycool]

Seems Daire O'Leary has a hamstring injury and may also miss the Tipp game as will O'Donoghue, so that's a major overhaul needed in there. Mellerick will be one to get at start, but the No.3. needs a bit more thought!

Tipp will know Joyce doesn't like standing under a high ball so close to his own goal and will target him.

I'd be inclined to put Eoin Downey back in there for all his limitations he's more comfortable there than Joyce and hope that Daire O'Leary makes it back for the business end of the season if Cork are still in with a shout.

[NAG1]

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.

[ArmaghTastic]

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.

Definitely agree with you re Limerick. Think they will be very hard stopped this year.