Hurling 2026

[johnnycool]

If Galway do come up against a Cork or Limerick there will be no surprise if they lost, but all will depend on the type of loss.

At the start of the year I'm sure all of Galway would have taken the hand off you if you'd said they'd be safe in Div1A and be top of the Leinster championship after resoundly beating Kilkenny, Offaly and Kildare, almost guaranteed to come out of Leinster and a Leinster final berth secured.

Winning a Leinster is probaby the target now, and it really should be although there is time for the wheels to come off O'Donoghues wagon.

I don't see it though as Dublin will provide a sterner task than Wexford and one win from those will secure the final shot.
I'd say all of Galway wants to see Kilkenny fail to get to a Leinster final as they still are Kilkenny, who can turn up in a big way in finals. This year that seems a big step up, but no one of my age will ever rule out the hoors.

[mouview]

Top teams in Munster are Cork and Limerick - full stop. I think Galway would be up to any of the rest of them. They could even be dark horses against the other two, but something tells me they'd disappoint.

I do share the KK fatigue.  That county never stops winning! They look to be having an off year(will we see King Henry as their next manager in the near future?).  However the Black Cats have nine lives.  I wouldn't expect it but would not be shocked if they retain top honours in Leinster.  They've such a psychological advantage over the other counties.  Regarding their imminent demise, the posters doth protest too loudly.

That's just it though, they have stopped winning, at most levels, bar their regular Leinster final victories. It's after that things go downhill for them. No guarantee Henry is a silver bullet to cure this malaise either.

[johnnycool]

Top teams in Munster are Cork and Limerick - full stop. I think Galway would be up to any of the rest of them. They could even be dark horses against the other two, but something tells me they'd disappoint.

I do share the KK fatigue.  That county never stops winning! They look to be having an off year(will we see King Henry as their next manager in the near future?).  However the Black Cats have nine lives.  I wouldn't expect it but would not be shocked if they retain top honours in Leinster.  They've such a psychological advantage over the other counties.  Regarding their imminent demise, the posters doth protest too loudly.

That's just it though, they have stopped winning, at most levels, bar their regular Leinster final victories. It's after that things go downhill for them. No guarantee Henry is a silver bullet to cure this malaise either.

Most counties would settle for a provincial title all the same.

If they don't get out of Leinster then Lyng is gone for sure, in fact I'd say he's gone anyway and TBH I can't see Shefflin getting it whilst Cody is still around.

[Podge72]

Galway being talked up as being as good as the Munster teams

What exactly have Galway done since 2018

They fall apart when faced with Kk in any of the Leinster finals

Tipp pushed them aside last year in a quarter final

And their recent form is 3 wins in the league and beating Leinster opposition?

As for the previous post about Kilkenny keeping on winning

What have they won ?

No Senior All Ireland since 2015

Beaten by 13 tipp minors in a final played in Nowlan park in 2024

They won an u20 all ireland by a point where Limerick weren't allowed get their senior players onto the field

A lot of lads here from weaker counties with Stockholm syndrome

[seafoid]

Galway isn't a weaker county. It's an.underperforming county. They have improved recently and have a good manager.

[Lowkey]

If Galway do come up against a Cork or Limerick there will be no surprise if they lost, but all will depend on the type of loss.

At the start of the year I'm sure all of Galway would have taken the hand off you if you'd said they'd be safe in Div1A and be top of the Leinster championship after resoundly beating Kilkenny, Offaly and Kildare, almost guaranteed to come out of Leinster and a Leinster final berth secured.

Winning a Leinster is probaby the target now, and it really should be although there is time for the wheels to come off O'Donoghues wagon.

I don't see it though as Dublin will provide a sterner task than Wexford and one win from those will secure the final shot.
I'd say all of Galway wants to see Kilkenny fail to get to a Leinster final as they still are Kilkenny, who can turn up in a big way in finals. This year that seems a big step up, but no one of my age will ever rule out the hoors.

100% Johnny. Things looked very bleak for us the last few years with an ageing team that was falling well short and despite loads of minor All-Irelands absolutely nothing was happening at u20 level. This year though, new players have emerged who look really good - Josh Ryan, Daniels, Rory Burke, Aaron Niland and Rabbitte. We've fully embraced an ugly but effective throwball/running style and can go long into Rabbitte(who looks an excellent target man) and a rejuvenated-looking Conor Whelan if needs be. Cathal Mannion and Aaron Niland are joys to watch, beautiful hurlers.
I'd still be very wary of Kilkenny in a Leinster Final too if it came to thst. Not trying to Yerra it, but everything went right for us in the recent game, we took our 3 goal chances, Kilkenny missed at least 3 really good chances and there was the red card too. I think it would be very tight, I'd slightly fancy us but mainly because Huw Lawlor isn't there. Whoever we face, It'll be our defining game of the year and a Leinster title would be huge for this Galway team.

The one we nearly won under Henry, until Cillian Buckley's late winning goal, where we had spent the last minute foostering the ball like a tribute to Dire Straits' Walk of Life video, was an absolute killer.

[johnnycool]

Good win for the Dubs there.
I like them when go direct to big Hetherington and with the bigger Hayes along side him, they're a handful

[johnnycool]

A wee bit of fire in this one.

[imtommygunn]

Leinster a minefield this year. If I am reading it right if kk beat and Offaly win they are out(as predicted before). Dublin are through regardless so maybe less sting for them. It would have been better for Offaly had Galway won today.

[seafoid]

Tipp being hammered by Clare. Clare 13 points up and 13 wides per RTE. So it looks like Tipp out.
Can't do 2 in a row.

[johnnycool]

The difference John Conlon makes cannot be over stated.

His ability to read the game is unreal and the rest of the Clare defence raise their game with him in there.
Tipp had one, maybe two chances for goals, Quilligan was equal to them whereas they were conceding goals for fun prior to this.

A trip to the Lee for Clare with a place in the Munster final up for grabs.

Tipp look gone now.

[Captain Obvious]

If that Tipperary out at the group stages?

[Capt Pat]

Tipp are all but gone. Their fate should be sealed tomorrow if Limerick beat Waterford.

[Bord na Mona man]

In Tullamore, Wexford mostly had it their way for 50 minutes. Offaly's end product was frequently poor - forwards spilling ball and butchering chances.
At the other end, Wexford got plenty of joy with runners and support play. Their first goal was text book of this - the corner back starting the attack from deep and not getting tracked before he arrived to finish the move, 60 metres upfield.

But, Offaly looked the better unit. Wexford played to their max, whereas Offaly had problems - which, if fixed in time, you knew would get the upper hand.

The penalty and black card was a big swing. But it wasn't a moment in isolation. Wexford accumulating yellow cards was down to Offaly's quality and pressure. And eventually it toppled them. While Stack enraged us with some calls, he didn't shy away from brandishing cards at those who crossed the line.

Admittedly Offaly's play against 14 men was more frantic rather than surgical, it was the sheer force of will that made sure Wexford never smelt a comeback.

Notable too that several Wexford players pulled up with injuries and were gassed well before the end.

[EoinW]

Good win for the Dubs there.
I like them when go direct to big Hetherington and with the bigger Hayes along side him, they're a handful

I thought it was the wrong strategy today.  They should have been playing the ball short, taking advantage of the wind and grabbing their points.  Most of the long balls ended up surrendering possession to Galway.  Dublin was fortunate to get the win in the end.

Hetherington is a nice option but only if he's targeted occasionally.  He's easier to defend if practically every ball is sent to him.