National Forum

Hurling Championship 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To brianb:  "I think there should be a relegation playoff between the bottom team in Munster and Leinster. Granted it's likely the Munster team will win out for the next few years but it's not impossible that the bottom leinster team could be better than the bottom Munster team given that Offaly are back and the strides being made in Carlow, Kildare and Laois.

After that - don't forget that the Joe McDonagh cup is very competitive and is part of the All Ireland series. From what I see the standard there is increasing year on year. We need to find an extra week in the season to give a 2 week break between the McDonagh final and the preliminary round.

Apart from those small points the hurling championship is working well and doesn't need much changing."
The link between the Joe McDonagh and the AI series is no more, 2025 was the last year when the Joe McDonagh finalists went through to the PQFs

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 1185 - 10/05/2026 11:15:18    2671947

Link

Replying To brianb:  "I think there should be a relegation playoff between the bottom team in Munster and Leinster. Granted it's likely the Munster team will win out for the next few years but it's not impossible that the bottom leinster team could be better than the bottom Munster team given that Offaly are back and the strides being made in Carlow, Kildare and Laois.

After that - don't forget that the Joe McDonagh cup is very competitive and is part of the All Ireland series. From what I see the standard there is increasing year on year. We need to find an extra week in the season to give a 2 week break between the McDonagh final and the preliminary round.

Apart from those small points the hurling championship is working well and doesn't need much changing."
I agree regarding the relegation play-off. It's a total anomaly that relegation effectively only applies to one group in a supposedly balanced structure. It would mean a non-Munster team competing in Munster but so be it.

The McDonagh is no longer part of the All Ireland series and the preliminary quarter finals are gone.

CeachtPeile (Cavan) - Posts: 176 - 10/05/2026 11:25:33    2671953

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "I note that you haven't listed the leinster championship attendances for the same years. I also note that for the highest of those attendances one of the teams were at home. For the attendances between 19 and 21k both teams travelled.
Apart from that the round robin has been a real game changer. Two home games for everyone has meant a massive buy in for each county. Even Waterford, who were at at disadvantage from the start of round robin due to an inadequate stadium, are now buying into the home games. A ticket to Walsh Park this weekend is probably the hottest ticket in country this weekend and there are 2 provincial finals on. Its the closest thing we have to a PL type of atmosphere in gaa and people are buying into it big time. Its a pity there aren't more games or it wasn't over the summer."
I didn't list because they weren't on the Wikipedia page. I would have done it if I could.
So what both teams travelled, if it was this year those teams would fill Thurles. Because all have big bandwagons.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2036 - 10/05/2026 12:04:47    2671968

Link

Replying To Paull:  "And as much as Kildare deserve to play at this level they wont see another Leinster hurling championship until 2028 at the latest. And this time next year we will be saying something similar about one of Carlow ,Laois ,Wexford or Offaly.
And also we will be another year into Waterford not getting out of Munster. There has to be a better way."
A bit early to writing Kildare off already isn't it? Kildare can still finish above Offaly, assuming Offaly lose to Kilkenny today and Wexford next week and Kildare lose against Kilkenny next week. Who gets relegated could depend on the final group game, Kildare v Offaly. Where a win for Kildare will move them above Offaly.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2886 - 10/05/2026 12:06:51    2671969

Link

Prop too soon but sure if Offaly get relegated again then its the same issue. 2 years up and back down again..

Paull (Wexford) - Posts: 276 - 10/05/2026 14:14:58    2671995

Link

Replying To Paull:  "Prop too soon but sure if Offaly get relegated again then its the same issue. 2 years up and back down again.."
Near enough definite to be Kildare now.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2886 - 10/05/2026 16:54:45    2672020

Link

5 teams still in with a shout of winning Leinster. The same can't be said of Munster ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19510 - 10/05/2026 17:01:12    2672023

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "5 teams still in with a shout of winning Leinster. The same can't be said of Munster ;-)"
And no team yet assured of top 3? Am I right as Galway 6 could be overtaken.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4278 - 10/05/2026 17:27:09    2672033

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "5 teams still in with a shout of winning Leinster. The same can't be said of Munster ;-)"
And 4 teams still in with a shout of relegation from Leinster. The same can't be said of Munster.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2886 - 10/05/2026 17:40:45    2672036

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "5 teams still in with a shout of winning Leinster. The same can't be said of Munster ;-)"
5/ 6 could still win Leinster, 4/5 could still win Munster (and all 5 could still qualify) - so your point exactly is?
Absolutely delighted BTW to see the performances of Kildare and then Offaly this weekend
AI series and Leinster (and Munster) needs more competitive teams in Leinster
Slightly negated by the decline in Wexford and Kilkenny - Galway right now look a good bit better than anybody else but LT things looking up

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 247 - 10/05/2026 18:04:36    2672043

Link

I watched the first half of Wexford v Dublin and the last 20 minutes or so after watching the end of the Kildare v Galway game. I was at the Offaly v KK game today.
Dublin v Wexford was awful. Wexford are very poor and Dublin aren't a whole lot better. They do have one game winner of a forward in Donal Burke.
Fair play to Kildare for putting it up to Galway early on but Galway were very comfortable in the second half or what I saw of it.
KK were very poor today but were still probably the better team. They didnt take their chances though and Offaly were good value for the draw. There was a bit of controversy at the end with the umpire waving the ball wide before the crowd and Offaly players got on the refs back. He overturned the decision anyway much to the anger of the cats and cahill slotted it to draw the game.
There is something to work with in this Offaly team. There is real dog in them and savage work rate. They really tore into kk and they didnt like it at all. KK were dirty at times but it was frustration as Offaly swarmed them time and time again.
If I was to pick a coming team out of them all its Offaly ( and obviously Galway). I really admire their spirit and attitude. They are tough and dogged and can hurl to boot. Offaly are rising and it will keep on rising with that attitude.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 380 - 10/05/2026 19:17:45    2672076

Link

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "And no team yet assured of top 3? Am I right as Galway 6 could be overtaken."
Yes

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19510 - 10/05/2026 20:12:13    2672096

Link

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Limerick let opposing teams walk through them i suppose?

We may have ome up with system that stops our leaking of soft goals."
This game went from one ruck to the next all over the pitch. It was mainly down to poor first touch and handling plus silly mistakes by both teams. Dublin weren't much better but they do have a star forward they can rely on.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 380 - 10/05/2026 22:21:17    2672165

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "I didn't list because they weren't on the Wikipedia page. I would have done it if I could.
So what both teams travelled, if it was this year those teams would fill Thurles. Because all have big bandwagons."
There is a reason they aren't listed.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 380 - 10/05/2026 22:23:24    2672167

Link

Replying To CeachtPeile:  "I agree regarding the relegation play-off. It's a total anomaly that relegation effectively only applies to one group in a supposedly balanced structure. It would mean a non-Munster team competing in Munster but so be it.

The McDonagh is no longer part of the All Ireland series and the preliminary quarter finals are gone."
I stand corrected on that. I'd bring it in back so!

I believe the game against Dublin last year certainly helped Kildare in the adjustment this year.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 497 - 10/05/2026 22:32:36    2672171

Link

I posted something similar to this earlier but it didnt get posted for some reason.
I saw all 6 leinster teams this weekend and I was most impressed by Offaly. I think Galway have the better team atm but this Offaly team and panel have something that cant be coached. They are full of heart, determination, energy, work rate and just sheer guts and dog. They can hurl too. They deserved the draw today. They will be hard to beat and will only improve as a hurling team given the natural characteristics they have as a group.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 380 - 10/05/2026 22:36:15    2672173

Link

Replying To brianb:  "I stand corrected on that. I'd bring it in back so!

I believe the game against Dublin last year certainly helped Kildare in the adjustment this year."
They were a different animal in Parnell in league and championship than in Newbridge last year. Dublin won both comfortably on board but it was a contest.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4278 - 10/05/2026 23:47:56    2672187

Link

Replying To CeachtPeile:  "I agree regarding the relegation play-off. It's a total anomaly that relegation effectively only applies to one group in a supposedly balanced structure. It would mean a non-Munster team competing in Munster but so be it.

The McDonagh is no longer part of the All Ireland series and the preliminary quarter finals are gone."
Legendzxix has made a strong case in the past - top 5 in each Prov survives. Reasonable? Maybe.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3421 - 11/05/2026 02:24:02    2672198

Link

Also, to help Kildare in 2027 - relegation should be abolished.

I like the idea of a 16-team, 10-match season, i.e. 5-6-5, with the 6 playing the other 10 and 5s playing round robins. Kildare, when in the lower 5, would get good game exposure against the mid-tier 6.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3421 - 11/05/2026 02:52:51    2672199

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "No no this way is perfect, I'm alright jack.
Kildare will get the customary pat on the head for the relegated team, now back into your box you plucky upstarts. This is our game, for the chosen few. No outsiders need apply."
I see you've moved your "closed shop, no outsiders need apply" argument over here, again without suggesting any realistic, workable alternative.

Has already been pointed out on the other thread how your previous "solution" of a come-all-ye open draw provincial championship wouldn't work in giving more games against top tier opposition to mid-tier sides. Also how even a spell of up to three years in the top tier doesn't actually help in developing a team, e.g. Antrim.

And your "no outsiders need apply" stance is particularly odd, considering there's an application process every year, called the Joe McDonagh Cup. Winners are admitted to the top tier all right, and allowed to remain there for as long as they're good enough.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3587 - 11/05/2026 09:13:49    2672219

Link