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Hurling Championship 2026

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "This is pure comedy coming from a Wexford man. How quickly you choose to forget the past? You won your last All Ireland with players like John and George O Connor, Larry O Gorman and Liam Dunne flaking lads on and off the ball for fun. Poor Eamon Scallan got sent off for a head high pull but if what had gone on before had been reffed that may not have happened. Hurling has always been played on the edge. Clare played a similar way to Wexford in the 90s and won 2 all irelands that way. To claim its new is just ridiculous and biased commentary."
Liam dunne was something else

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2655 - 21/07/2026 16:13:51    2686506

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Replying To Bon:  "Liam dunne was something else"
He sure was. A very good hurler who also hit pretty much everything that was on the same pitch as the sliotar. Played on and often over the edge.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 21/07/2026 16:20:31    2686507

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Replying To Formertownie:  "I m not defending some of our lads over the years certainly every team has has their men who are enforcers would nt put larry or George in that bracket . Liam was a small enough man but could give it and take it too . . My point is the refs aren't really imposing the rules as such .
Thats not limericks fault .
Limerick are big and skilful and prob one of the best teams to play the game ever no disputing that fact
but I fear the template for all future teams in all counties could be size athletisim power and strenght and then hurling. . Where stopping the opppositiin is more important than hurling itself turnovers that can be achieved in anyway possible sets the tone ."
I didnt say you defended them. I said you conveniently forgot about them. I also highlighted that their indiscretions often went unpunished by referees too. Refs have always interpreted the rules their own way. It has, by and large, helped the game as a spectacle. Brian Gavin and Fergal Horgan, for example, reffed differently but by and large allowed the game flow. They were part of some of the best games of their time. Did they enforce all the rules vigorously? No but they got the balance right more often than not.
Limerick aren't a huge team. Thats a myth. Yes there are big players but our starting fb line on Sunday are under 6ft. So was our starting midfield, 2 of out half forward line(afaik) and 2 of out full forward line. 3 of the subs used are also under 6ft.

Who in this limerick team are you talking about? Who is being picked as an athlete first and hurler second?

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 21/07/2026 16:30:26    2686508

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Replying To slayer:  "Sounds like what you are asking for is hurling without contact, which has never existed. Why try to invent it now?"
How would u get that from the post .
All i m trying to say is power and strenght does not always entertain in hurling .
Ye at present have a great formula but without Cian lynch gillane oneill to give that extra litte finesse and touch with the brain and yet they he still have an edge to them.
Thats the type of hurling people want go see tough honest hurling oozing skill more than just physical power

Again I m just giving my opinion u dont have to agree and certainly cant just summise I m asking for no contact.
Shoulders tough tackling all part of the game but the sly arm pulls swarm tackling where ref can't see who is actually fouling are taking from the game .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 639 - 21/07/2026 16:45:16    2686510

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "He sure was. A very good hurler who also hit pretty much everything that was on the same pitch as the sliotar. Played on and often over the edge."
His book, "I Crossed the Line" was quite a good read. He didn't try to dilute nor glorify how he played; just told it as it was. 15 Liam Dunnes would be some team.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2613 - 21/07/2026 16:51:13    2686511

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "He sure was. A very good hurler who also hit pretty much everything that was on the same pitch as the sliotar. Played on and often over the edge."
He was probably the best all round Wexford hurler I ever saw play live. Definitely pushed the edge back as far as he could, but very skilful too. Even though he wasnt big he was a very modern style hurler in ways, read the game well too. Had he been born 20 years later hed still have done well in today's game I think, despite not being at all tall.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20310 - 21/07/2026 17:45:43    2686515

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "His book, "I Crossed the Line" was quite a good read. He didn't try to dilute nor glorify how he played; just told it as it was. 15 Liam Dunnes would be some team."
There is no doubting his ability with a hurl.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 21/07/2026 18:52:24    2686528

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Replying To slayer:  "Sounds like what you are asking for is hurling without contact, which has never existed. Why try to invent it now?"
How would u get that from the post .
All i m trying to say is power and strenght does not always entertain in hurling .
Ye at present have a great formula but without Cian lynch gillane oneill to give that extra litte finesse and touch with the brain and yet they he still have an edge to them.
Thats the type of hurling people want go see tough honest hurling oozing skill more than just physical power

Again I m just giving my opinion u dont have to agree and certainly cant just summise I m asking for no contact.
Shoulders tough tackling all part of the game but the sly arm pulls swarm tackling where ref can't see who is actually fouling are taking from the game .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 639 - 21/07/2026 21:34:52    2686541

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "They couldn't handle Limerick's heat. Not the first time that has happened since 2018. I'm more puzzled by an 11pt win over Cork than an 11pt loss to Limerick. This is a year2 Galway side that no one earmarked as allireland contenders in 2026, prior to the Cork demolition, and even then it was difficult to fancy them against that current Limerick side too. Certain players may feel that they had below par performances, but with 11 players in their first final against a team in their prime winning their 6th of 9, it was a tall order, and it proved to be a tall order on the day."
That semi-final says more about Cork and how they clearly hadn't recovered from the heavy loss and manner of it in the All-Ireland final last year.


Tall order in hindsight but not competitive in a the showpiece can and do cause big damage. Long story short it won't be easy for Galway to bounce back in 2027.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 4053 - 21/07/2026 21:45:58    2686545

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Replying To Tadhg2020:  "This is pure comedy coming from a Wexford man. How quickly you choose to forget the past? You won your last All Ireland with players like John and George O Connor, Larry O Gorman and Liam Dunne flaking lads on and off the ball for fun. Poor Eamon Scallan got sent off for a head high pull but if what had gone on before had been reffed that may not have happened. Hurling has always been played on the edge. Clare played a similar way to Wexford in the 90s and won 2 all irelands that way. To claim its new is just ridiculous and biased commentary."
As somebody born in 1996 who unfortunately only sees a video of our last All-Ireland I can tell you if you look back at that game, there was plenty of Limerick players who were no shrinking violets either and knew what a ash was for.
John O'Connor by all accounts was a typical corner back. But George was a fantastic hurler by all accounts, as was Larry O'Gorman, neither of those were dirty players.
Liam Dunne was a small man and unlike now when a referee might look after you back then you had to look after yourself. Kill or be killed was how the game was played.
But every county had these players by all accounts, the game is so different now and is better for it.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2131 - 22/07/2026 10:01:09    2686564

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "As somebody born in 1996 who unfortunately only sees a video of our last All-Ireland I can tell you if you look back at that game, there was plenty of Limerick players who were no shrinking violets either and knew what a ash was for.
John O'Connor by all accounts was a typical corner back. But George was a fantastic hurler by all accounts, as was Larry O'Gorman, neither of those were dirty players.
Liam Dunne was a small man and unlike now when a referee might look after you back then you had to look after yourself. Kill or be killed was how the game was played.
But every county had these players by all accounts, the game is so different now and is better for it."
You might need to do a bit more research if you think the player you mentioned abided by 'kill or be killed'. Perhaps read his own autobiography. There's nothing heroic about pulling 3 ft below an aerial ball, breaking a finger on the hurley hand of an opponent. The real pity is he was so well able to play hurling and had plenty of skill when he wanted to use it.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6633 - 22/07/2026 12:09:23    2686587

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "That semi-final says more about Cork and how they clearly hadn't recovered from the heavy loss and manner of it in the All-Ireland final last year.


Tall order in hindsight but not competitive in a the showpiece can and do cause big damage. Long story short it won't be easy for Galway to bounce back in 2027."
What do you mean by won't be easy to bounce back? To the All-Ireland? To a Semi-Final win or even an appearance in one? Or retain their Leinster title?

The groups aim has to be retaining Bob O'Keefe and at the minimum putting in a good Semi-Final performance.

My thoughts on Cork are that they aren't mentally their at Croke Park since their loss to Clare and when they come under any pressure in Croke Park it starts to show, could take them awhile to figure it out.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 177 - 22/07/2026 12:25:21    2686589

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "As somebody born in 1996 who unfortunately only sees a video of our last All-Ireland I can tell you if you look back at that game, there was plenty of Limerick players who were no shrinking violets either and knew what a ash was for.
John O'Connor by all accounts was a typical corner back. But George was a fantastic hurler by all accounts, as was Larry O'Gorman, neither of those were dirty players.
Liam Dunne was a small man and unlike now when a referee might look after you back then you had to look after yourself. Kill or be killed was how the game was played.
But every county had these players by all accounts, the game is so different now and is better for it."
Hurling was very different in 1996. There was more of an onus on players having to protect themselves (i.e. by getting hips in as tight as you can to the opposition player to avoid getting hit by their hurley or putting the bas of the hurley behind your hand to protect it from somebody trying to strike it in the air when fielding a ball). These skills are no longer coached and in lots of cases a free will now be given if there is even a loud clash of the ash.

Back then every team could give it out and every team could take it or had to take it

I remember Mike Houlihan in 1996 versus Clare he broke his first hurley at the throw in and a second pulling on the ball in in a ruck. I think PJ O'Connell the broke his hurley off Mikes back when he was coming out the the ball and there wasn't a free given for any of them.

I remember Liam Dunne burst two of Garry Kirby's fingers int he 1996 all Ireland final when he went up for the ball and the general consensus was that Kirby should have protected his hand and Dunne had every right to go for it. Now days they would be calling for straight red for carless use of the hurley.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 292 - 22/07/2026 12:46:12    2686594

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I played adult hurling from 2014/2015 till I moved to Australia a few years back.
You never ever pull on a ball back over your shoulder like Gary Kirby did because if you connected with anybody you are asking for trouble. It seems like pulling back over your shoulder was the done thing back then but every centre back is going to stand his ground and pull on that ball and if the centre forward doesn't protect his hand, more the fool he.
A very similar ball dropped between Ciaran Carey and Storey a few minutes later and Storey grabbed it while Carey pulled on his hurl. As every boy ever is told protect your hand.
Different times I guess.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2131 - 22/07/2026 15:07:06    2686615

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The hurling being played now by teams when in possession of the ball is the best version of hurling ever played. Unfortunately when teams are recovering possession and swarming around players in possession we have the worst version being played. Teams recovering possession are playing almost entirely outside the rules....and as a result we have the throwing of the ball ( Players have to move it quickly or get swallowed up), head high dangerous tackles as the instruction is to hold up the player and stop his progress at all costs, and if a player does break the line in a solo he can be expect to be belted with hurleys as defenders attempt to dislodge the ball.
This fouling is lauded....but has no place in our game.

midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 118 - 22/07/2026 15:10:10    2686616

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "As somebody born in 1996 who unfortunately only sees a video of our last All-Ireland I can tell you if you look back at that game, there was plenty of Limerick players who were no shrinking violets either and knew what a ash was for.
John O'Connor by all accounts was a typical corner back. But George was a fantastic hurler by all accounts, as was Larry O'Gorman, neither of those were dirty players.
Liam Dunne was a small man and unlike now when a referee might look after you back then you had to look after yourself. Kill or be killed was how the game was played.
But every county had these players by all accounts, the game is so different now and is better for it."
I refer you to the original post that I replied to. That wexford man would have you believe that Limerick are the first to play on the edge and the first not to be refereed to the book. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As for Larry and George, they were both great hurlers and George, in particular, was a great athlete. The both were indiscriminate in how they pulled though and that Wexford team were a particularly physical bunch. Pretty much what your fellow county man is accusing Limerick of. That Wexford team didnt invent it either. Hurling had always been that way and probably always will. I just find it amusing how he chooses to forget both his own counties history and the history and evolution of the game in general.
The other thing that bemuses me is this. Who is he talking about when he says that limerick are selecting athletes over hurlers? Again George comes to mind. Id never call him an athlete first and hurler second though. He excelled at both.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 747 - 22/07/2026 15:46:47    2686624

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