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Hurling Championship 2026

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Even a 7-7:30pm throw in only works if its a derby. The distance between the Leinster counties and Galway makes it just not work no matter when the match is played.
A better option would be to move Galway into Munster and Waterford in to Leinster from a geographic perspective but the sun wouldn't rise tomorrow morning if anything tampered with the Munster Championship! Could they be renamed "East" and "West" championships? But that would involve innovation and a bit of clear thinking.
Galway is bordering Clare and Tipp and a motorway drive links to Limerick. Waterford borders Kilkenny and Wexford and is a motorway drive away from Dublin, Kildare and Carlow."
7 on a Saturday is perfect for a local derby like us and Kilkenny but a Sunday always drags a better attendance. Although the last ten years has seen brilliant games between us and Kilkenny I would be surprised if there was any more than 11 or `12k there on Saturday which is very poor compared to the Munster games.

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1080 - 22/04/2026 12:43:16    2667881

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "7 on a Saturday is perfect for a local derby like us and Kilkenny but a Sunday always drags a better attendance. Although the last ten years has seen brilliant games between us and Kilkenny I would be surprised if there was any more than 11 or `12k there on Saturday which is very poor compared to the Munster games."
I always enjoyed a Saturday evening game but less so in the last couple of years. The main reason is it's too late for my youngest. If it was Sunday afternoon the 4 of us would be going but because it's away on a Saturday evening it's just me and my daughter. I'd imagine there are others in a similar position. With the fixtures the way they are the Galway game is the only one my son will see which is a shame.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4528 - 22/04/2026 13:15:44    2667886

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Yeah. Even if not making any stops on the way and not held up by any delays -
- Wexford Park to Salthill: four hours. To Tullamore: two and a half hours. To Parnell Park: two hours if you go the M50 way and aren't caught in traffic there. Much more if you have to go at a busy M50 time or through the city.

And when they're in the championship: Corrigan Park, three and a half hours or more. Mullingar, two and a half hours. Portlaoise, two hours.

On the other hand, very longest travelling time in Munster under the same circumstances is two hours (e.g. Ennis to Waterford, or vice versa). Most would come in under 90 minutes.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3689 - 22/04/2026 13:21:54    2667888

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On another note - it's great to see such crowds and colour at Munster Championship matches these days. It really is. But just to show it wasn't always thus, and these crowds are also being boosted by "let the good times roll" merchants -

Turn the clock back ten years, to when Kilkenny had been the dominant side for the previous decade, and Munster teams had only won two All-Irelands during that time (Tipperary 2010, Clare 2013). Attendances from 2016:
Semi-final in Thurles, Tipp v Limerick: 25,500
Other semi-final in Thurles, Clare v Waterford: 19,700
Final in Limerick, Tipp v Waterford: 26,500
Leinster Final that year, Kilkenny v Galway: a "disappointing" 29,400

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3689 - 22/04/2026 13:46:12    2667895

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I guess its circumstantial then, Saturday evening is alway good for those of us at the age for a night out. We used to often make a weekend of it in Galway but yes that is for a certain age group. When I move home later this year things might be a bit different.
And I am with you Pikeman, everything is cyclical and big attendances will peter out if even 1 team in Munster becomes less competitive.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2062 - 22/04/2026 15:08:28    2667912

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "I guess its circumstantial then, Saturday evening is alway good for those of us at the age for a night out. We used to often make a weekend of it in Galway but yes that is for a certain age group. When I move home later this year things might be a bit different.
And I am with you Pikeman, everything is cyclical and big attendances will peter out if even 1 team in Munster becomes less competitive."
Im hoping the Leinster championship sees a revival in attendances given Offaly are now really back on contention and it looks like Kilkenny may not dominant in Leinster any more. Between ourselves, Kilkenny, Dublin , Galway and Offally we should see a lot of tight games over the next few years and Im hoping the quality then improves aswell as attendances

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1080 - 22/04/2026 16:33:09    2667926

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "Im hoping the Leinster championship sees a revival in attendances given Offaly are now really back on contention and it looks like Kilkenny may not dominant in Leinster any more. Between ourselves, Kilkenny, Dublin , Galway and Offally we should see a lot of tight games over the next few years and Im hoping the quality then improves aswell as attendances"
Galway will walk leinster

BigBàsMan (Galway) - Posts: 277 - 22/04/2026 17:26:18    2667935

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "Im hoping the Leinster championship sees a revival in attendances given Offaly are now really back on contention and it looks like Kilkenny may not dominant in Leinster any more. Between ourselves, Kilkenny, Dublin , Galway and Offally we should see a lot of tight games over the next few years and Im hoping the quality then improves aswell as attendances"
Attendances wont improve significantly until a few of those counties you named there become genuine AI contenders.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19764 - 22/04/2026 18:02:01    2667944

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "Im hoping the Leinster championship sees a revival in attendances given Offaly are now really back on contention and it looks like Kilkenny may not dominant in Leinster any more. Between ourselves, Kilkenny, Dublin , Galway and Offally we should see a lot of tight games over the next few years and Im hoping the quality then improves aswell as attendances"
Matches on Sunday do make a difference yes definitely.

In Newbridge Saturday evening, the town beforehand was just going about its business, there was a game happening and a few extra people around. You might of known there was a match on with the few more cars.

The Munster towns especially Thurles is taken over the day. It's the only show in town that day. It's like a carnival around the square in Thurles and all the way upto Semple stadium. Buskers, chip vans, pubs spilling out onto the street. It's fantastic to go and experience it

Goreylad1985 (Wexford) - Posts: 47 - 22/04/2026 21:14:42    2667973

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Galway will walk leinster"
Dublin usually beat you in fairness.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4528 - 22/04/2026 23:08:46    2668001

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Galway will walk leinster"
Its only 2024 since Galway didnt get out of Leinster . They may win it this year but I dont think it will be a cake walk at all.

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1080 - 23/04/2026 09:09:14    2668018

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Replying To Goreylad1985:  "Matches on Sunday do make a difference yes definitely.

In Newbridge Saturday evening, the town beforehand was just going about its business, there was a game happening and a few extra people around. You might of known there was a match on with the few more cars.

The Munster towns especially Thurles is taken over the day. It's the only show in town that day. It's like a carnival around the square in Thurles and all the way upto Semple stadium. Buskers, chip vans, pubs spilling out onto the street. It's fantastic to go and experience it"
The thought of Thurles gives me nightmares Goreylad given our shocking record there. Always a long dissapointing drive home! Wish they would get rid of the double headers in Thurles for quarter finals in my opinion it ruins the atmosphere. You take a quarter final between Wexford and Tipp or Clare in Kilkenny Nowlan Park would be a sell out and the atmosphere would be incredible

Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 1080 - 23/04/2026 09:31:18    2668023

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "The thought of Thurles gives me nightmares Goreylad given our shocking record there. Always a long dissapointing drive home! Wish they would get rid of the double headers in Thurles for quarter finals in my opinion it ruins the atmosphere. You take a quarter final between Wexford and Tipp or Clare in Kilkenny Nowlan Park would be a sell out and the atmosphere would be incredible"
Anywhere but Thurles and anyone but Clare.

Fulgrim (Wexford) - Posts: 289 - 23/04/2026 10:32:31    2668047

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "Im hoping the Leinster championship sees a revival in attendances given Offaly are now really back on contention and it looks like Kilkenny may not dominant in Leinster any more. Between ourselves, Kilkenny, Dublin , Galway and Offally we should see a lot of tight games over the next few years and Im hoping the quality then improves aswell as attendances"
In my opinion Kilkenny never brought massive crowds, even in their prime there was always a kind of "sure we can go next year mindset". Offaly and Wexford when they are within half a chance of winning something, draw way bigger and more colour support than Kilkenny.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 256 - 23/04/2026 12:12:36    2668087

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How are we feeling about matches this weekend?

Kilkenny and Wexford - I think this game will be tight, Wexford are well capable of going to Nowlan Park and winning, but I am expecting something of a back lash from Kilkenny after everyone downing on them last week. I think they might sneak it but not by much.

Dublin and Kildare - Similar to Kilkenny, Dublin need a response and I think they will deliver at home

Galway and Offaly - Galway at home will have too much class for Offaly (who have some super young fellas coming through but look like they are a year too early physically)

Cork and Limerick - Cork looked ordinary enough in the first half against Tipperary but obviously targeted the second half and really upped the intensity and took over. I don't think they went up the gears in the League Final against Limerick and were shadow boxing a bit. The pace they possess in the front six with Walsh and Buckley now thrown into the mix is frightening and I think they will target Diarmaid Byrnes in particular with these runs (which they didn't do in the League Final). Limerick are entering the fray with what looks like a full deck to pick from. Will they be able to get up to the pace of the game straight away? I think this could easily go either way so my money is on a draw.

Waterford and Tipperary - Waterford to me looked like team who got their S&C all wrong. They are physically big men but not as mobile as Cork, Clare or Tipperary. They might get away with this down in the tight confines of Walsh Park but I think Tipperary will target goals and do just about enough to get a result here.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 256 - 23/04/2026 12:55:37    2668103

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Replying To Afinestick96:  "Its only 2024 since Galway didnt get out of Leinster . They may win it this year but I dont think it will be a cake walk at all."
Who in Leinster will come within 5 points of Galway this year

BigBàsMan (Galway) - Posts: 277 - 23/04/2026 13:18:52    2668109

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Who in Leinster will come within 5 points of Galway this year"
Only a Limerick man could be that bullish ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19764 - 23/04/2026 14:19:11    2668131

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Who in Leinster will come within 5 points of Galway this year"
Don't ever tempt fate like that.

Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 184 - 23/04/2026 14:24:48    2668135

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Galway will walk leinster"
I'm not sure about walking Leinster because you know how Galway tend to make life hard for themselves, but Galway definitely will win Leinster.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2846 - 23/04/2026 18:32:16    2668197

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Replying To BigBàsMan:  "Who in Leinster will come within 5 points of Galway this year"
You've had one game.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4528 - 23/04/2026 21:05:55    2668221

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