National Forum

Hurling Championship 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Many people still regard Cork as the 2nd best however a question I've got is how many more 'collapses' would it take for them to be regarded as 3rd or lower.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 192 - 23/07/2026 10:31:55    2686706

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "And also yes Limerick play on the edge but who doesn't. If you aren't playing there where are you playing?"
Nobody ever won anything in any sport playing within themselves.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 10:40:22    2686708

Link

I recall someone saying to Brian Cody that Tommy Walsh 'played on the edge' and Cody replying 'sure where else would I want him to play?'

wexford2012 (Wexford) - Posts: 137 - 23/07/2026 10:55:09    2686715

Link

Replying To StoreysTash:  "And also yes Limerick play on the edge but who doesn't. If you aren't playing there where are you playing?"
When did I say that limerick didnt? I said that the poster that I originally replied to seems to be saying that Limerick are the first to play this way and that the refereeing has somehow changed to suit them. He also claims that some are being selected for athletic ability and size over hurling ability. None of which is true or accurate.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 757 - 23/07/2026 11:13:35    2686719

Link

Replying To midfield9:  "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."
Well put for all thats good in the modrn fyme it has its flaws too . And if we are to survive and improve as a whole some rules need to be enforced and not turn it into a gane of being mauled and battered into submission

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 645 - 23/07/2026 12:14:20    2686728

Link

Replying To Formertownie:  "Well put for all thats good in the modrn fyme it has its flaws too . And if we are to survive and improve as a whole some rules need to be enforced and not turn it into a gane of being mauled and battered into submission"
The game is always evolving and improving. It will also have flaws. You are looking for a sanitised version of hurling. It has never existed and never will.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 757 - 23/07/2026 12:54:00    2686742

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "The game is always evolving and improving. It will also have flaws. You are looking for a sanitised version of hurling. It has never existed and never will."
And noone would want it if it did exist

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 13:31:00    2686756

Link

Replying To ColmFlaherty:  "Many people still regard Cork as the 2nd best however a question I've got is how many more 'collapses' would it take for them to be regarded as 3rd or lower."
Its a good question you are asking. I suppose it depends how you define best.
Galway won more silverware this year, and won more Championship silverware. And beat Cork in a knockout Championship game.
Maybe if you define best and 2nd best some other way, not sure by what metric though. Cork are best supported, so they arent even 2nd best by that metric.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 13:37:40    2686761

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "The game is always evolving and improving. It will also have flaws. You are looking for a sanitised version of hurling. It has never existed and never will."
If we can fix the hand pass. By fixing the hand pass that would fix a a few other problems as well. It looks like to most people watching hurling that the ball is being thrown

Newyorkkat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 200 - 23/07/2026 13:49:44    2686770

Link

Replying To Tadhg2020:  "The game is always evolving and improving. It will also have flaws. You are looking for a sanitised version of hurling. It has never existed and never will."
Of course the game is evolving as it always has and always will do . The flaking as u call it has stopped for the better surely if left go over time someone would have been killed . Eventually the enforcement of certain rules will be applied to protect the players from injury too . Is that sanitising or improving the game But the way its evolving i fear it's turning into a wrestling match with too much head contact.
There has never been as much analysis and almost professional disecting of the game to the point where its becoming so tactical and not justbze hurling part The rules are being flouted and all coaches are trying find ways to allude and use them thats not playing on the edge thats playing to a system . Team meetings before games are as much about the ref and his particular way of interpreting the rules as much as game play . .
If u are a good running team u will use that if u arent u try stop it , if physicality is ur best attribute u will use that whatever ur strengths u will use them . Which attribute is best . A mix of both is the way like ye have at present . I just fear the purely physical dominating game is not and there could be too much emphasis on size going forwatd rather tha hurling ability .
Let's see huge physicality and contest but within the rules oryat least close to them .
No ref should fear being called out on not letting tte game flow at the expense of the hurling itself .

Formertownie (Wexford) - Posts: 645 - 23/07/2026 14:01:05    2686773

Link

Replying To ColmFlaherty:  "Many people still regard Cork as the 2nd best however a question I've got is how many more 'collapses' would it take for them to be regarded as 3rd or lower."
Here ya go Colm-
The Way Too Early Hurling Power Rankings Ahead Of The 2027 Season | Balls.ie https://share.google/GW660pBuXo0oSVoTb

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 14:39:36    2686777

Link

Replying To Newyorkkat:  "If we can fix the hand pass. By fixing the hand pass that would fix a a few other problems as well. It looks like to most people watching hurling that the ball is being thrown"
Legalise underarm throwing.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 14:51:47    2686781

Link

Replying To Formertownie:  "Of course the game is evolving as it always has and always will do . The flaking as u call it has stopped for the better surely if left go over time someone would have been killed . Eventually the enforcement of certain rules will be applied to protect the players from injury too . Is that sanitising or improving the game But the way its evolving i fear it's turning into a wrestling match with too much head contact.
There has never been as much analysis and almost professional disecting of the game to the point where its becoming so tactical and not justbze hurling part The rules are being flouted and all coaches are trying find ways to allude and use them thats not playing on the edge thats playing to a system . Team meetings before games are as much about the ref and his particular way of interpreting the rules as much as game play . .
If u are a good running team u will use that if u arent u try stop it , if physicality is ur best attribute u will use that whatever ur strengths u will use them . Which attribute is best . A mix of both is the way like ye have at present . I just fear the purely physical dominating game is not and there could be too much emphasis on size going forwatd rather tha hurling ability .
Let's see huge physicality and contest but within the rules oryat least close to them .
No ref should fear being called out on not letting tte game flow at the expense of the hurling itself ."
Do you think there are more head injuries, and ones resulting in hospitalisation, now than there were in the 90s? Even the noughties?
I don't think there are tbh.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20336 - 23/07/2026 14:55:44    2686782

Link

Replying To Formertownie:  "Of course the game is evolving as it always has and always will do . The flaking as u call it has stopped for the better surely if left go over time someone would have been killed . Eventually the enforcement of certain rules will be applied to protect the players from injury too . Is that sanitising or improving the game But the way its evolving i fear it's turning into a wrestling match with too much head contact.
There has never been as much analysis and almost professional disecting of the game to the point where its becoming so tactical and not justbze hurling part The rules are being flouted and all coaches are trying find ways to allude and use them thats not playing on the edge thats playing to a system . Team meetings before games are as much about the ref and his particular way of interpreting the rules as much as game play . .
If u are a good running team u will use that if u arent u try stop it , if physicality is ur best attribute u will use that whatever ur strengths u will use them . Which attribute is best . A mix of both is the way like ye have at present . I just fear the purely physical dominating game is not and there could be too much emphasis on size going forwatd rather tha hurling ability .
Let's see huge physicality and contest but within the rules oryat least close to them .
No ref should fear being called out on not letting tte game flow at the expense of the hurling itself ."
There you go again. Are you seriously trying to imply that Ger Loughnane, Liam Griffin and may more didnt analyse the referee before games.
Are you again trying to imply that limerick hurlers are systematically fouling and are picked for their size at the expense of hurling ability?
Are you really wanting every foul to be blown and the referee and free taker to return to centre stage of the game? We had that , and still get it on occasion, and it was boring and tedious to watch. We had a start stop game and no it didnt change how the game was played. The referee decided many games in that era. The players didnt change their ways. The referees decided to let the game flow and we have a much better game for it. Referees are dealing with the high challenge and are generally doing okay on that. They can do no more than referee those challenges as they see them. The rules also adequately govern those challenges. Im not sure what you are complaining about other than Limerick winning.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 757 - 23/07/2026 15:12:06    2686786

Link

Replying To Newyorkkat:  "If we can fix the hand pass. By fixing the hand pass that would fix a a few other problems as well. It looks like to most people watching hurling that the ball is being thrown"
The handpass evolved to where it is because of the swarm/ high volume tackle. You simply cannot throw up and strike the ball in the traditional way with that amount of contact and bodies in the way. If they wee mad enough to try and reverse time to a 1990s style handpass rhere would be a lot more rucks and they are already a problem. The reason the separation on the handpass has narrowed to the extent it has is both for time and accuracy. If we go back there is no time for that and the accuracy drops creating ruck after ruck.
I believe that the indirect free will come in to deal with technical fouls such as the handpass. It doesn't matter what it looks like to most people. The ref has been proveh wrong many times. The indirect free negates that impacting the scorebard directly.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 757 - 23/07/2026 15:23:05    2686790

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Here ya go Colm-
The Way Too Early Hurling Power Rankings Ahead Of The 2027 Season | Balls.ie https://share.google/GW660pBuXo0oSVoTb"
I had a look a look at it when it was my feed for other socials and I myself tend to agree even though some could comeback and say if course I would because I'm from Galway. I know that many don't however

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 192 - 23/07/2026 15:57:18    2686795

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Nobody ever won anything in any sport playing within themselves."
100% - See Cork's recent Croke Park escapades for reference!

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 614 - 23/07/2026 16:18:34    2686800

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Legalise underarm throwing."
Eliminate the hand pass

Newyorkkat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 200 - 23/07/2026 18:20:09    2686832

Link

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 Autobiography was entitled 'I crossed the Line'

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4565 - 24/07/2026 11:45:07    2686894

Link