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Kilkenny look like they are in real trouble
The only reason not to write them off is because of their history; it's not based on their performances
Galway had them for pace, for skill and for teamwork and look like they are real contenders
Like Tipp last year they have a few veterans who have done it before and a bunch of young talent
Kilkenny look like a team stuck - trying to embrace a new style, doing some close passing before somebody lamps it aimlessly up towards TJ.
They look like a team that can't win without TJ but can't win with him either as all they do is hit to him and hope
Galway look certain now to go through but it's going to be a real fight for the last 2 spots. Dublin lucky to get a point from an Offaly team that got some great scores.
Really enjoyed the Offaly Dublin game, a bit loose maybe but Offaly forwards are a delight to watch
Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 234 - 19/04/2026 01:12:03
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Replying To BarneyGrant: "Cats, Dublin, Wexford for me. Saturday will tell a tale." Tell a tail indeed.........meeeeoowww!!
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4668 - 19/04/2026 08:32:26
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Replying To CTGAA10: "Can anyone remember kk getting a beating like that in championship?I definitely can't..they were shocking..sets up a huge match next week and surely Wexford will be in with a huge chance of getting one over them..
Offaly will feel they missed a huge chance to really put the Leinster championship into chaos..can they now put another huge game together against Galway?
Kildare battled well and missed a few chances that might have put Wexford under pressure,just maybe the Leinster isn't as predictable as we all thought..
Dublin looked as if they just couldn't take the expectation on them,now they weren't beaten but they have three very tough games to come..
Let's hope Munster can live up to what we all expect." We have been turning them over in Championship pretty regularly over the last 10 years. Why should this year be any different? The only 2 games they have beaten us in 70 minutes in that time were 2 one point wins in Nowlan Park, one of which needed a penalty that wasnt, and from a Galway ref who needed us to lose for Galway to have any chance of getting out of Leinster. Which they ended up not managing anyway as they didnt beat the Dubs.
Thats not too say we will definitely win btw, but its a long time now since we played them when I didn't think we had at least an even chance of winning.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19277 - 19/04/2026 12:44:24
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Replying To CTGAA10: "Can anyone remember kk getting a beating like that in championship?I definitely can't..they were shocking..sets up a huge match next week and surely Wexford will be in with a huge chance of getting one over them..
Offaly will feel they missed a huge chance to really put the Leinster championship into chaos..can they now put another huge game together against Galway?
Kildare battled well and missed a few chances that might have put Wexford under pressure,just maybe the Leinster isn't as predictable as we all thought..
Dublin looked as if they just couldn't take the expectation on them,now they weren't beaten but they have three very tough games to come..
Let's hope Munster can live up to what we all expect." We didnt all think it was predictable. Only lazy mostly Munster pundits and journalists. Most of whom never watched a Leinster Championship game. Every year they predict a top 3 which doesn't come to pass. Galway have failed to finish in the top 3 twice, ourselves twice also. Dublin have failed to make the top 3 2 times also.
And if you look back at the teamsheets of the stronger 4 counties in games against the weaker 2, noone has this mythical, in Munster minds, luxury of resting players or playing below your best, as ourselves, Dublin and Kilkenny have all found out in Championship over the last 6 or 7 years.
Plus of course since the Round Robin returned post covid we have to play one game more, and have one week less rest also. No wonder Leinsters record in the AI series has suffered, any of us who make it out are burned out with the effort of making it ;-)
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19277 - 19/04/2026 12:52:29
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Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Tell a tail indeed.........meeeeoowww!!" Hands up! Good job i didn't back any of my opinions yesterday.
Have done today as 2/1 against Tipp too big imho.
Another hostage to fortune!
BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4223 - 19/04/2026 13:05:13
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Replying To Viking66: "We didnt all think it was predictable. Only lazy mostly Munster pundits and journalists. Most of whom never watched a Leinster Championship game. Every year they predict a top 3 which doesn't come to pass. Galway have failed to finish in the top 3 twice, ourselves twice also. Dublin have failed to make the top 3 2 times also.
And if you look back at the teamsheets of the stronger 4 counties in games against the weaker 2, noone has this mythical, in Munster minds, luxury of resting players or playing below your best, as ourselves, Dublin and Kilkenny have all found out in Championship over the last 6 or 7 years.
Plus of course since the Round Robin returned post covid we have to play one game more, and have one week less rest also. No wonder Leinsters record in the AI series has suffered, any of us who make it out are burned out with the effort of making it ;-)" So Munster journalists and pundits don't watch Leinster games?? Ridiculous statement to make!
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 502 - 20/04/2026 12:51:14
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "So Munster journalists and pundits don't watch Leinster games?? Ridiculous statement to make!" If you asked most of them to name 10 current players from each of Wexford, Offaly, Dublin and Kildare they would struggle. Theyd struggle to name 10 current Galway and Kilkenny players too probably. Did you listen to any of their analysis of Leinster games on TSG or any of the podcasts the last couple of years?
Its not a ridiculous statement at all.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19277 - 20/04/2026 13:47:19
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "So Munster journalists and pundits don't watch Leinster games?? Ridiculous statement to make!" 100% a lot of them dont. Ive no doubt a huge number of ex players who will be writing and talking this week won't have seen more than the saturday game highlights of the Offaly and Wexfors matches
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 104 - 20/04/2026 14:11:29
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Replying To Overdahill: "100% a lot of them dont. Ive no doubt a huge number of ex players who will be writing and talking this week won't have seen more than the saturday game highlights of the Offaly and Wexfors matches" I couldnt agree more. The Munster championship is promoted to within a inch of its life - gets massive crowds, rte bring truck loads of cameras, pundits etc, microphones pointed at crowds to enhance atmosphere for the TV viewer... the Leinster championship is basically recorded on a Nokia 3310 and given 2 minutes on TSG. Offaly / Dublin 100% match of the weekend but will get 5 min on any GAA podcast this week
twbm (Clare) - Posts: 62 - 21/04/2026 06:52:38
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Replying To Viking66: "If you asked most of them to name 10 current players from each of Wexford, Offaly, Dublin and Kildare they would struggle. Theyd struggle to name 10 current Galway and Kilkenny players too probably. Did you listen to any of their analysis of Leinster games on TSG or any of the podcasts the last couple of years?
Its not a ridiculous statement at all." I listened to Dalo's podcast yesterday. They spent 30 minutes or so discussing the Leinster Championship. In fact, Ken Hogan was in Newbridge for your match, and Dalo always has a good insight on the Dublin hurlers.
It's madness to be expecting in depth analysis from the Sunday game, as it's just a show of soundbites. Look, it's like this Viking, until other Leinster teams besides KK step up to the mark, Munster will continue to dominate the narrative. You want more pundits talking about Wexford, well it's up to Wexford to force their way into the conversation.
Beat KK next week and Wexford will grab plenty of headlines.
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 502 - 21/04/2026 08:22:58
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "I listened to Dalo's podcast yesterday. They spent 30 minutes or so discussing the Leinster Championship. In fact, Ken Hogan was in Newbridge for your match, and Dalo always has a good insight on the Dublin hurlers.
It's madness to be expecting in depth analysis from the Sunday game, as it's just a show of soundbites. Look, it's like this Viking, until other Leinster teams besides KK step up to the mark, Munster will continue to dominate the narrative. You want more pundits talking about Wexford, well it's up to Wexford to force their way into the conversation.
Beat KK next week and Wexford will grab plenty of headlines." From yesterdays Examiner
"The crowd at Clare-Waterford was just 650 patrons less than the total attendance figure from across the Galway-Kilkenny, Offaly-Dublin, and Kildare-Wexford games on Saturday"
Ennis and Thurles packed to the rafters.
Until Leinster hurling people start getting off their bums and going to games, selling out stadiums then this annual talk of Leinster not getting its fair share of coverage and analysis just doesn't wash I'm afraid.
Cake and eating it comes to mind
Goreylad1985 (Wexford) - Posts: 29 - 21/04/2026 09:16:49
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Replying To Goreylad1985: "From yesterdays Examiner
"The crowd at Clare-Waterford was just 650 patrons less than the total attendance figure from across the Galway-Kilkenny, Offaly-Dublin, and Kildare-Wexford games on Saturday"
Ennis and Thurles packed to the rafters.
Until Leinster hurling people start getting off their bums and going to games, selling out stadiums then this annual talk of Leinster not getting its fair share of coverage and analysis just doesn't wash I'm afraid.
Cake and eating it comes to mind" 100%
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 502 - 21/04/2026 09:57:40
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Replying To Viking66: "If you asked most of them to name 10 current players from each of Wexford, Offaly, Dublin and Kildare they would struggle. Theyd struggle to name 10 current Galway and Kilkenny players too probably. Did you listen to any of their analysis of Leinster games on TSG or any of the podcasts the last couple of years?
Its not a ridiculous statement at all." John Mullane recently published his Team of The League, and omitted probably it's best player, Cathal Mannion.
Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 174 - 21/04/2026 11:26:41
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Replying To Goreylad1985: "From yesterdays Examiner
"The crowd at Clare-Waterford was just 650 patrons less than the total attendance figure from across the Galway-Kilkenny, Offaly-Dublin, and Kildare-Wexford games on Saturday"
Ennis and Thurles packed to the rafters.
Until Leinster hurling people start getting off their bums and going to games, selling out stadiums then this annual talk of Leinster not getting its fair share of coverage and analysis just doesn't wash I'm afraid.
Cake and eating it comes to mind" 100%. I have long railed about the lack of promotion of the games in Leinster. You wouldn't know Wexford were playing Kilkenny on Saturday.
I have said for ages, to get bums on seats you need to get tickets into the hands of children. Be that giving them free to the schools, be that free child ticket with adult ticket, whatever. If you sell a 25 euro ticket with a free one because a child got one in school, its 25 euro more than you earn without the free one.
But also every Leinster match on a Saturday does not help, I couldn't get to Tullamore on Saturday for 6:30 because I was busy all day. I imagine Kilkenny people can't get to Galway for a 4pm game. Why are all these games on Saturday always? Go back to Sunday games and put them on GAA GO or whatever. Only local rivalries (e.g. Wexford-Kilkenny) work for Saturday evening.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1621 - 21/04/2026 11:33:13
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "100%. I have long railed about the lack of promotion of the games in Leinster. You wouldn't know Wexford were playing Kilkenny on Saturday.
I have said for ages, to get bums on seats you need to get tickets into the hands of children. Be that giving them free to the schools, be that free child ticket with adult ticket, whatever. If you sell a 25 euro ticket with a free one because a child got one in school, its 25 euro more than you earn without the free one.
But also every Leinster match on a Saturday does not help, I couldn't get to Tullamore on Saturday for 6:30 because I was busy all day. I imagine Kilkenny people can't get to Galway for a 4pm game. Why are all these games on Saturday always? Go back to Sunday games and put them on GAA GO or whatever. Only local rivalries (e.g. Wexford-Kilkenny) work for Saturday evening." All good points . Agree with you on promotion of games going into schools etc. Also agree on every Leinster game being on Saturday apart from the final round of matches I think .
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 978 - 21/04/2026 12:12:58
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Replying To ExiledInWex: "100%. I have long railed about the lack of promotion of the games in Leinster. You wouldn't know Wexford were playing Kilkenny on Saturday.
I have said for ages, to get bums on seats you need to get tickets into the hands of children. Be that giving them free to the schools, be that free child ticket with adult ticket, whatever. If you sell a 25 euro ticket with a free one because a child got one in school, its 25 euro more than you earn without the free one.
But also every Leinster match on a Saturday does not help, I couldn't get to Tullamore on Saturday for 6:30 because I was busy all day. I imagine Kilkenny people can't get to Galway for a 4pm game. Why are all these games on Saturday always? Go back to Sunday games and put them on GAA GO or whatever. Only local rivalries (e.g. Wexford-Kilkenny) work for Saturday evening." Saturday Afternoons / evenings instead of Sundays massively affects big numbers attending matches in my opinion. Lots of people work Saturdays and even more work half days on Saturday making it harder to attend. Obviously there are some teams that will buck these trends (i.e. neighbours or big rivals etc.)
Also Munster counties are all pretty much on each other doorsteps for example Limerick to Ennis (30 mins), Limerick to Cork (70 mins). Limerick to Thurles (55 mins). Ennis to Waterford would be the outlier at about 2 hours and 20 minutes
Think of Wexford to Galway about 4 hours 20 mins. Wexford to Tullamore 2hours 10 mins and on a Saturday when people are shopping in towns and cities it could take longer.
Much easier driving anywhere on Sunday mornings than Saturday evenings
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 234 - 21/04/2026 13:56:14
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Replying To LimerickandProud: "Saturday Afternoons / evenings instead of Sundays massively affects big numbers attending matches in my opinion. Lots of people work Saturdays and even more work half days on Saturday making it harder to attend. Obviously there are some teams that will buck these trends (i.e. neighbours or big rivals etc.)
Also Munster counties are all pretty much on each other doorsteps for example Limerick to Ennis (30 mins), Limerick to Cork (70 mins). Limerick to Thurles (55 mins). Ennis to Waterford would be the outlier at about 2 hours and 20 minutes
Think of Wexford to Galway about 4 hours 20 mins. Wexford to Tullamore 2hours 10 mins and on a Saturday when people are shopping in towns and cities it could take longer.
Much easier driving anywhere on Sunday mornings than Saturday evenings" With kids in tow Tullamore is more like 3- 3 and a half hours from my place. Portlaoise maybe a little less. Mullingar is longer again. Salthill is a long day out, maybe 13 or 14 hours in total. Carlow, Aughrim and Kilkenny around an hour and a half.
Walsh Park is actually the handiest other intercounty ground to me, around 45 minutes.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19277 - 21/04/2026 17:55:12
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The GAA is loaded with "Why don't they drive 400km to see their county play" merchants just because there's a full house in Thurles.
Its easy when the match is over the road or a little over an hour away like most of the Munster counties are from major population centres.
From Wexford Town, an hour later you are gone through Bunclody or Thomastown and that is to play Kilkenny. A match in Tullamore or Portloise is at least 2 hrs away.
Put a Cork match in Newry and see how many rebels show up to it because in essence, that's what people expect of Wexford supporters when its away to Galway or vice versa.
Saturday matches also suck the life out of the Leinster championship, unless they are 7-7.30 pm throw ins which they all should be and forget about who has to drive home from where.
But also, its about a month too early for this championship. Competing with the end of the Premier League is madness. I'm in favour of split season and defined calendar but this is not how to do it in my opinion.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1997 - 22/04/2026 10:44:40
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Replying To StoreysTash: "The GAA is loaded with "Why don't they drive 400km to see their county play" merchants just because there's a full house in Thurles.
Its easy when the match is over the road or a little over an hour away like most of the Munster counties are from major population centres.
From Wexford Town, an hour later you are gone through Bunclody or Thomastown and that is to play Kilkenny. A match in Tullamore or Portloise is at least 2 hrs away.
Put a Cork match in Newry and see how many rebels show up to it because in essence, that's what people expect of Wexford supporters when its away to Galway or vice versa.
Saturday matches also suck the life out of the Leinster championship, unless they are 7-7.30 pm throw ins which they all should be and forget about who has to drive home from where.
But also, its about a month too early for this championship. Competing with the end of the Premier League is madness. I'm in favour of split season and defined calendar but this is not how to do it in my opinion." 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.
ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1621 - 22/04/2026 11:30:47
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Replying To StoreysTash: "The GAA is loaded with "Why don't they drive 400km to see their county play" merchants just because there's a full house in Thurles.
Its easy when the match is over the road or a little over an hour away like most of the Munster counties are from major population centres.
From Wexford Town, an hour later you are gone through Bunclody or Thomastown and that is to play Kilkenny. A match in Tullamore or Portloise is at least 2 hrs away.
Put a Cork match in Newry and see how many rebels show up to it because in essence, that's what people expect of Wexford supporters when its away to Galway or vice versa.
Saturday matches also suck the life out of the Leinster championship, unless they are 7-7.30 pm throw ins which they all should be and forget about who has to drive home from where.
But also, its about a month too early for this championship. Competing with the end of the Premier League is madness. I'm in favour of split season and defined calendar but this is not how to do it in my opinion." Think two weeks later start would make a massive difference to the Championship, allow Championships to breathe, more anticipation of forthcoming games, more debate about games played.
All Ireland finals now brought forward 6 weeks from the old dates which is too much
Club championship deserves it's moments in the sun 100 %, but in Limerick, we start end of July, beginning of August and still finish in October, due to the football club championship schedule being accommodated and not conflicting with hurling.
An All Ireland first weekend of August would be a very positive move and some arrangement with club campaigns could surely be worked out.
To have such a great product( hate that term) of All Ireland Championship and not to allow greater promotion of it due to timeframes, is ultimate example of shooting yourself in the foot.
Sliothar73 (Limerick) - Posts: 9 - 22/04/2026 11:58:33
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