7 Things we Learned from the Conclusion of the Hurling and Camogie Leagues 2026

A DSS Coaching piece by Brendan Delaney, focusing on lessons from the National Hurling & Camogie League through the prism of coaching and performance.

This week in brief:

1. League Final pairings.

2. Optimal structures for the league.

3. Coaching teams and players to mix different styles.

League Finals Confirmed

In Division 4, Sligo face Longford in a repeat of the final round of the league phase with Sligo winning comprehensively. They will be in poll position to win it out and in great form ahead of the Nicky Rackard Championship. Wicklow come up against Donegal in the Division 3 final in what was a really competitive league. Laois play Kerry in the Division 2 f inal and Laois will be expected to take care of business and bring their form into the Joe McDonagh Championship. We then have a very exciting double header in Limerick for the Division 1A & 1B finals with Cork travelling up to take on Limerick and Clare and Dublin meeting in the 1B decider. For Clare and Dublin, they can both really go at the game and try to get silverware on the table with the teams won’t be facing each other until the All Ireland series. Dublin will not fear this Clare team and will cause them a lot of problems. If Clare can sort out their defence and avoid conceding large scores, they should hold out for victory. It will be interesting if there will be some shadow boxing between Cork and Limerick ahead of their meeting in the Munster Championship. There is still a lot of hurling to be played but they are tipped for 5 meetings this year. In every game in the league, both Cork and Limerick have had spells where they seem miles ahead of the other teams, but in those games as well, they can seem very ordinary. Looking for a performance for 70 minutes will be key for both managers, maybe more so than winning the game. In the camogie side, we have Waterford coming up against Galway which should be a very good game. Waterford have been in very good form and Galway look a small bit shaky. Waterford certainly won’t fear them but the experience of Galway on big days might just get them over the line. Clare will come up against Dublin in the second-tier decider with more jeopardy in this, as only the winner gets promoted. It puts massive pressure on the game but will be relished as they prepare for the respective provincial Championships. Meath made the final of 2A on score difference edging out Laois but face a strong Kerry side. It was a close game in the group phase with Kerry winning by 2 points and expect another tight encounter here. Armagh face Roscommon in the 3A decider and will be expected to come out on top after winning all their group games while Mayo overcame Monaghan last weekend in the 3B final after a solid league campaign.

U20 Championships Commence

Last weekend saw the commencement of the Leinster u20 Hurling Championship Phase 1 as Kildare overcame Kerry and Meath took care of Antrim. This Wednesday we have the Munster Championship starting where Cork travel to Tipperary and Clare welcome Waterford. These are fantastic games where we can see the next up and coming stars of our game, but unfortunately, they are very poorly advertised. Without Clubber TV and Score Beo, some people might not even know these games are taking place. Nationally, I think we need to do better with bringing these games to the people or at the very least, making them aware that they are taking place. The championships were launched back in November, and we have seen very little since. We should see squads, photos and promotions as it is an excellent product we have for our underage stars. The squads will be full of household names with Jake Mullen, Oisin O’Donoghue, Barry Walsh, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland and Diarmuid Stritch all expected to feature for their respective counties. It has the potential for an excellent Championship and one to keep an eye over the coming weeks and months.

League Structures

A few comments online have questioned the need for 2 teams to get promoted and 2 teams to be relegated from the league structures which effectively makes the league final a ‘glorified challenge game.’ The alternative to this is 1 up and 1 down and completely putting all pressure on one game. I couldn’t disagree more. The leagues are played with such ferocity and intensity due to the jeopardy after losing a game, which would be lost if only 1 team got relegated. It puts more pressure on each game and causes fewer dead rubbers towards the end of the league. It also rewards teams for staying competitive throughout, if and when one team runs away with the group stage. A glorified challenge game is also a bizarre term for a final with a trophy on the line. Every team and every player want silverware, and for some teams there’s only 2 trophies to play for each year. In the division 2 league final last year, Down beat Kildare in a cracking game. If only the winners got promoted, we wouldn’t have had the great excitement that Kildare brought us this year to date. Would it affect their journey by not getting promoted, despite only losing 1 game in the group stage? The 2 up 2 down also gives some new fixtures in the league that we may have not seen for a long while. I think the current structure for the league is excellent and should be maintained.

Camogie Championship – A Deaf Dog?

Based on the evidence of the league, the camogie championship looks to be harder to call than any previous year with five of the top teams all in with a real chance of silverware. The gap has certainly closed on Galway and Cork, and both teams will feel the pressure this year. They have been the standard bearers and have dominated camogie for a number of years with every All-Ireland final since 2002 featuring at least one of the teams. Timing the year correctly is very difficult in camogie with the All-Ireland series not starting until the end of May. Waterford, Tipperary and Kilkenny all looked impressive at different stages during the league but will have to time their run in order to compete for both provincial and national success.

Championship Excitement

The weather has improved, the smell of freshly cut grass is everywhere, and the leagues are at their final stage, which means only one thing, Championship hurling is just around the corner! We know what each team is bringing to the table in terms of personnel, lineups, structures and tactics. Despite all of this, each Championship feels harder to call than any previous year. Longford and Leitrim will be favourites for the Lory Meagher Cup, but the other teams could have a big say with a few small tweaks. Having played in this Championship, I know all too well that each game takes on a life of its own and there will be plenty of twists and turns before the bank holiday weekend in June. The same can be said for the Nicky Rackard and Christy Ring Championships, with plenty of drama ahead of us. With the tight schedule, one slip up, injury or suspension can derail a promotion charge. Sligo finished Division 4 with 6 wins and +129 scoring difference but have only faced teams from the Championship below them. Kerry look to be in strong position ahead of the Christy Ring Championship with an impressive league but Donegal and Wicklow will have plenty of say after reaching the Division 3 league final.

Who is in the driving seat in Leinster?

Dublin are the only team left in Leinster who made a league final with a mixed bag of results for the teams. They come off the back of a consistent league, which is something they have lacked in the last few years. They look a much more balanced team and John Hetherton at full forward gives them a great goal poacher but also the option to change their attack very seamlessly as a long ball option. They will have their eyes on winning the Bob O’Keeffe Cup. Kilkenny ended their league with a thrilling draw which was needed after a string of poor performances and results. They look a much weaker team without the focal point of TJ Reid up front, and they look a much better forward unit with him on the pitch. Much has been spoken about the change in style of play and maybe ending the league in this manner will aid them as they put their focus on the Championship now and look to get 6 in a row titles. Galway looked a breath of fresh air during the league as they mixed the experience and young players to great effect. A tweak in style of play has given them a focal point up front in Jason Rabbitte and combined with great energy around the middle they are in a really good position as they enter the Leinster Championship.

Teams Fluidity in Possession

Something that has stood out to me throughout the League, is teams’ ability to mix from a running game to a long delivery inside. It is clear that the coaching has reached a level that empowers players to make decisions based on what they see on the pitch. If the space is cut out by the opposition half back line, teams are comfortable to run the ball and pick off a point. As a result, oppositions step forward and now the long ball is on inside. In previous years, we had a team over reliant on one style over another, but I feel this has changed. From a coaching point of view, can we bring this to our team at club level? How can we empower players to make decisions on the pitch themselves and react to opposition structures? In my opinion, performing more repetitions during our preparation in match scenarios ensures that payers are capable of doing this. It is essential to allow continuous mistakes and offer advice through questioning, allowing the players to come up with solutions.

See you next time!

Brendan

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