7 Things we Learned from the Hurling & Camogie Championships (19th July 2026)

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

This week in brief:

1. Limerick regain Major Honour

2. Camogie Semi Final Preview

3. John Kiely, pure leader

Limerick Simply Outworked Galway

2026, another year where Limericks best performance came in an All-Ireland final. John Kiely paid credit to the whole group after winning and identified their ability to work hard as their identity that will last forever. They have some of the best hurlers we have ever seen, potentially the best goalkeeper of all time, the meanest inside defenders and Player of the Year in every line after. The powerful, monstrous half-back line, dynamic and skilful midfield and half forward line and the deadly inside forwards. Despite all of this, it’s their work rate that won them the final and cemented them in history as one of the greatest teams of all time. They are excellently coached and prepared and there’s no doubt that Kinnerk set them up in a way to stem Galway’s influence and make their own game flourish, but that isn’t achievable without the phenomenal work rate shown throughout. Limerick refused to let Galway get any foothold in the game with excellent setups carried out perfectly, matched with an energy and aggression that allowed them to take control of the game early. Except for Jason Rabbitte’s strong showing and excellent first 10 minutes, Limerick dominated every 1 on 1 battle. Cillian Trayers played well, and flashes from Darren Morrissey and Rabbitte but Limerick were a class above throughout. Hegarty epitomized this as he is one of the front runners for Hurler of the Year despite not scoring in the semi- or the final, which shows unbelievably hard he worked on and off the ball. I wrote in my piece after the league final how Limerick look to have the hunger back and this was highlighted again as their desire to win every small battle. Cian Lynch’s celebration after his point on 72 minutes was special and it was clear there was a lot of emotion in it as they reclaimed the All-Ireland having missed out the last two years, and it’s hard to see how other teams will get to this level for the coming years.

Converting Turnovers to Scores is Key

In the preview piece I did on the tactics board session, I mentioned how important a role turnovers will play in the game. The ability to tackle and regain possession off your opponent is so much more than the tick on the stats man’s notepad. The change in momentum, the noise from the crowd and dominant feeling you create over your opponent is immeasurable. Limerick did this time after time Galway tried to go through them and Limerick were so good at creating scoring opportunities after this. It was evident that Limerick set up a trap around the halfway point, the area where Galway look to deliver the ball from and were able to get swarm tackles in the form 3 and 4 bodies to 1 ball carrier. The turnovers allowed Limerick to exploit a Galway defence that didn’t have a chance to get set as they were in possession and were able to punish them from here. On the other side, Galway failed to make any significant turnovers to put pressure on the Limerick defence. In their previous outings against Cork and Dublin, Galway scored several goals from turning over defences working the ball out and this score feels massive after a turnover. The energy and aggression Limerick brought to the tackle ensured these turnovers were plentiful and they had the ability on the pitch to convert them to scores.

Pure Dominance on Puckouts

The puckouts played a massive part in the game and gave Limerick a platform from both puckouts to dominate proceedings. On their own puckouts, Limerick broke through Galway’s press too easily as they gave up Sean Finn to receive the ball more often than others, but his ability to pick out the next pass was too easy. If teams allow one player to get it, it’s either as a trap to go and tackle with a number of players or it’s to give him no option as everyone else has the opportunity to be touch tight, but neither of these happened and allowed the best team in the country primary possession to work it out. When Galway did push up, Hegarty gave an exhibition in winning puckouts by catching cleanly or breaking them to a runner, which Galway excelled on winning long opposition puckouts against Cork. I mentioned how Galway might get joy off Fahy going quick to mid-range pockets, but Limerick’s accuracy limited these, as well as shutting off the next option after this made them carry to contact more often than not. Galway got such joy off hitting Rabbitte in the corners in previous games but Limericks set up restricted this, which made the ball carrier have to carry it into contact with little support and inevitably lost possession. This happened too often and was crying out for them to try something different. Jason Rabbitte won an inspirational puckout on 29 minutes and converted with a solo score but outside of this struggled to maintain possession on the long puckouts, as a combination of breaking ball and Galway’s lack of ball winners. If teams can dominate puckouts on both sides, the result is inevitable, as it was over the weekend.

Semple Stadium for Camogie Semi Finals – Galway vs Kilkenny

Semple stadium this coming Saturday is the place to be as a mouth-watering double header in the All-Ireland Camogie Championship. I expect it to take off now as we reach the final four. Second chances are over as we look forward to two excellent encounters. First up is defending champions Galway taking on Kilkenny, who are unbeaten in championship this year having topped group 2 and overcoming Waterford after extra time in the semi-final. Galway on the side, have benefitted from the new championship structure having lost out to Cork first day out and have built momentum since and come in in good form. Their team doesn’t look as fluid as last year, potentially affected by no provincial championship, but the few competitive games along with a strong showing against Tipperary puts them in good form. Carrie Dolan and Aoife Donoghue continue to lead from the front and Caoimhe Kelly and Niamh McPeake have shown well the past few games aswell. Dervla Higgins continues to be the go-to tough defender to quieten opposition forwards, but she will have her work cut out against the Kilkenny forwards this weekend. 6 wins from 6 and some big scores must have Kilkenny humming with excitement to get back on the pitch. They’re in the type of form where you don’t fear anyone and will look to Niamh Deely, Laura Greene and Laura Murphy to build a platform for Aoife Prendegast and Sarah Barcoe to excel, and they will look for a similar bounce from Katie Nolan again. It will go to the wire and Galway’s experience in big games in recent years will get them over the line.

Semple Stadium for Camogie Semi Finals – Cork vs Tipperary

Cork face Tipperary in the Camogie Semi Final this coming Saturday in Semple Stadium, a repeat of the Munster Quarter Final back in April, which Tipperary won out. Cork edged the group stage game but knockout fixtures with no safety net will bring a much different test to both teams. Cork cam through the round robin phase and have built quite well after a disappointing league and Munster championship. Much has been said about the massive turnover in members of the panel and the successful u23 All Ireland win has seriously helped this change in momentum. Millie Condon has been excellent all year in midfield, Orlaith Cahalane was an established player but looks like a real leader this year. Meabh Murphy has filled the massive void left by Laura Treacy and has excelled, flanked really well by Isobel Sheehan and Ava Fitzgerald. These young players have given energy to the established stars and can see a real kick in performances in recent weeks. Tipperary on the other hand, approach this game nicely after a comfortable win over Clare. They have been bolstered by the return of Caoimhe Stakelum and she is so difficult to contain. Cork struggled in the league and Munster game to contain her. She is led well by Grace O’Brien and Eimear McGrath in what is an extremely dangerous full forward line. Cork’s full back line will have to get their match ups right, and I would like to see Ashling Thompson back there to compete with the physicality of Stakelum, but it would be a bold call to pull her out of the middle 8. Eimear Heffernan and Clodagh McIntyre have both been having a really good year and both need big performances, especially with the ACL injury to Caoimhe Maher who has been a pivotal figure at centre back. Expect a titanic battle in Thurles on Saturday with Cork edging out by the minimum.

John Kiely, Leader of Men

Everything to be said about this Limerick team has already been said. From their amazing coach in Paul Kinnerk, the sport psychologist with one of the best records in the world, not just the hurling world, the physique that the players are in, from their years of attention to detail in S&C, their longevity is a testament to their medical team, to themselves as hurlers, role models and the desire to go the well year on year. In my eyes, John Kiely deserves immense credit for this. He has guided this core group since they were u21 back in 2015 and how he has shaped them to how they are today is simply fantastic. Much has been reported of the 63 meetings he had last year after the defeat to Dublin and the commitment and sacrifice it has taken to get back to this point from everyone involved was steered expertly by John Kiely. Players and backroom staff have achieved it all already but to have the desire to go the well again shows unbelievable character from each of those as individuals, but as a collective that is knitted together so well by John Kiely. He seemed much calmer this year in interviews and perhaps he knew it was coming all year and to produce that performance on the most important is so special. He will go down as one of the best ever and there’s no doubting he is not finished yet.

Camogie Finals for Antrim, Laois, Armagh and Cavan

On August 9th, the Camogie Association take over HQ as the Camogie finals take over. It is always a fantastic occasion with great energy and colour as the stars of camogie are celebrated with three finals down for decision. Antrim will take on Laois in the intermediate final, and Armagh and Cavan will lock horns in the Premier Junior final. Armagh will look to go one step further this season as they were pipped last year, but Cavan certainly won’t lie down. These sides met back on 6th June where Cavan ran out 9-point winners. It will be a much different game with the wide open spaces of Corke Park and there has been a lot of camogie played since. Laois are looking for back-to back titles having won the Prem. Junior final last year when they look to overcome Antrim. Both sides cruised to top of the respective groups with some big wins, as well as strong showings in the semi-final with Antrim overcoming Meath and Laois taking care of Kerry. These occasions are really important for the development of young camogie stars and giving them the opportunity to see their idols on the biggest stage. Putting these finals on in Croke Park is fantastic for the sport and I am sure, with attendances improving year on year, that we will see another big crowd in HQ.

See you next time!

Brendan

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