The wait is finally over! The local hurling scene is about to ignite as our 2026 Club Hurling Championships get under way this evening, with intriguing ties galore at venues across the county.
In a new offering this year, we’ll bring you a weekly Championship Bulletin, which will generally look back on the previous weekend’s main talking points and look ahead to upcoming action. With this being Week 1 though, it’s all about looking ahead, and so we’ll put the focus on the six ties of the Pettitt’s Senior Hurling Championship.
With a three-in-a-row on the line for reigning county and Leinster club champions St Martin’s, a raft of high-profile managerial shake-ups on the sidelines, and wide-open groups, this opening round of fixtures promises immediate drama. Here’s a brief preview of what could be six blockbusters…
Group A
Naomh Éanna v St. Mogue’s Fethard, Chadwicks Wexford Park, Friday @ 8 p.m.
Group A begins in the county ground with a meeting of North and South. Many would probably rank the Gorey side as favourites for this one, but Fethard – under the guidance of Jim Byrne and featuring his sons Cian & Cillian – are never a side to take lightly. They bring an intense and physical brand of hurling to every game they play, and are well capable of matching Naomh Éanna here. Expect it to be close.
St. Martin’s v St. Anne’s Rathangan, McCauley Park Bellefied, Saturday @ 2.30 p.m.
Arguably the tie of the round, with all eyes on reigning county and Leinster champions St. Martin’s, who are definitely the team to beat this year.
First to get a crack at them will be St. Anne’s Rathangan, under the guidance of new manager Tom Mulally. Mullally knows exactly what it takes to win at the highest level of club hurling. St Anne’s have a habit of peaking at the right time, and with tactical adjustments expected under their new management, they will view this as the perfect opportunity to catch the champions cold.
Shelmalier v Faythe Harriers, McCauley Park Bellefield, Saturday @ 4 p.m.
The second part of a double-header in Bellefield will be another heavy-hitting marquee match. Shels have Kilkenny legend Richie Power as manager again this year, and his robust, hard-working Over the Water side will fancy their chances of going ‘deep’ in this year’s championship.
They meet a Faythe Harriers team who are now managed by Brendan Mulligan, and led on the pitch by the indomitable Lee Chin. As often happens when Harriers play, this one could come down to how much influence Chin has on the game. It is a true toss-up to close out the Saturday afternoon double-header.
Group B
Rathnure St. Anne’s v Glynn-Barntown, McCauley Park Bellefield, Friday @ 7.30 p.m.
Group B begins in McCauley Park Bellefield with Rathnure beginning a campaign where they’ll be aiming to go one better than last year, where they suffered defeat in the final to St. Martin’s having been unbeaten before that. Declan Ruth is back at the helm and they’re sure to be in the shake-up again at the business end of this year’s championship.
Glynn-Barntown are another who’ll be hoping to do better than last year, when they struggled to fulfil their potential. Manager Micky Laffan will have them well organised, and they’ll be hoping to set down a marker for the campaign ahead.
Rapparees v Oulart-The Ballagh, Oylegate, Friday @ 7.30 p.m.
An intriguing tie at Oylegate as Rapparees look to re-establish themselves as title contenders. They bring a fast attack and can present a real danger to any side on their day.
Oulart-The Ballagh are under the guidance of Rory Jacob this year, and their performances should prove fascinating as the championship progresses. This opening tie is likely to be a fiercely-contested and potentially high-scoring affair, and will be well worth a watch.
Ferns St. Aidans v Oylegate-Glenbrien, Saturday @ 3 p.m.
Rounding out the weekend senior action will be this clash in Bree. Ferns St Aidans, again under Pat Bennett, remain one of the most balanced outfits in the county when their transition play clicks.
They match up against MJ Reck’s Oylegate-Glenbrien, who were county finalists back in 2023, and who are also capable of matching any other side on their day. This game is likely to be close too, and if there’s to be a draw in any of the senior matches this weekend, it could be here.
– Going forward, Championship Bulletins will generally be published on Wednesday nights. Look out for it next week!
