The provincial round robins are officially done and dusted in a year where Leinster was more dramatic than Munster (though neither province was incredibly dramatic on the final day).
Kilkenny crashing out is the big story from the hurling round robins, and it’s a topic that will be discussed long into the winter. Offaly’s presence will provide a novelty feeling in the Liam MacCarthy series but the two top counties feel miles ahead of everyone else right now.
Here’s our power rankings after the provincial round robins, with just six counties left standing.
1. Cork
Pragmatism seems to be the word of the day for Cork, who finished the Munster round robin unbeaten after decimating Clare in front of another huge home crowd. They’ll have home advantage for the Munster final. If form holds, it’ll be the second of three finals they contest against Limerick in 2026.
Very interesting to learn their team motto for 2026 via Michael Verney in the Indo today: Sin Cad A Dhéanamh – or as google translates it ‘That’s what to do’.
You can see the words on Tim O’Mahony’s shoulder on his training top.
24 May 2026; Tim OMahoney of Cork before the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 5 match between Cork and Clare at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
2. Limerick
There wasn’t much between Cork and Limerick in the end, but Cork’s narrow win over Limerick puts the Treaty men in second in our power rankings. Limerick put 5-27 on the scoreboard but John Kiely still called the performance ‘mixed’. Aaron Gillane’s availability for the Munster final should make Limerick favourites.
In other news, Jim Furyk joins the list of random Yanks who JP McManus has introduced to hurling.
3. Dublin
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Kilkenny were unimpressive on the whole but credit to Dublin who were ruthless and finished Leinster unbeaten. Lead by the inspirational Conor Burke, Dublin put in their best-ever performance in the Leinster round robin and are deserved favourites to win their first Leinster title in 13 years.
4. Clare
The stakes were pretty low for Clare yesterday but neutrals were disappointed to see them give up the fight so early in the game. Clare’s main priorities in Munster were to beat Waterford and Tipp and we’ll be very interested to see how they regroup after the month-long break into the All-Ireland series. Their game against the defeated Leinster finalist will give us a real sense in the difference between Munster and Leinster hurling.
5. Galway
Galway got there in the end in Wexford Park, but as in Newbridge, they were very slow to start while playing against the wind. They’ll now get a second shot at a Dublin team who’ve had their number now a few times in recent years. The 6pm throw-in for the Leinster final at Croke Park will impact the travelling support.
6. Offaly
A giant leap forward for Johnny Kelly and co. in reaching the knockout rounds of Liam MacCarthy via the provincial route. The fixtures were favourable in that they played Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford at home but getting 4 points from those games was brilliant. Offaly showed great bottle in doing it without captain Charlie Mitchell for the last two games. The reward is a meeting with the defeated Munster finalists. A tall task, but also a free hit.
7. Tipperary
It was not the All-Ireland defense that Liam Cahill had envisioned over the winter. With nothing on the line, Tipp were well-beaten against Limerick. Cahill will spend the winter rueing two middling second half performances, against Cork and Clare. There was a nice moment with Noel McGrath and his family after the game on what might have been his last game for the Premier.
8. Waterford
The history books will show the Déise finished fourth by dint of scoring difference in the 2026 Munster round robin. It seems harsh that their Championship is over early, again, but the jeopardy of the Munster round robin is what drives huge interest and attendances.
9. Kilkenny
Kilkenny are at their lowest ebb in thirty years. Losses to Dublin and Galway were fatal as Huw Lawlor left a massive void in the heart of the Kilkenny defence. It will be very interesting to see where the Cats go from here. As Anthony Daly said on the Sunday Game, the superstars simply aren’t there at the moment for Kilkenny and underage provincial wins this year at minor and U20 level by Galway show that Kilkenny can no longer take Leinster domination for granted.
10. Wexford
They made a bright start yesterday against Galway, but they finish the Leinster round robin with a single win, and that was against Kildare. It won’t be good enough unfortunately for a proud hurling county.
11. Kildare
Harsh on Kildare to be back in Joe McDonagh after a campaign that featured many flashes of promise. The arrow is pointing upwards for Kildare hurling but escaping the yo-yo of relegation and promotion will mean dethroning one of Leinster’s established counties.