National Hurling League Division 1A final could still be rescheduled for Ryder Cup week

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have floated the possibility of an interprovincial hurling game in Limerick the week of the Ryder Cup, which celebrates 100 years in 2027. Next year also marks the 100-year anniversary of the first Railway Cup.

US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk and JP McManus during the Munster Senior Hurling Championship match between Limerick and Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Mon, 26 Oct, 2026 - 12:21

John Fogarty

Next year’s National Hurling League Division 1A final could yet be rescheduled for the week of the Ryder Cup.

Last April, a number of the 2027 top-flight counties poured cold water over the possibility of postponing the decider from its usual slot in April to TUS Gaelic Grounds on Tuesday, September 14 as they do not want it to interfere with their club championship programmes.

GAA president Jarlath Burns had put the proposal from Limerick patron and Adare Manor owner JP McManus to showcase hurling to the seven counties – Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Tipperary.

In the meeting, the prominent dual counties expressed reservations about the idea. However, national GAA officials don’t yet consider the idea dead and will look to see which two teams top the group table come March to qualify for the decider.

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A Limerick-Kilkenny final for example, as was the case in 2023, could be moved but the likes of this year’s finaiists Cork and Leinster winners Galway have already signalled they are not interested in a postponement from the weekend of April 3/4 next year.

Speaking in June, Burns acknowledged the counties “weren’t all jumping out of their skin at it”.

He remarked: “I don't fully think we are going to be cognisant of how big the Ryder Cup coming to Adare is going to be unless it happens. And then maybe when we're in that moment, we might say, ‘Just a pity we didn't have something big.’

“The GPA are talking about putting on an exhibition match there, something that maybe we would be interested in, but I'm not sure if it will run because there isn't going to be a cup presented and it's not something that means massively.”