Munster Adult Club Championship Fixtures Up 4% in 2026

A total of 1,597 adult club championship fixtures were played across the six Munster counties during the nine-week period covering July and August 2026.

This represented an increase of 59 fixtures compared with the corresponding period in 2025, when 1,538 games were played. The increase was approximately 4 per cent.

Hurling and Football breakdown

Of the 1,597 fixtures played in 2026, 970 were hurling and 627 were football. Hurling accounted for approximately 60.7 per cent of all fixtures, with football accounting for the remaining 39.3 per cent.

Although the overall number of fixtures increased, the balance between the two codes changed considerably. The number of hurling fixtures fell from 1,037 in 2025 to 970 in 2026, a reduction of 67 games or approximately 6.5 per cent. In contrast, the number of football fixtures increased from 501 to 627, an additional 126 games or approximately 25.1 per cent.

The growth in football activity more than compensated for the reduction in hurling fixtures and was the principal numerical factor behind the overall increase of 59 games.

Breakdown by championship grade

Junior competitions accounted for the majority of the 2026 programme. A total of 1,016 Junior Championship fixtures were played, representing 63.6 per cent of all games. This included 615 Junior Hurling fixtures and 401 Junior Football fixtures.

There were 331 Intermediate fixtures, accounting for 20.7 per cent of the overall total. These comprised 204 Intermediate Hurling games and 127 Intermediate Football games.

At senior level, 250 fixtures were played, representing 15.7 per cent of all games. The senior programme consisted of 151 hurling fixtures and 99 football fixtures.

• Senior: 250 fixtures, comprising 151 hurling and 99 football games.
• Intermediate: 331 fixtures, comprising 204 hurling and 127 football games.
• Junior: 1,016 fixtures, comprising 615 hurling and 401 football games.

Fixtures by county

Cork recorded the highest number of fixtures in 2026, with 419 games across its county and divisional competitions. This total comprised 193 hurling fixtures and 226 football fixtures. Cork’s overall figure increased by 11 games compared with 408 in 2025.

Tipperary had the second-highest total, with 369 fixtures. Of these, 296 were hurling games and 73 were football games. Tipperary’s total increased by 46 fixtures compared with 2025, when 323 games were played.

Limerick also increased by 46 fixtures, rising from 256 games in 2025 to 302 in 2026. The 2026 total was almost evenly divided between the two codes, with 155 hurling fixtures and 147 football fixtures.

Waterford staged 207 hurling championship fixtures, reflecting the county’s hurling-only adult championship programme during this time period. This was a reduction of 34 games compared with the 241 hurling fixtures recorded during July and August 2025, mainly due to the Waterford Divisional Intermediate and Junior Hurling Championships beginning in June this year and therefore not reflected in this report.

Clare recorded 171 fixtures, comprising 92 hurling games and 79 football games. The football total was unchanged from 2025, while the number of hurling fixtures fell by 26, reducing Clare’s overall total from 197 to 171.

Kerry recorded 129 fixtures, consisting of 27 hurling games and 102 football games. This represented an overall increase of 16 fixtures compared with 113 in 2025.

• Cork: 419 fixtures, an increase of 11 from 2025.
• Tipperary: 369 fixtures, an increase of 46.
• Limerick: 302 fixtures, an increase of 46.
• Waterford: 207 fixtures, a reduction of 34.
• Clare: 171 fixtures, a reduction of 26.
• Kerry: 129 fixtures, an increase of 16.

July and August activity

Across the four July weeks included in the analysis, 505 fixtures were played, accounting for approximately 31.6 per cent of the nine-week total. The five August weeks featured 1,092 fixtures, representing approximately 68.4 per cent of all games.

The busiest week was 17 to 23 August, when 249 fixtures were played across Munster. This was followed by 247 fixtures from 3 to 9 August and 245 fixtures from 10 to 16 August.

Summary

The figures show a modest overall increase in Munster adult club championship activity during July and August 2026. While the total rose by approximately 4 per cent, the most significant change was in the composition of the programme. Football fixtures increased substantially, while the number of hurling games declined. Changes in club championship formats and different schedules in counties depending on the end of their inter-county involvement may have influenced some of the year-on-year changes.

Junior competitions remained the foundation of the club championship programme, accounting for almost two-thirds of all fixtures. Cork staged the largest number of games overall, while Tipperary and Limerick experienced the largest year-on-year increases in fixture volume.