Munster Hurling Championship Opens with Clare vs Waterford Clash in Ennis
The Munster Senior Hurling Championship gets underway today with a mouth-watering Round 1 clash between Clare and Waterford at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis, with throw-in at 2:00pm and the match live on RTÉ2.
The fixture is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the opening weekend, pitting two proud hurling counties against each other in what promises to be a fiercely competitive encounter with provincial championship points at stake from the very first round.
Background
The last meeting between the counties in the Munster Championship saw Waterford defeat Clare by 2-23 to 0-21 in Walsh Park in 2025 — Waterford's first championship victory over Clare since 2016, ending a run of six consecutive Clare wins in championship meetings between the sides.
Clare, managed by Brian Lohan in his seventh season, arrive in excellent form having won all six of their Division 1B Allianz League group fixtures and claiming the league title with victory over Dublin. Waterford, under second-year manager Peter Queally, had a more difficult league campaign, recording two wins and four defeats in Division 1A before being relegated alongside Offaly.
Key Developments
Clare name a strong side with Tony Kelly starting at midfield, supported by the likes of Peter Duggan, Mark Rodgers, and David Reidy in attack. Waterford captain Mark Fitzgerald leads from full-back, with Stephen Bennett and Dessie Hutchinson providing the attacking threat. Austin Gleeson, who recently returned to training, has been named on the Waterford bench.
The match is the first major championship encounter between the sides since they were in different divisions of the Allianz League in 2026, adding an element of uncertainty to the outcome.
Why It Matters
The Munster Hurling Championship is widely regarded as the most competitive provincial championship in Gaelic games, and an early defeat can have significant consequences for a county's All-Ireland ambitions. Both Clare and Waterford will be determined to get their campaigns off to a winning start.
What's Next
The Munster Championship also features Tipperary vs Cork at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles today at 4:00pm, also live on RTÉ. The provincial championship will run through May and into June, with the top teams advancing to the All-Ireland series.
Follow live updates at RTÉ Sport GAA.
