Waterford gearing up for the start of the 2026 Inter county season

The Waterford senior hurlers who would be expected to be without the Ballygunner players and maybe a number of other senior players will kick-start 2026 with an away game against All-Ireland Champions – Tipperary in the first round of games in this year’s Munster Hurling League which returns in 2026 after it was not played for in 2025, and was not finished in 2024, despite Waterford reaching the final, where they were to play Cork or Limerick.

Peter Queally’s side make the relatively short trip to the Sports Field in Clonmel, where they will take on Liam Cahill’s side in a fixture that will go a long way towards deciding which of the teams from Group A will contest this year’s final, which is pencilled in for January 17.

Waterford’s second game in the competition is against Kerry at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field four days later. Kerry and Tipperary meet in Austin Stack Park on January 11.

Cork, Limerick and Clare are in Group B, with the two group winners meeting in the final at a venue yet to be decided.

The Munster League will provide excellent preparation for this year's National League, which begins for Waterford on January 25 when they take on last year’s All-Ireland finalists at Super Valu Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 3-45pm.

Seven sides will compete in Division 1A of next year’s league. All-Ireland Champions Tipperary and Galway will fight out the opening fixture in the league when they meet at FBD Semple Stadium on the evening of January 24, with Kilkenny and Offaly fighting it out in the other fixture in round one at UPMC Nowlan Park on January 25.

Waterford’s first home game in the league sees Limerick visit Azzurri Walsh Park on February 1. Galway and Cork meet at Pearse Stadium, and Offaly have home advantage over Tipperary when they play at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore over the same weekend.

Round three sees Waterford at home again when they take on Offaly at Azzurri Walsh Park on February 8. Cork play Tipperary at Super Valu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, and Limerick are at home to Kilkenny at TUS Gaelic Grounds.

There is a big local derby on February 22 when Kilkenny and Waterford do battle at UPMC Nowlan Park in round four. In the same round of games, there are two more local derbies when Tipperary welcome Limerick to FBD Semple Stadium, and Offaly are at home to Galway at Glenisk O’Connor Park.

Waterford are away in round five and must cross the Shannon to play Galway at Pearse Stadium on March 1. Offaly are at home to Limerick, while Kilkenny host Cork on the same day.

Peter Queally’s side play their final game in the round robin section in round six when they have home advantage over Tipperary at Azzurri Walsh Park. Galway are at home to Kilkenny and Limerick, and Cork renew their rivalry in the remaining six games.

Waterford do not have a fixture in round seven, but there are some potentially very entertaining games down for decision when Cork play Offaly, Limerick play Galway, and Tipperary play Kilkenny, all with a 7pm start.

SENIOR FOOTBALL

The McGrath Cup returns to the playing calendar in 2026. Ephie Fitzgerald, who returns for a second stint in charge of the Waterford footballers in the opening round of fixtures in Group A, welcomes Clare to Dungarvan on January 2 when they clash at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field for a 7pm start.

Waterford’s second game sees them travel to Killarney to play Jack O’Connor’s side at the Dr Crookes club grounds for a 2pm start on January 11. In between Clare play hosts to Kerry at Clarecastle. The winner of the group involving the three sides will play the Group B winners involving Tipperary, Limerick and Cork in this year’s final.

Cork man Ephie Fitzgerald will use the McGrath Cup as preparation for the league, where he will be hoping that his side finishes better off than they have in recent years, where they finished bottom of the league ladder in three of the four last years.

His side has home advantage in the opening round of fixtures on January 24 when they welcome Longford to Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field for a 4pm. The remaining games in this year's opening round take place the following day, when Antrim have home advantage over Carlow at Cargin, London have home advantage over Tipperary at McGovern Park in Ruislip, and Wicklow play Leitrim at Echelon Park, Aughrim.

Waterford are on the road in round two when they take on Leitrim at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on February 1. In other games in round two, Carlow play Wicklow at Network Cullen Park, Longford have home advantage over London at Glennon Brothers Bearse Park and Tipperary play Antrim at FBD Semple Stadium.

On February 14, Waterford have Wicklow at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, while the following day, London and Leitrim play at McGovern Park, Antrim play Longford at Cargin, and Tipperary are at home again in FBD Semple Stadium, where Carlow will be visitors.

Waterford have a South-East Derby on February 21 when they travel to play Carlow at Network Cullen Park, while the following day Wicklow play London, Leitrim play Antrim, and Longford are at home to Tipperary.

On March 1, Waterford cross the Irish Sea to play London at McGovern Park, while over the same weekend, Antrim hosts Wicklow, Longford welcome Carlow to Pearse Park, and Tipperary is at home to Leitrim.

Antrim make the long trip to Dungarvan on March 15, as the league nears its conclusion, and in the same weekend, Carlow are at home to London, Leitrim host Longford, and Tipperary travel to the east coast to play Wicklow.

The final round of games takes place on March 22, with all games starting at 1pm. Waterford must travel to Thurles to play Tipperary, while Antim play London, Carlow play Leitrim and Longford play Wicklow.