Galway Senior Hurling Championship 2026: Group Stage

What to Expect

The Forvis Mazars Galway Senior Hurling Championship is the top rung of club hurling in the county, contested by 16 clubs split into four groups of four. Group winners advance directly to the quarter-finals, second and third-placed teams go into preliminary quarter-finals, and bottom-placed teams face relegation play-offs. Defending champions Loughrea are back to defend the title they won in 2025, lining out in Group A against Moycullen, Gort and Tommy Larkin’s. The other groups pit Craughwell, Clarinbridge, Cappataggle and Liam Mellows against each other in Group B, Sarsfields, Castlegar, St Thomas’ and Oranmore-Maree in Group C, and Turloughmore, Athenry, Ardrahan and Killimordaly in Group D. Round 1 was played on 9 August, with Round 2 following on 23 August and Round 3 on 6 September, after which the knockout stages are drawn.

Good to Know

• Round 2 group fixtures take place on Sunday 23 August 2026, with throw-in times and venues confirmed club-by-club through Galway GAA’s fixtures page in the days beforehand.
• Games are played at club grounds around the county rather than a single central venue, so check the specific fixture list for the ground hosting each tie.
• Admission is charged at the gate and varies by fixture card; Galway GAA has not published a single county-wide price, so check the club or county listing for the tie you are attending.
• This is a group-stage round within a longer campaign; Round 3 follows on 6 September, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and the county final to come later in the autumn.
• Sarsfields, Castlegar, St Thomas’ and Loughrea have been among the county’s strongest recent sides, making Groups A and C ones to watch.

Getting There

Fixtures are spread across club grounds countywide, from Loughrea and Gort in the south to Turloughmore and Athenry further north, so check the exact venue for the tie you plan to attend before travelling.