Kildare Senior Hurling Championship 2026

The UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship is one of the oldest and most keenly contested competitions in Leinster club hurling, running from the summer into early autumn. Eight senior clubs across the county compete for the Tony Carew Memorial Perpetual Cup, with the winners earning a place in the Leinster Senior Club Championship. If you want to see club hurling played with genuine local intensity - packed sidelines, parish pride, tight scorelines - this is the right competition to follow.

What to expect

The 2026 championship runs a group-stage format across two pools. Group A features Maynooth, Éire Óg Corra Choill, Confey, and Coill Dubh. Group B brings together Naas, Ardclough, Celbridge, and Clane. Clubs play in a round-robin within their group before the knockout phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final to decide the county champions.

Naas are the current powerhouse of Kildare hurling, having won the championship seven years in a row from 2019 to 2025. Ardclough and Clane have the longest histories in the competition - Clane have 16 titles in total, Ardclough and Naas 13 each - so the old rivalries run deep. Fixtures, venues, and throw-in times are confirmed by Kildare GAA closer to each round; check kildaregaa.ie for the latest schedule before travelling.

Getting there

Matches are played at GAA grounds spread across County Kildare, so the exact venue depends on the fixture. Kildare town is well served by rail - Dublin Heuston to Kildare takes around 45 minutes, with regular services on the Cork/Limerick mainline. By road, the M7 motorway runs through the county and connects easily to clubs in Naas, Clane, Celbridge, and surrounding areas. Parking at GAA grounds is generally on-site or along local roads nearby.

While you’re in Kildare

County Kildare is flat, fast country - better known for thoroughbreds than tourists, which means you often have it to yourself. The Japanese Gardens and Irish National Stud at Tully are worth the visit, and the Curragh racecourse is a short drive from Kildare town. There is more to see in Kildare and across Co. Kildare.

Good to know

• Dates: August to September 2026 (group stage from August, knockout phase into autumn)
• Time: Various - check kildaregaa.ie for individual fixture times
• Price: Entry varies by venue; typically a few euro on the gate
• Fixtures and updates: kildaregaa.ie
• Organiser: Kildare GAA