Maynooth GAA Senior Hurling Championship 2026

Senior club hurling in Kildare is competitive and closely fought, and Maynooth GAA’s place at the top table makes summer and autumn fixtures worth keeping an eye on. The 2026 UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship runs from August through to the final at St Conleth’s Park in October, with Maynooth drawn into Group A alongside Naas, Éire Óg Corra Choill, and Ardclough. For anyone with a connection to the club, to Kildare hurling, or just an interest in county GAA at a decent standard, the group stage matches are free-flowing, well-attended and played in a good spirit.

What to expect

Maynooth are one of the county’s more storied hurling clubs - the sport was played there as far back as 1875, nine years before the GAA itself was founded. The club won senior county hurling titles in 1937 and 1939, then spent decades at intermediate level before winning promotion back to senior in 2021. In 2022 they reached the Senior Championship Final for the first time in 81 years, losing narrowly to Naas. Four Maynooth players - Cathal McCabe, Daniel O’Meara, David Qualter, and Matt Eustace - were part of the Kildare squad that won the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2025, so the standard at club level reflects genuine county-grade talent.

Group stage games are single round-robin, with each of the four sides in Group A facing the others once. Fixtures, throw-in times, and specific venues are confirmed by Kildare GAA as the rounds approach - check kildaregaa.ie or the Maynooth GAA social channels for up-to-date scheduling. Matches are typically played at the home club’s ground, so some games will be at Páirc Mhuire on Moyglare Road in Maynooth.

Getting there

Maynooth is straightforward to reach. The town sits on the M4 motorway roughly 25 km west of Dublin, with easy exits for the GAA grounds. By rail, the Dublin-Maynooth commuter line runs frequently from Connolly and Pearse stations, with the journey taking around 35 minutes. Maynooth Station is about a 15-minute walk from Páirc Mhuire. Parking is available around the grounds and on nearby residential streets; arrive a little early for evening throw-ins as spaces fill up. Away fixtures will be at grounds across Co. Kildare - most are accessible by car from the M4, M7, or N7 corridors.

While you’re in Maynooth

The town has a good few places to eat and drink before or after a match, and Maynooth University lends the place a lively, year-round feel that sets it apart from quieter Kildare towns. There is more to see in Maynooth and across Co. Kildare.

Good to know

• Championship runs: August to late September / October 2026 (group stage August onwards)
• Price: Admission varies by fixture - typically a few euro on the gate; some club grounds are free
• Fixtures and venues: Confirmed on a rolling basis at kildaregaa.ie and Maynooth GAA social channels
• Group A teams: Maynooth, Naas, Éire Óg Corra Choill, Ardclough
• Home ground: Páirc Mhuire, Moyglare Road, Maynooth, Co. Kildare