Clare Munster Hurling Championship 2026: Full Fixture Schedule, Dates and Match Guide

Clare’s 2026 Munster Senior Hurling Championship campaign opens on home soil at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis on April 19th when Waterford come to town, and if the Banner County’s league form is anything to go by – eight goals and 83 points scored across the campaign, just two goals conceded – Donal Moloney’s side will make that first fixture count in front of what promises to be a packed home crowd.

The 2026 Munster round robin throws up five games for Clare across April and May, with the Munster final scheduled for June 7th. Here is everything you need to know about Clare’s championship schedule, venues, tickets and what to expect from each fixture.

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Clare Munster SHC 2026 – Full Fixture Schedule

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Round 1 – Clare v Waterford – April 19th, 2:00pm

The championship opener brings Waterford to Ennis in what is shaping up to be one of the games of the opening weekend across the entire province. Clare and Waterford have history in recent championships, and with Clare coming off a strong league campaign and Waterford having shown significant development in the underage grades – their U20 side pushed Clare hard in Sixmilebridge in March before losing by the minimum – this fixture has all the ingredients for a tense, physical opening round.

Home advantage at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg is significant. Clare’s record on home soil in championship hurling has been strong, and the proximity of Ennis to the Banner County’s hurling heartlands means the ground will be full and loud from throw-in.

Tickets: Available at all Centra and SuperValu stores. Adult Stand €35. Adult Terrace €30. Under 16 €5. Less than 15% remaining as of early April – book early.

Key Clare player to watch: Peter Duggan, who hit 0-8 including seven from seven frees against Wexford earlier in the season, will be the primary scoring threat and the man Waterford’s defence will be most focused on stopping.

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Round 3 – Clare v Limerick – May 3rd, 2:00pm

The match that most neutrals will circle on the calendar. Limerick come to Ennis having had a bye in Round 1, meaning they arrive into Clare fresh and with a full preparation block behind them. The Treaty County has dominated Munster hurling in recent years and Clare know that a home win here would send a statement to every county in the province about Banner intentions for 2026.

The last time these counties met in championship hurling on home soil for Clare the atmosphere at Páirc Chíosóg was electric. A win here puts Clare in a commanding position in the round robin table. A defeat is not fatal – but it shifts the pressure significantly for the final two rounds.

Tony Kelly, with five All-Stars and two All-Ireland medals including the 2024 All-Ireland, has confirmed his availability for the championship campaign and will be central to Clare’s gameplan against Limerick’s defensive structure.

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Round 4 – Tipperary v Clare – May 16th/17th

Clare travel to Thurles for a fixture that has produced some of the best championship hurling in recent memory. FBD Semple Stadium gives Tipperary a significant home advantage and Clare will need to be at their best to take something from this game on the road. The exact throw-in time is yet to be confirmed.

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Round 5 – Cork v Clare – May 23rd/24th

The final round fixture sends Clare to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh – the same fixture that opened the 2025 Munster round robin and finished in a thrilling draw. Cork at home in a final round game, with Munster final qualification potentially on the line, is as tough as championship hurling gets. Clare will need to arrive in Cork knowing exactly what result they need and with the conviction to deliver it.

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Clare’s Road to the Munster Final – What the Table Could Look Like

Team	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
Clare	v Waterford (H)	BYE	v Limerick (H)	v Tipperary (A)	v Cork (A)
Limerick	BYE	v Cork (A)	v Clare (A)	v Waterford (A)	v Tipperary (H)
Cork	v Tipperary (A)	v Limerick (H)	BYE	v Waterford (H)	v Clare (H)
Tipperary	v Cork (H)	v Waterford (A)	BYE	v Clare (H)	v Limerick (A)
Waterford	v Clare (A)	v Tipperary (H)	BYE	v Limerick (H)	BYE

The top two teams after the round robin qualify for the Munster Final on June 7th.

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Clare’s 2026 Form Coming Into the Championship

Clare’s league campaign gave every Banner supporter reason for confidence coming into the championship. The numbers from the league were striking: eight goals scored, 83 points across the campaign, just two goals conceded in the games that mattered most, and 12 different scorers against Down – a depth of scoring threat that gives Donal Moloney options that many of Clare’s opponents simply do not have.

Six debutants featured during the league campaign, meaning the squad has both the experienced core that delivered All-Ireland glory in 2024 and fresh legs and hunger from a new generation making their mark. Peter Duggan’s accuracy from placed balls – seven from seven frees in the win over Wexford watched by 6,575 in Ennis – gives Clare a reliable scoring platform in tight championship games where every point counts.

Tony Kelly’s confirmation that he is available and targeting the championship is significant. At 32, Kelly remains one of the most dangerous hurlers in Ireland when fully fit, and his two All-Ireland medals tell you everything about what he brings to a dressing room in the biggest games.

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Tickets and How to Get Them

Tickets for Clare home games at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg are available through Centra and SuperValu stores across Clare. With less than 15% of tickets remaining for the Waterford fixture as of early April, supporters are strongly advised to secure tickets immediately.

Pricing:

• Adult Stand: €35
• Adult Terrace: €30
• Under 16: €5

Tickets cannot be purchased by screenshot – only QR code or printed ticket accepted at the gate.

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Why 2026 Could Be Clare’s Year

Clare won the All-Ireland in 2024. The core of that squad remains intact, the management structure has continuity, and the league performances suggest the hunger has not dimmed. The Munster Championship has always been the proving ground – win Munster and you carry momentum into the All-Ireland series as the team everyone else has to beat.

Two home games in the first three rounds – against Waterford and against Limerick – give Clare the opportunity to build an unassailable position in the table before the two away fixtures in the final weeks. If Banner supporters turn Páirc Chíosóg into the fortress it was in 2024, Clare will be going to Cork in Round 5 knowing that a Munster final place is within reach.

The fixtures are set. The squad is ready. April 19th cannot come soon enough.

For all Clare GAA news, fixtures and results, visit claregaa.ie