Clare Munster Championship 2026: Complete Fixtures, Dates and Match Guide
The 2026 Munster Senior Hurling Championship is confirmed. Clare open their campaign at home to Waterford on April 19. Five rounds of round-robin action follow, with a Munster final on June 7. Here’s everything you need to know about Clare’s Munster Championship fixtures, dates, venues, and ticket prices.
This page will be updated throughout the championship with team news, results, and analysis. Bookmark it now.
Clare Munster Championship 2026 Fixtures: All Dates and Times
| Round | Date | Fixture | Venue | Time |
| Round 1 | Sunday, April 19 | Clare vs Waterford | Cusack Park, Ennis | 2:00pm |
| Round 2 | Sunday, April 26 | Clare have a bye | — | — |
| Round 3 | Sunday, May 3 | Clare vs Limerick | Cusack Park, Ennis | 2:00pm |
| Round 4 | Saturday, May 16 | Tipperary vs Clare | Semple Stadium, Thurles | 7:00pm |
| Round 5 | Sunday, May 24 | Cork vs Clare | Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork | 4:00pm |
| Final | Sunday, June 7 | Munster Final | Venue TBC | 2:00pm |
Clare’s bye week falls in Round 2 (April 26). That gives Brian Lohan two weeks between the Waterford opener and the huge Limerick clash on May 3.
Full Munster Hurling Championship 2026 Round-Robin Schedule
Round 1 — Sunday, April 19
- Clare vs Waterford — Cusack Park, 2:00pm
- Tipperary vs Cork — Semple Stadium, 4:00pm
- Limerick have a bye
Round 2 — Sunday, April 26
- Waterford vs Tipperary — Walsh Park, 2:00pm
- Cork vs Limerick — Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4:00pm
- Clare have a bye
Round 3 — Sunday, May 3
- Clare vs Limerick — Cusack Park, 2:00pm
- Tipperary have a bye
Round 3 continued — Saturday, May 9
- Waterford vs Cork — Walsh Park, 6:00pm
Round 4 — Saturday/Sunday, May 16/17
- Tipperary vs Clare — Semple Stadium, Saturday, 7:00pm
- Limerick vs Waterford — TUS Gaelic Grounds, Sunday, 3:00pm
Round 5 — Sunday, May 24
- Cork vs Clare — Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4:00pm
- Limerick vs Tipperary — TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4:00pm
Munster Final — Sunday, June 7
- Venue TBC, 2:00pm
Munster Championship 2026 Ticket Prices
Ticket prices remain unchanged from 2025:
| Category | Round-Robin (Stand) | Round-Robin (Terrace) | Munster Final (Stand) | Munster Final (Terrace) |
| Adult | €35 | €30 | €50 | €35 |
| U16 | €5 | €5 | €10 | €10 |
| Student/OAP | €5 discount | €5 discount | €5 discount | €5 discount |
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ie/gaa.
Round-by-Round Guide: Clare’s Key Storylines
Round 1: Clare vs Waterford — April 19, Cusack Park
Clare’s first home championship game of 2026. This is the must-win opener. Waterford finished bottom of Munster in 2025 and will be desperate to improve, but Clare should have too much firepower — especially if Shane O’Donnell is fit to start.
Key battle: Mark Rodgers vs Waterford’s full-back line. Rodgers is the league’s top scorer with 1-32 from three games. If he brings that form to championship, Waterford are in trouble.
History: Clare beat Waterford in the 2024 Munster round-robin thanks to a last-gasp Mark Rodgers 65.
Round 3: Clare vs Limerick — May 3, Cusack Park
This is the game of the round-robin for Clare. Limerick at home. Under lights-style atmosphere in Ennis. The old rivals, four Munster finals between them in the last five years.
Limerick will have played Cork away in Round 2 already, so they’ll be battle-hardened. Clare will have had two weeks off after the Waterford game. Fresh legs vs match sharpness — it’s a fascinating tactical dynamic.
Key battle: Tony Kelly vs Limerick’s midfield. Kelly has owned this fixture in recent years. His 0-17 against Limerick in the 2020 championship remains one of the great individual performances.
Round 4: Tipperary vs Clare — May 16, Semple Stadium (7pm)
Saturday night under lights in Thurles. Tipperary are the reigning All-Ireland champions after beating Cork in the 2025 final. This will be Clare’s toughest test.
The atmosphere in Semple Stadium for a Saturday evening throw-in will be electric. Clare have a mixed record in Thurles — they’ll need a big panel performance to come away with anything.
Key battle: Clare’s defence vs Tipperary’s forward line. The Premier have serious scoring power with Darragh McCarthy, Oisín O’Donoghue, and Jake Morris. Clare’s full-back line of Conor Cleary, Adam Hogan, and Rory Hayes will need to be at their best.
Round 5: Cork vs Clare — May 24, Páirc Uí Chaoimh
The final round. Could be a dead rubber or could decide who makes the top three. Clare’s record at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is poor — they haven’t won there in championship since 2022.
Cork will be smarting from their 2025 All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary. They’ll throw everything at this Munster campaign. Expect a hostile atmosphere and a Cork team playing with fury.
Key battle: Shane O’Donnell’s farewell? If this is Clare’s final championship game, it could be O’Donnell’s last ever match. The emotion of that alone could be a factor.
Munster Championship 2026: How Promotion Stands Affect Clare
For Clare to reach the Munster final, they need to finish in the top two of the round-robin. With five teams and four games each (one bye), the maths is straightforward: win three, and you’re almost certainly through.
Clare’s two home games — Waterford and Limerick — are critical. Take maximum points from Ennis, and the away trips to Thurles and Cork become about consolidation rather than survival.
The top two qualify for the Munster final on June 7. Third place enters the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final. Fourth and fifth are eliminated. Clare’s minimum target should be third — but with this squad, a Munster final is realistic.
All-Ireland 2026 Championship Path After Munster
For Clare fans planning ahead, here’s the full All-Ireland schedule after Munster:
| Stage | Date |
| Preliminary Quarter-Final | June 13/14 |
| Quarter-Finals | June 20/21 |
| Semi-Final 1 (Leinster champs) | Saturday, July 4 |
| Semi-Final 2 (Munster champs) | Sunday, July 5 |
| All-Ireland Final | Sunday, July 19 |
The All-Ireland hurling final is on July 19 at Croke Park. Clare last lifted Liam MacCarthy there on July 21, 2024. Can they do it again?