Ballygunner set to field two teams in Waterford SHC

Fresh from being crowned All-Ireland champions for the second time, Ballygunner are set to field two teams in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship in 2026.

They secured their latest title with a 1-20 to 1-14 win over Loughrea. It capped a remarkable campaign. That success followed their victory in the Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, where they beat Tallow 1-21 to 2-11 in the county final.

It marks Ballygunner’s second Premier Intermediate title in recent years. They also won the competition in 2022, edging Ballysaggart 2-29 to 3-20. On that occasion, they did not step up to the senior level. This time, the landscape has changed.

Waterford Premier Intermediate Hurling Champions 2025

The decision has not yet been formally ratified. However, Waterford County Board is expected to approve the move. A meeting is believed to be scheduled for February 9th.

Despite some early reluctance within the club, the second team will operate as a separate unit. The club’s focus had been on their All-Ireland campaign. As first reported by the Irish Examiner, the County Board has told Ballygunner the teams cannot be kept apart in the group stages. They also cannot be prevented from playing on the same day.

Central Council discussed a proposal in November. It aimed to stop two teams from the same club competing at the same level. The issue was later referred to a rules advisory committee.

The County Board now plans to allow Ballygunner field two teams in 2026. This comes ahead of a wider restructure in 2027.

The situation has sparked debate across Waterford. Senior clubs are proposing new eligibility rules. To play Senior A, a player must have played senior hurling the previous season. This would keep the All-Ireland-winning panel intact as Ballygunner’s Senior A side.

Clubs also want larger matchday panels. They oppose the 18-player limit suggested by Croke Park. They believe larger panels would better manage player movement and squad depth.

Unrest is building ahead of the February 9th meeting and the 2026 championship. Many feel the situation does not bode well for club hurling in the county. There is also concern that some senior teams could lose to another club’s second team. That is said with all due respect to Ballygunner.

Championship Restructure

The Competitions Control Committee has proposed a new format for 2026. The championship would feature two groups of six teams. Each group would play on a round-robin basis. A break week would follow.

The top two teams in each group would go straight to the quarter-finals. They would also receive seeds. The remaining teams would play preliminary quarter-finals. The matchups would be A3 v B6, A4 v B5, A5 v B4 and A6 v B3. The four winners would advance to the quarter-finals. Semi-final pairings would be decided by open draw.

The four teams defeated in the preliminary quarter-finals would drop to Senior B in 2027. They would be joined by the two Premier Intermediate finalists. Ballygunner’s second team would compete in Senior B in 2027 regardless of their 2026 finish.

If both Ballygunner teams reach the quarter-finals in 2026, a play-off would take place. It would decide which defeated preliminary quarter-final team remains in Senior A for 2027.

From 2027, Senior A would have eight teams. Senior B would have six teams. Premier Intermediate would also have six teams. The Premier Intermediate champions will continue to represent Waterford in the Munster Intermediate Championship.