Ben O’Connor’s first Allianz Hurling League Division 1A game in charge of the Cork hurlers will be on Sunday, January 25 as the Rebels face Waterford in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 3.45pm. The fixture is part of a double header with the Cork footballers, who face Cavan at 1.30pm.
Six days on, Cork will continue their title defence as they travel to Salthill to face Galway at Pearse Stadium under the lights at 7pm on Saturday, January 31, before hosting Tipperary the following weekend – their first meeting since that bruising All-Ireland final defeat to the Premier County – should they avoid one another in the Munster Hurling League final.
That one throws in on Saturday, February 7, at 7.30pm.
As a result of the break in action for the weekend of February 14/15, as well as Cork serving their bye-week from the seven-team tier the following weekend, O’Connor’s side will not play again until March, when they travel to UPMC Nowlan Park and take on Kilkenny on Sunday, March 1, with throw in set for 3.15pm.
The following week Cork will be on the road again, taking on Limerick in their third of four Saturday night fixtures on March 7, with throw in for the TUS Gaelic Grounds set at 7pm.
A fortnight later, they play their final game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh against Offaly – again on a Saturday – March 21, with throw in at the same time of 7pm.
The Faithful are returning to the top flight after a one-year hiatus as a result of the competition’s restructuring, and join Waterford as the ‘newcomers’ following Clare and Wexford’s relegation last season, though both Offaly and Waterford were in the top flight in 2024.
Cork enter the campaign as defending league champions for the first time since 1999, and along with the regular Canon O’Brien Cup game against UCC as their season opener, the Rebels will contest two Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League games following its return for the 2026 season.
They’re away to Limerick on January 7 at 7.35pm, and face Clare on January 12 at 7pm in Mallow, with the final pencilled in for January 17, at 3.15pm.
Sunday, January 25: Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm.
Saturday, January 31: Galway v Cork, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 7pm.
Saturday, February 7: Cork v Tipperary, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm.
Sunday, March 1: Kilkenny v Cork, UPMC Nowlan Park, 3.15pm.
Saturday, March 7: Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7pm.
Saturday, March 21: Cork v Offaly, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm.
