Hurling 2024

[marty34]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

[johnnycool]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

I thought quite a few of the Tipp lads were bulky in the chest area, too much bench pressing over the winter maybe, and looked to be more ponderous than Clare by and large..
Yes, hurling is now a lot more physical than it used to be but pace is still the key asset for me.

[marty34]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

I thought quite a few of the Tipp lads were bulky in the chest area, too much bench pressing over the winter maybe, and looked to be more ponderous than Clare by and large..
Yes, hurling is now a lot more physical than it used to be but pace is still the key asset for me.

Agree JC. Just seemed to be more workers than shooters. Maybe the guile of the Mc Graths might help but Tyan, Connors, Dan Mc C and Bonnar Maher etc. will win the ball but need the finishers.

Maybe I'm being unfair and it was just one game but I expected a lot more from them. They'll not have a day when their free takers will have as bad a day either.

Maybe Cahill knows his team and experimented during the league but after yesterday, there's a lot more questions than answers I think.

[burdizzo]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

There was an awful lot of sand on the pitch. Seemingly, a drainage pipe broke underneath, and with all the rain, it had to be fixed - so the pitch was dug up to do it last week.

[seafoid]

Munster teams have to peak by end May to qualify . It's 3/5 and it is a dogfight.
Tipp can't peak end March and end May and July considering where they are starting from

https://twitter.com/BrophShane/status/1772003527205716004
The GAA has got a huge problem with the hurling and football leagues as in you can't trust what you are watching. Managers pick games over others to prioritise. So much of this years league has been fake and supporters won't stay paying high admission prices for it.

[seafoid]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

[johnnycool]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

Yet no one in Munster will ever question the fairness of the current format!

[seafoid]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

Yet no one in Munster will ever question the fairness of the current format!

Whenever the first congress is where they review the new system there will probably be timber.
Cheddar, Colm O'rourke, Jim McGuinness and Colm Bonnar have all spoken with authority about the flaws of the system, , focusing on injuries, the lack of downtime and the fitness levels required.

[marty34]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

Yet no one in Munster will ever question the fairness of the current format!

Whenever the first congress is where they review the new system there will probably be timber.
Cheddar, Colm O'rourke, Jim McGuinness and Colm Bonnar have all spoken with authority about the flaws of the system, , focusing on injuries, the lack of downtime and the fitness levels required.

Here's a novel idea:

Stop fleecing lads at trainings. Keep them fresh.

#lessismore

[johnnycool]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

Yet no one in Munster will ever question the fairness of the current format!

Whenever the first congress is where they review the new system there will probably be timber.
Cheddar, Colm O'rourke, Jim McGuinness and Colm Bonnar have all spoken with authority about the flaws of the system, , focusing on injuries, the lack of downtime and the fitness levels required.

Here's a novel idea:

Stop fleecing lads at trainings. Keep them fresh.

#lessismore

Correct!

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2024/0325/1439885-concern-over-tipperarys-free-for-all-approach/

McManus says that there are many puzzles for Cahill to solve if Tipp are to emerge from Munster, and the early season signs aren't overly positive.

He watched the Premier men coast past his native Antrim in the previous round of the league, but wasn't overly impressed by the victors, even allowing for the testing conditions at Corrigan Park on the day.

"They didn't shoot the lights out and they had plenty of their first team out on show," he said.

"I can't see where the goals are going to come from if Jake Morris isn't going to get them.

"I would worry for Tipperary. There is going to be an absolute dogfight in Munster for that third spot, between Waterford, Cork and Tipp as Clare and Limerick do look stronger than everybody else.

[johnnycool]

Paddy Deegan will have No6 on his back this Sunday, whether he stays there is another matter but expect Blanchfield to pick up Fitzgerald, probably the best suited KK defender for that particular job.

KK forwards probably as strong as it gets with maybe the exception of Drennan who'll get on at some point.
TJ will man the square and they'll drop ball in on him, no big secret in their gameplan there, but it will be interesting who Clare match up on him, Big Cleary is the obvious choice if TJ stays deep, if he wonders out a bit, and Cody goes in then Clare might need to reconsider, but I don't expect John Conlan to be too far away either way.

No sign of Tony Kelly, Clare either now feel confident they can win this game without him or the Munster Championship is more important to them, maybe they can do both.


My head says Clare but only a fool would write off Kilkenny to pip them.

[Milltown Row2]

A novel final (strangely) but looking forward to it. Both teams will take confidence away with a win, plus the extra game with intensity for their championships

Limerick will take stock and fine tune, still the team with 4 or 5 points better than the rest, will take a smash and grab effort (Wexford v Kilkenny comes to mind) to beat them but nothing impossible

[seafoid]

Paddy Deegan will have No6 on his back this Sunday, whether he stays there is another matter but expect Blanchfield to pick up Fitzgerald, probably the best suited KK defender for that particular job.

KK forwards probably as strong as it gets with maybe the exception of Drennan who'll get on at some point.
TJ will man the square and they'll drop ball in on him, no big secret in their gameplan there, but it will be interesting who Clare match up on him, Big Cleary is the obvious choice if TJ stays deep, if he wonders out a bit, and Cody goes in then Clare might need to reconsider, but I don't expect John Conlan to be too far away either way.

No sign of Tony Kelly, Clare either now feel confident they can win this game without him or the Munster Championship is more important to them, maybe they can do both.


My head says Clare but only a fool would write off Kilkenny to pip them.

Kilkenny are not what they were. Clare should have enough to beat them.

[johnnycool]

Paddy Deegan will have No6 on his back this Sunday, whether he stays there is another matter but expect Blanchfield to pick up Fitzgerald, probably the best suited KK defender for that particular job.

KK forwards probably as strong as it gets with maybe the exception of Drennan who'll get on at some point.
TJ will man the square and they'll drop ball in on him, no big secret in their gameplan there, but it will be interesting who Clare match up on him, Big Cleary is the obvious choice if TJ stays deep, if he wonders out a bit, and Cody goes in then Clare might need to reconsider, but I don't expect John Conlan to be too far away either way.

No sign of Tony Kelly, Clare either now feel confident they can win this game without him or the Munster Championship is more important to them, maybe they can do both.


My head says Clare but only a fool would write off Kilkenny to pip them.

Kilkenny are not what they were. Clare should have enough to beat them.

They certainly aren't but they know how to stay in the fight right to the end and Clare won't get it easy.