Munster Hurling Championship 2008

[Bord na Mona man]

I wonder what sort of shape Flynn would be in?
He occasionally carries a bit of "conditioning", but would be a good impact sub to have for Waterford to have.

[youbetterbelieveit]

Will be a big setback to Limerick's hopes of making another Munster Final, Geary in particular he really play well last year. On a happier note with Moloney and Fitzgerald coming back both bring some good hurling qualities to the Limerick panel.


Begley and Geary championship doubts for Limerick

Brian Geary
30 April 2008


Brian Begley and Brian Geary look set to miss Limerick's Munster hurling championship opener against either Clare or Waterford through knee injuries.

Despite taking a full part in training on Monday night, towering full forward Begley continues to be hampered by the knee injury which kept him sidelined for two years. Geary, meanwhile, is only coming back from cruciate ligament surgery, and the provincial semi-final on June 22 may come a few weeks too soon for him.

Commenting on Begley's ongoing injury problem, manager Richie Bennis said: "It's affecting him on a regular basis and the most we will get out of Brian is half an hour. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about this."

On Geary's recovery, he added: "The knee is a bit sore after training, which is to be expected, and he'll struggle to make the championship team."

There is better news concerning Denis Maloney and former dual star Conor Fitzgerald who have both resumed light training after their respective injuries

[Silky]

1st June
Munster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final
Clare v Waterford (TBC)
Verdict Clare win

8th June
Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Cork v Tipperary (Páirc Uí Chaoimh)
Verdict Tipperary win

22nd June
Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Limerick v Clare (TBC)
Verdict Limerick win

13th July
Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final
Limerick v Tipperary
Verdict Tipperary win

[timmykelleher]

Silky,
Do you really think Clare will beat Waterford?

Waterford may have tehir problems with early season form and some retirements and injuries but their key men will still be there.
They were Munster and league champions last year whereas Clare seemed to be well off the pace.

Where do you see them gaining the upper hand on Waterford?

[Silky]

Griffin's back on board an things are going well in the camp. This is Clares All Ireland final and they are totally focused on winning it. Waterford are looking to peak for the Q/F and i don't think they'll worry too much if they go out of Munster early. Eoin Kelly is out and there's doubts about McGrath, Flynn, Browne.

It will be an upset alrite but I can just see the Banner seekin it.

[Bord na Mona man]

Griffin's back on board an things are going well in the camp. This is Clares All Ireland final and they are totally focused on winning it. Waterford are looking to peak for the Q/F and i don't think they'll worry too much if they go out of Munster early. Eoin Kelly is out and there's doubts about McGrath, Flynn, Browne.

It will be an upset alrite but I can just see the Banner seekin it.

Clare's Munster championship record is appalling.
They have won only one match in Munster since 1999 (beating Tipp in 2003).
I'd say they're already plotting their course through the qualifiers.

[johnneycool]

Griffin's back on board an things are going well in the camp. This is Clares All Ireland final and they are totally focused on winning it. Waterford are looking to peak for the Q/F and i don't think they'll worry too much if they go out of Munster early. Eoin Kelly is out and there's doubts about McGrath, Flynn, Browne.

It will be an upset alrite but I can just see the Banner seekin it.

Clare's Munster championship record is appalling.
They have won only one match in Munster since 1999 (beating Tipp in 2003).
I'd say they're already plotting their course through the qualifiers.

Clare don't seem to have enough scoring forwards, well they certainly didn't last year and I don't think they unearthed any this year to date. I'd think Mike Mac will look at building a team for the future and Waterford may be a bit too early in their development yet. All the same they'll still be expected to go out hammer and tongs but I still think they'll fall short of a Waterford team who aren't exactly breaking much delf themselves at the minute.

[nobackdoor]

Munster championship is a meaningless charade. Didn't do the Deise a whole pile of good last year. The current format is just a series of phoney battles, until it gets to the semis, alas. Who cares who wins it, the only relevance is Liam.

[Bord na Mona man]

Dan Shanahan is out for the opener against Clare.
However I still can't see Clare taking advantage of this.

[tayto]

Munster championship is a meaningless charade. Didn't do the Deise a whole pile of good last year. The current format is just a series of phoney battles, until it gets to the semis, alas. Who cares who wins it, the only relevance is Liam.

Cant agree with that at all, the munster championship is still a coveted trophy in it's own right.

[Tatler Jack]

Munster championship is a meaningless charade. Didn't do the Deise a whole pile of good last year. The current format is just a series of phoney battles, until it gets to the semis, alas. Who cares who wins it, the only relevance is Liam.

Disagree - some great games over the past few years espcially some of the Cork/Waterford battles. If these were meaningless charades then let us have plenty of them.!!!

Think Tipp will win it this year - seem to have the hunger.

[Lecale2]

What's the story with Shanahan?

[GaillimhIarthair]

What's the story with Shanahan?

DAN Shanahan is still a major injury concern ahead of Waterford's Munster SHC showdown with Clare on June 1, but on the plus side comes the news that the 2007 Hurler of the Year has not suffered serious knee ligament damage.

The 31-year-old All Star forward visited Waterford-based knee specialist Tadhg O'Sullivan for scans on Tuesday, and he received the all-clear on Wednesday evening.

Shanahan has been advised to rest his knee for the next three weeks and that leaves him facing a race against time to be fit for the Clare match.

Shanahan injured his right knee with five minutes remaining in Lismore's Waterford SHC victory against Mount Sion last Sunday, but played on to the finish.

Waterford will be hoping that Shanahan makes it in time as corner back Eoin Murphy is definitely ruled out, while the free-scoring Eoin Kelly is highly unlikely to feature after suffering a broken hand.

Justin McCarthy has added to his injury-hit squad by calling up two players from the county's football panel.

Gary Hurney has been rewarded for impressive recent club form with Abbeyside, while Fourmilewater's Liam Lawlor has been recalled.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Waterford wing-back Tony Browne is free to face Clare after receiving an eight-week suspension that applies to club level only.

Browne received a straight red card in Mount Sion's recent defeat against Abbeyside.

[Bord na Mona man]

Ken McGrath now out for the opener vs Clare.
Still can't see Clare winning this one, unless Waterford are seriously cruising!

[AZOffaly]

I still think Clare will upset Waterford. All these injuries will probably clear up, with the exception of a couple like McGrath, but I am convinced Clare will be at 100% for this, and Waterford maybe 75%. Maybe Waterford's 75% will be good enough, but with Limerick almost a home venue for Clare, I have a feeling Waterford might be going into the qualifiers. I still think they'll go further than Clare mind you.

Having said all that, if Gilligan's injury, and the other Clare injuries, are real and cause them to miss the game as well, then I'd swing back towards the Deise.