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couldn't believe how bad Richie Hogan was. He is usually the heartbeat of that team

It's been a good two years since Hogan was anywhere near being the heartbeat of the Kilkenny team. He's been less than useless since 2015.

What surprised me was how weak Kilkenny are physically. They got bullied tonight. Cody's teams were always so strong that Kilkenny fans relished a team going physical against them. Tonight, a good few times during the league and in the All Ireland last year Kilkenny were made to look like little boys trying to be men.

2 goals for Shane O'Donnell. Clare are flying

They went back a bit during the match. I can't see them going too far unless they sharpen up their free taking and puck outs. Gave away two soft enough goals too and you won't get three too regularly against the stronger teams.

Tony Kelly was pretty quiet as well.

Henry was making the point on The Sunday Game that it's a mistake not to have Kelly on frees. Said having a lad on frees means he's kept in game even if they're having a quiet day and that Clare need to do that with Kelly. He didn't say those exact words but that was my reading of his point.

I'd say it's not going to be a vintage year in terms of the All Ireland winner being a team for the ages but I think it will be an interesting championship.

2 goals for Shane O'Donnell. Clare are flying

They went back a bit during the match. I can't see them going too far unless they sharpen up their free taking and puck outs. Gave away two soft enough goals too and you won't get three too regularly against the stronger teams.

The top stuff is in a different price range . Vin de table is what most people in France drink most of the time and it is not expensive.

Not disputing that it is but try a bottle of vin du table in the UK, or Ireland, and tell me what you think of it...

I've more experience of Italy but a basic bottle of wine there is still far superior to what we have to pay over the odds for here. Italian friends who live in Dublin never stop complaining about it.

http://www.crtvg.es/deportes/directo/canle/evento1

Here's the direct link for the stream. I'm having trouble on Chrome but IE is working fine. Mens Final about to start

How mutually intelligible is Galician with other Romance languages? For some reason I thought it was similar to Celtic but watching there I note it's similarity to Italian (which I'm fluent in) and French (which I'm probably intermediate in). Certainly not close enough for me to understand it fully but not so foreign as for me to just have it go over my head.

I couldn't even say! French is my second language and I've very basic Spanish but I struggle a bit with the Galician!

Madrid beat Irmandinhos A Estrada in the Mens final 3-9 (18) - 0-9 (9)

Ladies Final up next!

I can't understand what they're saying but I recognise a good few words. French is very heavily accented though whereas Italian is purer and I'm probably catching stuff more from Italian.

That's not fair! Neville Southall is in goal for the blue and white women's team!

http://www.crtvg.es/deportes/directo/canle/evento1

Here's the direct link for the stream. I'm having trouble on Chrome but IE is working fine. Mens Final about to start

How mutually intelligible is Galician with other Romance languages? For some reason I thought it was similar to Celtic but watching there I note it's similarity to Italian (which I'm fluent in) and French (which I'm probably intermediate in). Certainly not close enough for me to understand it fully but not so foreign as for me to just have it go over my head.

Interesting look back on players from last 50 years of Kilkenny hurling: http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/gaelic-games/253010/dj-crowned-top-cat.html

Got to say, for me, they got number one wrong, should've gone to the King.

was at a coaching thing recently with DJ
he can still move better than most club players

Anyone as special as he was will always have that. Even Charlie Carter scored 1-5 in a Junior A match the other night, and hr would be categorised as good rather than great. Doesn't change my opinion on Henry though.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/jackie-tyrrell-this-just-would-not-happen-in-kilkenny-35776951.html

Charlie Carter? Cha Fitzpatrick?

For off field antics?

I just thought Cody didn't fancy either as part of his master plan.

There are rumours attached to Charlie, Andy Comerford and Cha's disappearances. An important note is that these were "rumours" and never got out into the wider sphere from the Kilkenny side of things. Charlie Carter did make reference to what happened to him in his book but nothing was ever said from a Kilkenny viewpoint. He just didn't appear on the panel anymore.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/jackie-tyrrell-this-just-would-not-happen-in-kilkenny-35776951.html

Charlie Carter? Cha Fitzpatrick?

John "shortest inter county career ever" Mulhall ?

The Stepford Wives have had the odd one too.

When did "the odd one" stop being a synonym of "rarely"?

You can keep the Stepford Wives reference too, rather have the house in order than the joke of a set up there is in Cork !

when Cody goes, it will probably fall apart

I wouldn't argue with that being a possibility. Certainly whoever comes after him will be on a hiding to nothing. I doubt Kilkenny will fall from grace completely but an All Ireland might be long in arriving after Cody leaves.

Btw, how long do they play? If men's starts at 330 and women's at 425 that's not even an hour.

If there's anything like this coming up for hurling let us know

Will do! Hurling is really taking off in Germany of all places so hopefully we'll see a station pick it up there one day!

Handball, the European style of the game, is big in Germany so I wonder whether there's a link between the wrist work in that and in hurling. Probably nothing in it but I know the Germans are big into it. Tennis is significant in Germany too so that would help in racket/hurl skills. Though I'm probably completely off the wall and it's all ex pat Irish!!!

I might have a look at the streams you posted out of curiosity. Not a football lover to be honest but would be interesting to see the standard in Europe.

If there's anything like this coming up for hurling let us know

Anyone know who Gowran and/or Piltown are hosting?

Also, is there anywhere I can get my hands on the list of teams which have qualified?

Div 2 Group B

go to hurling fixtures

http://leinstergaa.ie/feile

Thanks. Only one game in Gowran. That's a bit of a let down what with the new field.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/jackie-tyrrell-this-just-would-not-happen-in-kilkenny-35776951.html

Charlie Carter? Cha Fitzpatrick?

For off field antics?

I just thought Cody didn't fancy either as part of his master plan.

There are rumours attached to Charlie, Andy Comerford and Cha's disappearances. An important note is that these were "rumours" and never got out into the wider sphere from the Kilkenny side of things. Charlie Carter did make reference to what happened to him in his book but nothing was ever said from a Kilkenny viewpoint. He just didn't appear on the panel anymore.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/jackie-tyrrell-this-just-would-not-happen-in-kilkenny-35776951.html

Charlie Carter? Cha Fitzpatrick?

John "shortest inter county career ever" Mulhall ?

The Stepford Wives have had the odd one too.

When did "the odd one" stop being a synonym of "rarely"?

You can keep the Stepford Wives reference too, rather have the house in order than the joke of a set up there is in Cork !

Interesting look back on players from last 50 years of Kilkenny hurling: http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/gaelic-games/253010/dj-crowned-top-cat.html

Got to say, for me, they got number one wrong, should've gone to the King.