Messages

the offaly hurling team of the eighties were one of the best ever seen, the ground hurling and quality stick work set them apart from the rest at the time.
I fear for offaly hurling at the moment and feel that they are on a down slope at the moment (certainly hope I am wrong)
the game of hurling will become less and less popular in most counties if the Gaa do not start to take an interest in the weeker counties

Another and maybe the final nail in Laois hurling.
The current format is certainly making the gap between the elite counties and the rest larger every year and the GAA will not react until it is far too late. 15/20 years ago Laois could compete with most teams in the leinster championship now they are just whipping boys other counties are in the same situation (Westmeath, Carlow, Wexford)
then we have counties that are currently just hanging in there (Offaly, Clare, Galway) hurling will suffer in these counties over the next couple of years if the current system is persisted with.

The Hurling championship in its current format has not worked for the weaker counties. I certainly would like to see more counties involved or at least in the final shake up.
Dublin have invested a lot in hurling over the last number of years and I certainly feel that they can make the break trough in time. other counties that could traditionally cause an upset (Laois, Westmeath, Wexfiord,Offaly,Antrim) are very scarce, as a result games like Cork v Laois are just creating a greater gap between the elite counties and the rest that just make up the numbers.

T.B.H.
I can only see one outcome in the Kildare V Dublin match and that is a 4/5 point win for Dublin.
They have the more free scoring forwards and Kildare struggled against a very poor Meath team that are inclined to concentrate more on brawn than brain.
I honestly feel that Laois have improved and are a work in progress (time will tell).
Meath reached their peak last year.
Kildare stilll improving and have young players coming along.
Dublin this year for this team or back to the drawing board.

What is the point in Cork having to Play the likes of Laois?
Cork will win by at least 25 points and Laois hurling will be further down in the doldrums.
If the G.A.A. are serious about promoting hurling in the weaker counties surly this would be considered a miss match if this was boxing the game would not be even let yake place.
I would like to see an All Ireland B Championship with the top two teams Qualify for the quarter finals of the All Ireland proper.

Kildare and Dublin were the two best teams on display yesterday, Laois showed some improvement on their displays over the last few years and are young enough to step up a class over the next 2/3 years as for Meath they have gone back and the display they gave yesterday was all passion and no class I would worry about the lack of natural football tallent in the team.
Kildare and Dublin will be a cracker both teams are super fit and have pace but I think Dublin have the better form in front of goal.