All Ireland 2025 championships. Call it.

[ardtole]

8,243 is all that attended Kilkenny v Galway yesterday. Is it just Munster and the All-Ireland series for well attended Hurling matches nowadays?

Munster hurling championship is the only championship in either code that gets any promotion.

I think the quality of the games is what promotes the Munster shc. The hurling community would argue they are sidelined and last year the majority of their round robin fixtures were on gaago.

[johnnycool]

8,243 is all that attended Kilkenny v Galway yesterday. Is it just Munster and the All-Ireland series for well attended Hurling matches nowadays?

Munster hurling championship is the only championship in either code that gets any promotion.

I think the quality of the games is what promotes the Munster shc. The hurling community would argue they are sidelined and last year the majority of their round robin fixtures were on gaago.

Almost all Cork hurlers Munster games were on GAAGO last year and only a fool would think that this wasn't anything other than a commercial decision.


Within Munster you have some huge supporter bases, Cities like Limerick and Cork have big GAA followings, Tipp is a huge county and whilst their supporters deserted them last year they will now believe they've a team they can get behind.

Clare are AI champions and now have the bandwagon up and running, whereas poor Waterford will be perceived to be the whipping boys yet again, but they've still some fine hurlers in their ranks and won't lie down, they probably won't bring a big support though unless they can get a good result against Clare this weekend...


I'd recommend a Munster hurling final to anyone with an interest in sport, let alone hurling. It's a unique experience that'll make the hairs stand on the back of your neck.

I still prefer Thurles as a venue though over Cork or Limerick, the bars in and around Liberty square will be packed out into the street and then heading over the railway bridge to Tom Semples field with the roads thronged with fans from all and sundry.

Great day out.

[johnnycool]

I see the Cork media are now saying the hype has gotten to the Cork team, this is the very same media who has hyped them up in the first place based on the league win.

That's the downside of having so much local media in Cork, from the examiner ( i know they think they're national, but the GAA content suggests otherwise) the echo and a few other radio stations...

https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41617270.html

I think they're still in the mix for the Munster title and the AI, but Clare did expose a few aerial weaknesses that others will have taken note off, but big Duggan is probably the best in the air at the minute now that TJ is on the wane.

[Milltown Row2]

Its getting a ticket Johnny, I've been lucky enough to get there and experience it in Thurles, Waterford's win, what a team to not win an All Ireland and when the eventually got to the final will be remembered for all the wrong reasons

[G@@]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

[johnnycool]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

No Cark? You not buying the hype G@@?

Tipp winning the AI? That's a huge leap even PremierView would struggle to justify...

Still think Leinsters battle is for the 3rd spot. It's between Galway, Wexford and Offaly.

Dubs have the odd poor performance in them as well to make the 2nd spot interesting.

[EoinW]

I see the Cork media are now saying the hype has gotten to the Cork team, this is the very same media who has hyped them up in the first place based on the league win.

That's the downside of having so much local media in Cork, from the examiner ( i know they think they're national, but the GAA content suggests otherwise) the echo and a few other radio stations...

https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41617270.html

I'm not going to worry about Cork.  After their 6 goal performance against Clare in the league, then running riot in the first half, it was only natural for them to have a let down.  13 goals their final three league games...it was all getting too easy for them.

They'll get their focus back and I can't see anyone stopping them.  My only reservation: teams on legendary championship droughts can have the worst luck derail them.

I think they're still in the mix for the Munster title and the AI, but Clare did expose a few aerial weaknesses that others will have taken note off, but big Duggan is probably the best in the air at the minute now that TJ is on the wane.

[seafoid]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

No Cark? You not buying the hype G@@?

Tipp winning the AI? That's a huge leap even PremierView would struggle to justify...

Still think Leinsters battle is for the 3rd spot. It's between Galway, Wexford and Offaly.

Dubs have the odd poor performance in them as well to make the 2nd spot interesting.

I think #2 spot in Leinster is up for grabs. Dublin haven't done anything to suggest they are favourites. Offaly are untested at this level. Lee Chin on his own isn't enough for Wexford.

[johnnycool]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

No Cark? You not buying the hype G@@?

Tipp winning the AI? That's a huge leap even PremierView would struggle to justify...

Still think Leinsters battle is for the 3rd spot. It's between Galway, Wexford and Offaly.

Dubs have the odd poor performance in them as well to make the 2nd spot interesting.

I think #2 spot in Leinster is up for grabs. Dublin haven't done anything to suggest they are favourites. Offaly are untested at this level. Lee Chin on his own isn't enough for Wexford.

Dublins inability to get out of Div1B would suggest they're still a bit off the highest levels and will do well to beat both Wexford and Galway, I think they'll drop points in one of these games but still have enough to hold onto the second spot.

Offaly won't beat either Galway or Wexford.

[Premier Emperor]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

Clare won't make it out of Munster. The big 3 of Tipp, Cork and Limerick will.

[johnnycool]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

Clare won't make it out of Munster. The big 3 of Tipp, Cork and Limerick will.

One swallow doesn't make a summer, there are signs of something about Tipp that they'll be in the mix and putting Limerick to the pin  of their collar is a good start. They'll need to lay to rest the demons of their last trip down to Leeside pretty quickly to face a Cork team looking to answer the questions they weren't able to answer against little old Clare.

Tipp will either win by one or two or get beat by ten to twelve points and they'll need a real good start to put a bit of the jitters up Cork.

The hay won't be saved until the first Saturday in June either way.

[mouview]

Tipp's rather unexpected draw with Limerick was a great start for them. I still fancy Cork to prevail on Sunday but Tipp' should have enough at home over Waterford and then face a very winnable (probable) decider in Ennis. Big weekend for the Deise, who've picked a fairly strong-looking side; Austin Gleeson returns I notice. Clare were at times useless, at times admirable last weekend, but Cork really shot themselves in the foot by not holding out. In spite of a lot of results to the contrary, I still think Clare are grossly in excess of the sum of their parts, ( a back-handed compliment I'd say) and I would nearly expect a home win for Waterford on Sunday.

[johnnycool]

Tipp's rather unexpected draw with Limerick was a great start for them. I still fancy Cork to prevail on Sunday but Tipp' should have enough at home over Waterford and then face a very winnable (probable) decider in Ennis. Big weekend for the Deise, who've picked a fairly strong-looking side; Austin Gleeson returns I notice. Clare were at times useless, at times admirable last weekend, but Cork really shot themselves in the foot by not holding out. In spite of a lot of results to the contrary, I still think Clare are grossly in excess of the sum of their parts, ( a back-handed compliment I'd say) and I would nearly expect a home win for Waterford on Sunday.

Waterford are the unknowns for me, yes they're expected to be the bottom of the 5 in Munster and very well may be, that doesn't mean to say they don't have the capabilities and players to pull off a win along the way.

I don't think they've a game plan or pattern of play figured out though that will get the most out of the individuals available to them.
Where you believe Clare are better than the sum of their parts is valid and down to good management and character within the team, Waterford are the exact opposite, the sum of their parts should be better than what they produce as a team. Has Queally the wherewithal to make the difference we'll find out soon enough.

It's still Clare for me but only just

I'll go for Cork in the other Munster game and we'll see how the Tipp public get behind their team on Sunday as well after a decent start to the campaign.

In Leinster I think the big game is the Dubs V Wexford, I'm kinda slightly favouring Wexford, for no particular reason other than seeing the strawberry pickers going well and getting to the knock out phases would be good for hurling.

Kilkenny will have too much for Antrim, that's no disrespect to Antrim, but when Davy Fitz is running after big Nugent to come back and him the size of two men doesn't suggest he's much confidence in his current panel.


Offaly v Galway could be interesting with Daithi Burke back in at full back, probably for his aerial prowess on Duignan Jnr. Still see Galway winning that one now they've Kilkenny out of the way.

[Armagh18]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

Cork? Surely to god? Paddypower have paid out on then for Liam already

[LarryStiles]

The top three in Munster will be Clare and Limerick who will decide the Munster Final. Tipp will be in third place.
The top three in Leinster will be Kilkenny and Dublin who will decide the Leinster Final. Offaly will be in third place.
Kilkenny and Clare to win provincials. Tipp V Clare Semi. Kilkenny V Limerick other Semi. Tipp V KK Final. Tipp to win.

Tipp or Waterford will qualify with Cork and Limerick though expect Cork to hammer them. Tipp usually fill the togs at sight of Cork Jersey.