Hurling 2026

[NAG1]

Been saying it for a while on here now KK are in a bad place and dont look like they have the ideas of how to get out of it.

Dublin at times were toying with them, probably could and should have been a larger margin of defeat.

Be interesting to see if Dublin can raise themselves another level and compete with the top level teams.

[imtommygunn]

They haven't evolved with the game (yet). I would say the right manager would have them doing ok.

Also Andy Comerford won AIs. You would think he was a junior B player reading this lol.

[NAG1]

They haven't evolved with the game (yet). I would say the right manager would have them doing ok.

Also Andy Comerford won AIs. You would think he was a junior B player reading this lol.

TBF he could have been a junior B player in some of those teams and still won AIs. 

[Blowitupref]

Martin Breheny in Irish independent.

After this weekend, only eight hurling matches remain, but football season has 31 — how is that right?

[Baile Brigín 2]

Been saying it for a while on here now KK are in a bad place and dont look like they have the ideas of how to get out of it.

Dublin at times were toying with them, probably could and should have been a larger margin of defeat.

Be interesting to see if Dublin can raise themselves another level and compete with the top level teams.

Dublin have been bubbling for a while now. I wouldn't lose the run quite yet, that is a turgid KK team, and they can only beat what is in front of them, but it's heading in a good direction.

[NAG1]

Been saying it for a while on here now KK are in a bad place and dont look like they have the ideas of how to get out of it.

Dublin at times were toying with them, probably could and should have been a larger margin of defeat.

Be interesting to see if Dublin can raise themselves another level and compete with the top level teams.

Dublin have been bubbling for a while now. I wouldn't lose the run quite yet, that is a turgid KK team, and they can only beat what is in front of them, but it's heading in a good direction.

Was more the style that they were playing with that struck me, can only grow with more confidence.

Probably missing a couple of top level forwards to really be competing but hopefully they give it a serious crack.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Been saying it for a while on here now KK are in a bad place and dont look like they have the ideas of how to get out of it.

Dublin at times were toying with them, probably could and should have been a larger margin of defeat.

Be interesting to see if Dublin can raise themselves another level and compete with the top level teams.

Dublin have been bubbling for a while now. I wouldn't lose the run quite yet, that is a turgid KK team, and they can only beat what is in front of them, but it's heading in a good direction.

Was more the style that they were playing with that struck me, can only grow with more confidence.

Probably missing a couple of top level forwards to really be competing but hopefully they give it a serious crack.

One of the few good things the DCB have done was accept playing numbers aren't huge, but get every kid who is interested and coach them well. So for the last 20 years anything resembling talent got properly developed. Now the Dubs are legitimately top of tier 2 and nibbling it's way into the genuine contenders bracket.

[johnnycool]

Martin Breheny in Irish independent.

After this weekend, only eight hurling matches remain, but football season has 31 — how is that right?

Nice of him to consider the Lory Meagher, Nickey Rackard, Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh... 

Expect huge columm inches dedicated to them from Martin this weekend and next.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Martin Breheny in Irish independent.

After this weekend, only eight hurling matches remain, but football season has 31 — how is that right?

It's grim to see the Indo's GAA coverage slowly die

[marty34]

I'd really like to see a league championship combined in a way. But can't see it happening with the Munster gate receipts adding up year on year.

Hurling, like football, is great for a spectator on a belting hot day.

The soccer World Cup will soon be taking over over tv screens and our hearts and minds.   

[johnnycool]

I'd really like to see a league championship combined in a way. But can't see it happening with the Munster gate receipts adding up year on year.

Hurling, like football, is great for a spectator on a belting hot day.

The soccer World Cup will soon be taking over over tv screens and our hearts and minds.   

Will it really?

For me sport and televised sport can reach a saturation point where interest drops and it just becomes background noise.

Take the FA cup for example. Back in the 80's and 90's when there was only a few live games on, MOTD, football focus, mid week sports special etc to see a game like that was a special thing and you'd have sat in front of the TV for most of the afternoon, camera's on the bus with the players etc, now it's just another game you'd hardly go out of your way to watch.

Hurling could go the same way if we're not careful.

Yes, it's great for the big crowds in Munster and now a competitive Leinster (well internally) but if there's no jeopardy that will all go to shíte very quickly.

Plus, we'll probably get to see Cork v Limerick three times this year in "championship" action, so that's bound to dilute the intensity no matter what anyone says.

Come next weekend, none of the 4 protagonists will be out of the championship but would be nice to win a provincial championship.

A Munster won't sate the appetite of Cork or Limerick fans, the Dubs would love a Leinster title as would Galway but it won't be the end of the world if they don't.

[EoinW]

I'd really like to see a league championship combined in a way. But can't see it happening with the Munster gate receipts adding up year on year.

Hurling, like football, is great for a spectator on a belting hot day.

The soccer World Cup will soon be taking over over tv screens and our hearts and minds.   

Go Iran!!!!

[imtommygunn]

Lyng away now. Seemed like a good solid bloke - hard time for him to come in. It will be interesting to see what is next for kk.

[The Boy Wonder]

The possession hurling game does not suit Kilkenny's traditional style.

And the game itself has suffered
- no more the clash of the ash
- no more ground hurling (some of today's players have too short a hurl (hurley) for ground hurling)
- no more overhead pulling on the ball.

The ills of today's game
- far too much handpassing (often throwing)
- too much batting the ball to teammate
- too many episodes of crowded mullocking over the sliotar.

Kilkenny's great advantage in the past was that they had natural wristy hurlers.
Another factor is the sliotar - it is too easy nowadays to shoot long range points
Of course the lack of success at Minor and U20 in recent years is also a major factor.

Anyway, the runners for next Kilkenny Manager
- Brian Dowling
- Eddie Brennan
- Henry Shefflin.

[The Boy Wonder]

Further to above, I might be accused of hankering for the past.
Of course there was some great hurling mixed with some poor hurling when you look back to 70s, 80s and 90s.

And there is no denying that there are some great hurling artists playing today.

My point is that the possession game has robbed followers of the opportunity to see some of hurling's greatest skills.

In a GAA Social Podcast the late great Frank Mcguigan made the same point in relation to Gaelic Football - we would not see the best of Peter Canavan in today's football game.

Would we see the best of Liam Fennelly, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Nicky English in today's game ?