Hurling championship 2021

[Captain Obvious]

Liam Sheedy wore himself out with all that clapping at half time.

[Milltown Row2]

Amazing game, but the reality is this, the ref should have sent him off and we are looking at a different game and result

[red hander]

Limerick's passing game is something to behold.

[Ash Smoker]

Tipp threw everything they had at Limerick and were still dismissed like school boys.
What hope does anyone else have?

[johnnycool]

Couple of great games over the weekend.

First up, the Tipp v Limerick battle.

Tipp had a plan, get the ball in deep over the Limerick halfback line, central and let the forwards bat it down for the oncoming runners to attack and hey presto they'd two goals in the bag and were motoring all over the field with Limerick burning off a bit of dirty diesel. 10 points up at the interval and Shefflin saying they were home and hosed, it was in the bag for Tipp..

The introduction of 2 All stars at the end of the first half also gave Limerick a glimmer of hope at both ends of the field, Gillane a threat that wasn't there for the first 25 minutes and Tom Morrissey who went on to command the airways back there.

But the restart of the second half was pure power hurling and no little skill. Limerick were winning everything in their own half a power through the Tipp midfield and Lynch (who was fouled an awful lot IMO) started to exert an influence once Dan McCormack eventually picked up a card for yet another foul.
Kyle hayes goal was a thing of beauty, he started the run for it just outside his own 20 metre line before taking the ball on 50 metres from his own goal, sidestepping two Tipp lads on his way in on goal before drilling a ball low into the ground beyond Hogan in the goals.

Tipp tried to introduce fresh, younger legs but their race was run. A goal at the end for them put a bit of a gloss on the scoreline but they'll have to reconsider where this team is going for the short and intermediate term.

Much being made of the refereeing and TBH Gullane's slash back with the edge of the hurl on Barrett was a red all day long as was Flanaghans driving the hurl into Paudie Mahers head at the end. Further over the weekend we see another Kilkenny defender driving the head into a Dublin attacker and whilst the free was awarded, the red card should have followed.
For the Gullane incident at least Duignan on co commentary was entirely right to call it, but Cummins kinda skirted round the kilkenny one with a comment of getting his tackling technique totally wrong..
No shit Sherlock.

The Clare, Wexford game had a few penalty shouts, the first Wexford one where the referee didn't award was probably right as O'Connor was going down already but the Clare lad was probably intending to go for the ball but when O'Connor stooped down it was going for his head but he fended it off with his own hurl. The only cop out there was the throw ball. Free out for fouling the ball IMO.
Shanagher had a better shout up at the other end later on, but in fairness to the ref, the belt to the head he got from O'Hallorhan was to his blind side, but the umpires would have seen it clear as day.

With lads who are now baring down on goal throwing the ball up to bat it down to prevent being hooked, there are going to be more of these incidents and whilst I've a lot of sympathy for referee's you either enforce the rules that are there or change the rules. This "common sense" approach has proven that common sense isn't that common..

As for the sqaure ball shout, You'd need hawkeye or the likes to call them...

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/nicky-english-limerick-s-second-half-form-won-t-be-matched-by-any-team-1.4624104

Nicky English: Limerick's second half form won't be matched by any team
When Cian Lynch got support in the second half he really began to pull the strings
about 4 hours ago

Nicky English
Limerick's Diarmuid Byrnes with the Mick Mackey Cup after winning  the Munster    championship final. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/Inpho
Limerick's Diarmuid Byrnes with the Mick Mackey Cup after winning the Munster championship final. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/Inpho

 
In 2019 Tipperary came out of the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick having probably played a lot worse than they did this Sunday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and they ultimately went on to win the All-Ireland. Coming out of the stadium yesterday, it was hard to imagine that happening again. It's hard to imagine anyone other than Limerick winning it.

I had some doubts in Limerick after their performance against Cork and in the first half yesterday it looked like those doubts were well-founded. Tipperary were completely dominant in all areas of the field, Jason Forde was giving an absolute masterclass and the team's scoring was just phenomenal.

Meanwhile, Limerick were looking quite heavy-legged, in all sorts of trouble and needing to bring on Dan Morrissey and Aaron Gillane. Little did we know they would play a major role in the Limerick revival.

The only man capable of making any inroads for Limerick during the first half was Cian Lynch, though he had some assistance from Declan Hannon and Kyle Hayes. But given the way that Tipperary can score, I thought it was a huge mountain for Limerick to climb at half time. Tipperary had already scored 2-16, and I thought it was eminently possible that they would score a minimum of 3-25 or 3-26. As it turned out they were beaten 2-17 to 1-5 after the break.

Limerick started the second half like a train and Lynch completely took over. He conducted the orchestra and produced one of the best displays I've seen from him. He's a genius. He was playing well when the rest of them weren't and in the second half when he got some support he really began to pull the strings.

In fairness, Hayes also turned up and the goal he scored was easily one of the finest I've seen on any pitch. The athleticism he showed as he galloped up along the line, leaving Dan McCormack in his wake, was on another level.

Running on empty
Tipperary did begin to use their bench but maybe they should have thrown those players into the game a little earlier because they were already running on empty. But the form Limerick showed in the second half wouldn't have been matched, and I doubt it will be matched by any team in the championship.

Kilkenny ease past disadvantaged Dublin to retain Leinster crown
Limerick come from 10 down to win third Munster in a row
'He sees the full picture': The serene leadership of Cian Lynch
CLICK HERE: Irish Times guide to sport on TV this weekCLICK HERE: Irish Times guide to sport on TV this week
Before heading for Cork I was in Thurles on Saturday afternoon for Clare's victory over Wexford. Ultimately, Clare will take a lot from the victory but they still need to improve if they are to progress further.

Wexford were slow out of the blocks on the day and went out more or less without a full-forward line. An outstanding point from Cathal Dunbar from the sideline in the middle of the field illustrated where Wexford were lacking in that first half when Clare sprinted out ahead. He had no choice but to shoot for a point. There was nobody inside. When they varied it a bit and went longer with Lee Chin and Conor McDonald at the edge of the square, they looked more dangerous. But at that stage they had already dug a huge hole for themselves.

The Kilkenny team applauding their captain during his speech at Croke Park after the Leinster senior championship final. Photograph: Brian Reilly-Troy/Inpho
The Kilkenny team applauding their captain during his speech at Croke Park after the Leinster senior championship final. Photograph: Brian Reilly-Troy/Inpho
Then, unlike the Munster final, the Leinster decider was really disappointing. I was very interested in seeing if Kilkenny could confirm the impression they had created against Wexford. They were quite good that day and they were good again for the first few minutes on Saturday. It was a whirlwind start for them.

But they lost their way and struggled to win any ball around the middle third. Dublin completely dominated the area with Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe, Cormac Crummey and all the other usual suspects controlling the game.

Despite the loss I think Dublin will take plenty from it. It's been a really good season for them, all things considered. They scored freely against Antrim, they had a big win against Galway and they had ample excuse for Saturday.

Their preparations were rocked with the Covid absentees and I didn't think it was very wise to start Eoghan O'Donnell. As a former hamstring sufferer, I didn't see any way he could be right in two weeks.

But they will be awkward for anybody in the quarter-final. For them now it's about finding scores. In most games you have to be able to put 30 points on the board and I don't think they're likely to get that against the best opposition. Maybe Oisín O'Rorke coming back can help in this area.

Donal Burke was also a bit fitful on the frees and they really need to be 100 percent perfect from placed balls.

Strong at the back
That said, we didn't see much in an attacking sense from Kilkenny either. But they were strong at the back. Huw Lawlor was outstanding, Paddy Deegan did a lot of solid hurling and James Maher slowly but surely got to grips with Danny Sutcliffe. They pulled away and won, with the penalty being the final death knell, but it wasn't much of a step on from the Wexford performance.

At the same time they are in an All-Ireland semi-final and I would never rule them out or underestimate them. Whoever plays them next will still have to go out and beat them, and they won't give it up easily.

After the game I initially thought that maybe there will be no really outstanding team this year and that the team that goes out and just gets it done will suffice. And Kilkenny will get it done. That's the way they roll.

But Limerick subsequently hit form, and that's ominous for the rest of the pack.

[Milltown Row2]

The Kilkenny defenders tackle using the head was a red card Johnny for sure, as you say they made light of it..

[johnnycool]

Some great U20 hurling on TG4 the last few nights.

Clare were outplayed and overpowered by Limerick on Monday night. The Limerick machine looks to keep churning out brutes of men who can also hurl. Clare were missing a few of the lads who've played senior didn't help them. Limerick looked ominous.

Last night we'd Cork V Tipp up first with Tipp off to a flyer (again) only for Cork to come back into it in the second half. Cork had serious pace in their forwards and that seems to be the way they're going. The final will be an interesting matchup.

In Leinster Galway were making wee boys out of Kilkenny and had something like a 13 point lead at half time. Classy hurlers but Kilkenny never gave up and got the lead down to 4 but couldn't close it to anything less than that. Carlow ref was a tad kind to the Kilkenny lads at times.
Dublin in the final.

[mouview]

In Leinster Galway were making wee boys out of Kilkenny and had something like a 13 point lead at half time. Classy hurlers but Kilkenny never gave up and got the lead down to 4 but couldn't close it to anything less than that. Carlow ref was a tad kind to the Kilkenny lads at times.
Dublin in the final.

Leinster referees being kind to Leinster opposition who play Galway at underage is fast becoming a theme.

[Blowitupref]

Some great U20 hurling on TG4 the last few nights.

Clare were outplayed and overpowered by Limerick on Monday night. The Limerick machine looks to keep churning out brutes of men who can also hurl. Clare were missing a few of the lads who've played senior didn't help them. Limerick looked ominous.

Last night we'd Cork V Tipp up first with Tipp off to a flyer (again) only for Cork to come back into it in the second half. Cork had serious pace in their forwards and that seems to be the way they're going. The final will be an interesting matchup.

In Leinster Galway were making wee boys out of Kilkenny and had something like a 13 point lead at half time. Classy hurlers but Kilkenny never gave up and got the lead down to 4 but couldn't close it to anything less than that. Carlow ref was a tad kind to the Kilkenny lads at times.
Dublin in the final.

That rule really devalues the U20 grade in both football and hurling. Playing with and against the best U20 players is what every player needs as they hope to make the step up to senior level.

[Milltown Row2]

Galway looking like they are not bothered today! 8 scores in a row there

[galwayman]

Yeah I had thought the flakiness that you used to associate with the Galway hurlers was gone - turn up one day then completely fail to turn up the next day.
In recent years when beaten they still generally were there or thereabouts.
Not so today it seems

[Blowitupref]

Galway looking like they are not bothered today! 8 scores in a row there

Can see today why Dublin knocked them out of the Leinster championship.

[Milltown Row2]

Galway looking like they are not bothered today! 8 scores in a row there

Can see today why Dublin knocked them out of the Leinster championship.

They ain't playing for the county or their manager by the sound of things. Even with a man down Waterford are powering ahead

[Blowitupref]

Galway looking like they are not bothered today! 8 scores in a row there

Can see today why Dublin knocked them out of the Leinster championship.

They ain't playing for the county or their manager by the sound of things. Even with a man down Waterford are powering ahead

At least they went down fighting, too little to late for them them.