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I think hurling has become impossible to ref properly though. There's so much ball-in-hand with teams playing the possession game. We have players routinely taking 6+ steps and throwing the ball so tackling becomes more about big hits and whatever spare-arm grabbing and grappling you can get away with, rather than the actual skills of hooking, blocking or flicking the ball away. Those skills are often redundant against teams running the ball up the pitch and throwing it to the open man.

I'd love a zero tolerance campaign wrt possession rules like steps and the clear release & definite strike that's required on the handpass (not the freeze-frame "separation" that Donal Óg and Derek McGrath seem determined to redefine as the requirement). If players had to play the ball quickly and legally there'd be far less need for the big (dangerous) hits and more opportunity to dispossess someone skillfully.

If I want to watch big hits (ie. two lads crashing into each other) and people running around with ball-in-hand throwing it to each other, there are other sports that cater for that.
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Couldnt agree more!

Say what you like about Clare but Limerick were awesome. Their ability to find players in space is something to behold . Having the ability to place the perfect pass compliments how the players seem to always know where to run when the ball is moving out from the back. They look as good now as ever in the past..

The elephant in the room is and always was the handpass and is now an issues in Hurling too. Whats is the fascination with this skillless throw like action? Why are we so afraid that reducing it or illiminating it will somehow make our games worse when in fact its already doing just that. Hooters, shot clocks and endless other rule changes are just working around the real issue.

Firmly believe that the source of this is twofold.

1. The illegal handpass and 2. the consistent allowing of 6-7 steps in possession

Because the ball carrier can now so easily offload the ball out of a tackle, or carry it through said tackle, the tackling player has very few legitimate means of dispossessing him.  The only way that offers any hope of success is to surround the player and hope that you can force him to overcarry the ball.  The consequence is that the game descends into these situations regularly.

Apply these rules properly and the possession game becomes more risky and teams will evolve into a more territorial approach.

Well said. Players are happy to go straight into contact knowing there's a simple offload in the form of a handpass/throw at their disposal and there's little legal ways of defending that. Same with the ruck, the reward for winning one is usually a throw out of the ruck. It really has the look of a rugby match about it, A reset is required in the form of a HRC and as with the FRC no managers or those with vested interests should be allowed decide whats best for the game.

A lot of what he says is true. The possession game is ugly compared to the past. Its more of a game of hands than hurls now. The game is full of fouls and most of them to do with hands either pulling, dragging or throwing.

Have to say I feel this way about ballygunner too. I just don't find games they're in interesting at all. In the hurling I don't think I have ever thought that about another team. (Though Davy fitz's sweeper setup does sometimes not look great either...)

Their style is the next iteration of Davy's style. Loads of players behind the ball, work hard to get it back, play a couple of forwards up on their own and try to dominate possession.

While it hasn't worked at Intercounty, this style has won 2 All Irelands for Ballygunner, they probably are one short with this team but 2 is a decent return for one team..

It works when the ball is played to someone who has the ability to make the ball stick, be it in the or in a 50/50 dirty ball on the ground, which they mainly did.

Ball clean into the hand or quick touch off the hurl into hand and the lad is away, seen on Sunday with the player turning on his man, leaving him space to shoot, or play someone in a better position

I'll take boring and winning if I was a player/manager to shooting from the hip and hoping to keep ball every time 

Waterford and a bit like Ballygunner, they dont seem to care about marking your man. The amount of space given to Cork yesterday was crazy. You can talk all day about tactics when you have the ball but christ you need to stop the opposition aswell.

Well done to Ballyguneer, the better team. I just hope waterford dont try to emulate this brand of hurling at senior level. Not attractive and probably not as effective at a higher standard.

Which brand of hurling has Waterford been doing lately?

A brand that provides nothing either to the players or those watching. Agreed there not much different so the likelyhood is they continue to do the same or even more tippy tappy hurling

Well done to Ballyguneer, the better team. I just hope waterford dont try to emulate this brand of hurling at senior level. Not attractive and probably not as effective at a higher standard.

Most would agree theres not a lot wrong with hurling. But...the handpass has to be addressed soon. Its allowing  a short passing game (throws) and the secondary effects of that are spare hand fouls, pulling and draging, rucks etc. The game needs to be cleaned up due to all the above and starting with banning the handpasses from the same hand as holding the ball is definately worth a try? At least a proper trial? Tackle should be hooking and blocking not using your hands to stop a player off loading a throw type handpass.

The handpass rule is that the ball must be released and struck with a definite striking action of the hand. If referees enforced this existing rule, there is no need for a new one.

The problem with the existing rule is that its not clear cut. Its what the ref sees as clear seperation and we know now that there are several pundits ready to slate a ref if he makes a tight call which is then highlighted in slo motion as incorrect. Some say the ref should lean twoards only calling it if hes 100% sure which has got us where we are now. If he leans tworads blowing all suspected passes then we have controverlsy galore. For me the throw type handpass (not all handpasses) should be banned. For me this type of hand pass, whether theres seperation or not, is nothing more than a glorified throw. There are several other more skilfull, more attractive and more legal ways of handpassing a ball.

Fabulous hurling by Tipp esp in the second half.
Is it time for Harnedy, Leehane and Kingston and dare I say it Hoggy to go now?...Some of them continue to fail to show up on big days

The lead up to this match is sounding very similar to 2024 when Cork were being tipped to win resoundingly. Hmmm

As a sporting contest its absolutely terrible.
Antrim used to be more competitive in all ireland semi finals!
But sure these are the sort of scorefests some people find entertaining.

There is no room for mediocrity in Hurling. Thats what makes it great when 2 top teams collide. Not today though. Dublin will learn...hurling is not an easy sport to play and there are no handy allirelands to be won. I hope they learn and come again and stay at the top table for the sake of the game at least.

Most would agree theres not a lot wrong with hurling. But...the handpass has to be addressed soon. Its allowing  a short passing game (throws) and the secondary effects of that are spare hand fouls, pulling and draging, rucks etc. The game needs to be cleaned up due to all the above and starting with banning the handpasses from the same hand as holding the ball is definately worth a try? At least a proper trial? Tackle should be hooking and blocking not using your hands to stop a player off loading a throw type handpass.

Peter Queally has called for change in the structure of the hurling championship after his Waterford team were left redundant in May for the fourth successive year.

Would it help if they were knocked out in the same format in July or August? That is the question really.

Honestly my main query with the current structure is why is there a playoff if kerry win the joe mc how is that fair that after winning they still might not get into munster.
Also I think the connaught and ulster championships should be brought back for the weaker counties or maybe even allow Antrim or galway to enter a second team or a team from only from junior and intermediate clubs

The current structure is completely unfair on kerry if they win just make munster 6 teams like leinster and allow kerry to ask to be relegated if they are getting bad beatings in munster

IF kerry win. There are may bigger ifs in the GAA